Page 143 of Mistaken Magic

Ijust pushed at her playfully. "Doyou want to hear this story or not?"

"Ok!" she promised. "I'llbe good.Thenwhat?"

"SoIhugged him, and he hugged me, and it was like one of those body-crushing hugs, you know?Wherelike all the parts line up.No!"Igasped, realizing how that sounded. "Imean like pressing together."ThenIgroaned. "That'snot any better, is it?"

"Notat all," she assured me, sliding her arm around my side. "So, you pressed up against that tree of a man.Thenwhat?"

"Ihad like this urge to kiss him in my excitement,"Isaid, grimacing to showIwasn't sure ifIwas crossing a line or not.

Herface lit up. "Soyou did?"

"No, actually.Itold him thatIwanted to, andImeant to step back, buthekissedme.Hesaid this wayIcould tell you he did it.Andhe expected me to tell you."

"Aww," she crooned. "Ok,Ilike him even more now.Thatis so cute.Buthow was it?Thekiss,Imean!"

Ihad to pause, becauseIdidn't know. "Good" didn't seem to cover it. "Sexy" was all wrong.Ithadn't been that kind of kiss. "Powerful" worked, but that gave the wrong impression.Givingup,Idecided to just ramble.

"Hot, gentle, different.Imean, different than you.Safe,Iguess?Idon't know, butIliked it.Like,Iwas breathing harder when he pulled away, and thenIwas feeling guilty, and - "

"Stopthat," she told me. "Nomore guilt,Rain.IpromiseIwould have no problem at all crawling on you with him."Sheflicked up both brows in a devious little look. "Besides, he gets it.Heknows about us and he hasn't said a word.Infact, he's laughed it off, saying you wouldn't flirt back as much if you weren't into guys, and things like that.Ilike him,Rain.That'swhyIinvited him to the court."

"Whatdoes that mean, anyway?"Iasked. "Iknow it's a big deal, andIget that everyone wants the privilege, butIsomehow got it, andIdon't even know what the big deal is.Imean, just a popular crowd thing like with the jesters?"

"No," she assured me. "See, we don't have a family to fall back on.Noparents who will come help us.Thefour of us were taught to believe in certain things, like supporting your people, so we made each other our people.Beinga part of the court?Itmeans we trust you.Itdoesn't mean we expect you to be fae, but for so long, it seemed like only we fae got it."

"Sowhy wasn'tKeirinvited earlier?"Iasked.

"Becausehe's a stubborn arrogant ass of a man," she teased. "Becausehe says what he thinks, and he's not scared of our power.That'sa good thing, but the boys?They'reso stupidsometimes.TorianexpectsKeirto acknowledge his power.Keirdoesn't care.Wilderhates thatKeirshows him up.Keirwon't apologize for it - nor should he!"

"Likedogs,"Irealized, thinking back to whatBrackenhad said. "Theyall want to lead the pack, but they don't hate each other enough to fight for it, so they simply find their own territory."

Aspenlaughed. "Isuppose that's a good way of putting it.WilderandToriansorted out whose dick is bigger - or whatever guys do - and they get along.Hawkehad no issue with it.HeandTormet in foster care, so it was easier.Idon't have to toss out my dick becauseI'ma girl, andI'mnot complaining about that, and now there's you."

"Me,"Isaid, "the crazy human girl ruining your pretty little fae perfection."

Thistime, she was the one tickling me. "Itis not like that!"

Istopped her by wrapping my arms around her back. "Howis it you make me so happy all the time?"

Sherelaxed into me. "Idon't know, butIfeel the same.Lastyear,Iwas fighting all the time.Ihad to claw my place out of this school with everythingIhad, and since you've been here?I'venever been this happy,Rain."Shemoved her hand to cup the side of my face. "Itfeels like you're the thingI'vealways been missing.Ithought it was supposed to be finding my brother, but that only helped so much.Torianmakes me feel likeI'mnot alone.Likethere's someone to suffer through this with me.You?"Hericy eyes searched mine. "Youremind me what it was like to be happy.Thatit's ok for me to actuallybehappy."

Ipressed my face against the side of her neck. "I'mso glad you kissed me,Aspen,"Iwhispered against the side of her throat, pausing to kiss her skin. "EverytimeIthink this can't get better, you find a way to prove me wrong."

Shesucked in a playful gasp. "Oh, becauseIhelped you catch that hunk of a fae?"Shegiggled. "So, you didn't finish.Tellme more,Rain.Everything!"

"Hesaid nothing has changed,"Iadmitted. "We'restill just friends, but he kissed me.Then, he was hugging me against him the whole way back to the school, and he kinda took the long way around so we'd come into the dining hall where everyone would see us."

"Oh, he's bragging," she gasped. "Nexttime, wrap your arm around him.Youlook really cute with him, you know.Imean, you're not short, but he's pretty tall.Ican't wait to see you kiss him!"

"Aspen,"Ihuffed. "Youare not supposed to say that."

"ButIwant to say that," she told me, rolling halfway over my chest. "Welcometo living with the fae,Rain.Weshare.Thefact that you care ifIapprove?"Sheslid her hand against mine, lacing our fingers together. "Itmakes me feel likeI'ma part of that, andIlike it more thanIcan explain.Igive you my word that ifIfeel ignored,Iwill tell you, butIdon't.Ifeel like behind these doors, you're mine.Outthere, you can be his.Itworks, and this?"Sheleaned in to kiss my lips quickly. "Thatsmile belongs there.Ithink he andIcan make sure it stays."

"Ido not deserve you,"Iwhispered. "Butif you kiss me again,Imight stop caring."

"Always," she promised. "Mygirlfriend is getting herself a boyfriend."

Thenshe pushed my hand over my head and kissed me again.Ifthis wasn't perfect,Icouldn't imagine what was.

---