6. ~Ariana~
~Ariana~
Being back here was difficult for me.
In close quarters with supernaturals that either feared or hated me.
My control being put to the test with class after class, assignment after assignment.
Being watched like a hawk during said classes by the faculty and students alike.
And now the weird blackmail-sex situation I had going on with Kai.
I hadn’t wanted to come back here at all.
But I’d made a promise to my family to complete the full curriculum that was four years at Maven Academy.
And, yeah, there was also the fact that it had basically been mandated for me, because of my extreme power and the control concerns that came along with that.
Me attending the Academy kept certain Guardian and Unity Council officials at bay and took the heat off Pops.
He might be the Head of the Guardian Movement, but he wasn’t a dictator.
He had to listen to the concerns of those around him and those in positions of power and influence.
And a lot of those concerns were about me and my power and the absolutely devastating impact they feared it could have upon the supernatural world if I couldn’t maintain full control of my abilities.
At least it was just one more year.
I just had to keep reminding myself of that.
Whenever I came back here, I always headed to one of the Ruminat huts before the beginning of classes to center myself and work to readjust to it all.
This time, I’d ventured to one of the huts with the steam, because it deepened the meditation process and helped me to immerse myself more.
I let out a serene breath as my Ruminat came to an end, and I pushed off the white marble bench and rose to my feet in the small space.
It was absolutely sweltering, sweat dripping down my body and soaking my black sports bra and shorts.
I opened the door and stepped out into the adjoining bathroom and changing room, each of the steam huts coming complete with one. The regular huts without the steam were another story. But the steam ones certainly needed the shower element.
I turned on the shower and stripped off my clothes, then opened the glass door and stepped inside. Closing it behind me, I turned and stepped under the rainfall shower, a moan escaping me at the soothing sensation of the water cascading down my body.
I grabbed some shower gel and cleaned myself up, even shampooing my hair, too.
I took my time, the strawberry scent wafting over me and adding to the invigoration.
I closed my eyes as I finished rinsing out my hair, making the most of the tranquility and the peacefulness that the Ruminat had brought me.
“That’s a shame. I was hoping for a show.”
Adrenaline shot down my spine at the sound of that voice.
My eyes snapped open, and a gasp escaped me, as I took in Kai standing outside the shower, leaning against the adjacent wall, his ankles crossed as he looked on.
He was striking a nonchalant stance, but his flaming eyes told another story entirely as he drank in the sight of my wet, naked body that was currently on full display for him.
I saw him zero in on the mark on my right side, a Celestial Binding Mark that I’d been born with which was kind of like a birthmark that referenced my heritage according to Grandfather and Dad.
The mark pulsed faintly with a golden light.
At its center was a star-like core formed of a compass rose.
Eight symmetrical lines extended outward creating a cross that echoed both direction and destiny.
Encircling the luminous center was a ring of Celestial energy that was intricately woven with spirals of light.
Swirling arcs curled outward like delicate vines.
I slapped my arm over my breasts and placed my hand between my legs to block his view of that as well. “What the hell are you doing in here?”
“I believe that’s beyond obvious,” he deadpanned.
“Get the fuck out!”
“Do you ever play with yourself while you’re lathering up?”
Was he actually serious? “I said, get out!”
“Maybe when you’re in your dorm room shower?”
“Oh my God, shut your fucking mouth! Go!”
Once again, he didn’t so much as react to my irate demands.
Instead, he pushed off the wall and told me calmly, but with an undercurrent of eeriness, “You disrespected me the other day in the parking lot. Twice.”
“Disrespect you’ve most definitely earned.”
“Really? When I’ve been nothing but understanding and generous with you?”
“Understanding and generous? Are you fucking kidding me? What planet do you actually hail from?”
“I kept your secret. I even assured you that I understood why you did it. I didn’t judge you.
I protected you, not allowing anyone to hear or witness you coming apart for me and taking your pleasure.
I facilitated your exploration of your dirty desires alongside my exploration of my special ability.
And let’s not forget that I blew your mind several times over. ”
“You blackmailed me into all of that.”
“Did I?”
“Are you seriously going to deny it?”
