Page 37 of Messenger of Death (Ouroboros Academy #2)

K halid and I were trying so hard to sit in the library and research. We probably would have gotten more done if we’d sat across from each other. We were sitting right next to each other and couldn’t stop sniffing each other.

“You have to be wearing some kind of cologne,” I said.

“I swear, I’m not. Maybe it’s my deodorant. You have to be wearing perfume.”

“I don’t own any. Blue Matthews thought only sluts wore perfume, so I wasn’t allowed. I never got into the habit.”

“I hate your baba,” Khalid growled.

I shrugged. There was this animalistic scent coming off of Khalid, but in a good way. It was like someone made a cologne with this really expensive musk, sandalwood, and a touch of vanilla. I just wanted to bury my face in his neck and inhale.

I didn’t know what I smelled like to Khalid, but he seemed to be having the same problem and his eyes kept flashing amber because his jackal was riding him.

I was trying to read the text in front of me and my eyes would just glaze right over every time I tried to concentrate. My mind was really only on one thing and it was so fucking stupid considering everything that was going on.

I slammed my book closed, and the librarian shot me a filthy look. I mouthed the word sorry because I usually didn’t abuse books and turned to Khalid.

“I can’t concentrate with you smelling like that. Want to go back to your dorm room or mine?”

“Yes and no. I know what you want and I want it, too. I’m barely containing my jackal right now. He wants to throw you on this table and claim you in front of everyone. He’s a little possessive and there’s a table of other shifters over there who keep checking you out.”

I wasn’t a shifter, but that sounded really hot and I wasn’t mad at the idea. I’d also only gotten away with having sex on a teacher’s desk because the classroom was empty. The librarian looked like she’d stab me if I defiled her library.

“Maybe we could do that in the privacy of a dorm room?”

“No, he wants to claim you, claim you. Like, bite you where everyone can see it. Right there,” Khalid said, trailing his finger down my shoulder.

“Is that a bad thing? I don’t mind and we’re apparently fated. It’s going to happen, eventually. Why wait?”

Instead of just flashing, Khalid’s eyes went amber and stayed that way.

He stood up, yanked me to my feet, tossed me over his shoulder, and started marching out of the library.

The shifters Khalid pointed out to me started pounding on the table and hooting right up until the librarian shushed them and they sunk down in their chairs like they were trying to be invisible.

“Uh, Khalid, I can walk.”

“No, mine ,” he growled.

Yeah, I’d never seen this side of Khalid, but I wasn’t going to argue with him when his jackal was riding him.

I should have been terrified, but I wasn’t.

If we were fated, then he wouldn’t hurt me.

I already had that conversation with Morgana.

I should have been more nervous about the fact that jackals mated for life.

What if I fucked this up? I’d never gotten serious with anyone before.

Khalid fumbled with the knob of his dorm. Elliot and Petros looked like they were getting ready to leave.

“Out!” Khalid roared.

Yeah, Elliot and Petros just swore and hurried out. There were no smart-ass comments and Petros didn’t brush against Khalid to pick his pocket only to whip out what he stole and give it back. They realized what was going on and got the fuck out of there.

Khalid had been the steadfast, thoughtful, brilliant one out of our entire group.

I could even admit he was a much better person than I was.

This was a strange side of him. It was like he was so excited to be with me, he just couldn’t wait to get me naked.

I had a feeling that was part of his shifter side, but it could really go to your head because I felt really special right now.

Khalid didn’t actually rip any of my clothing, but he still practically tore them off.

I went for his shirt, but he snarled at me and ripped it off.

He was naked in seconds. Fuck, why did he smell so good right now?

He must have felt the same because as soon as he was naked, he was nuzzling my neck.

Sweet, polite Khalid was gone, and I liked this side of him. I was trying not to giggle because he kept manhandling me and apologizing, but then he’d do it again.

“It’s okay. I like you like this.”

“I want to eat you up,” he growled, diving between my legs.

I had to reach up and grip the headboard for dear life. The guys that had gone down on me before I’d gotten kidnapped had been less than enthusiastic and stopped when I didn’t finish in two minutes. Liam seemed to love it and didn’t want to stop until I was done.

Khalid was eating me out like he was starving. I actually did finish in two minutes that time because I couldn’t help it. My toes curled, my back arched, and I was shocked I didn’t rip the headboard apart.

“Fuck,” I gasped, collapsing on the bed.

But Khalid wasn’t done with me yet. He picked me up and placed me on all fours.

“ Mine. Sorry.”

I just wriggled my ass at him.

“I’m not.”

“Wench,” he growled. “ Sorry.”

I yelped when he brought his hand down on my ass, but I actually liked it.

“Sorry,” he apologized again.

“Don’t be sorry. Claim me.”

Khalid gripped my hips and guided himself inside me. He wasn’t a small man, but we’d been here before. He gripped my shoulder and pulled me up so that my back was pressed to his chest. One hand found my clit, and the other wrapped around my neck.

Khalid wasn’t choking me, but he could have. I knew he wouldn’t. It was more like he wanted to keep me in place. Unlike last time, he let his jackal take over. I didn’t know what he was worried about before. He wasn’t too rough. It was more passionate, and I felt cherished.

I mean, yeah, it was intense, but it wasn’t violent. Khalid was thrusting hard and fast while fluttering his fingers against my clit. I wasn’t going to last very long, and it was going to be insane when it happened.

My body reached higher and higher and I knew it was coming. I twisted my neck so that my shoulder was exposed. I braced myself because I honestly didn’t know what to expect and I thought it was going to hurt.

Khalid let out this really eerie-sounding howl and then sunk his canines into my shoulder. It didn’t hurt. Everything just…exploded. I came really hard, but it was also like I was seeing things from his jackal’s point of view. I was running through the desert and I was free.

When I finally came down, Khalid spooned my back and nuzzled my neck.

“Was it too painful? I’m sorry.”

“No. It didn’t hurt at all. It actual felt good, and I got to experience your jackal for a minute.”

“I got to fly as a crow. It was pretty amazing. I can feel you now. If you’re ever scared or in trouble, I’ll know.”

“Unless Liam and Lucian stopped to have some kind of fist fight, hopefully they got more research done than we did. I don’t regret doing this instead, though.”

“You still smell good, but your scent isn’t driving me mad now. I think we’ll be able to concentrate next time.”

“Same. They keep telling me the Morrigan was more of a shapeshifter than an actual shifter like you, but you just smelled so good.”

“I’m going to have you again and then tomorrow, we can go back to researching snake gods.”

I groaned, but I turned to face Khalid. I was up for whatever he was.