Page 42 of Shattered Veil
Chapter Eighteen
Lochan
Standing inside Brigid’s room, I wait, watching the shadows lengthen as the daylight is dimming. I can’t risk being seen with her in public, not if we want to maintain this re-started charade of distance. It’s been a few days now, and we’ve pulled it off so far. But here, in the privacy of her quarters, the scent of her in the air and her casually tossed clothing on the chair, I feel surrounded by her as I invade her privacy and space.
My eyes roam the room, taking in every detail. Her bed is unmade, sheets tangled as if she’d had a restless night. I resist the urge to touch them.
On her nightstand I see a sketchbook. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I step closer, flipping it open. The page reveals a haunting landscape of twisted trees and a maelstrom of black feathers. Her talent is undeniable, but the scene sets my teeth on edge. I flip through a few more pages, each drawing more unsettling than the last. Until I come to the most recent sketch of a man. With a scowl of anger that twists his face, looking like the world shit in his morning coffee.
It’s unmistakably me. Is this how she sees me?
My glance falls on the clothes on her chair, and black lace catches my eye. Draped carelessly over the back of her chair are a pair of panties, delicate and barely there. My throat goes dry as unbidden images of Brigid wearing those panties—and Brigid taking off those panties—flood my mind. My dick flexes and I force the thoughts away. This is exactly why I need to keep my distance. I can’t afford to be distracted by her body, no matter how much it calls to me.
The door creaks open and Brigid steps inside, her gray eyes widening when they land on me. She lets out an exasperated sigh, one hand coming to rest on her hip.
“Seriously? Do none of you understand the concept of a locked door?”
I cross my arms over my chest, fixing her with a stern look.“We need to talk.”
“So you decided to break in?” Her eyes narrow as she notices the open sketchbook.“Were you going through my things?” She stomps over and closes the book.
She turns to face me fully.“What do you want, Lochan?”
I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat. Brigid’s cheeks are flushed from her brisk walk, a few strands of dark hair clinging to her neck. My eyes are drawn to the rapid pulse at the base of her throat, and further, to the swell of her full breast beneath her shirt, nipples hard and visible. Images of my mouth closing around her nipple while I grip her tit with my hand, flash in my head.
I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus.“The Harrowing. You’re not ready.”
Her lips press together primly.“And you care? You’ve been avoiding me for days.”
In public we all avoid her. But I’m the only one who leaves the suite when she visits in private.“I’m here now,” I growl, stepping closer.“And we’re going to train. Starting tonight. Late enough that we can do it without being noticed.”
Brigid’s eyes flash dangerously.“Oh, are we? And what makes you think I’ll agree to that?”
I lean in, my face inches from hers.“Because you don’t have a choice. Unless you want to end up dead or worse during the trials.”
For a moment, Brigid’s eyes spark with defiance and I think she’s about to fight me on this. For some reason, that makes me rock hard.
“Fine. But I’m not your pet, Lochan. I’ll train with you, but on my terms.”
I fight the urge to argue. Her stubbornness grates on me, but I can’t deny the thrill it sends through my body.“Your terms?” I growl, closing the distance between us.“And what exactly are those?”
Brigid tilts her chin up, meeting my gaze unflinchingly.“No more sneaking into my room. And you treat me like an equal, not a nuclear bomb about to detonate.”
Her scent envelops me—flowery with something darker, earthier, like the smell of sex. It takes every ounce of willpower not to bend her over right her and now and fuck her.
She sees the change in me and her eyes widen. I wonder if she’s going to take a step back, but she stays right where she is. I watch as her eyelids lower and she arches a brow.
“Alright,” I say, my voice rough. I can’t stop staring at those fucking lips. I think about them wrapped around my cock, and a growl rises in my throat.“No more sneaking in. But I’ll treat you how I damn well please.”
Brigid’s eyes narrow.“Then maybe I don’t need your help after all.”
She turns to walk away, but I grab her arm, spinning her back to face me. The movement brings her body flush against mine. I can feel the heat of her, the softness of her curves pressing into my hard planes.
“You need me.Whether you like it or not.”
Her breath becomes shallower, and I watch as her pupils dilate. She’s affected by our proximity as much as I am. The realization sends a stab of satisfaction through me.
“I don’t need anyone,” she whispers, but there’s a tremor in her voice that betrays her.
