Chapter 16
Anja
It's less weird to be in the Potions classroom than it was the first time. Probably because we've been in the main academy when we weren't supposed to be several times now, and it's never gotten either of us into any trouble.
Cethin cuts an even bigger mugwort root than last time and pushes it into the already bubbling cauldron. He sprinkles in the lavender and something I don't recognise, a serious expression on his face. He checks some notes on his mirror, and then steps back.
"How long do we have until the potion finishes?" I ask him. Despite weeks of lessons, I'm not very intuitive when it comes to potions. Which I guess makes sense when I consider what my magic can actually do. At least I seem to have found myself a boyfriend who does know what he's doing.
"About half an hour," he responds. "Why?"
"It doesn't need tending to, right?"
He shakes his head and narrows his eyes at me. "What are you planning?"
I bite my bottom lip and head over to the door to check it's still locked.
Satisfied that it's fine, I head over to the desk beside him and hop up, sitting on it and considering the best way to suggest this.
I lean forward, knowing the shirt I chose to wear tonight leaves very little to the imagination when I do that.
Cethin's eyes darken and a faint gleam of purple starts to glow within them. A good sign for me getting what I want. "What are you up to?"
"That's something you should come and find out," I say in my best come-hither voice, though I'm not entirely certain I manage it very well.
Or I'm not until I see the way he reacts.
Excitement builds within me and I reach out to pull him to me by his shirt.
"Getting alone time has been difficult," I murmur.
Though we do seem to have been doing just fine on that front, none of it has been properly alone where no one can disturb us.
I could invite him back to my room, or go to his, but this is more fun.
"And you thought that in the middle of a classroom was the right time to change that?"
"We've kissed in here before, what's the harm of another?" I meet his gaze, knowing he can probably sense the desire coming from me. I certainly feel as if I'm being obvious.
His lips quirk up into an amused smile. "A kiss?"
"Mmhmm."
"Just a kiss?"
"I'm not promising anything."
His eyes flash purple, definitely not in anger this time. He leans in closer, his breath fanning against my lips. "You don't know what you're asking for."
"I do, Cethin," I whisper, meeting his gaze so he can see how much I know what I want.
My eyes flutter closed as he leans in and presses his lips against mine. His touch is hesitant at first, as if he knows that this time we won't be stopping at just a kiss.
I pull him closer, impatience growing within me as I do. My hands travel down to the bottom of his t-shirt and I tug at it, allowing my fingers to slip underneath. The warmth of his skin only increases my desire.
I fumble with the buckle of his belt, but he breaks the kiss and reaches for my hands to stop me.
"I'm sure about this," I tell him, meeting his gaze. "I want this. I want you. But if you don't..."
"I do."
"Then why are you stopping it every time I try to take things further?" I can't help the hurt that comes through my voice.
"I don't want you to feel as if I'm not respecting you."
I close my eyes and try to restrain my frustration. "And how is it respecting me if you're not listening when I'm saying what I want? I know that me being your mate is a big deal, and it should be. But I'm okay with that. If you're not and need more time..."
A low growl cut me off.
I raise an eyebrow.
Cethin clears his throat. "Sorry."
"What was that for?"
"The thought of waiting might have provoked a bit of a response," he admits.
I grin. "Ah, so you do want me."
"That's what I've been telling you, Anja," he responds, a hint of desperation in his voice. "But every step we take will make our bond stronger."
I reach out and put my hand on his chest. "I know."
"But you don't know much about it."
I laugh. "You're not the only one who knows how to use the library to research things," I point out.
"Though it wasn't much help. The academy gossip, on the other hand, was far more informative.
And a friend even showed me articles about the different kinds of equipment that some guys have.
" Even saying it is enough to pique my curiosity.
And something else.
"Well now I'm worried you'll be disappointed," he half-jokes.
I reach out and cup his face in my hands. "In you? Never." Sensing that the moment is here, I pull him closer and press my lips against his.
He kisses me back with unexpected tenderness, the conversation seeming to have soothed him of some of his worries.
He moves closer and I shuffle closer to the edge of the desk so I can finally get him out of his clothes.
This time, he doesn't stop me as I push down his waistband, baring him to me.
He lets out a small groan as I start exploring with my fingers, brushing them over his cock and feeling the ridges and swirls that aren't unexpected, but are an intriguing addition, especially when I consider what they might feel like when they're inside me.
He breaks the kiss and moves his attention to my neck, grazing his teeth against my skin. I let out a small moan, most of my thoughts fleeing save for the most important ones.
"Will birth control work?" I ask, my voice coming out husky.
He chuckles, the sound vibrating through me and only turning me on more. Though from the feel of him in my hand, I'm not the only one with that response.
"Yes."
"And condoms?"
He nibbles at the lobe of my ear. "Special ones."
I let out a disappointed groan. "I don't have any of those."
"I do."
I freeze. "So you weren't going to have sex with me, but you do have condoms for it?"
He pulls back and looks at me. "Of course I do. When I realised you were my mate, I wanted to be prepared in case we did."
