“Where did you learn your magic?” he asked, his eyes flickering over me. He was restrained in his tone – at least, that was how I interpreted how tight his voice was – but there was a curiosity deeply embedded in his steely eyes.
“At home,” I said. The more I talked to him, the easier the words came. I didn’t see him like a half-breed or whatever he wanted to call himself. He was just an imposing person who made my blood heat up. “Home schooled I suppose. I didn’t grow up with any other magic people other than my sisters and my mother.”
He opened the door and held it open for me. I smiled at him as I passed by, my stomach tightening and trembling.
I blew out a breath in relief as we walked down the hallways. They were bright and white and had sparkles of magic moving through the ceiling like a perpetual night sky.
“In here.” Tavlor opened a large wooden door and I walked into a large room with weapons and padding on the walls. It looked like a physical training room. My eyes widened. How this particular room had anything to do with magic, I had no idea.
There was so much I wanted to know.
“This is a bit intense,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. I couldn’t wait to tell my sisters when I got the chance, if only to get their initial reactions.
Tavlor slammed the door shut and spoke a few words I didn’t understand. He waved his hand in that protective barrier way my father had.
“Did you just put wards up?” I asked, whirling around so I faced him.
“Yes.” He nodded. “We are completely alone. So, tell me what you meant before.”
I swallowed hard, trying not to laugh, although a giggle escaped through my lips. This was getting ridiculous. I wasn’t trying to be silly – God, that was the last way I wanted him to view me – but I couldn’t help it.
“Um... I was hoping you’d forgotten what I said,” I admitted.
“And why is that?” he asked as he began walking around me, slowly, stalking me like an animal on the hunt. Even though I couldn’t see him as he slowly circled me, I could feel his eyes leave a hot trail as they moved up and down my body. My face heated up even though I tried to ignore it. I was doing a shit job of it, though. I just hoped he couldn’t tell I was blushing when he finally stepped back in front of me and his eyes found my face.
I shivered as pleasure coursed down my spine. I tried to brush it aside. I tried to ignore it.
“Oh god... how do you do that?” I said, closing my eyes so that I didn’t moan. I dug my nails into my palms, hoping that would help.
He grabbed my arms and my eyes popped open.
“What are you talking about Ava?” he said, voice rough.
My eyes snapped open. “You seriously don’t know how you affect me?”
I met his gaze as he stared down at me. “Affect you?” he said. “You mean that I scare you? Disgust you? Which one is it?”
I raised my hand and he let go of my arms. He blinked as though surprised, like he wasn’t expecting to hold onto me so tightly.
I couldn’t stop myself as I cupped his face. “Are you serious right now?” I asked, searching his eyes. “You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. Every time you come near me, I....” I let my voice trail off. I didn’t want to admit how he made me feel.
“What?” he asked, his voice still wary. It was almost as though he thought this was a big joke.
“I... I want you.” I couldn’t believe I actually admitted that out loud. Instead of b
eing embarrassed like I thought I would be, I was encouraged to tell him more. Suddenly, I wanted him to know every little detail about it. I wanted him to understand how utterly insane he drove me. “My belly tightens, my heart pounds... I don’t know how you do it. Is it a Fae thing? I mean... making me desire you when I’ve never even kissed a man before?”
His eyes darkened to black and lust swept through me. I shivered and stepped closer. I swallowed. It did nothing for my throat, which had gone dry.
“Like that.” I didn’t know how my voice got husky. In fact, I didn’t know what I was doing at all. But I couldn’t stop myself. “How do you do it?”
His hands went around my waist and pulled me into his heat, until our pelvises connected and my whole body shivered with need.
When he dropped his face and offered his lips to mine, I couldn’t stop myself from going up on my toes and meeting his mouth for my very first kiss.
It was wrong. It was so wrong.
But I wasn’t going to let something like that stop me.