Page 47 of Swamp Kings 1

As he glanced back at her, it was instantly confirmed. He’d forgotten just how beautiful she was. Her attire was always respectful but that definition took a very nasty turn. Fitted blue jeans hugged her voluptuous shape and that tucked in black satin blouse was just loose enough to showcase more voluptuous perfection. The black heeled boots topped it off, making this more than just a mistake, it was a fatal error. And there was no turning back, even if he wanted to and he surely didn’t.

He turned the lock on the door and shoved the thoughts into the mental cage he’d built for public warfare. All the lusty offspring his monster produced were put there with the promise of dealing with them later. He wasn’t sure yet if this appeasement was also feeding them—that remained to be learned.

“Long time no see! You look great as usual, but don’t you always?”

“It’s good to see you too,” he chuckled, as she launched into her usual updates while his lust filter dissected and translated at a frenzied pace. Nidev realized that by allowing this odd filter to operate, he could use it as an informant. Not for the females but for his enemy. By allowing it to have its way on a leash, he gained insight into saidways.As she went on in great exuberance, the filter broke off into layers. Her smell. The silky sounds in her voice. The taste of her words. The meaning of her body language. And a final filter for her gift.

“And that’s about it.” She clasped her perfectly manicured hands before her, capping her month-long dissertation with one of her signature smiles. The one she poured all her heart and soul into. He’d always liked it but now he was officially fighting a hostile obsession with it. “And what have you been up to? Working on your moon tanning? I can see you’re still working out.”

Nidev rose from the couch, needing to put distance between them when the filters compiled and gave him a final read out on his star student. Her lust levels were maxed out. All filters read her at one hundred percent aroused and turned on. “Would you care for something to drink?” he asked at the fridge, certain that read out was wrong.

“Sure, I’ll take a water.”

He grabbed two and made his way back, handing her one. As far as he could remember, Lyric was just being Lyric. But then… how would he know if he’d deliberately kept all such signs tuned out so as not to be distracted. And if she’d always behaved this way, what did that mean? She’d been lusting for him for over four years? Nonsense. Or was this her natural exuberance, her passion for life? Joy? Was the filter counting all forms of lust? Including lust for living?

He’d have to somehow test that.

“So, seriously, how are you?” she demanded again, digging through her leather satchel, and whipping out a paper. “There’s alotof rumors goinground,” she sang, eyeing him with a smile that got labeled as seductive.No,he countered.Sweet.She crossed the distance and handed it to him. “Guess who drew that?”

His gaze quickly gulped down the tanned silk peeking through the top of her black satin blouse before he looked at the penciled drawing. “Uhhh a resurrected Picasso?”

“Right? Julian did it. He wanted you to have it. I may brag about you,” she whispered, the scent of her perfume coupled with her whisper feeding every demon inside him.

She laughed as she returned to the chair too far away and not far enough. She’d mentioned rumors. Exactly what he wanted to know. But first he wanted to address what she hid in her soft mocha eyes. His gifts were all over that. “Maybe tell me about the shadows you’re hiding behind that blinding light in your eyes.”

She went suddenly serious and then covered her face and flopped back onto the couch. The little sound of defeat in her throat brought a celebration to his cock as if it counted it as a point. If this lust got off to victories, he’d be in a real fix since conquering all challenges was his prime passion.

“It’s about Julian.”

A spark of concern entered the playing field. “Is he okay?”

“I’m just worried about him.” She looked down at her hands as the terrors of their reality bled through her words. “They closed all the schools and Bob lost his job.”

He sensed she had a question. “Ask me what you need from me. You know I will always help you if it’s in my power to.”

She slowly leaned forward, face cast down as she offered him a tiny smile. “Thank you, Mr. Nidev, for always caring about me. Not one single nice thing you’ve done for me has ever gone unnoticed and unappreciated. And I would be so thrilled to take on extra work during these crazy times—”

“Ask me, Lyric.”

She paused and released a breath. “What are the odds that we could bring my brother here to live with me? I have savings—”

“Yes. We can and will get your brother. Are your parents okay with this?”

She nodded, making her shiny black curls bounce while more shadows loomed. “I told them that I would send them money and like I said I have savings I’ll use, and you know I’m a hard worker, I’m happy to take extra—”

Her words froze when he silenced her with a hand. “You are still a student at this academy and my responsibility.”

Her face softened as she pled, “With all due respect Mr. Nidev, I’m twenty-five years old. I can be an asset to the academy.”

“Age is irrelevant, you know this. And you already are a great asset to this institution.”

She stared at him, her eyes softening more with a small smile. “Alright, Mr. Nidev. You’re the boss. Whatever you decide I will happily respect.”

“We will ensure your parents are taken care of as long as it’s within our power to do that. Anything else you fear bringing to me?”

Again, she covered her face, but this time with a laugh before lowering them. “What I would give to have your gifts.”

“You do have a great deal of my gifts with your voice.”

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