Chapter 16 #3
“You still threw me out of a flight. Well, commanded for me to be thrown off.” I’m not still bitter about that, am I? I think I am a little. Urgh.
He smiles, looking at me. Why is he smiling? It’s not funny. My face frowns. He smiles even more at my reaction. Why? My mouth is pouting now. Dang it.
He responds, his fingers tracing my face, my hair, my lips. “I know that must have been scary for you, but that was the safest part of the entire thing for me. Because I flew you out myself.”
“No you didn’t—” I try to recall… it was dark and I was flung. I assumed it was the proctors who took me, but I suddenly remember… the snake tattoo on his wrist. That was the arm that threw me out. “Oh!” My mouth widens in realization.
“I have really… good aim,” he says that so slow, sliding his finger up my thighs at the same speed. Oh my world. “I’m good at flying. I could catch you in the air at any speed if I wanted to. If you make it to my zone of study, I’ll teach you how to fly. Well, I would have.” He turns away.
My eyes blink, melting now. “Teach me how to fly. How would I do that?” This is the first time I contemplate staying here, for me.
He turns back to me. “It’s an upper-class thing.”
“Gotcha.” I guess I now understand why he didn’t claim me then… to spare me from the pain of being here. “Will you claim me now?” I’m not even sure why I ask this. I think I just want his validation so bad.
Crap! What’s wrong with me?
He smiles. It’s a dark smile, as his tempting breath whispers into my neck, biting the tip of my ears. “If anyone touches you, suddenly I will relay to you the true meaning of being screwed. I am the only one allowed to screw you. In this life or in the next. Capiche?”
“Yes.” I nod immediately, barely even managing to respond.
A wave of warmth rushes through my cheeks in a fiery blush.
My hands tremble, clutching onto the fabric of my skirt as though it will save me, knowing full well I am utterly, unadulteratedly screwed for the rest of my God-given life.
As long as Pesh lives on this earth and shares this universe with me, the universe is his and I am barely fitting inside of his heat.
His voice sinks into me like a crescendo.
“Patrons monitor students long before they ever apply. I didn’t want to show then—I didn’t want you here because I cared deeply for your safety.
I would rather protect you against my feelings.
Even if it meant I wouldn’t be breathing the same air as you. But your mind was resilient.”
I can’t help it. I confess, “Every time I’m breathing the same air as you, I can hardly breathe.” I fold my lips, twiddling with my skirt.
He smiles, tucking a strand of my midnight hair behind my ear. His voice lowers, sinking into my chest. “You are yet to hardly breathe, Shantavia Lerogaski. You will shudder to know the things I will do to you.”
My skin tingles, the inhale of his presence is sending shock waves through me. A rush of sensation, the scent of his affection, the taste of his vigor, his virile desire for me is throwing me into a flame of fire.
Gosh, I want him. I want it all with him. I’ve never had feelings like this before. Every part of me is now actively shuddering. I stare, speechless. I don’t even know what to say. My mouth opens, then it shuts. I have no clue how to respond to him.
There is utter silence.
My eyes gaze at him, then away as we stand in serenity.
His piercing eyes never leave mine, even as I look down.
He stares at my face like he is admiring me.
He even licks his lips, tracing my every move as I tilt my chin down.
Why is he admiring me? He’s seen my face before.
Gosh, there is so much intensity in his eyes.
I look to the left in hopes of averting its crushing pressure.
Those eyes of his should be revered and feared.
I barely look away for two seconds before his fingers tilt my face back toward him. Then he tilts my chin up. Slowly, my eyes gaze at him. I fold my lips as he kisses me on the side of my head. I feel so safe, so soft, like I can melt into him like water.
His hands glide through my hair, twirling a strand in his finger, scrolling down from my cheeks to my lips.
I open my mouth and catch his thumb. He smiles.
That’s how he was catching my tongue. My eyes glimmer, unfolding my lips, letting his thumb go.
Gently, his other hand travels up my fingers all the way to my neck, grabbing my face. “Did you like that?”
I nod.
“Good.” He is satisfied, and I’ve never seen him satisfied. “I like you.”
Wow.
My face lights up like a beam. My lips glisten in a twinkling crescent.
I look up to see his golden eyes. I’ve never seen him smile so warmly—it’s like the sun in my soul.
He bites his lips, narrowing his eyes as though reading me, or expecting me to reciprocate.
I can’t help but smile. I like that he enjoys hearing my voice.
I also like that he’s talking freely and sharing his heart with me.
So… I take his hands. I can’t believe I’m brave enough to finally be completely vulnerable with him.
I take them and I place them on my racing heart, and he feels the thuds that are beating like a banging drum.
And he stares into me, and I stare at him, and I am not afraid in this moment.
I am at peace. “I don’t know if I can ever say sorry for disrespecting you.
But my heart is yours if you want it. I hope in time it will be enough. ”
His hands stay on my chest for a while, even as I let go.
Then he moves his hands smoothly from my chest, to my neck, to my face.
With both hands, he grabs my head. “Mmm.” And he whispers, so sensual, so low, with such vibrato, “You are saying all the right things. You are doing all the right things. God help me to do the right thing right now.”
My God.
I enter his embrace, and he holds me close. “I trust you.”
Pesh always does the right thing, deep down.
I know how kind he is. I’ve known this, no matter how much he hid it from me.
And I now know how much he cares for me.
I rest in his arms, and it feels so safe.
Finally, being cradled by the moon in this dark place I’m in.
We exhale, and we do not hold our breaths, free at last with one another.
He drops me to the floor.
Feeling overwhelmed in this moment, I stupidly say, “Um… Should I go now?”
He smirks. “No.” His eyes strike mine. “Have dinner with me?” he says. “At the Porch of Grindoria, it’ll just be me and you. And afterwards, I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
“What time?”
“Midnight.”
“That’s really late,” I say.
He smiles. “I know, but the timing is important. Will you trust me?” he responds softly.
I simply stare as I see myself nod and my eyelashes flicker, allured.
I think I just fell for Pesh.