Chapter 25
Soon, I’ll be back in my janitor’s arms.
—How’s it going, Lu?—
—We are breaking through to basement now—
—Wow, brilliant—
Now I just have to get down there.
—Lex? Ludo and Max are about to finish the tunnel—
There’s a pause and I can virtually hear Alexis’s brain working through the problem.
—I’ll come to escort you down, in case there are guards about—
—Perfect—
I’m ridiculously excited to see Lu. It’s been eight days.
Eight days!
I rush into the plush bathroom and brush my teeth, and finger-comb my hair. I also strip out of my shirt and skirt.
As it’s a Wednesday, I’m supposed to stay in uniform, but at least the Elite casual outfits are kind of cute. I pull on the midnight blue cropped hoodie and matching cashmere joggers. The fabric is incredible. No wonder rich people like it.
Adding some midnight blue eyeliner, I then grab my star-pattern chucks and call it good.
—Ready when you are, Lex—
It’s only a couple of minutes later when he knocks.
—Stunning, as always, pulu—
He kicks my apartment door shut, then slides an arm around my waist. His warm calloused hand caresses the skin on my back. For a second I can think of nothing but him. My professor.
But as I begin to grind myself against him, Alexis pulls back.
“Fuck, I’m too noble for my own good. I’m supposed to be taking you to Ludo.”
Ludo!
What am I doing?
It’s like the Lumina wants me to have as much sex as possible with Alexis.
Not that I’ve any problem with that, but it does lead to a one-track mind. And no matter how many orgasms he gives me, somehow it’s never enough. Like I’m missing something.
Or someone.
Several someones.
I reach up onto tiptoes and give Alexis a final kiss. “Thank you, my most noble of warriors. I promise we’ll continue this soon.” Having Alexis as the supervisor of this tower has been paying dividends for our sex life.
“I’ll keep you to that,” he murmurs, running a finger down my cheek then across my lips.
As we enter the basement, I send a message to Ludo and Max —We’re here—
—Keep clear, Nymph. We’re breaking through—
I stand in the far corner and watch fascinated as a wicked-looking claw appears through a crack near the floor. It drags all the way up the plaster wall, then curves around, tracing an arch. Clouds of brick dust fill the air. I pull my sweatshirt over my nose and mouth.
A sound of smashing and breaking comes from beyond the wall.
—Shield yourself, Nymph—
Another huge crash happens, then Ludo steps through the hole, gray with plasterdust.
His claws retract and shift back into human hands as I throw myself at him and he catches me by the waist.
“Oh, Lu.” I wrap my arms around his neck, as he grips me tightly.
Then his mouth is on mine. Our tongues tangle and dance. —I love you so much, Lu—
—You are my mate—
—Yes. Forever—
Behind us, I hear Alexis’s phone ping, and then he lets out a curse. “Helvetin, I have to go. The guards have caught some of the sophomores smoking weed.”
Max snorts. “A professor’s work is never done.”
Lex sighs. “Can you guys clear the debris and make the basement look normal again? I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“No problem, cuz, I’m on it.” Max gives a salute.
I turn my attention back to Ludo. “Eight days. I haven't seen you for eight whole days. That’s unacceptable.” Suddenly, my eyes fill with tears.
I can try and lightly dismiss his absence, but in truth, being without my janitor was agony. I grab him by his coverall lapels. “Don’t leave me again.”
—Never—
With that, Ludo lowers his face to mine, kissing me hungrily. Climbing him like a monkey, I knot my legs around his waist.
—Oh, my love…you being lost was a nightmare— I press my ear over his heart.
The pace of the beats increase. —I’ve been lost for a long time, Nymph. Longer than I knew—
“What do you mean?”
His hand comes up to tenderly stroke the back of my head.
—I regained some memories. They are not good, but I think…they will help us find other lost children—
I pull back just enough to look into his mismatched eyes, my fingers brushing dust from his cheekbone. "What memories, Lu? I don’t understand.”
—When I was young I was taken…to the place the little girl talked of….—
“The pink lakes?”
He nods.—I think I was a child experimented on by the Conclave—
“Gods, Lu…”
—And more. After, I was sold. Used. Used up. Broken—
Pain tears through me. —You may have been taken but you’re not broken. You are strong and perfect and mine—
—I thought…I was too…polluted to be worthy of you…forever stained—
“Absolutely not, Lu! Don’t think like that.”
—I no longer do…the hound helped me…made me see…think…—
He pauses and looks deep into my eyes. —Am I enough, Nymph? Damaged as I am?—
“You’re perfect, Ludo.” My body is desperate to show him I mean it. As my core presses against his hard length, an involuntary whimper leave my mouth. The ache between my legs is increases.
—Mine—
—Mine—
He pulls at my hips, dragging me slowly along his hot shaft. The sensation has me begging for release.
“More, faster…” I demand. I’m so close.
Lu helps me hump him, the rough twill chafing my crotch in the most unbearably delicious way. Lumina dances in my veins, as a tingling in my spine begins to build.
A lilac and gold firestorm grows out of control and then we’re engulfed.
Blazing, blazing, until finally my body goes loose and limp. My head sinks down onto Ludo’s chest, the aftershocks of my release still humming through my skin.
There’s a small clatter of rumble and I look past his shoulder. Maximus is several yards away, but he isn't watching us. He’s been busy hauling chunks of concrete back into the tunnel and has already swept a good portion of the brick dust into a pile.
