Ok, ok! Be right down!
I grab a black zip-up jacket and my backpack and head downstairs, peeking into the common room as I pass by. Gathered around a long table near the kitchen area, a few students are setting up for what looks to be a pretty serious game of D&D. The only one I recognize is Wyatt, the soft-spoken mage from my Mental Magicks class.
“Stevie!” he calls with a friendly wave. “You want in? We can roll up a player character for you.”
“Can’t tonight,” I say with a frown. It actually sounds kind of fun—normal—but I’ve got my own real-life D&D quest to deal with right now. “But I’ll definitely take a raincheck.”
“You got it.”
I wish them luck and head down the corridor that leads to the emergency exit. I’m almost to the end when a utility door beside me pops open and a pair of strong hands yank me inside, kicking the door shut behind us.
I tense up for the fight, but the scent of my captor gives him away—that intoxicating mix of woodsmoke, tilled earth, and black pepper that makes my stomach flutter.
The man is a fine wine waiting to be sipped.
But I’ve still got atinybit of pride left, so I fold my arms across my chest and say, “Seriously, Baz? A closet? Aren’t you taking this whole secret meeting stuff a little too far?”
He leans in close, his scent invading me. There’s just enough light for me to make out the shape of his face, the glint in his eyes. “Cozy, right? Kind of romantic if you ask me.”
“Romantic. Sure. So this whole thing was just a setup so you can get me naked again?”
“No way.” Baz laughs softly, his breath stirring my hair. “You said you needed space from all that. What kind of a man would I be if I violated your wishes?”
“If this is your idea of space, we’ve got a problem.”
“Agreed. Starting with this.” He reaches for the zipper on my jacket, and I lose the rest of my words.
Okay, I really,reallywant to stand firm on this give-me-space thing, but I also really,reallywant him to tear off my clothes, pin me against the wall, and bang the shit out of me.
What can I say? I’m a woman of many contradictions.
Baz gets my jacket unzipped, then says, “Lose it. Now.”
Without question, I drop my backpack and slip out of my jacket, letting it hit the floor. My heart is pounding in my chest, my mouth already watering for the taste of his kiss. I can go back to having pride and principles tomorrow. Right now, I’d rather have an orgasm.
Baz shifts closer, his arms encircling me, his lips hovering so close to mine as he leans in and…
Drapes a blanket over my shoulders?
“What the hell?” I ask.
“Your magickal cloak,” he says, stepping back. “In the form of a fleece jacket.”
My cheeks burn, and now I’m grateful for the near-darkness. If Baz saw my face right now, he’d knowexactlywhere my mind had gone.
Where my hopes had gone.
I put my arms through the sleeves and zip up. “So how does this thing actually work? The cloaks I saw you guys wearing were long and hooded.”
“It’ll transform as we get farther from campus. Right now, we just need to look normal.”
“Yes, because banging in a utility closet is so normal.”
“Um… Did you just—”
“Hiding!Hidingin a closet. I’m… wow, it’s hot in here. I need air.” Ignoring his soft chuckle, I put my backpack on and say, “Just tell me how this thing works so we can get out of here. Are we invisible now?”
“No, it doesn’t make us invisible, just unremarkable. People may see you or hear us as we head out, but they’ll forget about you the minute we’re out of sight.”
