Page 12

CHAPTER 12

People kept trying to get close to Clarissa and I as we waited in line for the portal back to the academy. The medal ceremony had passed in a bit of a blur, I’d been so shocked that we had won. The finalists had all congratulated each other, shaking hands as we passed each other in a line. At the end, the Turkish girl I’d admired had found me. She had said she was impressed I’d avoided her invisibility target dart, and explained how she’d cast it.

It was a pretty straightforward spell, once explained. I wouldn’t have been able to come up with it in a high-pressure situation, though.

She’d laughed when I told her that, and said she’d been training with it all summer in hopes of being selected for the Magical Olympics. Her father had been a champion in his final year at school, and kept tabs on the events.

I squeezed Aiden’s hand, grateful for his presence. Grandfather had wanted to attend tonight, but hadn’t been able to get a ticket. He was going to be at tomorrow’s event, though. I wasn’t sure which one it was, or even if I would be competing. I figured either way, I’d get to see him.

Clarissa threw her arms around Bruce’s neck when he finally got through the crowd, kissing him passionately.

Breathless, they pulled apart, only having eyes for each other.

“You did amazing, babe,” he told her.

She smiled. “Babe?”

“I’m trying out nicknames from this century.”

She chuckled. “Fitting choice.”

All of a sudden I remembered her comment from the first dinner. “Clarissa, are you?—”

I was interrupted by more of our classmates joining us, cheering loudly and thumping us on our backs.

Aiden growled when one blow sent me staggering. “That’s it,” he said, his eyes flaring with fire. “We’re getting you home.”

“What are you going to do, beast out?” I said with a giggle.

Aiden and Clarissa exchanged glances and grinned. “Yes.” The two of them burst into harmless flames, but the crowd around us stepped back from the heat.

“Angry beasts coming through,” Bruce shouted, and a path cleared to the portal. “Blackthorn Academy, coming up,” he said, walking through the glowing gate.

I followed him, our partners right behind us.

“I feel a little bad leaving our friends behind,” I said once we were in the basement of the academy.

A professor was checking us back in on a long scroll.

Bruce shrugged. “I have no idea where they were. Aiden and I were sitting with the other competitors, but the spectators? Who knows.”

I nodded my understanding. “Did you get separated?”

Aiden brought my hand to his lips. “I completely forgot he existed once you were heading off the field. My only thought was to get to you.”

Bruce snorted. “He jumped five rows of seats. There was no way I could keep up.”

“I would have loved to see that,” I said with a chuckle. “Did you turn into a lion?”

“No,” Aiden scoffed at the same time Bruce said, “Yes.”

Clarissa laughed.

I sighed. “We should collect Professor Reynolds from Professor Dunlop.”

“Maybe the teachers had some luck while we were gone,” Aiden said hopefully.

“I love your optimism,” I said, patting his arm. “I don’t think it’s warranted, and we’ve run out of good luck for the day, but you do you.”

“Run out?” Aiden’s eyes flared with fire again, but this wasn’t anger. “You were so good on the field today, and it had nothing to do with luck. You were incredible.”

Our soul bond pulsed with pride, a strong emotion that filled me from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I beamed at him.

“I’m not optimistic, I’m hopeful that we won’t have to look after a small child and will get some precious alone time where I can show you just how impressed I was by your performance today,” Aiden murmured in my ear.

I shivered. “Do you think that sleep spell will work on him, even though he’s a toddler now?”

“We can try.”

Clarissa and Bruce headed to their room for their own celebration while we knocked on Professor Dunlop’s door.

He opened it, his finger at his lips. “He’s been asleep for about half an hour.”

Aiden grinned. “Then he’ll transfer well.”

I crossed my fingers.

“How did the opening ceremonies go?” the professor asked.

Aiden filled him in on the highlights, exaggerating my triumphs and ignoring my hushed protests.

Professor Dunlop grinned at me. “Congratulations. You’ve done Blackthorn proud and started Europe off in a good position for the Olympics.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

Aiden picked up the sleeping toddler, resting the tiny head on his shoulder. “They’re so sweet at this age,” he whispered, rubbing the professor’s small back.

I rolled my eyes. “He’s still your professor.”

“In the cutest little body,” Aiden retorted. “Time for bed.”

Professor Dunlop closed the door behind us and we headed to our own room.

Aiden was right; Professor Reynolds transferred to his bed easily and curled up, clutching a stuffed toy cat in his arms.

We’d added a door between our rooms before leaving for Mexico, and I closed it behind me, putting a muffling charm across it.

“What was that about showing your appreciation?” I said, turning to face Aiden.

His grin turned feral. “First, I’m going to strip you of your clothing, and then I’m going to eat you out until your pussy is so sensitive that you’re practically crying from over-stimulation. And finally, when you’re begging me to fill you, I’m going to give you my knot and we’ll fall asleep still joined together.”

