Page 18 of Eight Embers

I hide behind the pillar and give a nod to the bulky security guards trailing amusedly behind them, staying out of sight so I can just watch them interact.

I fucking love the way Delaney gets aggressive with Cory, like now, when she’s pushing them up against the wall with a hand to their chest so she can kiss them silly.

Cory, in turn, is smiling through the kiss and burying their hands in Delaney’s hair, fisting it, and holding her close to them.

They act like high schoolers, and it’s so fucking endearing that I hate to interrupt them, but if I don’t soon, I won’t get any time with either of them until late tonight.

They’re both stuck in the world they’ve created for themselves, so they don’t notice when I sidle up to them and lean against the wall, close enough for them to feel my breath on their cheeks.

They pull apart and give each other a devious look that very rarely leads anywhere good; then they tag team me, and I really wish I could say it was in a sexy way, but alas, they’ve discovered how obnoxious I get when my side is tickled, and they revel in my high sensitivity there.

Basically, they assault me right in the middle of the hallway.

Halfway through the attack, they end up kissing again, tripping until we’re all sprawled on the ground, and I’m basically a glorified rug the way Delaney is pinning Cory down on top of me. Until she disappears, yoinked up by an irate unicorn.

“This is preposterous. Have you no decorum?” Oh my, he’s fuming. Holy shit, does his breath smell like…bubblegum? Yummmmm.

Cory takes too long to climb off of me, too eager to be lying there, wiggling their ass right over my crotch. Things are about to get a whole lot more preposterous if they don’t stop.

Delaney’s tone softens as she runs her hand over Saladriel’s upper arm. “Hey, how’s your day been going?”

She looks genuinely happy to see him, and I wish he could reciprocate for Delaney’s sake. “Fine. What is meant by this pornographic display in the hall?”

Delaney stumbles, holding her head. She lifts her head in confusion, then smiles and mutters an apology to Saladriel before continuing down the hall like she’s there alone.

“What the hell was that?” I jump up quickly, making sure Cory is steady before sprinting after her. “Delaney, wait!”

She spins and waves at me, giving me a side hug. “Hey, Adam. I forgot you went here. You on your way to class?”

I grab her arms and check out her pupils, but they look fine. “You feeling okay? You’re acting strange.”

Her lips tilt down in a pout, then she pokes me in the chest. “I’m fine. You should go take care of your partner over there; they look lonely. You want to catch a movie this weekend? Let me know when you guys are free!”

She pats me on the arm and strolls off, the correct direction to her next class, but I’m so thrown off by her behavior that August and Jackson catch up to her before I do, instantly on high alert. August blocks the flow of students from Delaney as Jackson herds her to the edge of the corridor, speaking in low tones that she doesn’t seem to like.

“Just stop! I told you; I don’t need your help!”

“Woah, woah, woah, let’s all take it down a notch, shall we?” I suggest with the aim of not drawing more attention to Delaney. Something’s going on with her right now and we don’t need nosy people staring at her right now.

Delaney rolls her eyes and tries to distance herself from Jackson. “Can you get him away from me, Adam? I’m so sick of himpretending like he has any say in us being broken up. Jackson, this is on you! You didn’t want me, so now you don’t get me!”

Her voice is attracting attention anyway as it escalates in volume, so I push myself between Jackson and her so that I’m all she can see. “Delaney, I need you to do me a favor, okay sweetheart? Can you please take a few breaths for me, try to get your head clear so we can talk about what’s happening? You’re freaking us out.”

She darts her eyes side to side, and I know she’s going to run before she makes any attempt to do so, and I’ve got her in my arms and pinned before she can get the drop on us. I make sure she’s not uncomfortable, and I really hope one of her other mates is busy calling for medical or some other sort of backup because really, what the fuck?

“Baby, don’t fight me.”

“Get off of me, Adam! Don’t call me baby, I can’t handle it!”

I do the only thing I can do to quickly to steal her attention; I play dirty. I go in for a searing kiss, stealing her mouth like it’s always been mine. And really, hasn’t it? I don’t give her any room for doubt, I just give everything I have to make sure that she feels exactly what’s coursing through my veins for her: desperate need, always.

She responds, but she seems confused. When I finally pull back, she’s rubbing her mouth like she’s been betrayed by it, looking up at me with her fucking gorgeous lavender eyes so wide that I could fall into them.

“What’s going on, Adam? Why did you just kiss me?”

I take a few deep, calming breaths myself before I deign to answer. “I need you to tell me exactly what’s going through your head right now.”

We’ve definitely got a crowd around us at this point, and it’s not long before staff start showing up, trying to get the gawking students gone. My heart is breaking because with every word she says, it’s further proof that she’s experiencing something right now that I’m not sure I can help her with. She’s acting like everything between any of us hasn’t happened.

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