Chapter 17

I t took a shameful amount of willpower for Ezzyn to stop himself from doing something embarrassing. He’d hoped she would agree that she, too, couldn’t deny the desire simmering between them. A lingering feeling despite how their first time had ended, the prickliness to their interactions for so long after. Even the rapport that had begun to grow in recent weeks felt fragile. None of it was enough for him. He’d told himself to be content with her friendship, and certainly life was more enjoyable now that they spoke to one another. Collaborated. Maybe there was even a mote of flirtation. But only ever a whisper of suggestion. Nothing so confidence-inspiring as to act on it. He might’ve been handling his dick to the memory of her—real and imagined scenarios—on a near-nightly basis, having given up his hopeless plan to banish her from his thoughts, but that was him. Ezzyn couldn’t trust his judgment when it came to her. He’d misread Anadae too many times, all but ruined any chance of friendliness between them. Having secured such, trying for anything more seemed ill-advised.

Then she kissed him back. Of her own volition, fully knowing it was him. No surprise, no trickery. It felt like victory. Made him want to make an ass of himself and cheer or something similarly ridiculous.

He did not. A successful spell and a lakeside kiss were lovely and all, perhaps even sweet. Had romantic flair. But with the promise of no expectations, no overthinking allowed, he wanted to do decidedly unsweet things to her. With her. Wanted to take his time, linger over the taste and scent and feel of all that was Anadae Helm.

He took her back to his housing in Belle Complex. A perk of being royalty, even if minor and defunct in most meaningful ways, was that he had a corner suite of rooms all to himself. Tastefully furnished, full amenities, and boasting a hefty sound ward. It wouldn’t break, though he intended to test its limits. Knowing that tonight he no longer had to rely on the memory of what Anadae sounded like when she took his cock had him semi-hard the entire walk from the lake.

Ezzyn resisted his baser impulses. He had plans. Intentions. Ones that were nearly undone when he retrieved the vial of contraceptive potion and new lubricant he’d bought on a whim of wishful thinking, turning around to find Anadae stretched out on his bed. She was already naked, her clothes a pile on the floor.

She sat up, drawing her knees in, a playful smile on her face. “What?”

“Just saving this image for later. You, eagerly waiting in my bed.” Ezzyn handed her the vial before shrugging out of his shirt.

“Eager?” She wiggled the potion at him. “So this is, what, prepared? Or do you need to keep a stash of these handy?”

He discarded his trousers alongside the shirt but kept his smallclothes for the moment. The sheets would end up a mess regardless, but he could preserve them for a little longer. There were other needs to satisfy first. Buds of anxiety to nip away.

A wry chuckle met her words. “Just the one, bought out of desperation and hope.” He joined her on the bed, his mouth curving into a smile. “I’ll need to get more tomorrow. See if they’ll give me a discount for a dozen.”

Anadae swallowed the potion, giving his chest a playful shove. “A dozen? Someone’s optimistic.”

“We have the weekend.” He eased her back to the mattress, leaning over and cradling her face in his hands. “I’ll be prepared.”

“Not desperate and hopeful?”

“Not anymore.”

He kissed her again. Slowly. Learned the shape of her with his mouth. Their very first kiss had been little more than a tease. The second—all of that night, really—in some ways he remembered it and in others he didn’t. Had been consumed with making the most of so finite an amount of time. High passion, somewhat hazy on the finer details. This time, he wouldn’t be rushed.

Ezzyn nibbled at her lower lip. Tasted the corners of her mouth with the tip of his tongue before delving inside. Let the kiss deepen, a soft groan stealing out when her tongue met his. She had the faint taste of berries from the potion and a sweetness that was all her own.

Anadae’s arms curled around his neck. She caught his tongue between her lips and gave a playful suck. Her legs parted, and she tugged gently at his head.

Without breaking their kiss, he settled himself between her thighs. Made her take some of his weight as his body pressed her into the bed, his hands still cupping her face. He tilted her head to a different angle so his mouth could slant over her, his tongue stroking a new path.

She hummed in pleasure, soft lips pressing and pulling against him. She was coy with her tongue, giving only short, teasing brushes before retreating. Inviting him in, in more ways than one. Her knees squeezed him, toes skimming over his calves. She didn’t quite squirm, but her movements had a restlessness that stoked a smug fire deep within him.

Ezzyn smiled into her kiss and ignored her suggestive motions. He deigned only to trail kisses down her neck, finally allowing himself to become a touch more aggressive. He caught her insistent, tugging hands, pinning them to the bed.