Max is currently using an old basement mop to clear the scuff marks from the floor. Maximus has been working silently for all the time Ludo and I have been lost in each other.
My heart swells with a burst of gratitude for our resident hellhound.
He didn't interrupt. He didn't make a joke.
He just... took care of what needed to be done.
"Hey, Max," I say softly.
“Don't mind me, Sparkles,” he says, his voice a little rougher than usual. “Just giving Bully a break from being the janitor.”
Aww, Max. “Thank you,” I say. “For everything.”
Max pauses, leaning on the mop handle, his expression softening into something uncharacteristically serious. “Don’t you know by now? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Theo.”
Ludo sets me down on my feet, and gives Max an intense look followed by a nod.
It’s obvious a bond has formed between the two of them. I love that.
Picking up the heavy table, Max clears his throat. “I was thinking of using this to camouflage the hole. We can stack a load of boxes in front of it as well.”
“Sounds good.”
The basement door opens. Ludo immediately pushes me behind him.
It’s only Alexis.
“Apologies. I didn’t mean to make you jump.” He looks around the space approvingly. “This is good. You and Max better come back upstairs now. I can rationalize you wandering the corridors until ten, but after that, it will take some extra explaining.”
I’m reluctant to let go of Ludo’s hand. “But we can meet again tomorrow night?”
Alexis nods. “In fact, we should all meet tomorrow. Now the tunnels are connected, we can have Bloomhower and Links here as well. I’ve been studying aerial photos of the pink lake and Windward Forest, and I’ve a few ideas. Damn, it’s late. Sorry, but we have to leave.”
—Go, Nymph. I’ll see you tomorrow—
—Yes, OK. But I miss you already—
Maximus heads into his apartment on the second floor, then Alexis walks me up the stairs to 3b. “Are you alright?” he asks softly, then switches to telepathy. —You seem…thoughtful—
—I’m OK, just tired—
I close the door behind me and lean on it heavily. My heart shreds for poor Ludo, but my Lumina is demanding attention in another area.
—Hey, Max?—
—What’s up, Sparkles?—
—I wanted to say…thanks again—
—Of course…are you back in your room? Hold on, I’m going to send you a photo—
A couple of seconds later my phone pings, and I see an image of Donovan, fast asleep, cuddling a bag of chips.
—While we were doing all the work, your boyfriend must have been getting hot and heavy with sour cream and onion Ruffles—
—Sour cream and onion? Eww— I walk into the bathroom and set the shower running. As soon as the room fills with steam, I strip and step under the pounding hot water. —That’s my least favorite chip flavor—
—I thought you called them crisps—
—Well, yeah. But I’m translating to make it easier for you…shit, hold on, I dropped the shampoo—
Max doesn’t speak into my brain as I uncap the bottle and start lathering up. —Are you still there, Max?—
—Sparkles?—
—Yes?—
—Are you in the shower?—
—Er, yes?—
—Naked and wet in the shower?—
My heart skips a beat. There is nothing innocent about me talking to Maximus while stripped and soaking.
—Answer me, Sparkles—
—Yes—
—Yes what?—
—Yes, I’m wet and naked—
A long Maximus-groan sounds in my head.
—Fuck, Princess—
A pause, then he ‘speaks’ again.
—Now I’m naked and getting into the shower as well…the lights are off because I want to be alone in the night…with you—
Fucking smooth-talker. But I eat it up.
—I’m soaping myself, Sparkles…I really want to soap my cock, but chest first—
I close my eyes, picturing the scene and his words making me desperate. As the hot water rains over me, and I imagine Max’s tattooed chest wet, and pressing me against the tile.
—Are you picturing the scene?— he asks.
—Are you reading my mind?—
Chuckles.
—Your chest need some attention too, lather up those gorgeous titties…make them slippery with suds…wash all around, and around—
My hands respond to his commands, and instantly my nipples peak, imagining it’s Maximus doing this.
—You have to squeeze those perfect nips, Princess. Both of them, make sure they’re squeaky clean—
Doing as I’m told, pleasure shooting through me.
—Harder—
I pinch until it hurts. The pain sends shocks straight to my clit. What the fuck?
—Max!—
—What a good girl you are, it’s making my cock so hard…I want you to soap it up, but I guess I’ll have to do it myself—
Images flood my head.
—I’d like that too—
I trail a hand across my belly, moving lower. Slowly, softly.
—Tell me where your hands are now, Sparkles…—
Sliding a finger down my folds, I graze my clit with a fingernail.
—I’m…cleaning myself too— My legs tremble, imagining Maximus with his hand wrapped around his shaft, stroking it.
—You’re such a fucking dirty girl, definitely need cleaning…next time I’ll clean you with my tongue…suck every bit of your dirtiness into my mouth—
I want that. I want that so badly. His mouth on my pussy, his hands spreading my thighs.
My finger finds a rhythm. I don’t care if this is wrong, or right. All I can think about is the need to come. The need to come at the same time as Max.
—Max—
—Fuck, Sparkles…—
—Max…I…ahhhh— As my orgasm wracks my body, my brain is half aware of a deep groan echoing through my head from Maximus.
—Fuuuck—
My legs give out and I collapse into a messy heap on the tiled floor, a huge tired smile on my face.
—Do you feel as good as I do, Sparkles?—
—Yes, Max. Yes—