2.Up in the Air. Literally.

2. Up in the Air. Literally.

Heat flares from my right shoulder as my brand activates and lifts me off the ground. I magically soar over a high fence and touch down on the grass on the other side.

I look left and right to check if anyone saw me. A bad habit. "Ugh, stop acting like a freaking criminal." The walled-off perimeter always makes me feel like I'm trespassing, but I'm not.

Unless one comes from the owner's house, the only way to get over the walls is by flying.

I don't see anyone in the darkness around me. It's pitch black at night and the cloudy night sky above provides little light from the stars or moon. I've been here enough times to find the path, even in the dark .

This is 'Airadise.' AKA air magic paradise. An eccentric 90-year-old airbrand and former professor lives in a tiny house on a larger piece of land. He turned most of the property into an air magic sanctuary, accessible by flying over the walled-off perimeter. It's open day or night to all airbrand alumni from Primrose University, like me, and to those studying air magic at the university.

Acres of sprawling green grass stretch out before me, though there are a few physical additions like the obstacle course and hoops in the distance. Plus, some decorations that are fun to fly over and interact with like a garden, a small patch of trees, or the wind-chimes rustling with the breeze.

Airbrands are free to let loose and soar here.

I arrive at the cubbies where I slip off my sandals and deposit my wallet and phone. I stretch in the dark to get my muscles loose and ready for the exercise of flight. After storing my things and loosening up, I activate my magic, bend my knees, and jump.

Springing up, the cool night air rushes past my skin as I leave the ground behind. I float in the air, supported by my element and the magic inside me. The brand on my shoulder is my link to magic and my element. Wind rushes around me as I fly. I can't help but grin.

This is freedom. This is exactly what I need .

Well, getting laid would have been nice too. But I haven't had sex since branding. I've heard that adding powers to sex gets really intense, especially the first time after gaining an element's essence. I don't want to waste that on a one-night stand.

I soar over a small grove of trees, activating the lights nearby with a flick of my wrist. The circular globes shimmer and sparkle when exposed to my magic, casting ethereal light around the sanctuary.

The stress of the day melts away as I navigate through the night air, my long hair flowing behind me as I move.

There's something so satisfying about long hair flying in the wind behind you. I never had long hair until becoming an airbrand. It wasn't even a conscious decision. I just kept putting off haircuts until eventually my barber called and asked if I was mad at him.

My heart pounds faster, adrenaline and magic mixing inside me. Ready to have some fun, I dive down low, hugging the ground before shooting back up high in the sky and executing a sharp flip.

A gasp echoes in the otherwise quiet night, freezing me in place. Is there someone else out here?

"Who's there?" I ask.

I came to a sudden stop in midair, my body lurching and my head spinning from the abrupt halt .

I scan the darkness, searching for any signs of another presence. Just past one of the lights near the fence, I can barely make out a shape. I fly closer, my curiosity getting the better of me. It seems like… there's really someone there. With dark hair and dressed in dark clothes, he blends seamlessly into the night.

As I get close enough to see his face, I stop, and we both jump in surprise. He leaps back, body becoming hidden by the trees as he gets caught. I think he's going to flee, so I'm surprised when he drifts back into my sight. His eyes are downcast, and he definitely looks guilty, but he seems to shake himself out of it a moment later.

When he raises his head, he's defiant.

Yeah. I was watching you, so what? he seems to broadcast.

If he has access to Airadise, he either knows the owner or he's an airbrand or future airbrand. I don't recognize him as a current student. Of course, I hardly know all the alumni who studied before me.

I fly lower so we can chat. He shakes his head and calls out, "Don't let me stop you."

I don't come closer, but we keep watching each other.

Eventually, his stare turns into a challenge. Even with me flying above him and some distance between us, I see his eyebrow raise expectantly. Are you going to give me a good show or not ?

My flight tonight is supposed to be about unwinding and enjoying my magic. Tonight is about me, not a performance… but my competitive streak flares up and refuses to back down from a challenge.

Slowly, I resume my flight, acutely aware that I'm now being watched. Sending the magic down towards my feet, I propel upwards, twirling up through the sky in an arc like a shooting star.

Though I feel his gaze the whole time, I still check to confirm he's watching.

He is, of course. And looks almost bored. He shrugs, not impressed.

Well fine then, if he wants a show, I'll give him a show.

I grit my teeth and throw myself into action. Nothing planned, I just move through the air and do whatever feels right as I pull out all the stops. I flip, spin, and fly without restraint, executing complex maneuvers with grace and precision. When I start working up a sweat, I only push myself harder, determined to leave a lasting impression on this mysterious figure.

His presence in the darkness is easy to miss. I could almost forget he's there until a series of flips gets a quick round of applause from him. But I know I'm not alone the whole time. His gaze is so strong and almost tangible. It spurs me on.

I disappear into a cluster of trees. The leaves rustle as I move, the branches graze against me. I do my best not to disturb my surroundings, moving silently as possible.

