Page 22 of Spirit Witch

“That’s right.She has work to do.Now, please give us space and let me do my job,” Judge said.

“Well, I don’t know if I trust him.But I sure as fuck trust Enid,” Mabe growled.

Threats, tears, and pleas would not sway the stone-faced Lorekeeper to let my friends in, but I realized then I didn’t need to see them.Hearing their strong opinions of me and the way they rallied to support me was incredible.Bolstering my pitiful spirits, but at the same time bringing home just how much work I really had to do.

Eventually, they left, and as ashamed as I was to admit it, I felt relieved.I couldn’t face them yet.Not with knowing I was too much of a coward to confront my own fears.

I knew the second he returned.My torturer.He entered the tent, silent as the grave, whatever the hell that meant.In my experience, graves weren’t silent.Ghosts had a way of clinging to their corporeal remains.And boy, were they vocal about it.I frowned, wondering how I knew about graves and corpses.It wasn’t like I spent a lot of time wandering around cemeteries, or maybe I did once upon a time.Maybe I just couldn’t remember.

Fuck.

I grimaced.I didn’t usually use curse words, but it seemed apropos.I held my breath as he moved about the tent, and a few minutes later, I felt his hand on my shoulder.

“Let’s go.Time to try again,” he said.

“What?No.I’m tired.I’ll try tomorrow,” I grumbled, but he either didn’t hear me or he didn’t care.

“Up, Nizhoni, now.Do it on your own or I will make you.”

Well, that sounded ominous.In my current mood, however, I didn’t give a crap.I sat up, meeting his steady stare with my own furious one.

Couldn’t he tell I was spent?

That I was nothing but a fraidy-cat.

A wimp.

Yellow through and through.

“I told you, I’m tired.I will try again tomorrow.”I enunciated each word slowly, sounding like a spoiled brat even to my own ears.

“Have it your way,” he growled, and blurred across the tent the same way he had when we were outside.

Next thing I knew, Judge lifted me over his shoulder, taking the blanket off in the process.I still had on my cami and panties, but that was all.The thin cotton was no match for the chill in the air, or the heat coming off his hard body.It was too much stimulation for someone who’d just been completely emotionally shut down.

I was so completely vulnerable to him in this position, but it awakened something in me I hoped like hell he couldn’t sense.But of course, like with everything else, as far as this man was concerned, I was shit out of luck.Electricity buzzed between us, and my stomach clenched.

This was a new and scary feeling, though not where he was concerned.True, I felt zero attraction to the boys on campus, but ever since Judge Dusek had walked into my dreams, I felt a pull toward him.Like there was something connecting us.Lust maybe, or animal magnetism, I couldn’t say.But he was the first man I wanted in this way.

And I wanted him.

Desperately.

“Why are you torturing me?”I whispered, hurt filling my voice.

My breathing came in quickly then, and I was almost panting by the time he slid to a stop.My hands were on his back as I tried to put some space between us, but it was impossible, slung over his shoulder the way I was.A loud, growly rumble came from his chest as he slowly dragged me off his shoulder.His hands cupped my thighs, ass, and hips as he worked, gently sliding me down his body until I was standing in front of him, my body flush against his.

“You think I do this to hurt you, to punish you, Nizhoni?Never.You know this.You know me.You would only have to remember to know I speak the truth,” he said, cupping my face with one large hand, while the other wrapped firmly around my waist.

His thumb teased my lips, brushing downward and parting them.I couldn’t help myself, I turned my head to prolong the contact, kissing that thick digit and only stopping when I saw heat flare to life inside his bottomless gaze.Then he was leaning down, pressing his lips to mine, and stealing my breath in a kiss so deep it knocked me off my feet.

“Tried to wait.Tried to guide you first,” he growled, but then he was kissing me again.

Passion raged inside me, the likes of which I had never felt before.At least, not anywhere other than my dreams.Then I remembered.He was my dream boy, my fantasy come to life, and I allowed myself to get swept up in the tide of our mutual desire.

“Nizhoni,” he grunted, tearing my cami and panties from my overheated flesh.

I moaned at how good it felt to press myself against his body.He was so hot and hard, so ready for me, I moaned as I closed my hand around his thick, girthy length.He pulsed inside my palm, hot and heavy, and my body flared to life, swelling, and ripening for his possession.I wanted it, I realized, more than anything.

---