Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
BAST
I ’m going to get into so much trouble if she reports me, but I can’t help it. Her shocked face and anger are addicting.
“Is your clit still sore?” I ask her as my lips touch the shell of her ear. She stopped in the quad to text someone, and I needed to see her.
A weekend of not seeing her was interminable.
“What? Professor Dalca, you can’t ask me that,” she hisses, glaring at me over her shoulder.
“Why not?” I ask. “It doesn’t make it any less true, does it?”
“My body is none of your concern,” she says, shaking her head. “This isn’t appropriate, especially if you don’t understand why you’re pulled to me.”
“There’s a reason?” I ask. “What kind of witchcraft is this?”
Is this human jerking me around?
“All I want is to be near you, and I don’t understand why,” I say. “So are you doing something to me?”
“I can’t answer that,” she says, stepping forward before turning to face me. It seems she needs a little space.
I can’t allow her this, so I follow her.
“Why not?” I ask. “I’ve been obsessed since I first smelled your scent while you were showering. That’s why I was so angry. It pumps right into my bedroom.”
Her eyes grow wide as she bites her lip. “I didn’t know it would. Shit,” she whispers. “I really wasn’t safe in the dorms. I don’t know why I thought I would be. I’ve almost been raped for how I smell to others. Monsters can’t help themselves, so I have to hide my scent.”
“Rape,” I growl. “I have standards, Miss Rose. There’s no way I would force myself on you like that. I’ll push you, ride the edge of your denial, but never rape.”
“I don’t know you,” she whimpers. “The line blurs for me, and I don’t know what you’re capable of.”
Lorelei turns and runs from me, and my legs are following her before I realize it. Fuck. Heaving in a breath, I stomp my hoof on the ground, swallowing hard. The breeze taunts me, swirling her sweet scent around me.
I want to find her and demand answers.
“We should talk,” a deep, grumbly voice grunts behind me.
Barely offering the monster a glance, I growl as I see Phenex Gorsch next to me. She’s living with him, though I’m unsure why. I’ve been watching her every move outside of my own necessary duties. Between them, I’m only home to sleep.
“Are you going to try to save her from me?” I ask, snorting.
“If I thought that you were actually a danger to her, you’d be dead already,” he mutters. “Samael has a way of relieving the world of monsters who are dangerous or even just a nuisance to Lorelei.”
“Adares,” I sigh.
“He was stalking her,” Phenex says. “He even reported her absence to the Student Housing Dean as a missing person.”
“I think Samael may have mistaken Adares for me,” I say with a wince. “I’ve been stalking her.”
“Well that sucks for Adares, doesn’t it,” Phenex says uncaringly with a shrug. “The monster was a giant prick. He’s better off in a mental ward than getting under Lorelei’s skin.”
“You’re serious,” I say disbelievingly.
“As a plague,” he grunts. “Walk with me.”
“It doesn’t sound like I have any choice,” I say, falling into step with him.
“Lorelei is burning the candle at both ends because of your goddamned musical,” he snarls. “She’s running herself ragged between taking eighteen credit hours, working several days a week, and everything else.”
“Why does she have to work?” I ask. “She has her scholarship.”
“There’s not a stipend attached to it,” he replies.
Most scholarship students receive an allowance of sorts for the odds and ends of their life so they don’t have to worry about money.
“Well, why not?” I ask, annoyed. My feelings are giving me whiplash and my stomach cramps as I think about Lorelei’s busy life.
I knew she was leaving campus a few nights a week and returned home late. I just was unsure as to why.
“It wasn’t in the budget,” Phenex says. “You feel compelled to be around Lorelei, is that right?”
“Yes, it’s fucking obnoxious,” I admit. “I’ve been stealing articles of her clothing, and now that she’s moved out, I can’t do that anymore.”
"You've been… Fuck, Bast,” he says. “Maybe she doesn’t need you as a mate. Samael should just snap your neck and call it a day.”
“It’s much harder to do that than you’d think,” I say immediately. Maybe I am a psychopath with flair.
Huh, who would have thought?
“Yes, you do have a rather thick neck,” Phenex mutters. “How is your history knowledge?”
“I’m not someone who likes to live in the past,” I say. “Music, theater, and its culture is where I spent most of my efforts.”
“That’s understandable, but even you can’t be so dense as to not remember omegas,” he says, his voice barely audible.