“Ez,” she murmured, breath catching as his tongue stroked a wet line along her throat.

He pressed his mouth to her pulse and sucked hard when she tried to speak again, making her moan instead.

“I’m going to savor every inch of you,” he told her between sucking bruises into her skin. He reclaimed her mouth before making his way down her throat again, going so low as to taste her breasts. He laved each nipple with his tongue until it firmed to a point. Shaped it even more with his lips, flicking first one and then the other rapidly in his mouth until she cried out.

“Ez-zyn.” She squeaked when he gave a light pinch with his teeth. “Enough teasing. I—”

He silenced her with his mouth. “I’m savoring.”

She nipped at his lip. “I want you. Now.”

His mouth hovered over her. “No.” Another kiss. “You have to be patient, Anadae.”

This time, she did squirm. Struggled against his restraining hands and the weight of his pelvis trapping her hips.

Ezzyn laced his fingers through hers, gave her hands a squeeze. Kept his mouth on her, swallowing down her indignant cries. He had not just one night to enjoy her. There would be more. As many nights as she would give him. Eager though his cock was, he could never have his fill of her. There was no such thing as enough. He didn’t have the words to explain this infatuation—couldn’t even begin to try, not when this was supposed to be easy, no expectations. If he couldn’t tell her with words how desired she was, how intent he was on luxuriating in their time together, then he would show her. Impress upon her that he would not rush. Not this time.

He stayed that way, making love to her mouth until she gave in. Instead of straining against his hands, her fingers clung to him. She kissed him back, whimpering into his mouth.

He grinned. “Good girl.”

“You’re insufferable.”

Ezzyn slipped a hand between her legs, stroking her already damp folds with one finger. He probed at her entrance and smirked when she tried to draw him inside.

“Indeed. Clearly, you didn’t enjoy yourself at all.” He let his finger breach her up to his first knuckle. “Maybe I need to prepare you better. You know, since I’m so big.”

Anadae scoffed. She planted a hand against his chest, pushed him back, and kept going until he was sitting up. She plucked at his smallclothes. “These. Off.”

He complied. “Demanding.”

“I’ve waited.” She straddled his lap. “I’ve been patient.” She grabbed the bottle of lubricant and wet her fingers, coaxing his hardening cock to full attention with just a few strokes.

Ezzyn sucked in a breath when she lined him up to her opening. His hands gripped her waist. “Easy there.”

“Ezzyn.” She brushed the hair back from his face, wrapping her fingers in it as she looked into his eyes. “It’s my turn. I want you. I want to feel you inside me. I want you to make me come.”

His mouth opened, words gathering as he inhaled. Not a protest but a reassurance. They weren’t bound by a few hours of one night.

She hushed him with a finger against his lips. “I want to know it’s you doing it this time. You. And that you want this with me.”

Emotion flared in his chest. A smug sense of pleasure that she desired him. The real him. And something more tender, too. An intimacy he couldn’t voice, for it was laden with expectations, hopes, that he already felt without any further examination. Feelings that had no place in this non-relationship.

His hands slid from her waist to cup her ass. He gave her cheeks a squeeze. “Understood. Then kindly get on board.”

Anadae’s lips formed a playful grin. She leaned in to kiss him.

And sank down.

Ezzyn groaned as he slid into her heat. Not a fast entrance, but steady, her position allowing some leverage. She took all of him in the first unrelenting move, lowering until she was flush against his groin. She stilled, letting herself adjust.

“Anadae,” he mumbled against her lips. Her inner walls tightened, eliciting a throb from his cock.

It made her laugh, which caused her to clench around him again, intense and abrupt. He grunted, swore once as he tried to thrust deeper.

She moaned, the sound long and low in her throat. Her hips cuddled into him as she began to move. The motions were shallow, kept him deep inside as she contracted all around him. His cock twitched over and over at the stimulation, a sensation of need building.

Ezzyn followed her motions, used his hands only enough to harmonize with her intent. Was able to pull her more fully onto him, creating more contact for the friction she craved. Her sensitive nub ground against him, each time accompanied with an increasingly breathless cry. Her pussy tightened, a tremble running through her legs. Anadae’s head tipped back, eyes fluttering closed.

Ezzyn pressed wet kisses to her throat as he bucked into her. He latched on at the base of her neck, sucked hard, let her feel his teeth. A stream of cries and incoherent, half-formed words were all she could manage as her pleasure peaked. Ezzyn gentled his touch, drawing out every blissful wave until she sagged against him.

