An affinity? What the hell does that mean?
This is the most stressed—the most strained—that I’ve seen them.
“Why did he bring her here?” I ask.
“He’s sowing chaos,” Armin replies, quietly. “It’s his specialty. The less focused the students are, the more distracted and swayed by lures of flesh and gluttony, the easier it will be to sway them to his side.”
“And why does he need her? Because from what I can tell, she doesn’t look like a barrel of fun.”
The three warriors look at one another, unspeaking, and it’s then that I see Marshal watching us closely from across the room. Despite the air of disinterest, annoyance flickers in those green eyes. He’s bothered by her presence, too.
Whatever Victorine is doing here, it can’t be good—and if Roland wants to distract the Immortals? I think he just accomplished it.
My hands grip the bed rail over my head; knees bent, spread. Armin’s tongue sweeps between my legs, working diligently. He’s surprisingly delicate for a man so big, so dangerous. Sometimes I think he’s afraid he’ll break me. He’s not wrong. He’s shattered me a dozen times now, drawing out mind-bending orgasm after orgasm.
We’ve come a long way from the shy man afraid to sleep alone.
His tongue glides over my clit, while one hand plays with my pebbled, hard nipple. I breathe, no pant, squirming against the building tension. He places his strong, free hand on my hip, settling me, trapping me, forcing me still.
I stop fighting and focus on the man between my legs. His body is perfection. His face molded by the gods. His mouth may be infused with magic. Whatever it is, he’s patient and focused. Determined. The qualities that make him a good warrior make him an amazing lover. The coil winds, and I fist the blankets, biting down on my lip. The spring that has built and built and built inside of me can go no further. It releases, unfurling in waves, the first the most intense, followed by decreasing force, my hips gyrating, my pussy throbbing, my groan deep and filled with pleasure. Armin breathes against me and even that is too much, I’m sensitive and so, so wet. Sweat coats my body and I look down him and see the small, twisted smile on his lips.
“You do that like you think every orgasm you give me will save your soul,” I say, as he climbs up the bed, giving me a view of his body. It’s all hard, taut muscle. Under his shorts, I see the swollen shape of his cock.
“Maybe it will,” he replies, kissing my shoulder. “It feels like a win-win either way.”
I stare up at the ceiling, trying to catch my breath. With no classes to attend or instruct, we’d sought one another for entertainment. I suspect the rest of the school will fall into same habits, just like Roland wants. Chaos and destruction.
Armin kisses down my arm, in the crook of my elbow, my wrists and each finger.
“Is this new?” he asks, studying the ring.
“I found it in my trunk.”
He tugs against my finger, but it clings to my skin. I should feel panicked, but I
don’t. The metal is warm against my skin.
He frowns. “It’s enchanted.”
“I think so.”
“And you’re not afraid it was left for you by an enemy?” He sits abruptly. “What if it’s location spelled? Or filled with poison? What if it’s leeching your soul?”
There’s not an ounce of humor in his accusations, each one completely, deadly serious.
I pull my hand away, feeling both shame and annoyance. “It’s not.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know.” I don’t know how to express the affinity I have for the ring. How it sings to me at times. It’s warm, sending a tingle up my skin. I also know it sounds stupid.
He hops out of bed, giving me an excellent view of his strong back. “I need to tell Rupert—or maybe Christensen.”
“No. Don’t bother Rupert.” He raises an eyebrow in question. “He seems stressed out. This will probably only make it worse.”
“What about Christensen?”
“Let me see if anything happens first, okay?” I twist the ring and it hums, vibrating against my skin. “I’ll be careful, and if anything weird happens, I’ll let you know. But if it’s something evil or dangerous, we need to know that, too.”