There’s a monster fighting with his girlfriend, as we walk past, and I almost miss his words.
Focusing for a moment on the couple, I yell, “Take it somewhere else! I don’t fucking care what your issue is, the school doesn’t need to know what a jealous fucker you are.”
The reptile shifter’s skin turns several colors before he stalks away. The girl is in tears as she goes the opposite direction and I growl under my breath. I hope she refuses to take him back. Asshole.
“What was that?” Phenex asks as I give him my attention again.
“Nothing, it pisses me off when people air out their bullshit,” I explain. “To answer your question, yes I remember them.”
If he’s practically whispering the word “omegas” then I’m not repeating it.
“One of the ways that monsters know their mate is through their scent,” he explains. “They become completely attached and obsessed. The issue is that since Lorelei is the last of this group of people, she’s addicting to those who aren’t her mate as well. The difference is the connection the monster feels.”
“I called her a witch,” I grunt. “I would rather blame magic on this than have her be that.”
There’s only so many ways that we can dance around this. He’s leading me to the history building, which probably will make our conversation a whole lot less cagey if there are less ears around us.
“She’s not a witch, but Lorelei does need to be protected,” Phenex says. “Making her aroused in a theater full of monsters is not the best way to do that. She came home with shredded panties.”
“Is that why she was wearing three pairs of them?” I mutter. “Look, this sounds like overkill, but she just told me that she’s almost had monsters force themselves on her.”
“Groups of monsters,” he corrects. “If this is your version of flirting, it kind of sucks.”
Snorting, I shake my head in derision.
“This can’t be a real thing. They’re all dead,” I hiss. “I have shit to do.”
Shifting direction, I walk away from Phenex, ignoring him even as he shouts my name. This can’t be real.
It simply can’t.
Two weeks later
LORELEI
Looking down at my dress as I put it on, I grin at how perfect it is. I haven’t even had a chance to try the dress on, but I should have known that Phenex would somehow get my size right.
The past two weeks have been hell. Midterms are soon, Dalca is still finding ways to make me squirm, and he has been punched at least once during rehearsals. He makes me insane, but what really fucked me over was when he pulled out a pair of my panties to wipe the blood away.
It doesn’t seem to matter how over the top he is or how creepy he acts, I’m still turned on by him. I need to tell my pussy that we do not need Bast Dalca and to get better taste in monsters.
Yet, he’s gorgeous because of his insanity and passion. Ugh.
“Tonight, there’s no stress,” Phenex says as he fixes his tie next to me. “You’re ahead in your reading, midterm papers are almost done, and you’ve been studying your ass off. Come have fun with me.”
That’s an offer that’s too sweet to refuse, so I nod. “That sounds really good,” I breathe.
Phenex looks gorgeous next to me, his wild dark curls tamer than usual, his suit making me second guess going out because I want to strip him bare. Purring as he grins, he kisses my cheek.
“I would love to stay in, but I have other plans,” he says, rubbing his cheek against mine next. It’s the sweetest thing, even though he’s rubbing his scent all over me to mark me as his.
It’s both barbaric and adorable.
“What are those?” I ask, swooning at how good it feels to have his skin against mine.
“Parade you around a bunch of teachers and donors, kiss you as often as appropriate, and then take you home. Maybe there will end up being public sex against the history building on the walk home,” he says with a shrug. “We’ll see where the night takes us.”
Giggling, I imagine Phenex, as straightlaced as he can be, fucking me against a school building. Biting my lip, I squirm to keep myself from slicking.
“Naughty girl,” he says slyly with a smirk. “I guess fucking in public is on the table.”
“Why do you think we’re always gone so long when I need to feed?” Samael asks, popping his head into the bedroom. “You look beautiful, Lorelei.”
“Thank you,” I say nervously, glancing at the mirror one last time. The dress hugs all of my curves and the high thigh slit shows off a lot of leg.
“How do you feel in the dress?” Samael asks.
“Really pretty,” I admit. “I think I’m nervous about the rest of tonight.”
“I spoke to President Christa and while she was hesitant about the fact that you’re my student, she agreed that I’m the last person to allow a personal relationship to interfere with my ability to teach,” Phenex says. “The rest of the faculty there will fall into place.”
“Will Professor Dalca be there?” I ask.