I shivered in delight. “Sounds amazing. Let’s get started.”

Aiden snapped his fingers, I thought to remove my clothing, but he only changed it to something a lot looser.

I breathed a sigh of relief at finally having the tight spandex off my body. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, pulling out the desk chair with his foot. “Sit, please.”

The tank top he had provided me gaped a little at the neckline as I took my seat. He’d only changed my outer clothing, and I wasn’t wearing a bra.

I wasn’t wearing underwear either, but he hadn’t discovered that yet.

His fingers trailed down my neck, sending goosebumps shivering over my skin. He started a gentle massage at my shoulders, his thumbs digging into the muscles around my spine.

I watched his face in the mirror behind the desk; he was intent on what he was doing, so I took my time admiring his beauty. His hair was a little longer than he usually kept it, draping over his forehead in silky curls. “This is about me, right?” I asked, moaning a little when he hit a spot that was a little sore.

“Yes, all for you.” He dropped a kiss on the top of my head.

“Can you take off your shirt, then?”

He raised an eyebrow, meeting my gaze through the mirror.

“I want some eye candy,” I said playfully.

He grinned and complied, revealing his toned body, his flaming sun tattoo on his left pectoral bouncing when he flexed for my enjoyment.

“Thank you.” My tone was a trifle breathless, but I didn’t mind him knowing how much he affected me.

“You like looking at me shirtless?” Aiden mused, his hands moving down my front now. One slipped under my collar, groping my breast. My nipple was already hard, pressing against his palm. He squeezed my flesh before circling the point with one finger.

I pressed my chest into his hand shamelessly. “Yes.”

“What a coincidence. I love looking at you shirtless, too.” He switched sides, giving my left breast the same attention he had on the right. “But this isn’t about what I want. It’s about what you want.”

His hands left my chest, returning to the massage on my back.

I whimpered.

“What do you want, Siobhan?” He said my name like a caress.

“I want you to touch me,” I gasped.

“Darling, I am touching you,” he said, a smirk on his lips because he knew what I meant.

“I want you to make me come,” I said.

“That’s better. Lie on the bed,” he said, helping me stand. “No, keep your clothes on.”

Confused, I followed his instructions and lay on my back in the middle of the bed.

He crawled over me, settling his solid form between my legs. I could feel how hard he was for me against my pelvis, but we were separated by entirely too many articles of clothing. He nudged the hem of my shirt up with his nose, pressing kisses over the skin of my belly.

Any thoughts of embarrassment over him seeing and touching me where I felt I was too fat evaporated. He was worshiping me.

Aiden pushed the hem up higher when he felt my tummy had received enough affection. I could feel his hair tickling the undersides of my breasts. I threaded my fingers through his curls and tugged, but he remained immovable, intent on kissing every inch of skin before moving on.

The next inch of revealed skin included my nipples, and he let out a tiny growl that went straight to my clit before latching onto one.

I gasped, arching into his mouth when his teeth bit down on the pleasure side of pain. I didn’t even notice I was rocking my hips into his until he chuckled against my skin.

“I know what you like,” he whispered, ghosting kisses between my breasts as he switched sides. “I know what’ll get you off.” He latched onto the second nipple, sucking hard and making me whine.

“What happened—” I gasped brokenly, grinding hard against his length. “What happened to eating me out?”

He popped off only long enough to murmur, “I had a better idea,” before reattaching himself.

It felt like there was a direct line of nerves between my breasts and my clit. I was on fire, throbbing with need.

“I need you inside me,” I whined. “I need to feel your cock stretching me.”

He lashed his tongue over the nipple clenched between his teeth, and I cried out, clutching his head to my breast.

“ Aiden, ” I begged. “Please, please, pleasepleaseplea—Ohmy God !” I shrieked when he pinched my clit through my pants. I shattered, rutting up against him in search of more friction.

“Fuck,” Aiden gasped, snapping his fingers to make our clothes disappear. He was inside me, fully shifted, before I came down from my orgasm, pumping twice before he thrust deep, his knot swelling and pressing against my inner walls as he emptied himself within me. The heat of his cum set me off again, crying from how good it felt.

We collapsed, still together, in a sweaty heap, Aiden’s head resting on my chest. I played with the damp curls between his horns, humming happily. “You know me better than I know myself,” I whispered, not wanting to break the silence.

He tightened his grip on my shoulders, pressing a kiss on my sternum.

“I should get ready for bed,” I said, reaching for my ring. Of course it wasn’t on my finger; I’d taken it off before the opening ceremonies. I twisted to reassure myself it was where I’d left it on my ring stand, but it wasn’t there.

Shock rippled through me.

“Aiden? Where’s my ring?”