Page 33 of A Lesson in Obedience
I traced lazy lines along his abs. “I know. Sometimes I just need you, okay?”
He pressed his face into my braids, kissing my head. “I’m yours, always.” I snuggled further into his body. “I find something very interesting though.” River ran his fingers over my shoulder.
“Hmm?”
“You aren’t as undisciplined as you think, gorgeous.”
I peeked up at him through my lashes.
He smiled down at me. “We don’t have to talk about it, but I could tell you were using your powers in a way that felt right for you. You could have destroyed my room and that would have been okay, as long as you came.” I noticed his smirk and my face started to heat from my blush. “The fact that you held back at all tells me that you are a lot stronger than Chancellor Fowler gives you credit for.”
I let myself consider that, then sighed. “Can we not bring up Chancellor Fowler, especially not when I’m in a post sex high?”
His chest moved when he laughed. “Sure, sure. It is very hot to say my girlfriend is a sexy little witch though. You can force my face between your pretty thighs any time you like.” His hand roamed around to my side and tickled me.
I knew that all the things that needed to be figured out, all the bad things would find their way back to me. River was right, he couldn’t fix everything, he couldn’t change what’s happened, but hecouldgive me a sense of peace. Right now, I wanted to remain in my happy bubble for just a little longer.
11
Grayson
EARLIER
River left the room and I tried to get myself to believe that every conversation we had got a little bit better, but that was a stretch. The fact that he was talking to me at all was good enough and I knew that he didn’t think I was a bad person. IknewI wasn’t a bad person. I made a choice and I thought that choice only involved me and people I didn’t know.
That was an odd way to think about it. The fact that I would have made different decisions based on the fact that I cared about the people involved. I should have stood up and fought back the minute the idea of kidnapping witches even came up, regardless of my familiarity with them. Did that make me a coward? I didn’t know how to answer that. Chancellor Fowler wasn’t a particularly scary man, but what he could do, how he spoke… that was what sent a chill down my spine.
I couldn’t comprehend how Riley could be related to him. Shewas this little ray of light that I liked being around and associating myself with Chancellor Fowler had shattered that light into a million pieces and ultimately, Ihadhelped him. That’s all she saw when she looked or thought about me. I was determined to change that and help her. I wanted to help all of them.
Myloloused to say:hindi mahalaga kung ano man ang tagumpay na iyong narating kung hindi mo naman kayang ipagmalaki kung paano mo ito nakuha
The achievement doesn't matter if you aren't proud of how you acquired it.
I ran my fingers along the dampener I wore and it made me think about my powers. It was times like this that I wished I had just inherited my father’s shifting ability. Shadows had gotten me in trouble and the fact that I had worked so hard to understand and perfect them made the situation even worse.
I sighed, looking around the room. Their guest room had a half bath and a window that let in natural light. I wasn’t complaining and I had been doing fine until I heard her voice. I kept quiet because if I’d bombarded into their conversation, it would have escalated to a level I didn’t want. All I wanted to do was let my shadows out and move towards her. Comfort her with them like I used to and make her feel good. I could wait…I was patient enough. I had been patient and waited for her to be okay with accepting both me and River into her bed, so I could wait for this.
River had eaten lunch with me, made small talk and left. It was just me in this room now. I heard a throat clear and the door nudge open. Asher pushed it open some more and leaned against the threshold.
He looked annoyed, but honestly, that’s just how Asher always presented himself. “My brother has informed me that you’ll be staying here for the time being, even though your dorm room is perfectly adequate.”
I pinched my eyebrows together. “I would think you would want me under your thumb for the long haul.”
Asher sighed. “One would think, but now that she’s here, I’m worried this will cause more problems then solve them.”
I walked over to him, placing my hands in my pockets. “I’ll tell you what I told River. I want to help, and more importantly, I want to helpher. If she wants to talk to me then I’ll be ecstatic about it. If she wants to pretend that I’m not here then okay, I’ll deal.”
Asher looked me up and down and chuckled. He removed his glasses, cleaning them with the bottom of his shirt, then placing them back on his nose. “You really think you can be around here and not just assert yourself into her space?”
I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest. “It can’t be that hard. You do it.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I rolled my eyes. “I can admit that I fucked up. I can admit my relationship with her might not ever be the same. I can even admit that I am a little bit in love with her, but you can’t even admit that you have to work to restrain yourself and try not to be in her personal space.”
“Stop making something into a bigger issue and also deflecting. I’m her teacher, so I think I know how to act professionally.”
I scoffed. “Oh right, I’m sure it’s very professional for teachers to fuck their students on a bathroom sink or you know, shove their dick down their throat until they gag. You ask me if I can deal with being in this space with her, when I wonder the same thing about you.”
