Chapter 52
Gentle kisses trail down my chest, sinking past my stomach, luring me from sleep just before he stops, right above the slit between my legs.
The cessation pries a frustrated moan from my dreamy lips.
Eyes fluttering open to see S?las’ fiendish smile between my legs, white teeth dragging across his lower lip with feral desire.
His head dips down, and mine falls back with a moan as his wet tongue lazily licks up the entire length of my throbbing cunt. Legs left trembling on either side of his head from the resounding growl vibrating my twitching clit, deliciously sore and aching for more.
He lifts his head, meeting my stare with dark hunger.
“As much as I would love to savor the sticky mess I’ve made between your thighs, unfortunately, I need you dressed and fed so we can make it to class,” he purrs in pants along my wet, sensitive cunt, ripping a growling screech from my lungs at the thought of having to go to class after he knowingly woke me up like this.
My thought twisting S?las’ lips into a sarcastic pout. “Would you rather I woke you with a cold shower? I rather think you enjoy my form of torture.” His smoky voice darkens as he dips his fingers ever so slightly into me to show proof of his statement.
My body’s a begging, trembling mess as he slips them into his mouth, groaning at the taste.
“You taste so fucking sweet, it could kill me.”
I fist the sheets in my palms, screaming internally, knowing he’s going to leave me wanton like this until who knows when.
His shadows swirl all around me, retreating to leave me fully dressed and seated at the table set with breakfast.
I pant raggedly as I narrow my eyes on him. He casually takes his seat across from me. My blood is scorching, bubbling in desire, like it’s going to boil right out of my pores.
“You’re adorable when you’re angry. Now, eat. You’ll need your strength to gain some composure before class.” He winks before taking a bite of toast. His words do nothing to rein in my temper. He’s so fucking amused with himself.
I want to smack him, throw him back into bed, and fuck him like a wild animal. That thought gets his attention, arching a brow at me, encouraging the challenge.
“I understand why Aetherhawks are left alone for so long during the bonding process. You look like you’d rather tear down this entire building than go to class right now… and you haven’t even fully accepted the bond.”
He smirks smugly at my lack of control. Celestials, how did he fucking control himself when we first met and he accepted the bond?
I have never craved chaos so much in my life.
I attempt to cool down by eating the delicious food on my plate, but my body’s still blazing. His shadows beneath my skin feel like they are going to crawl their way out if I’m not closer to him.
He scoots his chair closer to me, settling the sensation in my chest. And I swear, I feel him wonder if I’ve fully accepted the bond by what he feels radiating off me. It’s more than the usual emotions I can sense radiating down our bond.
He arches an eyebrow in response, clearly questioning my thoughts as well. I huff, too flustered to think about this. He reaches out to graze a tattooed knuckle against my skin, soothing the roaring flames into humming embers in my veins.
How can his touch change my mood so much? Light me on fire and soothe me without even a thought. My head is suddenly clearer, and I’m wondering where Pip is because he hasn’t stolen half my plate yet.
“I fed him before I set the table so you could actually eat for once. I helped him practice his flying while you were asleep. He’s taking a nap in the sun on the balcony.” S?las twirls a lock of my hair before leaning over, kissing me on the temple.
All my rage simpers away at his consideration. I know he must be exhausted from his nightmares, but he still made sure to take care of everything so I could rest.
“Ya know… you can be annoyingly perfect, sometimes,” I grumble with a smile.
“Well, I will do my best to endeavor to be annoyingly perfect all the time.” He winks, standing up, reaching out a hand to help me up. I call for Pip, who raises his head with four sleepy blinks before he prances over to me.
As we walk, the bond aches at the slightest fucking distance between us; it’s persisting at an entirely new level today.
S?las intertwines our fingers, and I lean my head against his shoulder.
I don’t care about the remarks that will surely follow such a blatant display of emotion. None of it matters anymore, just him.
Our Zenith nods in quiet support as we walk into the auditorium.
Kissa still can’t help but roll her eyes, but she sits one seat over more than typical so S?las can sit on the other side of me. I’m relieved because this bond would have driven me insane at the distance.
Morning classes go by at a painstakingly slow speed.