He shifted her out of his lap, laying them both down onto the bed and turning her around until her back was against his chest. He turned her face up so her mouth was mere inches from his. Her lips reached for him without prompting. Instinctive. He smiled, a rush of arrogant pride coursing straight to his dick.

“See? Eager.” He pecked the top of her nose when she grumbled at him.

His other hand snaked under her leg, lifted it clear as his pelvis slotted into place. His cock nosed in, turning her scoffing to a moan.

She clutched at his forearm. “Ez.”

“Hmm?” He pushed in, a contented rumble sounding in his chest. Fresh from her climax, her pussy was so sweetly sensitive. Tight. A shudder ran through her as he gave another slow, deep thrust.

“You’re— It’s too much. I—” Anadae broke off, gasping and clenching down on him when he pulled her leg back.

He kissed her cheek. “You wanted to feel me. Inside.”

Her chin bobbed against his fingers in shaky nods. “I-I do.”

He withdrew, slow and steady. “Good.” He tightened his grip on her upheld leg and chest, keeping her shoulders against him, her face close to his. All kept firmly where he wanted them. “But I want you to feel full.”

Ezzyn surged back in. Braced himself against the bed so he could pump into her, faster, not letting his cock come out much at all. Kept his thrusts hard and deep.

Anadae writhed in his grasp, her leg spasming in his hand. Each of his thrusts was met with a cry, her pussy squeezing in tandem. It pulled him right over the edge, a mewl spilling from her lips as his cock pulsed and left her filled.

She milked him dry, inner walls contracting until she was limp in his arms.

Ezzyn nuzzled the side of her face. “Just like that.”

Her body shook with an exhale of a laugh. Then she tilted her head up for his kiss.

He got her to come once more before she begged for a reprieve—still with her back pressed against him, one hand gripping her chin. He kept her in place so he could catch each of her cries against his lips as he lifted her leg higher. He thrust in with slow strokes, ensuring she felt his entire length. Made sure she was nice and full, as requested. Pumped into her until his seed began to leak out of her. Only then did he reach for her clit and bring her to orgasm on his spent cock.

Such exertion, along with the day’s busyness and the efforts of their joint spellwork at the lake, had her nodding off in his arms. He carried her into the kitchen and situated her with refreshments and a mock stern order to finish everything before he returned.

“You’re so bossy,” she said around a yawn.

After cleaning up, Anadae lay facing him on the bed, her fingers playing with a lock of his hair. He waited, but she didn’t speak.

“Having second thoughts?” Ezzyn forced his tone to remain light, not betraying the anxiety forming in his gut. He’d assured her their arrangement could end at any moment. Mutual agreement, no fuss. If that time was now, he would respect it and have a disappointed solo session after she left, like a godsdamned adult.

She let go of his hair to stroke the side of his face. “No, not at all,” she murmured. “It’s just … I don’t really have the right to ask since we—”

“Ask.” He laid his hand over hers.

“I’d … prefer if we were discreet about this.” She worried at her lower lip with her teeth. “Not as an optics thing, I don’t want it to affect our work.”

“Of course.”

“And—” A faint blush tinged her cheeks. “I’d like for this to be exclusive. Us.”

“I insist on it. No one else touches you while you’re with me.” He winced at the possessiveness in his words, his tone, and gave her a weak smile. “So to speak.”

Anadae didn’t appear taken aback or alarmed by his declaration. She looked relieved, smiling as she leaned in to kiss him. Her lips were deliciously swollen from his earlier attention. The thought made his cock give a half-hearted bob against his leg. Tired, but not dead.

Ezzyn drifted off to sleep, wondering how many hours was reasonable to wait before taking her again. Probably at least a few.

He woke with the sun, his body remembering the routine even if his mind resisted. Anadae was sound asleep, curled up against him. Keeping his touch gentle, he ran a hand over her head, smoothing her thick, dark hair. She murmured incoherently, pressing into him.

Ezzyn’s heart squeezed deep in his chest. He wasn’t one much for cuddling. The partners he’d had in the past had been quick to realize it. Such encounters hadn’t encouraged that kind of intimacy anyway, were simply means to an end. Enjoyable but for a specific purpose.

Anadae engendered something else in him. Something that was diametrically opposed to their declared boundary of no expectations, if he thought about it too much.

So, he didn’t. He’d live in the present and worry about all else later. She wanted discretion and exclusivity, both of which he desired, too. That was enough.

He spied the discarded vial of contraceptive potion on the floor, a stark reminder that he needed to replenish. As soon as possible. Though it was the weekend and they were free of the time commitments of classes and work, he knew better than to hope she would give him all of her leisure time.

