Page 13 of Legend

I released a low rumble of displeasure as I stole another furtive glance beside me and saw that virtually no time had passed. I would go mad before the night was out, especially if I let myself think of all the things that might happen to her. She’d already been put at risk because of me. Was I being a fool for not making sure she was not in danger now?

It took little to convince myself that finding her was imperative, so I tossed back the sheet and stood. Before I could put on clothes and leave my room, the door slid open, and Jess hurried inside.

She stopped short when she saw me standing completely naked beside the bed. Her jaw dropped, and her cheeks mottled a pale shade of pink. “I…”

“You are late,” I rasped, my voice harsher than I’d intended.

She pulled her gaze up even as her chest heaved. “I know. I’m really sorry. I lost track of time.”

“On the way from the Stacks to here?” Even though I was supposed to be upset with her, I could not stop my body’s natural reaction to her presence. My cock twitched to life, thickening as I tried to retain my rightful indignation.

She gave me a sultry smile as she walked to me. “You know I would rather be here than anywhere else, don’t you?”

I cleared my throat as she closed the distance between us and pressed her hands to my chest. How had this woman gone from a shy, unsure creature to a confident seductress? I wanted to believe that my sex tutoring had been the reason, but I knew I could not take all the credit. Jess had always been a wildcat waiting to be released.

My cock ached with need, and I curled my arms around her waist. It did not matter that she had been in my bed last night and the night before that. I could not get enough of her. I would never tire of the feel of her, the taste of her, the sound of her when she shattered in my arms. I was so lost in thoughts of her that I almost forgot the question that I’d been asking myself half the night. “Where were you?”

She hesitated, her breath catching in her throat. She ran her fingers over my bare chest, the sensation sizzling my skin. “Do you really want to talk now?”

I unwound my arms from her waist and closed my hands over hers, stopping them from drifting farther. “Are you hiding something from me?”

“No,” her answer burst from her lips. “It’s nothing to do with us.”

Now my curiosity was piqued. “What is nothing to do with us? What are you not telling me?”

She let loose a tortured sigh as she peered up at me. “Every other woman can distract men with sex, but you aren’t going to let this go, are you?”

I smiled at her. “Trust me,cinnara.You are distracting me a great deal.” I leaned closer so she could feel just how much, and her eyes widened. “If I hadn’t been sitting here for a long time worrying, your seduction might have worked.”

She bit her bottom lip. “You were worried? Of course, you were. I’m really sorry. I didn’t think we’d be with Tivek for so long.”

“Tivek?” That was a name I had not expected to hear, and I was not sure I had heard right.

She sighed again. “You have to promise not to breathe a word of what I tell you.”

“Does it have anything to do with academy security? Will anyone be in danger if I keep your secret?”

Jess wrinkled her nose. “No and no.”

“Then you have my word.”

She nodded and her shoulders relaxed. “Tivek was helping Fiona prepare to play against Vyk in the card game. He took us to the admiral’s secret study, although it’s more like a lair than anything.”

I would have never guessed this in a million light years. “I have been there. How did Tivek know about the game?”

Jess bobbed one shoulder. “Who knows? I get the feeling the Drexian knows everything that goes on in the academy.”

I often got the same feeling. “You have been in the admiral’s private lounge all this time?”

“I got distracted by all the books, then Ariana made us cocktails…” Her words drifted off and she pressed her body closer to mine. “I’m happy to be with you now, though.”

“My quarters are not as luxurious as Zoran’s lounge, with his collection of books and liquors.”

“No.” Jess gave me a mischievous grin. “But you have something that his lounge doesn’t have.”

My pulse spiked as she slipped her hands from beneath mine and dragged her fingers down my chest to the ridges of my stomach. “And what is that?”

“Why don’t I show you?”

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