Zander Atreides’ silver hair glints as he takes the podium to review Combat Physics. The absence of our normal professor reminds me of the threat of the Wuvon knocking at our doors. He reviews the physics of hand-to-hand combat. All points taught to me by Sully.
“One must be mindful of an enemy’s center of mass when it comes to grappling and leg sweeps.
How to use your own, increasing the force of your hit, shifting your entire weight to add momentum to the strike.
In contrast, faster strikes result in less force, allowing for increased speed.
” Zander paces the stage as he reviews the movements.
I sigh, trying to stay focused, which is a mistake because Zander’s silver eyes narrow on me.
“Ensign Savaé, since I seem to be boring you, please enlighten the class on how to use physics to your advantage when targeting kicks.”
I’m all too happy to share the teachings Sully imparted on me, no longer pinned by fear of public rejection.
“Powerful kicks take advantage of torque. Using leg and hip muscles in a rotary motion, with the strongest force landing at a ninety-degree angle as the fighter changes their shape, maximizing their moment of inertia. Whereas kicking straight in front capitalizes on the potential energy stored in the muscles of your leg, bursting into kinetic energy with motion.”
Pride bubbles in my chest like Sully is looking down on me.
Instead of shoving the feeling out my mosaic window, I soak it in, focusing on the happy memories with him.
Nodding to my grief without drowning in it.
S?las’ head tilts with a heartwarming smile, which I can’t help but beam right back at him.
Zander’s silver hair tumbles forward with a nod. “Correct. The latter is more similar to the force of a punch, which is dependent on impulse momentum.” He continues on how to properly land a punch on your first two knuckles for maximum impact.
His mention of knuckles has me thinking about my favorite pair, covered in dark tattoos.
“What do the tattoos on your hands mean?”
“I had my shadows brand my skin, reminding me of the darkness within me, so I never forget the cost of losing control.” Grief laces his voice, twisting my lips in a frown. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.
I can’t easily touch him in class without drawing back Zander’s attention. I think of how his shadows so easily curl like smoke from him, their touch always soothing me.
The swirling aurora from last night spills in through the circular window of happiness in my mind. Hmm, that’s more subtle than rays of starlight.
S?las arches a brow at my thought, which I ignore, calling to my power. It pools at my feet as I focus on how full my heart feels while searching for the one responsible. Wisps of multicolored, liquid light mist around S?las’ ankle, twirling up his leg, intertwining between his fingers.
I peer up to see a smug smirk kicking up the corner of his full lips. “Impressive. I see you’re trying to give my shadows a run for their coin now that you’re no longer letting fear hold back your imagination.” His shadows seeping out to do the same.
Kissa huffs quietly. “Of course, sitting next to each other wouldn’t be enough for you two.” I smile at her because she’s right. It’s not.
As we saunter into the busy dining hall, the thought of aerial combat lessons this afternoon twists up my stomach into a knot. I’m thankful there will be targets, but worry of S?las being targeted by Winx again gnaws at my ribs.
We sit down. His arm wrapping around my hip, sliding me closer to him, as if it’s enough to cease my worry.
It turns out Winx isn’t going to wait until we’re in flight to leap at another chance of taking him out of the equation. The air sizzles as violet flames whip out and coil around S?las, flinging him against the wall.
A lacerated screech rips from my chest, blood blazing with his pain and sudden distance. Before I can stand, she’s wrapped his mouth in a cord of flames, along with his wrists and ankles, pinning him so he can’t move.
His shadows lash out, but Winx is surrounded in raging fire, levitating off the ground from the heat. As soon as he snuffs out one part, it ignites right back again.
Terror fills his eyes as he gazes down at me. He’s afraid she’ll hurt me, too. There’s also something holding back his powers, preventing him from reaching into his full reserve.
At the smell of his searing flesh, my roar sunders the air as I lunge over the table. Landing in front of Winx and blocking her path to S?las.
“Stop this!” I growl low, straining against my power threatening to mince her to ribbons.
Her violet eyes are pure flame, not even the whites visible.
“Winx, look at me!” I screech in a panicked plea.
Dark pupils form at the center as they narrow on me.
“I can’t stand watching him touch you for one more Celestials be dimmed second. If I kill him, then you’ll come back to me.” Her voice sounds like the pain of raging wildfires, burning all life in its path.