Page 12 of Soulmates

They both froze—Jake, settling down in a very uncomfortable position, given the subject. He pressed his face to warm skin, closing his eyes against Maddy’s neck. “You always smell like oranges.”

Maddox snorted. “I smell like I got chased through the Godsdamned forest by a sword-wielding psychopath.” Maddox sighed. “Tell me what you felt after we blasted apart.”

“Um, empty. A little floaty and…unmoored? It felt good, though, like nothing mattered. And I had this urgent need to keep that feeling. Something was gone, and I didn’t want it back.” He thought about that moment, walking into the weapons room after leaving Maddox unconscious on the ground. “I wanted to destroy something. Not just anything. Something specific.”

“What?”

“I…I’m not sure. I just knew you had it.” He paused and lifted his head again, risking a peek at Maddox, who looked more curious than irritated now, which he supposed was a step up. “I knew it was in you. Inside you. And I had to make sure it was gone forever.”

Maddox stared at him, then let his head fall back, his throat on full display, still with Jake’s forearm at the base as if about to cut off his air.

“Your neck is so…”

Maddox’s eyes twitched from where he was staring at the canopy to Jake’s face. “Gods, my neck is what? Still attached to my body? You disappointed?”

“Beautiful.”

“Oh my Gods, Jake. You’re casted. This isn’t real. You can’t go from murderous to in love.” Eyes back to the canopy.

“Santiago was wrong.”

“About what?”

“She said you already knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That I loved you. She said you loved me too. I told her she was wrong.”

Maddox sighed and stared at the branches above. He looked around the forest. Anywhere but at Jake. “I do, Jake. Of course I do.”

“Don’t say it just because I did.”

“I’m not. But we have to get out of this mess and figure out what the hell I have ‘inside’ me that you clearly need back. We have to find the dean.”

Jake lowered his head again, this time pressing his face right against the base of Maddox’s throat. Gods, he loved Maddox. Had always loved him. He trailed his lips over Maddox’s exposed skin, reveling in the warmth radiating off him. Maddox was his axis, the point from which Jake’s world revolved. How could he love him so much and, just moments ago, not love anything? Try to hurt him. How was it possible? Jake couldn’t help himself—he drew closer. Even when Maddox froze, Jake had to touch him, to trace his lips across the impossible softness of Maddox’s skin, so unlike his own.

He licked his lips and tasted salt. Maddox made a noise—a kind of light moan—and turned his head to the side, giving Jake more room. Jake took full advantage and kissed the side of Maddox’s neck, making his way up to Maddox’s ear. He smelled oranges again. Maddox shuddered, and his hardness pressed against Jake’s stomach.

Maddox jerked suddenly to the side, away from him. “No. Absolutely not. We are not doing this with you acting like you’ve lost your mind. Only if it’s real. Fuck. Have I said that yet? Fuck! We have to get to the dean. He’s the most powerful mage we have access to. Let’s go.”

But Jake was clearheaded again, now that they weren’t touching. Jake got to his knees. Maddox. The source of all his problems. He remembered with distance all the angst and misery Maddox had caused just by existing. He had to end it. Maybe he needed to play along a bit. Enough for Maddox to let his guard down. Then he’d kill him. Simple. He just had to force it. Maybe he had to wait for dawn? Something about peril at the dawn. Maybe he’d get lucky and Maddox would just drop dead.

“Okay, Maddy. Let’s do that. Let’s find Dean Forrester and fix the problem.”

Maddox got to his feet and glared at him. “Oh, no you don’t. Don’t start. I see that look in your eyes. The fucking fireflies are back too.”

The moment Jake turned to look around, Maddox reached out, snatching his hand and gripping it tight. Tighter than Jake would have thought he could. Gods, his skin was warm—almost too warm.

Jake gasped as all his feelings for Maddox rushed back. He bent in half, resting his arms on his knees, dragging Maddox down with him.

“Okay…” Jake grunted. “Did you take my emotions?”

Maddox didn’t have an answer.

Chapter 12

Maddox was pissed off, tired, and beyond confused. He was also still half-hard from Jake kissing up his neck. What the fuck was that? He couldn’t trust anything to be real. Jake was crazy right now. Something happened. Could he have taken Jake’s feelings? Was that the warm feeling that had moved into his chest? Extra feelings? None of this was real. It was a fever dream, and he was unconscious.

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