He didn’t answer. Just stalked down the hall, his free hand sliding under my dress and slipping between my thighs, fingers diving into the heat he already knew he’d find.
A moan spilled from me, unbidden. The arousal Van had stoked earlier crashed back into me as if it had never left.
Ras barked at Nathen over his shoulder, “Don’t follow,” as he opened a door to a room and slammed it shut behind us.
“You were supposed to teach us how to work the panels,” I whined, pushing myself off his back. Then I caught sight of his taut, perfect ass, and, yeah, every educational thought flew straight out the window.
“You should’ve thought about that before you came up here looking likethat.”
The fact that he couldn’t even put it into words made me grin so wide my jaw hurt.
Glancing around the room, I realized he’d picked what looked like one of our "In the Air" rooms. Its four walls were decked out in a sky-high illusion, the scent of crisp altitude laced with flickers of magic. A soft mist brushed across my skin like I’d stepped into a cloud.
I was just about to enjoy it when his fingers slipped inside me, slow yet sudden. My eyes crossed when he spread them, dragging the pads against my walls, hitting that spot that made my body forget everything buthim.
My arms buckled as I moaned. “Rasmus… shit…”
I blinked, trying to shake my brain free.Whyhad I come up here again?
Before I could remember, he hauled me over his shoulder and tossed me onto a soft bed.
“No, no,” I gasped, propping myself on my elbows and planting a hand on his chest to stop him. “You need to teach Nathen. He still doesn't know how to work the rooms.”
Ras leaned into my hand, looking at me like I was dessert after a seven-day fast. “Already did. What you saw was him trying to show me he figured it out, and I, uh… may have overreacted a little.”
I lifted a brow. “A little?”
He nodded solemnly. “That was me showing restraint.”
My hand trembled from how solid his chest felt when he pushed closer.
“I don’t like anyone interrupting the time I get to watch you. How are your grandfathers, by the way?”
I laughed, no longer surprised by what he did and didn’t know. I let my hand drop as he kissed down my neck. “They’re good. Gave me some advice, or maybe a pep talk? Depends how you look at it.”
“Mmm,” he hummed, his lips trailing heat over my skin.
My grandfather’s words echoed through my head. I glanced at my watch. A few more hours, tops. Maybe I should just get this over with and clear the air so we could move forward, one way or another.
“You know,” Ras murmured, teasing, “if I were someone like Lucus, I’d be very offended that you're this distracted while I’m trying to set your whole body on fire.”
I wrapped my arms around him, grounding myself in the comfort of having someone like him, someone who could tease me yet still feel solid underneath it all.
“What’s on your mind, my star?”
The sincerity in his voice made me hesitate, but only for a second. Fear crept up my spine like frost. If I didn’t say it now, I never would, so I blurted, “I want to use my power on all of you before I acknowledge you as my mates.”
There. It was out. No way to take it back. Now, I had to channel my Desmond name and remain strong, unbothered, and confident, even if I didn’t feel it in the slightest.
Ras pulled back to study me, eyebrows tight. “I mean… I’ll do anything you want to prove it. But why do you think that’ll change anything?”
I licked my lips, eyes darting away. My throat felt dry. “I have toknow. We… I mean,I… can’t move forward if I don’t.”
His face went blank, then he rolled off me, sitting on the edge of the bed. Shit.
Panic clawed up my chest. Had I already messed this up? My defenses surged, cold and brutal.Fuck it. If he couldn’t handle it, then he wasn’t worth it. Simple.
My stomach twisted anyway.
