Chapter 8
eight
Eryn
The basement of the library was a labyrinth of halls that looked exactly the same; same carpet; same shiny brown doors; same plain paint job.
I heard rumors that there were tunnels down here, which connected this building to a lot of the older ones on campus, but I wouldn’t even know where to begin to look for them.
Not that Civil War Era tunnels were my reason for lurking today. Kai was avoiding me. He canceled our last two tutoring sessions via email, telling me to print and complete the attached worksheets like he hadn’t rearranged everything I thought I knew about sex in the fucking stairwell of my dorm.
We didn’t even have sex! But I sure as hell had never been kissed like that before.
My previous experiences were nice, I guessed, but kissing Kai was like a jolt to the system.
Like lightning coursing right underneath the surface of my skin, sinking into my muscles, and taking my nervous system for a joyride.
When he touched me, I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think.
I forgot that I wasn’t human or that my touch could be toxic to the mental health of anyone unlucky enough to be on the wrong side of my control.
It took some serious concentration to keep from slipping into Rani’s mind whenever she grabbed my arm or brushed my skin in a hug.
I’d gotten better at it, but still.
Then there was Kai—finger in my literal vagina and my mind was blessedly empty.
It was a sign. Maybe Kai was one of those abnormal humans with weird brain waves that disrupted my power.
Maybe he was safe from me. I stood in front of his office door and wrung my hands.
This could be the worst idea I’d ever had, but I couldn’t go another week replaying that night in my head or worrying about whether Kai’s change in attitude toward me would affect my grades.
My classes were done for the day, and I usually spent the afternoon and early evening studying or completing assignments.
If he wasn’t here, I’d go back upstairs and get to work—bury myself in the mound of homework waiting for me.
I’d yet to update my parents this week so maybe I’d write that email too.
I wasn’t sure what to tell them besides the usual; everything was fine and that I was living the free, fun-filled life they always wanted for me. It sucked that I got to experience all this while they were stuck hiding in some backwoods little town, trying to live a full but inconspicuous life.
We still weren’t sure what my rejection of the witch heir meant for them and decided not to test their newfound clemency until after I graduated. Just in case.
That was why I needed to buckle down, get my damn degree, and not let some broody blonde with gifted fingers throw me off course.
I raised my fist, knuckles resting on the cool wood. Screw it.
The hollow knock cut a harsh tone through the empty hall.
Faint sounds on the other side of the door triggered an unreasonable desire to flee, but then, there he was, standing in front of me with a resigned frown.
Some part of me actually expected him not to be here, but he was, and gods, he looked good.
His golden hair was tousled like he’d run his hands through it a thousand times. Those ocean eyes flared when they saw me, then slowly trailed down my body until even the tips of my toes tingled with anticipation.
“Umm, hi,” I said, snapping out of it.
He didn’t reply, just kept looking at me, and my anger grew once more. He obviously regretted what happened. But so what? I refused to allow him to take it out on me or my grades. I needed his help to pass this class, and whether he liked it or not, he was going to give it to me.
“Nothing to say?” I sneered, then shoved him with both hands. “That wasn’t the case after you had your fingers inside me.” Another shove. “You couldn't shut up about-”
Voices in the hall rounded the corner, and Kai grabbed my wrists to pull me inside the office.
He kicked the door closed behind us, leaving me trapped in the small room with my anger and a guy who wanted nothing to do with me.
Nothing was promised, no pretty words were shared, but I didn’t peg him for this level of asshole. His glare told me how wrong I was.
“I see you do own something appropriate for winter.” He scanned my body, arms crossed and hip leaned against the desk.
One week. A whole week of avoidance after warning me away from his feral need to fuck me in every way imaginable, and he wanted to talk about my jeans?
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I hissed and swung a hand at his chest. “You’ve got.” Hit. “To be.” Hit. “Fucking.” Hit. Hit. “Kidding me.”
Kai caught my hand before it made contact with his face. His fingers tightened around my arm, sending a shockwave of tingles up to my shoulder. The corner of his mouth twitched, and there was an answering flutter in my chest. He dropped my arm as if it burned him.
