Page 55 of Baneful Magick

Professor Ambrose’s silky voice broke the moment. “Miss Hallowes and Mr. Hawthorne.”

“Professor.” Wells immediately stood up, brushing at his jeans. “We were just taking a small break.”

Ambrose didn’t respond, but I could see laughter lighting up his orange and red eyes. He pursed his lips and gestured at the library door. “You’ve probably had plenty of fresh air by now. Miss Hallowes will be along shortly. I need to talk to her for a short moment.”

Wells hurried back inside and left me alone with the high fae. I stood up slowly, brushing at the black slacks I had on today.

“I have everything ready for class tomorrow, Professor.”

“What a good student you are,” he commented, stepping closer to me. He was almosttooclose, and I couldn’t help the shudder that ran through my body when smoke and a hint of sweetness surrounded me. “Walk with me. There is something I need to discuss without prying eyes.”

He held up his arm. I studied it, then his face, trying to figure out what was going on. My hormones wanted more than what he was offering.

‘Be careful, beastie. He isn’t one to trifle with.’

‘I need to know what he wants.’

‘I’ll give you two guesses, but only one will count,’Cassius shot back.

I huffed.‘There’s no way he wants me. He’s a professor.’

‘You’re not at the academy anymore. Everyone here is an adult, beastie.’Cassius clicked his tongue when I threaded my arm through the fae’s. ‘You’re an idiot.’

The fae led me away from the library, toward the area where the greenhouse was standing among the trees like a safe haven. Ambrose’s gaze didn’t stray in that direction though, a mystery that would have to wait for another day.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked, unable to hold my tongue any longer.

“I overheard your discussion with yourfriend.” He made a face when he said that last word, like the very thought of Wells being friendly with me was distasteful.

“Meaning you were eavesdropping?” I challenged. When he narrowed his eyes on me, I found myself wishing I’d had the self-control to put a filter on my damn mouth.

“You are as bold as ever,” he murmured, turning to step into my space. I tried to step back to maintain some distance, but my back hit a tree. His gaze flicked up to the tree, and his smile turned into a cocky grin.

“Meaning?” I asked, very fucking aware that there would be no misconstruing what was going on if someone happened upon us.

The fae didn’t answer with words. He leaned down, his mouth sliding over mine with a heated kiss. I groaned the moment our lips touched, my body reacting before my mind could question what was happening. His moans filled my mouth, and he threaded a hand into my hair, tilting my head back so he could kiss me easier.

My body took over, wrapping my arms around him so I could press closer. I needed to feel him against me. This was stupid, all-consuming insanity. Goddess, it was fuckingeverything.

Ambrose took control, kissing me so thoroughly I couldn’t stand up on my own. When I was hanging on to him for some semblance of balance, he pulled back, masculine satisfaction darkening his gaze. He eyed my puffy lips, and I swore he stood a little straighter, seeming proud of what he’d reduced me to.

“I find words can be overrated most of the time. Actions are much more… efficient.”

“Odd coming from a fae.” I licked my lips. “But this seems to be coming out of nowhere, and you’re a professor?—”

“You’re an adult. Unlike those boys you’re used to, I can communicate just fine. This can be as simple as two people having needs and fulfilling them. You think on this for a bit, and I’ll be patient. Until tomorrow, anyway. See that you have the right answer by then.”

“The right answer?” I asked, but he was gone. I brought my hand up to brush my lips, but an icy voice froze me on the spot.

“You and your professor?”

Echo had seen us.

Shit.

Chapter 21

Echo

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