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“Five more minutes,” I murmur, rolling over in the oversized mattress. I pull my plush duvet around me, cocooning under it, as though the blanket alone would shield me from my very real responsibilities. Unfortunately, the source of the knocking either doesn’t hear me or doesn’t care since the knocking sounds again.
“Can’t a girl get some beauty rest around here?” I grumble under my breath, reluctantly sliding out from under the covers. The air instantly chills me to my bones compared to my warm little blanket burrito. I wipe a hand over my face, pushing back the hair stuck to my face.
Leaning on the door jamb, I yank the door open and come face to face with Kyros, his fist poised midair to knock again. I freeze, my eyes widening in shock. I’m not exactly sure who my sleep-addled brain expected to see at my door. I hadn’t really considered it. My only mission was to make the incessant racket stop.
His eyes drop to my feet and scan up my body, and his cheeks redden at the sight, his hand still frozen in the air. A cool draft brushes against my bare skin—wait, bare skin?
I look down, finding myself dressed only in a red lace bra and matching panties. My immediate instinct is to shut the door and crawl back into my warm cocoon of embarrassment. But I force myself to pause, seeing the desire burning in his honey-brown eyes.
Instead, I open the door wider and prop my hand on a hip, relishing the hunger in his gaze. I exhale, glad I took a moment to assess his emotions rather than assume as I had before.
His eyes finally meet mine with a look of chagrin. I give him a teasing grin and drop my shoulder, letting the bra strap loosely slide off. The movement draws his eyes like magnets. He peruses the bare skin before sliding to my cleavage. The lack of support exposing a large swath of supple skin. I trail my fingers over it languidly and bite my lip, teasing him further.
“Would you like to come inside?” I ask innocently, blinking up at him.
“Yes,” he breathes, the response coming immediately as though he’s on auto-pilot. He blinks, his own voice bringing him out of his trance. “I mean...” he trails, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
A giggle bubbles up past my lips, and I can’t help but make him squirm a little more. My hands come to rest on his shoulders, and I step into him, letting my breasts brush against his chest. He groans at the contact, and his hand clenches at his side, begging to wrap itself around my waist and draw me even closer. I raise on my toes and bring my mouth up next to his ear.
“Next time,” I whisper the promise, letting my lips brush against the sensitive skin before pulling away. I take a step back before turning on my heel. My skin is already cold and bereft in the absence of his warm body heat.
My lips quirk up into a teasing smirk over my shoulder, and I find his eyes glued to me, watching my every move. I slowly shut the door, feeling a pang of disappointment at the latching of the doorknob. I pause there for a moment, my hand resting against the smooth surface. Smiling to myself at the sound of his frustrated groan, audible even through the thick wood.
* * *
I trotdown the stairs with a spring in my step. Emboldened by this morning’s wake-up call. My mind drifts to the same fantasies I’ve envisioned while getting ready. My dark-brown hair is tied into a high ponytail, not having much time for anything else after showering. The uniform skirt bounces around me, and my red heels click on the wooden stairs.
My mind lingers on Kyros’ sleep rumpled curls, loose sleep shirt, and boxers. The look was so different from the slacks, dress shirts, and ties he’s typically dressed in. The image has my mind drifting to what it would be like to wake up next to him. I blink in surprise at seeing the man himself waiting at the bottom of the stairs. A slight blush creeps to his cheeks. I can only imagine where his thoughts have turned.
“Lead the way,” I announce, and hop off the last step. I immediately regret the decision as my ankle twists under me, sending me careening forward. Two lean, muscled arms wrap around my torso and scoop me up to cradle me against his chest.
“There’s no need to fall so hard for me,” he teases, and my mind flashes to our first meeting. And I glance up, meeting his warm honey-brown eyes. “I’ll always be there to catch you.” That’s it, I’m done. I’m officially going to melt in this man’s arms.
My phone chirps in my bag, pulling us out of the sweet moment. I straighten, thankfully not feeling a twinge of pain in my ankle. This time it’s only my ego that’s bruised. Note to self, don’t jump off the stairs in heels. Although, on second thought, it’s not so bad when a handsome god is there to catch you.
I twine my fingers through his, wanting to keep him close to me. Not ready to put any distance between us. He smiles down at me, not complaining in the slightest at the contact, and leads us out the door and down the path before pulling his power around us and dissipating us to the school. I cringe at the familiar feeling of my body pulling apart and coming together again, my mind going to the feeling of power when I transported Kali and me to the mortal realm.
I blink at the sudden onslaught of light assaulting my eyes and find us already standing in Kyros’ office. He opens the door for us, and I go to move my hand from his, but he keeps it firmly clasped in his. I shrug, choosing not to question it. I need to bask in the joyful feeling a little longer.
“I just realized I don’t know where we’re going.” I chuckle, letting him lead us out into the library. “What training are we starting with today?”
“You’re going to your history of the gods class.” He smiles down at me and holds the door open to exit out into the hallway. I pause at the students bustling around us. The sight jarring compared to the eerie silence that met us yesterday.
“Wait—what?” I balk, my brows knitting together in confusion. “I thought you guys were supposed to be training me.”
“We are.” He nods, urging me to continue down the familiar halls. “Besides your training, you’ll need to continue with your history class. The information will be imperative in your last trial. I’ll supplement your lessons to fill in the gaps from the missing years.”
We continue down the hall in silence, and I attempt to take my mind off the swirling thoughts that invade it. This would be the first time seeing my classmates since the Ascension. My breaths come in rapidly, and I dart my gaze around, convinced everyone is watching me. I hadn’t fully considered facing the rest of the students until now. They obviously saw my wings, saw the start of the ensuing battle with Titus. They know I’m not like them—not entirely.
“We’re here,” Kyros announces, pulling us to a stop in front of the classroom. I turn on my heel, my hand still grasped in his, pulling him with me. That is, until I feel resistance. I spin back in his direction and my brows furrow, seeing his feet still firmly planted to the ground, making no move to follow.
“You’re not coming?” I tilt my head, not understanding why he’s refusing to follow. I try to disentangle my fingers from his, but his grip only tightens.
“No, I’m heading to the library,” he explains, pulling me closer.
“You’re not teaching anymore? Please tell me it isn’t because of me? I’m sorry for the way I reacted to you wanting to postpone our date. It was—uh, personal stuff—”
“Shh,” he interrupts, pressing a finger against my lips. The contact lights a spark of desire within me. My mind automatically dares me to slip the tip of his finger between my lips, caressing the smooth pad with my tongue before closing my lips around it and sucking. Letting him imagine what else I could do that would feel even better.
