Several people around us snickered and then it built into chuckles, the tension actually breaking.
Winter blinked at me for a full minute before slowly nodding. “I apologize, Lady Bevin. I am a total fucking twit. Thank you for correcting my egregious error and setting me straight. You are completely right, and we hates that squirrel. Bad squirrel.”
“Damn right,” I chuckled.
“You mentioned getting naked? Like soon?” he asked.
“Idiot.” I laughed when he shrugged and muttered under my breath after dinner maybe, but way too many people heard and burst out laughing, the fight completely over then.
Except Mrs. Reid heard and that wasnotsomething I wanted my mentor to hear. Oh well, at least maybe Emma wouldn’t fail me for botching her teachings after all for the cat ears mishap.
The drama managed, my day got back on track and I actually had sessions with Winter and several of his friends when I finished with Mrs. Reid. She stayed to watch over that since I was pushing a new level.
I felt bad because her whole day ended up being me… Until I heard from her familiar that she needed a break from her ownestate and could just be Laura here. She truly enjoyed spending time with me and adored Tracey. She was warming up to Jasmine and Clare. She was valued here whereas her mate was always the focus at home.
Not that she wasn’t valued, but he was the rockstar head of the council. It made sense but also… Not?
“Take a break,” Winter said in between sessions.
“We’re pushing me today,” I told him, brushing off his concern.
“Bev, take a break,” he insisted, his voice a bit sharper than normal with me. I flinched. I flinched away from him which made everyone freeze. He let out a slow breath but didn’t move closer.
“I’m monitoring her and her magic, Mr. Green,” Mrs. Reid said evenly, clearly catching onto something I didn’t.
He nodded but kept his gaze locked with mine. “I didn’t doubt it for a second, but you haven’t been here when she’s justdropped. Pushing is great. But any of us have to take rest in between sets at the gym when we push our limits. You’re going totearyour body again instead of building your magical muscles.”
He raised his thick arm and flexed for me, knowing I liked what I saw. Then he winked and did both arms, striking a pose even. And then another when he got probably too much lust from me.
“I know Derek’s worked with you on this, Bev,” he said gently, moving to squat in front of me. “You are a runner. A damn sprinter and you want toracelike Loki. I see it sparkle in your eyes and it’s delicious and infectious. You’re pushing all of us in ways I never thought someone could. It’s awesome.”
I studied his eyes for a moment. “But I need to learn from you guys too and…”
He leaned in and gave me a soft kiss. “Normal like Kelton said. Safety like Sergey knows. We all have something to teach you.”
“What do you teach me, Sir Winter?” I wondered.
“Moderation and now not to burn out,” Danny answered for him. “How to not always push the gas, go too hard.”
I couldn’t hide my shock which made a lot of them chuckle. Apparently, there was a lot more to Winter than I knew. I smiled at him and gave him a kiss this time. I was excited to learn it all.
But I did listen to him and I was glad I did. He walked me through what he would recommend as my “rests” in between sessions. Mrs. Reid said it might need some adjustments and she wanted to try a few other things, but it wasn’t a bad idea.
Something was going on there though. I wasn’t sure, but I saw a few glances they gave each other and Teddy muttered about her being too much.
I wanted to ask after dinner and when we were alone in my room, but apparently Winter was in a different type of mood.
One he quickly clued me in on and I forgot about the day and especially Mrs. Reid.
We set down our bags, but then I was up on my desk and he was between my legs. He gave me enough time to stop him, but when his large hands were on my legs under my skirt… I didn’t want him to.
“You were so fucking adorable today, Bev,” he whispered against my lips. “It really gets difficult for me to behave. Really difficult. And I don’t know that I can much longer, so there’s a conversation I want to have soon if we can.”
Sex. He wanted us to have sex.
“I think we’re ready,” I mumbled.
He froze but then kissed along my chin and down my neck. “I shouldn’t have been pushy. I can wait. I’m sorry, little sexy. We can go as slow as you need and—”
