Page 45 of Strength of Desire

Treading lightly, I drew up next to the open door and peered inside.

Cory stood at the front of the room, in front of Nat’s big desk, staring out at nothing. A slim, moth-eaten book rested on the desk behind him, splayed open to its middle and held down with a paperweight.

Cory’s eyes were narrowed, his jaw set. He was concentrating on something, but what?

I watched him, fascinated. I’d never had the chance to really look at him before. Sure, I’d had him in class, but there, I was too busynotlooking. And that night at the Balsam Inn, I’d been so turned on by his presence, I hadn’t really taken in the details.

Now, though. Now, he couldn’t see me watching, and my eyes drank him in. Looking at him from the side, he seemed almost frail, like he might disappear in a gust of wind, or a flash of light. He still needed a haircut. His hair was starting to curl down onto his neck, and my hand actually started to move, aching to run through it.

I caught myself at the last second, balling my hand into a fist and forcing it to my side. Cory didn’t notice, still focused as he was on the empty air in front of him.

It was interesting, watching him this way. Not just because I could stare as long as I liked, but because I could see what he looked like when he thought he was alone.

He didn’t look scared, or nervous, or even hesitant. He looked…resolute. That was the word for it. Like he stood at the foot of a mountain, and was determined to make it to the top.

There was a strength in him, a quiet purpose, that took my breath away. Yeah, he was still gorgeous. His brows arched down over his serious blue-gray eyes. Freckles kissed his cheeks, which were haloed by the afternoon sun. His lips could have been sculpted from marble for all their perfection. But it was the unwavering resolve radiating from his body that froze me in place.

As I watched, he lifted his right hand, bringing it to his chest, palm up. He looked down at it, pressing his lips together.

“Light,” he whispered, his eyes fixed.

Nothing happened.

He closed his eyes, pressing his lips together again. When he opened his eyes, he shifted his hand a little closer to his body.

“Light,” he said again, louder this time.

Still nothing.

Was he trying to do magic? I’d been at Vesperwood long enough to know that this was one of the first spells students learned. But Cory was paranormal. An incubus. He shouldn’t be able todomagic. Hadn’t anyone told him?

Maybe not. Seb was giving him lessons, and heoughtto know that from his books. But he couldn’t know from experience, and that might make a difference.

My stomach twisted. I didn’t owe Cory anything, just because we had that experience in common. In fact, we didn’t. I hadn’t been an incubus in ages, not really. I couldn’t give him anything more than Seb could.

And I wasn’t going to let him any closer to me than he already was.

Cory closed his eyes and shook his head. His cheeks were growing pink. From anger, or embarrassment? I couldn’t tell.

It shouldn’t have been the latter. He was all alone.But you don’t know him, whispered the voice in the back of my mind.You can’t know what he feels.

He opened his eyes and adjusted his hand again, this time bringing it a foot from his chest. When he spoke, his voice was louder than I’d ever heard it, commanding, “Light!”

Nothing happened, and Cory groaned, a noise of pure frustration. He turned and slapped his hands down on Nat’s desk, a growl rising deep in his throat. I’d never seen him mad before. I hadn’t known he had it in him.

“Stupid, fucking idiot,” he muttered, staring down at his hands. “What were you expecting?”

He stood there for another moment, then grabbed his book, flipping it closed. With a start, I realized he was about to leave the classroom and find me standing in the hall, watching him.

I backed away from the door, then darted into Room 206, flattening myself against the wall. My heart pounded. I quieted my breath and waited. Finally, I heard his footsteps receding down the hall.

I sighed in relief, but made myself wait another couple minutes just in case. My pulse was still racing, and I shook my head in disbelief.

Look at me. Hiding from an eighteen-year-old, like he had the power to hurt me.

The problem was, I feared very much that he did.

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