Careful not to jostle her, Ezzyn slipped out of bed, murmuring that he would return soon. She mumbled nonsense in reply, burying her head in his pillow.

Smiling to himself, he vowed that next time, he would wake her with his mouth. He wanted her sweetness to be the first thing he tasted in the morning.

He went to the student mercantile, taking advantage of the quiet an early weekend morning brought. He decided to stick with his previous selection of contraceptive potion, since Anadae hadn’t seemed averse to the taste. Then he swung by the university’s commons on the way back and secured a few baked goods, enough variety to suit whether she preferred sweet or savory.

When he finally walked back through his door, Anadae was awake and seated at his kitchen table, clad only in one of his shirts. She had her notebook open in front of her, along with a glass of water and a bottle of cooking oil. A frown creased her brow as she concentrated on the glass, light sparking in her fingers.

Ezzyn didn’t speak as he joined her at the table. Dots of oil floated in the glass, evading her tendrils of magic. She persisted, calling up more magic until she could snare a drop with a miniature net of light. A faint snap sounded as the oil froze, bobbing on the surface.

Anadae jotted down a note. “You’d think having the theory would make it easier.”

He laughed, setting his parcel of foodstuffs on the table. “It’s been a day. It’ll come with more practice.”

She made an appreciative noise when he took out a pastry and put it in front of her. He kissed the side of her head, then went to make tea. As he boiled water—quick work for him—he said, “You should submit this for the field opportunity in the spring.”

“It’s not very concrete,” she replied. “You don’t think it’s better to focus on extreme frost techniques?”

“Isn’t that what you’re exploring here?”

“I suppose, though not in the way I’ve been using them.” Anadae sighed. “But I can’t reliably execute either technique. It’s meant to work in conjunction with other methods. What if I hold people back?”

“Use my work as your base. You’re as familiar with the setup as I am at this point.”

Her head jerked up. “What? Are you serious? I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“It’s your work. I can’t take—”

“The ward structure I’m using isn’t new, so you wouldn’t be holding anything back. Collaboration, remember?” he teased in a gentle tone. “The layering spells and targeted approach is going to be plenty enough work on your own.”

“You really mean— You’re not just saying this because, because we just…” She blushed, but her gaze didn’t waver.

He laughed. “No, Anadae, I’m not buying your body with my research. Though, if I’d known that was all it took—”

“Careful, you,” she said, a mock glare on her face.

Ezzyn set a teacup next to her pastry. “I’m offering. This is for Rhell. I would say the same to anyone else if I thought the spellwork applied.”

She relaxed at his explanation. “Thank you.” A new frown appeared. “Could that be a detriment? That I’ve only managed this with help from your magic?”

“Put it in the proposal. Whomever handles approvals will put stipulations or changes if they’re warranted. All of this is experimental. If we had any sure things, Rhell wouldn’t need the research.”

She mulled over his words, sipping her tea. Her eyes met his, held them. “Do you have a hand in approving the proposals?”

“No, that’s my brother,” he said. “Brothers, most likely, and Vaadt. Maybe one of the Master levels from the Grove, too, depending on who’s going on the trip. I’ll be there, but I don’t have a role in selection since I’m not real faculty.”

A small, relieved smile flitted across her lips. “I’m glad.” She hunched slightly inward, adding in a soft voice, “I want to earn this on my own. Not that I don’t appreciate your help, because I do. But the trip, a summer fellowship, if it comes to that… This year is supposed to show if I can do this. Really be a mage, or if it’s all just…”

“You can. You already are, and I’m not saying that just because I want to fuck you later.”

She rolled her eyes, scoffing around a bite of pastry.

He smirked, but then let his features fall back to a sober expression. “I am serious about the proposal. What you’re working on here has merit on its own, and it’s even more applicable if it has crossover with other fields. You have all winter to work on the technique.”

She thought for a moment, nodding in consideration. “I will. It works for my seminar project even if the proposal doesn’t make it.” She set her tea down. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, always.”

Her gaze slid past him to the bag he’d used to carry back the reasons for his morning outing. “You weren’t exaggerating about a dozen, I see.”

“No. In this”—he stood and went to her, leaning down until his lips could caress the side of her neck—“I’m very serious.”

She shivered as he kissed her skin. She stretched, wrapped her arms around his neck. “Are you? I think you need to show me how much.”

Ezzyn groaned, hands sliding down her body. “I was wrong, you know.” He caught her mouth for a searing kiss and carried her back to the bed. “Fuck you out of my system? Never going to happen.”