“Turn around,” he demanded.
My mouth opened but nothing came out. He didn’t smile, didn’t tell me he was joking. He did nothing else but stare and wait for me to obey. Still glaring, I turned.
“Put your hands on the wall. Keep them there.”
I shivered at the tone in his voice; he’d never spoken to me like that.
Bossy and Kai were synonymous, but this was different.
This didn’t make me want to strangle him.
In fact, it did the opposite and made each of my breaths shaky as I placed my hands on the wall beside the door.
I felt him step behind me, his chest pressing along my back as he caged me in with his arms planted on either side of my hips.
Every hard muscle of his burned down my body from back to thighs. He nuzzled my neck, inhaling my scent and tickling my skin with his answering breath. I was aware of his lips hovering, but they didn’t make contact.
They pulled back to my ear, “Did you think I changed my mind about wanting you? You have no idea the thoughts that keep me up at night.” I tilted my head.
He chuckled at the invitation, and I snapped my head back straight.
“I almost lost control, princess, and you’re not ready for the things I want from you. ”
That wasn’t his decision to make, but I said nothing as I watched his hand leave the wall to cup my breast under my thick sweater.
The thin silk of my bralette offered little protection as my nipple puckered to a hard point.
He rolled it between his fingers, then pinched it hard.
I gasped as pleasure zinged down my body, connected by some invisible line to my clit.
My hips twitched back against him. I felt how hard he was and couldn’t help but rub against him once more, earning a groan that made me smirk.
Two could play at this game. Kai’s other hand left the wall to grab my hip, and he pushed against me harder until I was forced to drop from my hands to my forearms. Gods, why did this turn me on? I wanted more—a repeat of that night.
“What if I want those things?” I asked, pushing back against his weight.
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
“I’m a big girl,” I argued. “I can handle it.”
He hummed, but I didn’t know what it meant.
Did he disagree? A hard knock to my ankle spread my legs as he used his foot to widen my stance.
The hand on my hip dipped lower to cup me over my jeans.
Gods. The hard ridge of his palm ground against me, using the thick inseam of the denim to cut through the silk of my panties until they were soaked.
My forehead dropped to the wall with a moan. It was both more intense and less than last time. The barrier of my clothes reduced the pressure of his hand, but it also added a different kind of friction. My thighs trembled as he made another slow circle.
“Touch me,” I pleaded.
“I am touching you.”
With my arms pinned between my chest and the wall, and his entire body crowding me from behind, I was at his mercy.
I couldn't grab his fingers and slip them where I wanted.
Couldn't twist around to throw my arms around his neck and bring him down for a hungry kiss.
I could only roll my hips and beg for him to give me what I needed.
“Let’s see how long it will take you to come like this,” he challenged, tweaking my nipple again before rolling it between his fingers.
“That’s not enough…” I started to argue, and then stopped when the heel of his hand moved. It was different than before, a slower but steadier pace that forced the seam of my jeans back and forth across my clit. “Fuck,” I whimpered and allowed my hips to follow the rhythm he set.
It wasn’t enough. The build-up was too slow, making me fear I wouldn't get there at all. My breaths were choppy, and every muscle in my legs was strung tight as I chased my release. Kai’s head tucked into the crook of my neck, sending a few delicate curls across my skin.
Goosebumps broke out along my arms. I felt him, thick and impossibly hard against my ass.
“Mmm,” he groaned. “I can feel your heat against my palm. Are you going to make it?” The whine got stuck in my throat as I shook my head. “I think you are,” he taunted, and this time the whine escaped. He chuckled. “But I can be nice. And you’re trying so hard.”
He popped the button on my jeans, lowered the zipper, and slipped his hand inside.
Standing was hard. My knees threatened to give out, but I locked them.
Fingers spread over my wet panties and pressed against my throbbing clit.
The silk was basically nonexistent at this point.
It felt like he was touching me, but he wasn’t.
He was still keeping himself separate, and I wanted that last barrier gone. I arched my back and rolled my hips again, trying to get those fingers to slip inside, but that only succeeded in making him still against me.