Page 16 of Blood Witch

“Everyone out! I have to talk to Mabe,” Fin snarled.

“No way. We are not leaving her alone with you,” Jade said, returning to my bedroom once I had sustenance.

She went toe to toe with the Enforcer, and I was impressed by the curvy earth witch, who was shaping up to be my actual bestie. The euphoria that came with feeding left me feeling out of sorts, but I stood upon wobbly feet. Stumbling, I made my way between them.

I turned my back to Fin, not because I was trying to insult him this time, but because I felt no threat from him. Baffling, since he was the one person there I knew wanted to hurt me. Still, I shook my head at Jade.

“Stop, please stop. No more yelling or fighting, please. All of you being here, being emotional, it’s making your magic pulse and beat, and it is making me so fucking dizzy.”

A collective gasp was followed by whispers, and I knew I would have some explaining to do later. Right then, I was not feeling strong enough.

“Mabe, I don’t want to leave you with this guy,” Jade said, and I could see she meant it.

For the first time in my life, I had a real friend willing to stand beside me, no matter what, and I was momentarily stunned. That right there was worth the whole world to me, and I realized I would do anything to keep Jade safe.

Hell, to keep all of them safe.

Rio, Maia, and Tana were there too, after all. With their mates. Arlo especially. He had his hands on Jade’s waist, always ready to protect his mate, but not forcing her to stand behind him. It was something I had noticed about all these males, these mates of the women I’d come to know and admire.

They didn’t browbeat or demand they dim their light to accommodate their fragile male egos. Instead, these worthy men proved their love and devotion by lifting their women up. I used to think that sort of love was a myth, but I saw it now, daily. And a big part of me wanted that kind of love for myself.

I leaned back, wobbly on my feet, but Fin’s strong hands grabbed me by the elbows, and I was grateful he did not let me fall on my ass. I nodded my thanks and then said to Arlo and the rest of the gang, “I will be okay. You guys go. Let me talk to him alone, okay?”

They left my room after making some thinly veiled—or, in Tana’s case, crystal clear—threats and demands. I had to give Fin credit. He did not take the typical male route of yelling at them or putting them in their place. Like Dram would have. No, he simply took all their venom and diatribe and remained still and silent as they filed out.

“I have to turn you in, Mabel. Fuck, I have no choice,” Fin muttered, running a hand over his face.

“Why do you call me that? No one here knows that name.”

“I’ve read your file. I know a lot about you, starting with you being raised in an orphanage.”

“Oh, I see,” I said, and something inside me was sad he didn’t know more. “I suppose it would be too much if you could answer the big questions for me, right? Like, who am I, really? Who are my parents? Wh-why did they give me away?” I whispered the last.

“I am sorry, Mabel,” he murmured, moving into my space. “I can’t help you there. But I noticed something when you, before you drank the—” Fin paused, gritting his teeth, and I hated that pitying look in his eyes.

“Blood. I drank blood. You can just say it, you know? I am aware it’s repulsive, but I’m afraid my will to live is greater than my own self-disgust,” I said, frowning.

“I don’t think you’re repulsive, Mabel,” Fin replied, and his eyes truly glowed then.

He rushed toward me and before I knew what he was doing, Fin pressed his lips against mine. Passion swelled between us like a flash flood, and I found myself riveted by the thunderous sound of his heart beating. Every swipe of his lips against mine sent electrical pulses of awareness shooting through me, straight to my core until I vibrated with need.

The taste of him was spicy and bright, like ginger and magic. He licked across the seam of my lips, and I gasped, giving him the opening he sought. I was breathing raggedly, great huffing puffs of air and I startled at the raging desire I felt for him.

I had been kissed before. But not like this. This was all frantic and needy, two seconds from becoming out of control. This was stupid! I was letting my guard down for a man who wanted to arrest me and send me to some dungeon for simply being me. Not like I could control what I was, even though, technically, I was trying to manage how that made me behave.

Still, Fin was a stranger and way out of my league and realm of experience. But even knowing that and admitting it to myself, I couldn’t push him away. I sagged against him, allowing his strong, lean body to support mine as I sipped from his lips.

How could such a hard mouth feel so soft?

His silver gaze burned into mine, stripping me of my secrets as he kissed the hell out of me. I was drunk on Fin’s lips, falling under his spell more and more with every passing second. His long-fingered hands gripped my arms, and he pulled me into his body.

My senses buzzed, almost completely consumed with him. I wanted to memorize all of this. All of him. His mouth, his tongue, those expert hands, holding, caressing, teasing me with their light touches until I writhed against him, searching for something more. He was so warm and hard. The planes of his body were defined by the curves of muscle that rippled as he moved against me, making me buckle and sway. Thank fuck, the wall was behind me, offering support.

The man made my knees buckle. Fin moaned, kissing me even deeper, and backing me against the wall. My hands wound around his neck as I allowed him to penetrate my mouth again and again. All my fears, my shame, my worry, fell away as I lost myself in his arms.

“You’re not lost, Mabel,” he whispered, kissing me again. “I’ve got you.”

Before I could do more than moan and accept his sweet invasion, he slowed our kiss until we were both simply breathing each other’s air with our foreheads pressed against one another. My pulse was racing, but so was his. There was something supremely satisfying in knowing that I affected him as much as he affected me.

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