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Steam billows out the door behind me as I step out of the bathroom, lower lip trapped between my teeth as I focus on drying my hair. After doing the best I can, I hang up my towel and go for my bed, ready to snag some pillows to set up on the couch, only to freeze. Neatly folded and set at the end of my bed is Corin’s T-shirt, the one I asked him for. Butterflies explode in my stomach and I dive for it, shucking off my tanktop as I climb into the shirt. It’s huge on me, the fabric more like a baggy dress than a shirt, but I don’t care how frumpy it’ll make me look. His scent wraps around me and my eyelids droop, that exhaustion from earlier hitting me again.
Still snuggled up in the shirt, but now with pillows and a blanket in tow, I head for the couch. Corin’s finished making the toastie and he sets my plate down on my lap before settling on the couch beside me, his own plate in hand.
“So what are we watching?” he asks.
I grin. I reckon it’s time for a TV series marathon.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Nessa
Ipursemylips,hiding a smile as Unicorn drops into a crouch, tail flicking much like a cats would. She creeps along the bench, using her wings to keep balance as she stalks her prey… Oscar. He’s completely unaware, staring at the checkers board that’s between us in concentration. His pink hair is hanging over his eyes, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. My focus catches on his mouth and my tongue darts out to lick my lips. His lips slowly curl up into a smile and my eyes jerk up to meet his, finding him already watching me. Shit, I guess I’ve been caught.
I grin, owning that shit. He’s attractive, he can’t sit there looking that cute and expect me to not notice. It doesn’t help that his mouth-watering peppermint and dark chocolate scent is practically blanketing the room. It has me sucking in deep breaths through my nose to draw in as much of the scent as I can.
The troll stopped by earlier to ask if he could hang out with me for a while. I sent the other two a message inviting them, but Corin had another class and Dylan had to catch up on an assignment he needs to hand in tomorrow, so that left the two of us. Both of us had free time after our classes so it was a no-brainer for me to say yes. We’ve been lounging around my dorm for the last hour or so, eating junk food and watching a show before I pulled out the checkers board.
The pink of his cheeks grows deeper as he watches me and my smile widens. With perfect timing as always, Unicorn chooses that moment to leap on his head scaring the shit out of him. Oscar yelps and gets to his feet. Unicorn somehow manages to stay on his head, gripping his hair for dear life. She lets out a bout of chattering noises, wings outstretched and I can’t help but burst out laughing at the picture they make.
My laughter has Oscar pausing, eyes narrowed on me and I choose that moment to slide out my phone and snap a few pictures. “Smile!” I can’t help it. I tug my lower lip into my mouth, trying to contain my amusement as I lower the phone. The disgruntled look on Oscar’s face is everything.
Oscar’s expression suddenly shifts, a smirk tugging at his lips that makes me squint at him suspiciously. Before I have a chance to figure out his plan, Oscar lunges for the phone in my hands, jolting Unicorn from his head in the process. It’s my turn to let out a yelp as I try to whirl away from him. He’s too quick though.
With gentle hands and quick steps, he has me backed up against my lounge room wall, both my wrists pinned above my head with one hand. He uses the other to pluck the phone from my fingers and set it on the arm of the couch beside us. “That wasn’t very nice, sweetheart,” he says, voice rough, those silver eyes intent on mine.
My brain blanks. Literally just shuts off, and I stare at him with eyes that are probably like saucers. I swallow, mouth dry, and my attention darts from his eyes to his lips. Oscar’s hand flexes on my wrists, pressing them tighter to the wall, making my back arch. My nipples tighten to sharp points, that brush against his chest every time I inhale, making them ache. A sensation that’s echoed at the apex of my thighs. “I’m sorry,” I say breathily, once my brain comes back online.
Oscar quirks an eyebrow, and inches closer. “I don’t think you are.”
I laugh. “Oh really?” I say in a mock serious voice.
Oscar shakes his head, smile growing. “Really.”
“Now, what would ever make you think that?” I blink at him all doe eyed, the picture of innocence and he laughs under his breath.
I open my mouth ready to say something but he doesn’t give me the chance. He closes the rest of the space between us, pressing his lips to mine. Any hesitance from him disappears as I arch to get closer to him, kissing him back with enthusiasm.
He presses closer, hand dropping from my wrists to grip my thighs. I take that as an invitation and use his shoulders as leverage to hook my legs around his waist. His hand shifts so it’s closer to my ass to support my weight and I tangle my hands in his hair, placing a sharp nip to his bottom lip before kissing my way along his jaw, then down his throat, making him groan. The raw sound has me squirming against him, the ache for release spiking.
He cups my jaw—holding me up with one hand—and guides my lips back to his, kissing me slowly. After a few seconds I draw back. “Sooo… checkers?” I ask, voice husky.
Oscar’s hands tighten on my thighs, a smile curling his lips as his eyes meet mine. “Checkers.”
He doesn’t put me down though, eyes slowly dropping to my lips. “I’m kicking your ass, you know? I’m so going to win,” he says, his words rougher than usual.
I laugh, and shake my head. He’s dreaming, I’m totally going to win.
I did, in fact, not win. Well not on that game anyway, I won the other two though. I purse my lips, squinting at my laptop screen. I’ve been going over some of my notes on evidence I’ve compiled for a few hours and my eyes are gritty and sore. Letting out a breath, I shut the screen gently, the snip of it closing, loud in the quiet room.
I shake out my hands, eyes sliding to my window, looking out towards the forest. I need a break, so despite the fact that the sun set a little while ago, I’m going to go for a walk.
After putting on my boots, I climb out my window, stepping onto the thick tree branch. It has become my go-to exit from my dorm. It gives me a little thrill every time I step out onto the branch. This time though something is different. My eyebrows draw down as I squint into the darkness. I take another step, and that’s when I feel it—the brush of Ethan’s magical signature against my skin. Like clock-work, Aurora appears at my side and I step into his magic’s residue, knowing it will activate the spell he’s left.
Two things happen, one good and one bad. My mind chooses to register the good news first, then the bad news. I don’t get eviscerated by hellfire… Yay. The bad news though, is that when Ethan’s magic peels back it reveals a severed head sitting a few feet away from me on the branch. I curse, taking a few steps back.“Good fucking Goddess,”I hiss. That’s the last thing I expected to find tonight.
I’m not even sure if it didn’t still have hair attached to it, that I’d call it a head with the way the face has been brutally beaten beyond recognition.Farbeyond. I tip my head back with a sigh, rolling my eyes skyward. “Goddess, can’t I have one night without a severed something being involved, please?” I grunt, staring at the faint stars. I then shake my head. “You know what? That wasn’t specific enough. I want a night where I can lie on the grass in a field somewhere and read a book without coming across dead body parts, being attacked or watched bysomethingor any other bad shit.” I bite down on my tongue until I taste blood, then rub a hand over my face. “But that’s not a realistic request when it comes to me, so never-fucking-mind.”
With a blank expression, I ignore Aurora hovering nearby, already knowing that she isn’t going to be much help when it comes to dealing with the actual gift from Ethan.
