Page 17 of Blood Witch

I couldn’t believe I thought his mouth was hard and unyielding. I mean, it had certainly yielded against mine. I don’t know how long we kissed, or how many times he touched me, and I touched him. I wanted more, so much more, but out of the two of us, Fin proved to be the rational one. I should have been grateful. But I wasn’t. Greedy, selfish thing that I was, I wanted to keep on kissing him.

His lips were swollen now, softer too. I stared, hypnotized by the unyielding determination I saw there.

Why couldn’t I be just another witch?

Someone normal, or well, normal for us.

“Fuck, Mabel, that was, I mean, wow,” Fin whispered, cupping my face in his hands as he kissed my eyelids, then my nose, my cheeks, chin, and lips softly.

“Smooth,” I said, kissing him back on the nose.

“I know, don’t be jealous. I can be really articulate when I get going,” he teased, still holding my face as I giggled with him. “Seriously, though, that’s a good word to describe what it’s like kissing you.”

“What word?”

“Wow, Mabel Marlow. Justwow,” he murmured, and my heart stuttered inside my chest.

“You don’t have to say things like that to me. I know I scare you. I scare everyone,” I said shakily.

“You terrify me,” he agreed, and something inside me hurt at his admission. “But not for the reasons you think, Mabel.”

“Okay, so what do we do now? I mean, are you really taking me into custody?”

“Why don’t we sit with the others and talk first?”

“You want to talk in front of my roommates?”

“Roommates? They stood up to me for you, and I am representing the Council of Covens, the definitive authority for witches and wizards everywhere. They aren’t just your roommates. Mabel, those people are your friends.”

Warmth filled me, and I realized he was right. I mean, I’d already admitted how much Jade seemed to care, and even thought of her as my bestie. But in their own ways, they all seemed to care.

Tana didn’t growl at me as much. Maia even asked my opinions about fashion. Rio came to me when she was irritated with the professors, something we both commiserated about. Enid was always sympathetic and bright as a star in the sky.

“Yeah, they’re my friends and I guess I better have an honest discussion with them for once.”

“You know, they are lucky to have you on their side.”

“Ha! Yeah, right,” I murmured, moving away from him and missing his warmth. “Real lucky. I try to snack on them ten times a week.”

“Your hunger might be tricky to handle, but you are stronger than it.”

“Who me?”

“Mabel, I saw you tell your friends to get to safety, putting yourself at risk to save them. I mean it when I say you’re strong, and they’re lucky you are on their side,” Fin murmured, cupping my cheek affectionately.

“Come on, let’s talk to your friends. Who knows, if I am lucky, maybe by the time we are done you’ll consider me one too,” Fin said, biting his lower lip as he held the door open for me.

Shivers.

He gives me shivers.

CHAPTER7

“Wait,you’re on our side now?” Jade asked, pouring everyone mugs of steaming hot tea.

“I think there is something more here than what I have been told. I think Mabel is special and I’m keeping an open mind,” Fin replied, and my heart stuttered again.

“Mabel?” Rio asked, her blue hair whipping side to side as she looked from a grinning Fin to me and back again.

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