Page 117 of Shattered Stars

The first few times, she’s too quick, the water droplet cracking or splintering in her palm. But soon she masters it. The tiny speck of a perfect snowflake resting in the center of the palm.

She laughs. “I did it!” she says.

“Of course you did.”

She twists her head to look at me right behind her.

“But how do I–”

“Remember what this felt like. This quietness, this stillness, this control. You had to subdue your magic, master it, to do this, Rhi.”

She nods, understanding me.

“Full marks, Miss Blackwaters.” I brush her hair away from her ear so I can lean down to whisper in it. “You are fast becoming my favorite student. How ever will I reward you?”

She shivers and I take her hand in mine, and lead her through the rows of desks and into my office, closing the door and casting an impregnable spell around us.

“Isn’t this a bit risky?” she asks, jumping up onto my desk and swinging her legs. “Didn’t we just get caught?”

“You want to go?” I ask her with a seriousness, a lump of apprehension in my throat. I don’t want her to go; now she’s here right in front of me, I’m even more damn desperate for her.

But she shakes her head and relief swims through my body.

I stalk closer to her, gripping her waist and leaning down to kiss her mouth. I’m millimeters away from her soft lips when something flickers through her mind. She knows how to keep me out now, and yet most of the time she keeps her thoughts open to me.

I stop. She’s unhappy.

I lift my head and look down into her face. Her eyes are closed. She’s waiting for me to kiss her. “What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” she says, opening her eyes.

“Something’s bothering you.”

“Oh,” she says, glancing away from me and worrying at her lip.

I pinch her chin and twist her face back to mine.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, it’s silly.” She finds the hem of my shirt and tugs it out of my pants, reaching under the material to stroke her warm hands over my chest. My blood warms several degrees and if I was a jerk, I’d fuck her over my desk and disregard the fact she’s upset about something. But I’m trying not to be a jerk. I’m trying really hard for her sake.

“Tell me, Miss Blackwaters.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well, if you want me to fuck you,” I say, moving further between her legs and grinding against her, “you’re going to have to.”

She huffs. “Me and Winnie had a fight.”

I almost laugh. That’s it? But her face has fallen and I know she’s upset about it.

“What did you fight about?”

“A couple of things.”

“Yes …?”

“Erm …”