"Oh." Warmth fills me at his care. "So when you say you have them, you do mean now, right?" If he says they're in his room, I don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe send him back for them, potion be damned.
An amused smile pulls at the corners of his lips, and he pulls away, leaving me disappointed. It only lasts a moment, as he goes over to his satchel and pulls out a box, bringing it over to me and putting it down.
"Happy?" he teases.
"Oh, very. And curious."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Because you know me," I respond, gesturing for him to come back. The only disappointing thing about him stepping back between my legs is that I can no longer look at him.
"Perhaps I can sate some of that," he murmurs against my lips, capturing me in a deep kiss.
"Please," I say through a whimper.
He runs a hand up my leg and beneath my skirt.
"Yes," I murmur as he pushes my panties aside and finds my entrance.
A gasp escapes me as he pushes his fingers into me and curls them up to hit just the right spot. I grab hold of his arm, bunching up the fabric there and wishing there was none of it.
Warmth spreads through me as a release starts to build.
"Want to try something?" he murmurs into my ear.
"Anything," I respond, though the word is barely audible.
He lifts up his free hand and lets purple magic the same colour as his eyes run over his fingers.
I bite my bottom lip even as the first of the magic jumps to my skin.
"Tell me when it's too much," he says.
I nod, but I'm not really able to focus on anything other than the release building within me. I'm not even sure what his magic is doing until I realise my release is building higher than it ever has before.
Which is why he wants me to tell him when it's too much. His fingers find the right spot, and between that and the magic, it feels like there's so much pressure inside me that I'm going to explode.
"Now," I moan.
I don't know what he does, but the release crashes through me. My whole body starts to shake and I cry out, far louder than I should given we're not anywhere particularly private. But right now, I don't care, the only thing I can think about is how good it feels for him to touch me.
I collapse my head against Cethin's shoulder, breathing heavily and trying to regain some composure so we can continue.
"Are you all right?" he asks.
"Mmhmm. More than all right," I respond dreamily. "I'd like more of that."
He chuckles. "I can give you more."
"Or you can give me you."
His eyes flare purple, and I realise that it's not just his protectiveness that brings it out, it's his desire too.
Thankfully, he doesn't even try to argue with me this time, and grabs the box of condoms, pulling one out and putting it on with surprising deftness.
I use the time to pull off my panties and position myself in the right place on the bench, anticipation building within me with every passing moment. This isn't how I envisaged our first time together, but that doesn't stop it from being perfect.
He steps close and captures my lips with his, kissing me deeply and only starting to build another release within me just from his touch. If this is what being mated feels like, I'm surprised more people aren't talking about it.
He guides his cock to my entrance and I moan against his mouth. We lose our concentration as he pushes into me. His cock fills me in a way I don't think I've ever experienced before, and every ridge and swirl only making the experience more intense.
I wrap my legs around him and pull him closer. I push my hands under his shirt and dig my nails into his back.
His pace quickens and I can feel myself responding. It's only going to take me a moment for another release to overtake me.
Something shifts deep within me and I can feel a deeper connection to him.
"I'm going to..." I can't even finish my sentence as a second release takes over me. My nails dig deeper into him as I shudder.
Everything disappears from my mind and I start to see purple stars behind my eyes, though I know it's only my imagination.
I'm dimly aware of Cethin joining me in a release of his own.
We lean into one another, neither of us saying a word, only breathing deeply, the connection between us undeniable. I don't need him to explain that it's the mating bond. He said there was no going back from this, and now I get why.
Though I'm not entirely sure why I'd want to go back from that. There's so much more that I want to do with him.
"Are you okay?" he asks, trailing his fingers over the bare skin of my back.
"Very okay." I lean my head against his shoulder, not doing anything to move away from him. "That was..."
"Intense?"
"Mmhmm." I touch his cheek and move his face so I can look into his eyes. "So, I'm now I'm your mate."
His eyes darken. "Yes. I think."
"Does it have to be sex that seals the bond?" I ask curiously. That wasn't clear when I was doing my research.
"No. And just having sex wouldn't be enough either. It only works because of our emotions." He brushes my hair away from my face. "And I think it's more of a constant thing. We have to constantly want and respect each other for the mate bond to hold."
"So you were worried about sleeping with me because of how strongly you felt?" I ask.
"Yes." He pulls back and starts sorting himself out.
"And if I hadn't felt the same..."
"Then it wouldn't have worked," he admits.
I'm not sure what he's been worrying about if that's the case, but I appreciate it all the same, especially now.
A loud noise blares through the room.
Cethin chuckles. "It's my timer. The potion's ready."
I start laughing. "Well, that's a downer. I was starting to plan round two."
He leans in and kisses me softly. It's tender and only increases the intensity of the emotions I'm feeling towards him. "That can wait."
"I have to admit, I'm disappointed."
"I'll make it up to you later," he promises. "But now we should sort out your potion."
I nod, though really, all I can think about is what later might bring.