Page 17 of Ruthless Fae
Yes, we should be talking, should be saying how relieved we were to see each other alive and standing. But maybe, this unrestrained desire amounted to the same. It was relief and delight all wrapped into one. My hands and my lips could tell him things that no words could. I caressed his face, slipped my fingers into his silky, wet hair, explored his hard torso with eager fingers.
His hand came dangerously close to the edge of the towel as his lips trailed a path across my jaw. It was unfair that he had a T-shirt on. I wanted to rip it off and explore his shoulders, the way he was exploring mine.
“Tally.” My name rumbled in his chest, igniting something wild within me.
I whirled him around, pushed him onto the bed, and climbed on top of him, wrapping my legs around him. He looked up at me, his hands on my thighs, his eyes wide, very well aware that I was straddling him and wearing nothing underneath the towel.
“So not fair,” he said.
I leaned forward and kissed him. The towel unwrapped itself and fell to the sides, leaving my back exposed. I almost sprang up and gathered it around me, but that thought went out the window when his hands glided under my wings and caressed my back.
Slowly, his hold slid to my waist. There, he gripped me tightly and thrust upward, giving me a feel of his desire for me. A moan escaped me, which seemed to ramp up his desire because he deepened his kiss and held me tighter.
“I want you under me,” he said. “But your wings.”
The length of my body still pressed against him, I glanced into his eyes. “And I want you naked, but your clothes…”
We both laughed, and it was such an easy sound, a moment of light in the long weeks of darkness we’d endured. Could it always be this way? Could we, one day, leave the horrible memories of this place behind?
Vaughn’s green eyes lowered, peering down the length of my neck. “Sit and I’ll take off my shirt,” he said, with a crooked smile.
If I sat, the towel would remain behind, and he would get a full view of my naked glory. It didn’t seem fair, but then again, maybe it was. I could fly out of reach. It would drive him crazy, for sure. My smile matched his, but as I prepared to fly up, an insistent beeping came from the watch at his wrist.
His eyes rolled in frustration, and he groaned. I sat up at once, taking the towel with me and covering myself.
“Damn!” Vaughn complained, glancing regretfully in my direction.
“What is it?”
He got up and sat at the edge of the bed. “Meeting with the dean to discuss what we found.”
I nodded and picked up my stack of clothes, which we’d rumpled during our moment of untamed want.
“When we’re back, we’ll start where we left off,” Vaughn said. “Don’t think I’ll forget.”
“I’m counting on it.” I slipped into the small bathroom to put on my clothes, still thinking of his strong body under mine.
Maybe we hadn’t had long, but it’d been enough to remind me how to smile and give me hope. We would defeat the Habermanns. Vaughn would be fighting alongside me again, after all.
Chapter Eight
Another meeting.We’d only held a few, and I’d already grown weary of them.
But, I sat through it, the whole crew gathered around the table as we discussed our options once again, including the dean who looked tired but alert. Only the silent twins’ chairs remained empty. It seemed they were doing important research.
The helmet I’d stolen from Karen was of use, so my injury and near-death hadn’t been for nothing. At least that made me happy. The silent twins had taken the device to prod and poke and analyze. I hoped we could employ it to free Bael, Wally, Daniella, and Sinasre. But would the answers come soon enough?
At least I’d stopped that bitch, Karen, from using it for a little while. She had a backup, no doubt, and was likely manipulating my friends at this very moment.
The thought of that drew out so much rage that I had to take a series of deep breaths. Vaughn, beside me, put his hand on my leg. We shared a look that helped me calm down, and I’d never been more grateful to have him by my side.
I thought of our moment after my shower and shivered. His hand tightened around my thigh before releasing it.
The information Charlie had found seemed less clear. She’d gotten what she called a “magical signature” of the person responsible for the barrier, but no real details on who the witch or warlock might be. I didn’t exactly understand the nature of a “magical signature”, but Vinya and the dean were discussing at length how to tease out its owner. Something involving a complicated spell I didn’t follow.
I was no witch. My mind glazed over. I hadn’t slept well or much, and all this talk was putting me to sleep.
Finally, they stood. The meeting seemed adjourned. Vaughn glanced at me, a curious look on his face.
