Page 21 of Spelled By Truth and Tresses

On November 10, 1875, a great fire broke out in Black Lily Tower. Not much else is known about that night, but it is said the screams of the coven members begging for help could be heard all the way in the town center of Crimson Leaf.

Unholy shit! This is exactly what we needed!

A shiver skated down my spine as realization dawned. November 10, I was born on the anniversary of the massacre at Black Lily Tower.

“Jax!” I whisper-shouted. “Mmm?”

“I found something,” I said excitedly and pointed to the passage.

His eyes stayed focused on his book. “Maybe we should pick some new books.”

A wrinkle formed between my brows. “What? Did you not hear me?”

“Yes, pet, I heard you,” Jax snapped, then slammed the book closed. “We’ve been researching for hours, and you found one tiny snippet about the tower.”

Jax’s chair scraped against the floor and then he was moving toward the bookshelves. I hurried after him, anger driving my steps faster.

“We’re here to finish our assignment, not fuck around,” I reminded him, then grabbed his elbow.

He spun on his heel, then bent at the waist until he was eye level with me. “It’s time for a fucking break. If I have to spend another minute listening to you tapping your pen I may be forced to strangle you,” Jax hissed, his eyes flaring wide.

I glared at him. “It’s not as if I’m overjoyed to be partnered with you, prick. Let’s just hurry up and get this assignment over with,” I grumbled.

I stood on my tip toes and leaned onto the shelf as I reached for a volume two rows higher than my fingers could reach. My nostrils flared as I glared at the book.

“What the fuck did that book ever do to you?” Jax asked, his voice dripping with mockery.

I turned to face him, then spoke. “You’re an asshole, do you know that? You could easily reach the book I, no, we need, and yet you just stand there enjoying my struggle.”

Jax’s shoulder rose then fell in a shrug. “But if I helped you, I wouldn’t be able to watch the tip of your braid sway over your ass as you stretched your little body.”

My boot slammed into the ground, the magic of the library immediately soaking up the sound and my body quivered with anger. “You’re disgusting.”

Jax’s eyes flashed and he took a step toward me. “And you’re a brat, wasting my godsdamn time.”

He crowded me and I stepped back, the shelves meeting my back. His hands slammed into the shelf above my head, then he gripped it so hard the wood groaned.

“I don’t fucking like you, phantom.”

“I don’t fucking like you either, siren.”

Throbbing erupted in my chest, like the inky void demanded violence from us and would do anything to get its way.

Three months ago, I couldn’t feel a thing and now all the pent-up emotions I’ve denied myself were attacking me at once. I gazed up at him, placed my hand on his chest, my fingers flexing. I admired his perfect cupid-bow over full lips that begged to be licked, and dark, enchanting brown eyes.

“Why do I want you? I hate you, and yet I can’t stop my body’s reaction to you” I admitted through gritted teeth.

Jax lowered his face, and our lips brushed as he spoke, “Well, I loathe that I’ve craved you since the first moment my darkness sensed yours, pet.” He clenched his jaw and his breathing sped up. “We don’t have to like each other to fuck.”

Heat flared through me as if the words he spoke turned off the logical side of my brain. Lust blindsided me and I attacked his lips with mine.

He moaned into my mouth as my hand slipped beneath the waistband of his jeans. Fine. If he wanted me to give in so badly, I’d show him just how deeply my wicked desires ran.

It was unlike anything I had ever felt before. Jax looked so determined, yet so conflicted, as he stared down at me. I purposely snuck my hand beneath my top. I hadn’t worn a bra, so it was all too easy to pinch one of my nipples between my fingers.

Jax’s eyes darkened as he pulled back and watched me. His cock throbbed in my fist as I stroked the head, then swirled my thumb through the pre-cum pearling at his slit.

With both of my hands occupied Jax had free rein over my body. He slid his fingers into my black leggings, then tore them down as he dropped to his knees along with my blue thong. I pouted at him, irritated he took his cock away from me. I wanted to play with him.

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