Chapter Sixteen - Date
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Date
AFTER FEELING HARPER’S overwhelming emotions from the other night—and her thoughts from yesterday morning’s class—I needed to step away for a moment to clear my mind. When Genevieve Scarlette, the potions professor, asked me on another night out at the bar, I gladly accepted.
Meeting at the Bayside Tavern was regular for the staff at Ares-Valentine. This usually led to me following her back to her townhome at the academy. Of course, in my personal time, I preferred to stay at the hotel next door from the bar. We could have gone up to a room there, but I had basically moved into the top floor since graduating three years ago. It felt too personal to bring someone else into that space. It was home, at least until I could move back to my estate.
She was also new to teaching, only starting last year. We met over the summer when I was unlocking the townhouse I would be staying in as staff. It stayed casual. She never pried or asked questions that indicated she wanted anything more. I was enjoying the rare night out where I pretended my goals didn’t exist for a few hours.
Except now, sitting at the rustic bar in Deimos Bay, I found it hard to focus on the conversation. After finding my mate, gorgeous, determined despite her struggles in my class, and giving me glares that I definitely deserved, it was currently hard to find what I once saw in the friends-with-benefits situation I had with Genevieve. She did nothing for me anymore.
She murmured something while staring absentmindedly across the bar at one of the screens, causing me to blink out of my thoughts.
My eye caught on a plaque on the wall with my father’s name, Thomas Ares. He loved this bar. I’d even come in and drink juice at the counter while he worked with the managers personally. His hair was dark brown, nearly black. My white hair came from my mother, Delilah.
I turned my head to see my mother’s photo from Bayside Tavern’s 150th anniversary hanging on the back wall. She stood with me and my father only two years before they were murdered. I never had it in me to change the menu, maybe it was dated as the manager mentioned more than once. The novelty of old drinks matched the rustic vibe more than ever now.
When I glanced back at Genevieve, she stared back at me. A smile rested on her lips like she didn’t mind, or maybe didn’t notice how particularly absent I was tonight. She wore a low-cut dress that fit her form, the straps trailing off her shoulders. Her hair was let down, falling to brush her mid-back.
Genevieve Scarlette asked, “Nightcap at my place, like last time?”
Absolutely not. I couldn’t do it. The pull to the mate bond was too strong at the moment. Even if I wouldn’t accept her, she was clearly all I wanted. Feeling Harper’s desire was currently wrecking my body and consuming my mind. More of the universe fucking with me. I knew this feeling would pass, but for now, it was hindering any other relationships. I didn’t believe it was the mate bond entirely, knowing pure will could override it. It was that I knew she was out there.
“Not tonight. Thank you for the offer. Can I walk you home?” I asked.
She shook her head, her bright red lips resting on the rim of her glass. “I think I’ll stay a bit longer.”
I waved over to my bar manager, assuring her drinks were free for the rest of the night before chasing down the rest of my vodka.
“Have a good evening, Genevieve.” I nodded to her and headed back to the academy.
It took no time at all before I was back at Ares-Valentine. I ran a hand down my face, stepping onto the campus. Since her thoughts broadcast to me the night the students had their annual lake party, it triggered my bond. It wasn’t just that, there was a hint of jealousy and protectiveness with how close she was becoming to Thorne. Then, she decided to ignore her walls completely in yesterday’s class. It shocked me. Keeping composure through those projected feelings while teaching was not my finest moment. This was going to kill me. It would only be so bad until she left my class or until I got to the bottom of why I came to this academy in the first place.
Papers. I’ll grade papers, anything to get my mind off this aching need that didn’t appear to be going away. There were few things more boring than grading papers.
The halls were silent as I made my way to my classroom at eight in the evening. The coat I had folded and hanging from my arm hid the long-lasting and incredibly inappropriate erection while I rushed through the campus. It was luck that the halls were so empty. My steps quickened toward my classroom, avoiding stares and any chance of being stopped.
I rounded the corner to my class, and it took everything in me to not audibly curse at her presence. Standing outside my door was the last person I needed to see at this moment.
She stared up at me with light blue eyes constantly churning in deep thought, dark hair falling down over her shoulders in rivers. A floral scent of whatever shampoo she just used hit my nose, like fresh rose. My gaze snapped away.
“What can I do for you, Ms. Solace?” I turned my back to her while pushing my key in the lock, waiting on her answer so I could quickly dismiss her.
“Well, Chancellor Lastrada wants me to take up extra credit since I was out of the Realm for so long. She thought it would help me to get tutoring once a week on Tuesday nights. She said the other professors were already booked with additional tutoring sessions of their own.”
“Did she?” I didn’t mean to sound so clipped. The tone in her voice, ringing through my own mind yesterday, was something I was actively trying to forget.
These late tutoring lessons would definitely cut into my free time. Right now, it was more vital than ever that I watched Douglas’ movements to try to figure out the date and more information for whatever ritual the council was planning. This was very inconvenient.
“She insisted and said you’d be free for the hour.” She peered at me through those dark eyelashes.
“I am not free this evening,” I stated.
“Um.”
I exhaled, unable to keep the annoyance from my voice. “What is it?”
“A friend of mine is tutoring with Professor Douglas, but he was there when she pulled me into her office and said he’s completely booked. Scarlette isn’t taking on more students this year. Lastrada said I’ll get detention if I don’t attend. Sorry if I’m a bother.” Sarcasm, along with her own annoyance, laced her words as she crossed her arms and stared down the hall.
“You are no bother, Ms. Solace. One hour on Tuesdays is doable.” It wasn’t. It risked the mate bond becoming evident to her if I let my walls slip within her proximity, but she had clearly tried getting out of being stuck with me. Being honest with myself, I disliked hearing she struggled to find a tutor.
This was a really bad idea .
Papers.
Waving a hand like I did every evening, air pulled down all of the window coverings while the students practiced magic in the field, just yards away from my class. I made my way to my desk, pulling in my chair as tightly as possible to hide my still aching erection. Seeing my mate did not help my case.
I was only growing harder, like my body was calling to her. According to legend, mates were your perfect match, perfect in every way, your ultimate desire.
It didn’t help that she kept biting her lip in concentration. I was nearly going to blow in my pants with no control if she kept doing it. All I could think about was taking that lip, biting it so hard she would remember my mouth on hers for a week every time she pulled that lip back into her mouth. This was bad for both of us, I was seconds from losing control. The mate bond was like a fire within me to claim her, to let my walls down, and let her figure it out herself.
It didn’t get past me that it wouldn’t have been so strong of a pull if she didn’t feel something for me. Her thoughts the other day confirmed that. Though, she had been making a noticeable improvement in blocking and taking my pathetic excuse for the lessons seriously.
She grabbed a chair, pulling it up to my desk. I avoided her stare as I brought a stack of papers and a pen closer to me. A stack of entitled students describing elemental application and their obnoxious opinions of magical law would have to do. This was going to be a long hour.