Page 11 of Petals for Deadly Power

Lenna

Lennaknewshewasbeing selfish as well as she knew she should feel remorse for what she was about to do.

She would make sure to find her remorse later. For now, she was too busy finding a silver-eyed man.

The last place she had left to check was where she least expected to find Jake.

Her knuckles knocked on Ciaran’s door. A male voice invited her to come in, and there they were.

There, in the middle of a horrendously disorganized mess of parchments, notes, ink pots, quills, and books.Lotsof books.

Considering Jake and Ciaran were meant to be studying and putting together their years of findings about the Fifth Power, this wasn’t the least expected place to find him, after all.

“Good boys, doing all this hard work.” Lenna walked towards the wide bed and moved a pile of books to the side to have enough space to sit. “Any progress?”

Ciaran nodded distractedly from the floor, underlining something on one of the books and adding a note next to a paragraph before putting the quill behind his ear. He passed the page and continued reading.

“I think we’re finally getting somewhere.” Jake turned around in his chair to face her, and as he looked at her, a side smile spread on his gorgeous lips. He didn’t need to scan her from top to bottom for her to know it had been worth changing her outfit.

You clearly also want to getsomewhere, don’t you, Brachyan?

Jake’s voice echoed in her mind, and she cocked an eyebrow. She didn’t know how to speak to his mind, but her white, fresh clothes were answer enough.

“I’ll be right back, Ciaran,” Jake said standing up, before reconsidering and correcting himself, “Probably notright back, but I’ll see you soon. I think we’ve got this, anyway. We’re just getting to the same conclusion over and over.”

Well, if she wasn’t interrupting any ground-breaking revelation, there was definitely no need to go looking for her remorse for disturbing their task.

Ciaran hummed in response, passing another page and not seeming too concerned about Jake abandoning him to their mess.

As soon as Jake and Lenna were out of Ciaran’s bedroom and the door closed, he pulled her back against the wall.

“Someone is looking dangerously attractive,” he whispered in her ear. A shiver rushing up her spine.

“Someone better make up for the time lost studying,” Lenna said. “I miss you.”

Jake pulled his head backwards enough to look at her golden eyes. He put a finger down her chin, lifting it slightly until her gaze met his. The silver in his eyes was so clear and calm that Lenna wanted to get lost in them.

Lenna was ready to tell him off if he said that it was stupid to miss someone who was right next to her. If he argued they saw each other every day and slept in the same bed every night. If he asked her how could she miss him when they were together more than they had ever been.

But instead, he sighed.

“I miss you too, Lenna.”

She was not ready for the slow and deep touch of his lips on hers. For the caring and the tenderness that their lips colliding transpired.

She, who had kissed countless men in what seemed another life, would never grow accustomed to being kissed with such an emotional connection. Jake stroked her red waves behind her ear, caressing her cheek with a soft yet callused hand. Lenna didn’t need to open her eyes to guess his silver eyes were probably open, drinking her in.

Their lips broke open, leaving space for their tongues to dance with each other, and damn every Cardinal one by one if the built-up warmth didn’t suddenly escalate to a live combustion.

Lenna grabbed his insanely terse biceps with her hands as if she was holding on to them for dear life. Jake grabbed her fire-colored hair with his fists, making her tilt her head backwards while he devoured her mouth. Lenna pulled her arm backwards to touch his luscious abdomen, her elbow loudly banging against the wall.

Ciaran appeared in his now open doorway, mere inches away from their tangled bodies and faces. His long, sleek dark hair flowed to one side as he tilted his head sideways.

“I would be grateful if you two don’t fuck at my doorstep.” His voice was serious, with an almost negligible hint of hidden amusement.

“What sort of disgraceful guests would do that?” Lenna asked with a grin.

“Wewould very much do that.” The mischief in Jake’s voice was enough to make Lenna stop talking and start taking clothes off. “I said it once before, Ciaran, but you’re welcome to join us, if you want.” Jake winked at the man now rolling his blue eyes. “Only if my woman doesn’t mind, of course.”

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