Page 15 of Witchful Thinking

None of them seemed important when he looked at her like that.

"I'd want this," she whispered, and kissed him.

The first brush of their lips was tentative, questioning.Then Alarick's hand came up to cradle her face, fingers threading into her hair, and any hesitation vanished.The kiss deepened, igniting something that had been building between them for days.Her hands rested on his shoulders, feeling the solid strength beneath her fingers as his arms encircled her, drawing her closer.

Magic sparked around them, literal sparks of blue and gold dancing in the air as their inherent magical energies responded to the connection.Diana had heard of such phenomenon but never experienced it—the rare magical resonance that occurred when two practitioners with highly compatible cores connected on an intimate level.

They broke apart, both breathless, staring at the shimmering magical display surrounding them.

"Well," Alarick said, his voice rougher than usual."That answers a few questions."

Diana couldn't help the small laugh that escaped her."About magical resonance?"

"Among other things."His smile was dazzling."Like whether you're as magnificent at kissing as you are at healing spells."

"And the verdict?"She couldn't believe her own boldness.

"Exceeds expectations," he murmured, leaning in again."Though further testing may be required."

This time, the kiss was deeper from the start, his mouth moving over hers with confident desire that made her head spin.Diana found herself pressed against the edge of the table, Alarick's body tantalizingly close as his hands slid down her back, pulling her firmly against him.The heat of him against her sent waves of awareness through her body, every nerve ending suddenly, acutely alive.

The sensation of being held, of being wanted so obviously, sent heat coursing through her.How long had it been since she'd allowed herself this kind of connection?Too long, clearly, given how rapidly her body was responding to his touch.

His lips traveled down her neck, finding a sensitive spot that made her gasp.Diana's hands clutched at his shoulders, her head tilting back to give him better access.The magical sparks intensified around them, responding to their mutual desire, casting the infirmary in a soft, shimmering glow.

"We should stop," she managed between kisses, even as her hands betrayed her by slipping beneath his shirt to feel the warm skin of his back, the play of muscles as he moved against her."Anyone could walk in on us."

"Completely," he agreed, trailing kisses along her collarbone that sent shivers cascading through her.His voice was a low rumble against her skin."Want me to stop?"

"No," she admitted, her fingers threading through his hair to keep him close."That's the problem."

His chuckle against her skin sent new waves of sensation through her."Not seeing the problem, personally."

His hands found their way under her blouse, warm against her ribs, his thumbs tracing maddening patterns just beneath the edge of her bra.Diana arched into his touch without conscious thought, her body responding with a mind of its own.She could feel his arousal pressed against her hip, the evidence of his desire sending a fresh surge of heat through her lower belly.

One of his hands slid up to cup her breast through the thin fabric of her bra, his thumb brushing over the center in a way that drew a soft moan from her lips.The sound seemed to affect him deeply; his kiss became more urgent, his body pressing hers more firmly against the table.

Diana's logical mind made one last attempt at responsible behavior."We don’t want to be caught in a compromising position."

Alarick pulled back slightly, keeping his arms around her.His eyes were dark with desire, pupils dilated, but there was genuine consideration in them as well."You're right.This isn't the place."

The fact that he would stop, that he respected her enough to acknowledge the legitimate concern, only made her want him more.Diana found herself caught between professional responsibility and increasingly insistent desire.

"The wards," she remembered suddenly."You're supposed to check the faculty wing wards this afternoon."

"The faculty wing," he repeated, understanding dawning."Where our quarters are."

"Yes,” she said, nodding.

"Which I should inspect.Thoroughly.Starting with yours."

"Yes.My quarters might require extensive examination."

The walk back to the faculty wing was an exercise in restraint, their conversation deliberately professional while the tension between them built with every step.They passed several students and faculty members, exchanging polite greetings while carefully maintaining proper distance from each other.

But the moment Diana's door closed behind them, that carefully maintained professionalism shattered.Alarick's mouth found hers, hungry and insistent, as her hands pulled him closer, all pretense of restraint abandoned.The magical resonance that had begun in the infirmary returned instantly, blue-gold sparks shimmering around them as their magic responded to their heightened emotions.

They moved through her sitting room in a tangle of increasingly urgent touches, bumping into furniture and laughing breathlessly before finding themselves at the threshold of her bedroom.

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