Page 32 of Witchful Thinking

"Being terrified is perfectly reasonable," he replied with a hint of his usual humor."We did just battle corrupted ward magic this morning."

"That's not what scares me, and you know it."Diana traced the line of his jaw with her fingertips, watching golden light follow her touch."This—us—happened so quickly.A week ago, you were just the irritating young contractor invading my infirmary.And now..."

"And now?"he prompted when she trailed off.

"Now I can't imagine not having you here," she admitted, the honesty making her feel strangely vulnerable."It's like discovering a part of myself I didn't know was missing."

The golden shimmer brightened at her words, responding to the truth of her feelings.Alarick's eyes darkened as he leaned in, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened, kindling a familiar heat between them.

Diana responded eagerly, her fingers threading through his hair as his arms encircled her, pulling her flush against him.Unlike their previous encounters, fueled by urgency and new discovery, this had a different quality—a slow-burning intensity built on acknowledged feeling rather than just desire.

"I want to see all of you," Alarick murmured against her lips."In proper light, not just hurried moments between emergencies."

Diana felt a momentary flicker of self-consciousness—she was thirty-five, not twenty-five, with the subtle marks of time that entailed—but the open admiration in his gaze banished such thoughts.She sat up, reaching for the hem of her sleep shirt.

"Allow me," he said, his voice dropping to that low register that sent shivers down her spine.

His hands replaced hers, sliding beneath the fabric to caress her sides as he slowly lifted the garment upward.Diana raised her arms, allowing him to pull it over her head, leaving her bare from the waist up in the golden afternoon light.

Alarick's breath caught audibly."You're beautiful," he said, his voice reverent."Even more so than I imagined."

"You imagined this?"she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice despite the heat rising to her cheeks.

"Constantly," he admitted, his eyes traveling over her with obvious appreciation."From the moment I saw you again in the infirmary.Probably before that, if I'm being completely honest."

The confession, delivered with such straightforward sincerity, sent a wave of warmth through her that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with desire."Your turn," she said, reaching for the buttons of his shirt.

Diana took her time, revealing him inch by inch as she undid each button.The ward work that had once puzzled her—how a former apprentice had developed such impressive musculature—now made perfect sense as she exposed his chest and shoulders.Physical magic required physical strength, and Alarick's body reflected years of demanding work.

When she pushed the shirt from his shoulders, her hands lingered, tracing the contours of muscle with appreciative fingers.The golden shimmer followed her touch, growing brighter where skin met skin, their magic responding to their growing desire.

"I think," she said, deliberately echoing his earlier words, "you're even more beautiful than I imagined."

His laugh was warm and genuine as he caught her hands in his."Now I know you're exaggerating.Though I appreciate the sentiment."

"Not at all," she replied, leaning in to press her lips to his chest, directly over his heart."I find you quite..."her mouth moved lower, tracing a path down his sternum, "...magnificent."

Alarick's breath hitched as her lips traveled across his skin, leaving trails of golden light in their wake.His hands came up to tangle in her hair, neither directing nor restraining, simply connecting as she explored.

"Diana," he breathed when her mouth reached the waistband of his pants."If you continue that particular exploration, this will be over embarrassingly quickly."

She glanced up at him, enjoying the flush spreading across his cheeks and the intensity in his gaze."We have all afternoon," she reminded him with a mischievous smile that made his eyes darken further.

"True," he conceded, his voice rough with desire."But at the moment, I'm more interested in returning the favor."

Before she could respond, he had shifted their positions, gently pressing her back against the pillows as he hovered above her.The golden shimmer of their fusion surrounded them like a cocoon of light, responding to their shared desire as his lips found the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder.

Diana gasped, arching into his touch as he continued his path downward, his mouth hot against her collarbone, the curve of her breast.When his lips closed around her nipple, a moan escaped her, pleasure spiraling outward from the point of contact.The magical shimmer intensified, making her skin hypersensitive to every touch as he lavished attention first on one breast, then the other.

"You're incredibly responsive," he murmured against her skin, satisfaction evident in his voice."I can feel your magic reaching for mine with every sound you make."

"It's the fusion," she managed, her voice breathier than she'd intended."It amplifies everything."

"Not just the fusion," he said, his hand sliding down to trace the waistband of her sleep pants."Though I won't deny it adds an extraordinary dimension."

As if to demonstrate, he let his magic deliberately reach for hers, sending a pulse of energy that made her gasp as pleasure coursed through her entire body.The golden shimmer brightened dramatically, casting the entire room in warm light.

"That's..."Diana struggled to find words as the sensation faded, leaving her trembling."How did you do that?"

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