Page 58 of Of Bone and Ash

“Alright—what?” he asks as I nod, licking my suddenly dry lips. His eyes follow the movement, settling on my mouth and staying there as I try to work up the courage to say what I want to.

“I… I won't push you away,” I rasp, my voice sounding all kinds of wrong as I fight the fear that creeps in with those words. “I can't promise anything else. I don't know how to let people in. I have trust issues and, honestly, I’m not sure how to—oh, shit, I’m fucking this up,” I mutter when I realize I’ve started to ramble. I don't ramble!

What the hell is happening to me?

“You’re panicking,” Teos murmurs, smiling a little when I nod. He keeps his hand pressed to mine on his chest but lets the one around my waist slide up until he’s cupping my jaw and pulling me impossibly closer.

“Teos,” I gasp when our noses brush, his breath mingling with mine. My body heats, my nipples pebbling against the fabric of my bra as the soft scent of vanilla fills my senses. I want to kiss him. I want to kiss him so damn bad it hurts, but the only thing I can think of is how bad it went the last time he kissed me.

Almost like he can hear my thoughts, Teos smiles, then does what I’m not brave enough to do and leans forward, moving slowly so I can stop him if I want. Instead, I take a page from his book and push my fear back into the recesses of my mind. Closing my eyes, I press up on my toes, helping him close the small distance between us until his hot mouth seals to mine in a toe-curling kiss.

Stars explode behind my eyelids at the first brush of Teos’ lips against mine, and I know I’m totally and completely gone for him as my heart thunders in my chest. Almost like a timid dance, I move my lips against his, relishing the feel of him so close to me. A surprised moan falls from his lips as he kisses me softly back. It's almost like he’s shocked I allowed him to kiss me.

Teos’ surprise is short-lived, and I gasp into his mouth when his hands drop from my face and snap around my small frame, keeping me locked in his embrace as our sweet, soft kiss suddenly heats. I moan as Teos takes control, pressing his big arm against the center of my back, arching me into him. His big body curves around mine, completely engulfing me as his hands fist the fabric of my shirt, his nails clawing at me like he’s as desperate to keep me close as I am to stay here.

My head spins, and I pull back just enough to take a gasping breath against his lips. Teos takes advantage, tracing his tongue across my bottom lip and drawing it into his mouth, biting down lightly. The small spark of pain has me moaning against his lips, pressing myself as close as possible. I can feel his hard erection against my belly and roll my hips into him, my core aching, seeking the friction that only he can provide.

“Bella,” he rasps, pulling back from me enough to look me in the eyes. Sliding a hand up the center of my back and over my shoulder, he keeps me pressed to him, cupping the back of my neck and pressing our foreheads together. I open my mouth, about to ask him to kiss me again, when I hear voices and tense, reality crashing back into me.

TWENTY-SIX

Serafina

“Serafina!” a familiar voice calls to me, and I jump, breaking whatever trance Teos just kissed me into as I yank out of his arms, making him growl and curse something under his breath as he turns, reaching down to adjust the big bulge at the front of his shorts.

Holy shit! I kissed Teos! And he’s not dead.

I blink, then look back up at him, wanting to make sure and exhale loudly when I see him glaring over his shoulder at whoever interrupted us. Yep, still standing—still alive. And my magic doesn’t even appear ruffled by the kiss! I take a step closer to him, then grimace and look down. Yeah, I don’t have a boner, but I’m definitely going to need a new pair of underwear.

“Hey, wait up!”

Pressing my fingers to my tingling lips, I gather myself, trying not to glare as I turn toward the voice. Adam jogs over, leaving a frustrated Neva on the path, staring after him.

“We have to head back to our rooms. There’s been some sort of emergency or something, and the Balaur Patrol needs to sweep the grounds,” he says, wheezing slightly as he catches up to us. From his flushed face and the small amount of sweat dotting his brow, I’m going to take a guess that Adam isn't one for physical activities.

“Dude, are you okay?” Teos asks, losing some of the anger as he steps behind me enough to hide the erection in his pants. Adam nods, cheeks a bright red.

“I don't run much,” he admits, then frowns, bringing his hand up to wipe at his forehead. “I don't walk much either since I can teleport. It works better for me since I have asthma. I don't have to use my inhaler as much if I minimize my running.”

Neva suddenly pops up behind him, startling Teos and making him jump nearly out of his tiny shorts. Shorts I’m trying and desperately failing to ignore. Why the hell are they that short, and when the hell did Teos get such a nice ass? I flick my gaze down to said ass, and bite my lip as I wonder how it would feel to touch him. Wrap my legs around his waist while he?—

“Something you now have to use,” Neva chides, shocking me out of the lust-induced stupor I was putting myself in. Yanking my eyes from Teos’ delectable ass, I look up and freeze like a damn deer caught in the headlights.

“Whatcha lookin' at?” he asks, leaning closer to me, a knowing smile on his face. Glaring, I bring my middle finger up and scratch the bridge of my nose, making his smile turn into laughter as Neva unzips Adam’s backpack hanging on his shoulders and reaches into the pocket before handing him the small blue inhaler.

Stepping to my side, Teos smirks and whispers, “You can look any time, Bella.” His breath whispers over my neck, and I shiver as he reaches out and softly brushes back a loose strand of black hair on my temple. Conflicted, I stare up at him. My head is screaming for me to run into the forest and not look back, but my heart does this weird little kick in my chest, and I frown, wondering if I’m having a heart attack. Maybe this is all leftover lust from the kiss we just had? Damn, boys make life complicated.

“Why the hell did you run over here? They looked…” Neva looks at me, then Teos. “Busy, and it’s not nice to interrupt,” she says, gesturing at me before glaring at him. Adam shoots her a sheepish smile and shrugs before taking a couple of deep puffs from his inhaler before handing it back to Neva, who grumbles something under her breath as she returns it to his backpack.

“We need to get to the dorms,” she states, her gaze raking over Adam for a moment before she finally looks up at us, glaring at Teos and stepping in between them. Okay, someone is still a little pissed about earlier. Teos doesn't seem to be fazed by Neva's reaction to him as he looks back at the forest behind us.

“Ooh! Maybe we can all hang out and play Scrabble,” Adam suggests, a look of pure joy crossing his face. Teos stares at Adam for a moment and frowns.

“Scrabble?” Adam's smile drops, and suddenly, Neva’s playing with her pretty knife. Damn, where does she store that thing? I need to ask her because even with my ability to produce weapons out of thin air, I still can't have one in my hand that fast without notice.

“Scrabble is a fun game,” she grinds out, and I nod.

“Totally fun. But can we take a rain check?” I look at Adam and tug Teos back behind me, not wanting Neva to stab him.

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