Page 120 of Malcroix Bones Academy

I continued to follow his languid progress with my eyes, my heart beating harder, painfully hard, faster, deafeningly loud in my chest.

He’d told me not to stare.

He’d specificallywarnedme against doing this, so why wasn’t I looking away? And why was he watching me? He didn’t cross to a different part of the room like he normally did, but walked casually in my direction, his gold eyes never leaving mine.

“Summoning me, Shadow?”A faint smirk reached his lips.“This is new. Don’t tell me you brought me here to help you finish your homework?”

Everyone was looking at us now. I heard them whispering behind their hands. I felt their stares. Everyone except Professor Underwood, who continued to stalk around the classroom, her expression serene, her walk unhurried.

The long-limbed witch nodded approvingly at Caelum as he passed.

“I think you’re correct, Mr. Bones,”she said, her hand a lingering touch on his bare arm.“It’s definitely time for a practical exercise, and Miss Shadow clearly needs it more than the others. Why don’t you assist her?”

Bones laughed, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Happy to. I’m already intrigued.”

My adrenaline spiked higher.

“What are you doing?”I whispered, when he got close enough. I motioned him sharply away with my hand.“Go away, you idiot. That was your rule. Remember? You’re the one who said?”

“You heard Professor Underwood,”he said, still smiling.“You need to be put through your paces, Shadow. Don’t you want to be the top of your class inallsubjects?”

Even as he spoke, I could feel him sensing the air, like a dog picking up a scent.

Picking up on… gods, whatwashe picking up on, exactly?

Whatever it was, I definitely got the feeling he was pleased.

Maybe a bit more than pleased.

He walked the rest of the way up to me, and around the classroom table where we’d first partnered in Seeing Arts. Before I could make sense of what he wanted, he sank to his knees. He knelt in front of me, his gold eyes cautious now, but also with a faintly growing edge. He rested his hands heavily on my thighs,nearly a question. When I didn’t shove him off, or tell him to go away, he began pushing up my skirt to stroke my bare skin.

His fingers dug into my flesh, and I arched towards him.

I was embarrassed, horrified, but couldn’t seem to do anything about my own reactions.

“Gods. I thought I had to be imagining things,”he murmured, looking down at my bare legs.“I’m already hard as fuck. But I’m guessing you know that.”

“Go away,”I whispered, but I still didn’t push him back.“What are you doing?”

He gave me a direct look, eyes glassy, pupils blown out.

“Open up, little mongrel,”he said.“It’s time for your lesson.”

I fought to breathe, feeling paralyzed, caught.“What lesson?”

“I think you’re going to like it,”he said, watching my eyes.“I think I’m going to like it even more.”

When I couldn’t form words to answer, his smile slid wider.

“Gods, you’re hot like this. Look at you.”His voice shifted lower.“I’m going to kiss it first, Shadow,”he enunciated, gauging my face.“Then, if you behave, I’m going to let you kiss me back.”

After studying my expression, his eyes briefly closed.

He leaned into his hands.

“Gods. I think you’re going to have to talk to me before I let you get off, mongrel. I’ve dreamt of that mouth of yours for months.”He tossed his head to get his hair out of his eyes, then glanced around at the classroom.“See if you can keep the rest of them out of our minds. There might be eavesdroppers, if you don’t… and I’m liable to get really fucking distracted in about five seconds if you let me tongue you.”