I emerge suddenly in the air above the stranger.

About 15 feet between us now, this is the closest we've been thus far. I hope to shock him and get a big reaction out of him. But instead of the awe or surprise I expect, I hear a low gasp. He doesn't sound scared or startled. There's something else in his voice that I can't quite identify.

As I track his gaze, I find him staring at where the right side of my pants has slipped down, exposing my hipbone. Though I'm still in the sky, it suddenly feels like all the air has been sucked away. The distance between us feels like nothing, his gaze more loaded than ever. We both seem to be waiting for the other to make the first move.

Drifting in the air, I realize I'm in front of the lights—like a beacon shining on me. Is this really happening?

I chance a glance at the man watching me, and suddenly, details I hadn't appreciated before hit me: strong features, his commanding presence, and those eyes. He's wearing dark clothes and absorbed in the darkness, though there's something white he wears around his neck. An odd shape, I can't tell more.

I do see enough to register he's good looking and captivating with a magnetism that keeps drawing me towards him. Those piercing eyes seem to stare straight into my soul, their touch more tangible than any physical contact.

Suddenly I'm bothered again, hot and bothered.

My hair falls around my shoulders like a waterfall as I slowly resume my motion through the sky. My movements become slower, deliberate, inviting him to drink in every detail of my body, to witness the magic that courses through my veins.

Whatever has fallen over us, I'm into it. He seems to be too.

I still have reservations about mixing magic and sex and wasting the experience on a random hook up… but I have no idea what this is. It's not outright sexual, not yet, and the magic I'm using is the same as when I thought I was alone. It's just a continuation of my flight, no big deal.

And I may not even know this man's name, but it doesn't feel casual. All I'm doing is flying above his head and it still seems so loaded and intense.

Whatever's going on, I really, really don't want to stop. This isn't really like me but maybe that's what makes it so fun.

Fuck it. I remove my shirt.

Not waving it in the air or chucking it at him like a cheesy stripper—I just drop it on the ground and keep moving. Part of me can't believe this is happening, but this is the most excitement I've felt in a long time .

Maybe Mrs. Blachard and Jack were both right. I need to spend some quality time with magic and a man.

Now I'm shirtless, cool air hitting my chest. I swoop low and go by slowly near him and wonder if he can see my nipples hardening, reacting to the air. And fuck, just wondering that makes them harder still.

Enjoying the show now? I think, feeling triumphant as his eyes follow my flight through the sky.

His jaw drops and I can see his hand wavering, like he's thinking about touching himself, but he isn't sure if we are going that far. I'm not sure either but I don't want to stop yet.

I'd rather see how far I can push him. Can my little show drive him mad enough and make him unable to resist shoving a hand in his pants?

I start running my hands over my chest as I move. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows roughly. He's tempted. I can't see his clothes clearly enough, can't make out a bulge in his pants, but he curses and he's close, close to giving into desire and touching himself, all for me.

When I flew for him and showed off my aerial skills, he was hard to impress. Only showing his approval when I earned it. Yet he's riveted, nowhere close to a tough critic. I'm not disappointed by that. Instead, I feel powerful. Sexy .

He watches me like I'm the sexiest person he's ever seen, like he can't look away or he'll die.

I fly closer, one hand teasing my pants down low enough to expose my hipbones while the other brushes across a nipple. I bite my lip, and the stranger's arm starts moving lower. Yes! He's going to—

A flash of light nearly blinds me. The roar of thunder sounds loud in my ears.

"Shit!" Stupid, stupid, stupid. I curse myself as I focus on getting to safety. Always check the weather before flying.

I drop down for a quick landing, feeling foolish about the rookie mistake. Did I leave the Blanchard estate and head here without checking the night forecast on my phone? I'm usually so good at remembering the little details like that.

Clearly not good enough, judging by the sudden strike. I collect my shirt and head towards the cubbies with my stuff while gathering my bearings.

The night isn't providing much help, and the magically powered lights are turning off one by one now that they no longer sense my active magic. But it doesn't look like a storm is imminent and no thunder rumbles out nearby. Maybe we caught the tail end of a storm heading elsewhere.

There is one good thing about my flight ending early. Now I can introduce myself to the stranger. I head to the area he watched from but don't see him. Did I get turned around? I walk around the trees, thinking maybe he headed somewhere safer at the strike.

"Hello?"

I call out a few times. I keep searching. I don't fly again, but I do send gusts at the lights I'm nearest to in order to illuminate the area. I must spend 10 minutes wandering around, one eye checking for him and the other scanning the horizon and making sure I won't get caught off guard by a storm.

The skies remain clear, and the ground remains empty. The mystery man isn't here. Guess the lightning scared him off.

It's disappointing.

We were both getting worked up just from my performance. How intense would it have become if we were face to face, or if we actually talked? I can't imagine what would have happened next.

Well, I can imagine. That's exactly what I'll do when I get home, imagine how the night could have played out differently. But I wanted to find out for myself. Now this is all it will ever be, a fantasy.