Page 40 of By the Orchid and the Owl
Kissing me.
His mouth fused with mine. His tongue swept away every retort on my lips, the taste of him filling me with something exotic and dark—like the space between stars.
“Oh. Am I interrupting?”
Coen rolled off me lazily and sat up, swiping a few fingers through his mussed-up hair. I sat up, too, panting, dizzy, confused, and… perked. Wanting.
But there, in Coen’s doorway, stood Kimber with that parakeet on her shoulder. The princess of my house, and Jenia’s older sister.
Her eyes narrowed on me before rounding on Coen.
“I didn’t realize you’d… expanded your tastes.”
Ugly. Vile. That’s what I was under Kimber’s gaze. Nothing but a slug we’d study in Ms. Pincette’s class. I crossed my arms over my chest, near tears.
“Did you barge in here to criticize my choice in women, Kimber, or is there something else you need to tell me? Because I’d really like to get back to—”
“There’s a fight upstairs,” Kimber said through gritted teeth. “You’re needed.”
Indeed, a series of smashing and banging echoed over our heads, rattling the lantern on its hook and flinging that flickering light in every direction.
Coen sighed at the ceiling. “I see. Fine.” Turning toward me, he placed a finger under my chin, lifted it, and drawled, “Until next time, little hurricane.”
Then he strolled after Kimber, who threw me a look of deepest disgust over her shoulder just as her parakeet squawked a single word at me. “Slut!”
Leaving me sitting on his bed, the pill still in my hand and my breath a tousled mess in my lungs.
CHAPTER
15
I’m sorry about that.
His voice was in my head by the time I climbed into my top bunk that night, Emelle already snoring beneath me. But how was I supposed to talk back to him?
Just like you’re doing now.
Even in the confines of my mind, that damned voice was a gentle, growl-tipped caress, and... it chuckled as I thought that.
Okay, maybe Idon’twant you to talk to me mind-to-mind, I thought, trying to block out every mental image of him on top of me, of the feel of his—shit. No. I couldn’t be remembering this while he lounged in my mind, couldn’t let him know that the taste of his tongue still filled my mouth, that dark and exotic…
Don’t worry,came his unhurried voice.Every woman at the Institute wants to have a good tumble with me.
I scoffed against my pillow.I think you’re too big for your own britches.
Oh, much too big,he agreed.I was ready to bust out of my pants with the feel of you squirming beneath me.A quick laugh at the blush that oozed into my mind, but then his voice sobered.I’m only sorry that you didn’t choose it for yourself. I couldn’t let anyone think we were doing more than—
I know,I thought back, rather quietly for being in my own mind.
Because while Kimber’s disgust was painful, her suspicion might have been detrimental—for me and the mysterious others that Coen was protecting.
Did you…I rolled over in bed as some other girls tiptoed into the bunkroom, whispering loudly.Did you ever date her? Kimber? She seemed sort of angry.
Thankfully, Kimber had her own private bedroom, too, as a fifth-year and our house’s princess. Unlike Jenia, who was due to return to the bunkroom any night now, I’d never have to worry about Kimber hovering over me while I slept.
Silence in my head, though I still felt his presence: a mass of sly strength.
Coen?
