Page 66 of Magdalene Nox

“I still have questions, mind you.”

It was Magdalene’s turn to tsk in exasperation.

“Of course you do. You wouldn’t be you without questions, Sam. It keeps me on my toes. Keeps other people on their toes too, I suppose, since so many of them seem to be very interested in your business and mine. All this eavesdropping—and I assure you, mine was entirely out of self-preservation—but I couldn’t help but overhear that part of your and Alden’s conversation while trying to remove George from her favorite pastime. You mounting a rather noble defense of my character and my mission here at Dragons…”

Sam gave her a goofy smile, and Magdalene wanted to prop up her chin and merely gaze at her and sigh.

She was so smitten…

“Well, let’s just say it was sweet of you, Sam. But with all the people skulking around, their intentions good, bad, or otherwise, it spurred me on to refuse Sheriff Green to question anyone here at Dragons. So starting tomorrow, the faculty and students will travel to the mainland to talk to him at his office. I can’t trust that our walls will allow for enough privacy to ensure people feel unencumbered to speak freely. Orla and Joanne will go tomorrow, and I will take the scholarship girls the next day. I foresee that interviewing the girls might take longer, so we will be staying overnight. You and the rest of the faculty are free to make your own arrangements with the Sheriff’s office.”

Sam’s eyebrows almost reached her hairline.

“You’re taking six girls alone? That tells me all I need to know about how long it’s been since you last supervised kids directly. They’ll drive you ragged in a matter of minutes.”

Magdalene just smiled. Her little spider’s web all but set.

“Well, if you volunteer your services…”

Sam threw her hands up, exasperated.

“Of course I’ll go with you. You’ll need all the help you can get with them. They’re rascals, especially Amanda and Lily. They’ll want to go to every store and try on all the clothes, only to go back for more of the same the next morning. Believe me, been there, done that.”

“All right then, that’s settled,” Magdalene said as breezily as she could and resumed making lazy circles on Sam’s hand, periodically venturing to caress her wrist and causing Sam’s breath to hitch and her own heart to go hazy with longing. She could feel Sam relax and lean into the caress before suddenly straightening up.

“Wait, stop, I can’t think when you touch me.” Magdalene bit her lip, trying to contain a smile. Sam’s eyes widened as realization dawned. “This was a setup! You wanted me to go with you.”

Magdalene tried to look innocent, but she knew she wasn’t quite pulling it off. Still, she gave it an honest try.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. All these accusations! If this is what I’m to contend with, I might as well go shopping with Lily all by myself, rather than endure this kind of suspicion from you.” Magdalene let go of Sam’s hand and clutched her own theatrically to her chest.

“Suspicion? You tricked me! With your caresses and your perfume… And just being here with me… Like this.” Sam waved her now free hand between them.

Dropping the pretense, Magdalene sat at the desk and placed her chin on her hand, watching Sam from under half-lidded eyes. She was so beautiful, breathtaking, really. A study in angular grace in motion.

“Are you saying that I used my feminine wiles to tempt you, Sam?” She made sure to lower her voice an entire octave. If Sam thought Magdalene would play fair, she should have known better by now…

“Ah, I don’t think you need wiles.”

Magdalene could swear she saw Sam shiver, and it made her want to lick her lips.

“Are you certain?” Magdalene hadn’t moved, her chin still resting on her folded palm. She could see right through Sam.

“What was the question again?” Sam looked unsteady, punch drunk, and as Magdalene continued to observe her, something shifted on that sculpted face, anguish suddenly apparent. Magdalene sat up and lowered her palm to the desk, knowing she must have crossed a line somewhere.

“I’m sorry, Sam. I shouldn’t tease you. Especially when I can’t follow through.”

“You don’t want to follow through,” Sam corrected with enough force to make Magdalene flinch. No, the school was no place for proceeding with what she really wanted to do to and with Sam. She had a vague idea, a blurry sort of plan, and mostly it was all hope, giving her nascent feelings oxygen to burn as bright as they did. But no matter what would happen, it could not happen on the island. They both still had too much to lose.

Suddenly breathing heavily, Sam looked very tired, yet quite determined at the same time. A dangerous combination, and Magdalene knew she had been pushing, the love and lust clouding her mind. She had to escape while she still had the willpower to do so, especially in light of all the revelations and emotional upheaval she had been through tonight. Love was not easy, after all.

“Be that as it may. Thank you for agreeing to go with me and the girls. I’ll let you know when I make the arrangements.”

Magdalene made to leave, but visibly angry now, perhaps at being dismissed so easily, Sam caught her elbow, making her stumble, then pinned her back against a nearby wall, capturing her.

Magdalene wanted to deny this feeling of being swallowed whole by the moment, but it was too much, sweeping her up like an undertow. Déjà vu had nothing on the two of them. They had stood in this room before, in each other’s arms, breathing each other’s air, yet they might as well have been light-years apart then. But now? Now Magdalene felt unmoored.

The distrust was in the past, the fear of letting go seemed to belong there as well. She wanted and she was desired back, and just as strongly, by someone who was more than a match for her will, for her lust, for her intensity, if the hunger displayed in Sam’s eyes was anything to go by.

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