“You needed a push. That was it. It worked.” He slicked his tongue over his lips as he took me in. “And you surrendered to your needs so beautifully because of it. You finally stopped getting in your own way. At least, sexually. The rest, however, is another story. For now.”
I couldn’t actually tell whether he was being genuine, or whether this was some sort of major mind-fuck. That was how skilled he was with his calculative, puppet mastery.
“Coming in here like this is so fucked-up.”
He grinned. “I know. So fucked-up. Just the way you like it, hmm? The way we both like it.” With a flick of his fingers, his leather coat was off him and hanging on a hook over by the door.
And then he held my gaze heatedly as he unbuttoned his black shirt, then shrugged it off his shoulders and tossed it across the room, baring his sculpted torso in all its glory. Jeez.
“What happened with the dragon?” he asked, surprising me, as had apparently become the thing with him. He kept catching me off guard, making himself unreadable, throwing curveballs all over the place, so I couldn’t figure out which way was up.
“I showed him to his dorm room.”
“And that’s it?” he demanded, as he toed off his shoes and socks.
“It’s none of your concern, Kai, so back off.”
“Back off from what? You said you just showed him to his room.”
“He wants to get dinner sometime.”
“He asked you out?”
“He wants to make friends. He’s new here.”
He scoffed. “Friends? He’s really done a number on you. And you talk about my puppet mastery. Didn’t you see him turning on the charm?”
“At least he has some. Unlike certain other psychopaths.”
“This psychopath had you coming your brains out and still begging for more.”
“In no way does that take away from the psychopath aspect.”
“He’s fucking with you. Mark my words.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’s nice. He’s polite. And he’s not freaked out by what I am. In fact, it’s the opposite. And, as I’ve said, it’s none of your concern.”
“The fuck it isn’t,” he growled, pulling open the shower door, then stepping right inside, while he still had his pants on.
“What are you doing?” I gasped, stepping back as he stalked up to me and got right in my space.
“I told you, you disrespected me.” In the next second, he had me shoved up against the wall, those magically-generated cuffs of his binding my wrists behind my back, my breasts squashed against the tile wall.
He leaned in close, his hot breath at my ear.
“And you’ll stay the fuck away from the dragon,” he seethed, as he rolled his hips, making me feel his hard cock through his pants pushing against my bare ass.
“The hell I will. You don’t control what I do, or who I spend time with. You don’t own me.”
He growled and fisted my hair, jerking hard and forcing me to look at him over my shoulder. “I’m owning you right now, sweetheart.”
When I went to turn my head away, he tightened his grip, then leaned in and licked my cheek in a wholly animalistic way.
“You’re trembling for me. You’re putty in my fucking hands.
The almighty Celestial Princess can’t get enough of my touch and the dirty promise of what’s to come.
You can’t wait to discover what I’ll do next, can you? ”
“Burn in Hades.”
“Hmm, such an ungrateful little toy.”
I tensed in his hold. “Don’t call me that.”
“Would you prefer fuck toy? That fits better, if we’re going for accuracy.”
His hot breath fanned across my cheek, making me quiver. “Stop.”
“Stop what? Making you drip for me? Making that cunt clench in anticipation?” He released my jaw and reached around and cupped my breasts.
“Making these pretty nipples pebble with arousal?” He rolled them between his fingers, alternating between that and delivering sharp pinches that had me gasping and squirming against the tile.
“These are truly exquisite,” he breathed in what sounded like genuine wonder as he kneaded the soft flesh with his palms. I caught his eye over my shoulder and he was fixated on them, his eyes shining with undiluted lust and reverence.
“I can’t believe I didn’t have you bare them to me at the party that night. ”
My cheeks heated at his overt compliments. I wasn’t used to anyone commenting on that sort of thing with me. It was both unsettling and… pleasant.
I moaned out as he kept playing and teasing, and it had me pushing back against him, feeling his hard cock sliding up and down the crack of my ass, adding yet more sensation.
“Mmm, such a desperate little ass. Just like that night in your bathroom when you begged me to sink my fingers deep into your tight hole.”
“You made me ask for that.”
“Did I? I distinctly recall giving you a choice.”
“All your supposed choices only land in your favor.”