Page 11 of Midnight Hunt

"So, I still smell breedable, is what you're saying?" I giggled like I were a schoolgirl with a crush.I am! I am a schoolgirl with a crush on her hot, plant obsessed teacher…is it still a crush if he fucked me against the tree like his life depended on it?

"Yes," he confessed with a struggled breath. "Though, it may take some time for that to change."

"So, that just means, you'll have to hunt me through the woods and breed me a few more times. Make sure it sticks," I grinned wickedly.Why did that sound so good?

"Valerie." My gaze darted to his face as he softened. His hand stroked my belly sweetly, but his honey orbs were wandering my face. "Is that truly what you want? I can ensure this doesn't result in a young, and I can brew you a dampener for the frenzy. You do not need to, if you do not wish. In the heat of the moment, I was not—well, you know, you were very much in the same space. But now that we've gotten that out of our system, I need you to answer me."

If anyone else asked me, I would have said no. I would have laughed in their face at the idea of it.Me? Breeding? Caring their young? Our young?The horny, feral gremlin in my brain was satiated so I could actually think clearly for once. And yet, I didn't laugh. I didn't shake my head. I stared at him for a long second. "Lochlainn…I… My grandmother asked me before the semester started why I wasn't married, why I didn't have any babies yet. She was angry because I seemed to have no desire to add to the lineage, like I was personally attacking her with my desire to open an apothecary. And that's the thing I want. I want to finish my studies. I want to open my apothecary. I wantto start a business and not just be another hag in the House of Contempt."

Lochlainn hummed in acknowledgement, nodding along as I spoke. After I finished, the words soaked in the moonlight as I watched the cogs turning in his head. "Now that explains how your protections were removed. I would have known if you'd gone through a breeding season before now."

"Mmm, because you like my scent." I wiggled my shoulders suggestively like I wasn't still naked and my bones weren't weary from being fucked into a tree.

"Very much," he growled almost as a warning, but his eyes were still warm and playful. "But, allow me to offer you a thought. And this does not mean I wish you to go either way. I am, clearly, happy to take you in the woods till I breed you. I am, also, just as happy to brew you a dampening potion and provide relief with protections in place. But…all these dreams of yours are still accomplishable if you wish it."

"If I wish it?" I squinted at him.

"Well, for instance," he cleared his throat, his gaze falling to where his palm cupped my bellybutton. "With me…if you wanted both."

Both? There was a part of me that was rattling in a cage down deep. And I was neveropposedto having a family…I just wanted it on my terms.Both?If anyone here could feed the need deep in my gut and help me with my dreams, it'd be Lochlainn. I sat there, in complete awe at the professor I'd secretly crushed over for years was now the man hoisting me up in his arms.

"I want both." The confession flew out my mouth like I'd expelled it with an angry hex.

"Then I'll give you both," he chuckled, "But first, let’s go find your clothes."

Chapter Seven:

~Lochlainn O'Hare~

~Lochlainn~

Oh, you're in for it now!I held her against my chest as I retraced our steps. With a calmer mind and her frenzy cleansed from my nose, I could finally focus on the task at hand. Getting her back to The Grove, eating dinner, and then sleep.

Thankfully, the weekend was upon us and neither of us had obligations for the next two days. If it wouldn't raise alarms, I'd spent them out here with her. I could hunt us some dinner, splash in the river that ran a little to the west, and sleep under the moon. Enjoy nature as it was intended! But, as my TA and RA both watched me rush out there to save her, if we didn't come back…I could only imagine the ruckus they would raise.

The leaves crunching under my feet mixed with the owls spaced out hooting made the woods feel more ethereal than real. Valerie stared up into the canopy, her gaze roaming all the shadows cast by the leaves.

"I saw what they posted on the discussion board," Valerie exhaled slowly, her ruby eyes finding mine. "You know, I wasn't bothered till I saw this kid from my Business Management 103 class. I've never talked to him, only knew his name because I remember first day he said he wanted to open a shop for his scrolls."

"Oh?" I encouraged her to keep talking while I focused on not punting hidden rocks with my toes or catching my ankle on roots. Thankfully, with all the noise we were making, I likely wouldn't get a fox by the tail or step on a snoozing skunk.

"Yeah, and this fucker had the nerve to post 'she gave hag energy in class', like mother fucker I have never talked to you! How are you going to say I give hag energy when we've never spoken! I didn't hex him, didn't curse his family, didn't eat him in his sleep, like I couldabsolutelyhave been more hag like if they want—welp, okay, Icould, but I won't give them the satisfaction."

It took all of my strength not to laugh as she rambled with her fists shaking in front of her. Reputation aside, Valerie was a good girl. Great grades, minimal social life, was a part of the top sorority, very considerate and easy going in class, kept up conversation in study groups, didn't bite anyone’s head off no matter how much she might have wanted to… I kept thinking back to last year in student group while they were discussing soil, a classmate said something so obtusely wrong even I took a double take. I saw my little witch's eye twitch as she controlled her mouth while explaining it.

"I think you believe your bite is worse than your bark."

"It is!" she huffed.

"Have you actually bit someone yet?" I teased.

"Well…no… But if I did! It would hurt!"

I tossed my head back and cackled, "It is truly amazing that they believe you some great evil villain when you are probablyone of my best students—and no, stop it, don't give me that face, it is not because of your scent or my desire to breed you, little witch. You are very well mannered and a good girl overall."

She immediately scowled, crossing her arms over her pretty breasts and glared at the trees ahead of us. "I can be so much worse. So much meaner, and I don't think people give me enough credit for it."

"I would give you credit, little witch, but I think that might sour the classroom camaraderie." I mostly teased, as I would never give a student a grade just for fucking me.Granted, I hadn't fucked any of my students prior to this.But the point was still there.

---