Page 72 of Bonds of Magic
“I need to clean up the bathroom,” I said, “and find something to put over the window temporarily. I’ll take you back as soon as I’m done.”
“Sure.” He sat down on the couch, leaning back against the cushions. “Take your time.”
But when I came back from the bathroom ten minutes later, he was lying down on the sofa, afghan pulled around him, fast asleep.
Seeing him made me tired, too. I was physically weary from cleaning up, and psychically weary from trying to figure out what had happened. Nothing had been taken, as far as I could tell. Ididn’t relish having to talk to Isaac after taking Cory back to his room. Hell, I didn’t even want to leave the cabin right now.
I looked down at Cory. He was exhausted, and already asleep. He might be in someone else’s dream right now. I didn’t want to wake him.
Instead, I picked him up gently, cradling him in my arms. He stirred, but his eyes remained closed. He made a gentlemmphwhen I set him down on the bed, but didn’t wake. At least he’d be more comfortable there. I could take the couch.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, watching him. He’d rolled over onto his side, his back to me, deep in slumber. After a moment, I lay down next to him.
Just for a moment, I told myself.Just until I can catch my breath.
I was more tired than I realized. The old wound on my chest ached. Who had broken in here tonight? Did they know Cory and I were supposed to be here? I should stay close. Keep Cory safe. One moment longer.
When I woke up, it was still dark outside. The cabin and the forest were utterly silent. My heart thumped when I realized there was someone else in my bed, then beat even faster when I realized it was Cory. Fuck. I hadn’t meant to fall asleep.
Then I realized what had woken me up. It was the sound of Cory shifting in bed. The sound of him whispering my name.
“Noah?” he said again into the darkness. I could barely place his shadow, a deeper patch of black in the dark of the room.
“Yeah?”
“Are you awake?”
It was such a silly question that I laughed. I reached over and flicked on the lamp that sat on the bedside table. I looked at Cory, searching his face for a sign of what was troubling him. My hand took hold of his without conscious thought.
“What’s wrong?” My voice was as soft as his, though there was no need to whisper.
Golden lamplight kissed his features. “Nothing. I was dreaming, and when I woke up, I didn’t know where I was. I didn’t mean to fall asleep here.”
“It’s okay.” My heartbeat began to slow as I realized there was no immediate danger. “You seemed tired, and I didn’t want to wake you, so I…”
I trailed off with a shrug. His eyes slid down to my hand, holding his. I tensed, preparing to move away from him, but something stopped me. My body, my mind—every part of me was tired of fighting. Tired of pushing down my desire.
“So you…” Cory said slowly, his eyes traveling up to meet mine.
Maybe it was the fact that it was the middle of the night. Maybe it was what he’d told me about his dad a few hours ago. Maybe I was sick of lying to myself, and to him, about what I wanted. The reason didn’t actually matter.
My actions did.
I leaned in and pressed my lips to Cory’s. They were chapped, dry from sleep, and he made a surprised little gasp in the back of his throat. I leaned in farther, balancing on one elbow, bringing my other hand to his face. My thumb stroked his cheek as mytongue probed his lips. His mouth opened, a sigh escaping him, and I tasted his tongue.
I’d wanted to do this for so long. I’d been holding back, desperate for it. Ever since the first time he’d kissed me.
No, since before that. Since the first night I’d met him, I’d wanted to taste his lips, make them my own. Cory’s kiss that first night had been tentative, but I was confident now, pressing my claim. My hand slid to the back of his head as I lay him down against the pillow.
He moaned, a small, soft sound in the golden light, and slid a hand to my back. Within seconds, I was on top of him, my body covering his. He groaned, and I pulled back.
“Sorry,” I said. “I should have asked.
“No, you shouldn’t have. If you’d thought of asking, you would have talked yourself out of it. And I like the feel of you on top of me.”
He bit his lip, then grinned up at me. Desire flooded my body. I wanted to touch every inch of him, to get him naked and kiss every part of his body, to ravish him, to make him scream, and to hold him as he drifted back to sleep.
I shook my head. “That’s exactly why I should have asked. Cory, I shouldn’t—”
