Page 18 of Witchful Thinking

Chapter 5

Diana woke to sunlightstreaming through unfamiliar curtains and froze at the weight across her waist—Alarick's arm.Their skin still glowed with faint golden shimmer where they touched, their magical connection persisting even in sleep.

Last night's "professional debriefing" after the magical emergency had evolved into something distinctly unprofessional, resulting in her bedroom literally glowing with magical resonance.

She carefully extracted herself, sparing a glance at his peaceful face before reality crashed in.Monday morning.Patients.Responsibilities.A ten-years-younger colleague in her bed.

Great job maintaining boundaries, Maelstrom.

By the time she emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and wrapped in a robe, she'd compiled a mental list of reasons why this was a terrible mistake.A spectacular, mind-blowing mistake—but a mistake nonetheless.

Alarick sat up in her bed with the sheet pooled around his waist, looking irritatingly comfortable."Morning," he said, voice still rough with sleep."You're thinking very loudly."

"I'm not thinking loudly.I'm not thinking at all," Diana replied, grabbing work robes with unnecessary focus."Which was apparently my problem yesterday."

"Ah."His tone cooled."We've reached the regret phase."

Diana turned to face him."Not regret, exactly.More like delayed recognition of complications."

"Complications," he repeated flatly.

"We work together, Alarick.On a project Raven herself is monitoring."She clutched her robes like armor."Yesterday was wonderful, but possibly a professional disaster."

To her surprise, he just nodded thoughtfully."I understand.What do you propose?"

"Professional discretion," Diana said, relieved he wasn't dismissing her concerns."Work during work hours.Keep personal interactions private."

"Reasonable."He rose from bed, apparently unbothered by his nudity as he gathered scattered clothing.He had a fine, muscular ass that her fingers itched to squeeze again.

So much for professionalism.

The golden shimmer traced his movements, visible evidence of their magical connection."Though discretion doesn't mean pretending nothing happened."

"Of course not," she agreed quickly."Just compartmentalizing."

He approached, now wearing trousers but still appealingly bare-chested."I can compartmentalize," he said, voice dropping to that rumble that made her shiver."But fair warning—I won't pretend I don't want you just because we're in the infirmary."

Diana swallowed hard."That seems workable."

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