“I think we need to agree that anyone who has tasted your cum should be called by their first name,” Phenex says, amused as he turns my body toward the door.
“I think that’s a good rule,” Samael teases me as my cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Bast will be there,” Phenex says. “Hopefully he behaves.”
“This dress is very open, and we all know he has no problem using his tail to bother me,” I say.
Phenex’s hand is on the small of my back, which is bare to the air. I have a coat for the walk across campus to the alumni building which is where the party will be held.
“Bast is going to be a problem,” he mutters. “I tried to talk to him about what his connection with you means, but he walked away from me.”
“I am more than willing to try,” Samael says, his fangs all on display. “Please let me have my way with him.”
“I don’t know if you want to beat him or fuck him,” I tease him.
“Very funny. I only lick community cocks, and that’s only if it’s while they’re inside your tight, slick cunt,” he says, winking at me as I trip over my own feet.
Phenex catches me, barking out a laugh as we walk out of the room.
“That was oddly specific, Samael,” he says. “It’s chilly out, Lorelei. Here’s your coat.”
Smiling, I let him help me put it on. I like that they take care of me, or will remind me to do something when I’m feeling frazzled and busy. Slowly, I’m getting used to being able to rely on someone other than myself, even though I get scared at times that it’s getting easier to do.
I have to continually remind myself that they’re not going to disappear on me.
“Thank you,” I murmur. “What are you doing tonight, Samael?”
He’s wearing a pair of sweats and looks very comfortable.
“I have some department meetings to prepare for,” he explains. “I’m going to work on that from bed. If you need me, call please.”
I have my phone in a clutch, and I hold it up to show that I understand.
“Will do,” I promise.
Walking out of the apartment together, Phenex and I hold hands as we chat.
“Professor Gorsch?” a shrill voice calls out, heels clicking behind us.
“I hate that she lives in this apartment building,” I groan softly.
Phenex blows out a breath as we continue on, as if he’s hoping she’ll just give up. Valaria doesn’t seem like someone who will do so easily.
“Don’t worry, she wasn’t invited to the charity event tonight,” he says.
Apparently, the university is raising money for one of their research labs. They need better equipment as they branch out into experimental areas for both monster and human health.
I’m surprised that they’d bother with humans when the majority of their student and faculty body are monsters, but Phenex said that their fundraising dollars come from both, which means they need to spend their energy to expand for both races’ health care.
“I’m speaking to you, Professor Gorsch!” Valaria yells.
“I’m sure that in my advanced age, I didn’t just hear you raise your voice at me,” he growls, turning aggressively as he pushes me behind him.
Valaria hides her snarl, but just barely, shaking her head.
“No, sir. Merely making sure you’re able to hear me,” she says.
This bitch . I really dislike her.
“I heard you, but my girlfriend and I are on our way out. I’m sure that whatever you need from me can be communicated through email,” he says.
My heart flip flops as I listen to him claim me. This is really happening!
“You have a girlfriend?” Valaria asks. “I don’t see her. Is she a tiny monster that you put in your pocket?”
I fucking hate her. She’s got the mean girl energy of a twunt and the brain of an ostrich.
“Don’t be silly,” Phenex says haughtily. The male has big dick, cultured energy like no one else I’ve ever met. He can insult you and make you want him to do it again in the same breath.
I don’t blame Valaria for being attracted to him, but I am also petty enough to want her to fuck off.
“She’s right here,” he says, pretending he doesn’t know about the first time we met. “This is Lorelei Rose.”
His claw crooks in my direction, and his words slide through the bond effortlessly. “ Head up, give her hell, Baby Girl.”
Smiling, I step out from behind Phenex to face Valaria.
“Hello, I believe you’ve played apartment police with me a couple of times. I’m not really into role play, but whatever floats your boat,” I say with a toss of my carefully curled hair.
I know my makeup is on point, the dress is beautiful, and all I can do is believe that I am too.
Phenex hides his smile as he holds my hand, inclining his head toward Valaria.
“Oh you have met. Wonderful,” he says. “As you can see, we are headed out. Lorelei has also moved in with me, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t accost her. There will be consequences if you do.”
With that eloquently delivered mic drop, he guides me out the door.
“Fuck Valaria,” he mutters. “May the cunt stub her toe on a desk.”
Amen to that!