The ivy tightened around my wrists.
As Oaklyn traced a line with her tongue all the way down my neck, chest, belly, and between my legs, I shivered, letting out a moan.
“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered. “So smart, and caring, and fun, and sexy.”
My pulse raced hearing these words. How she made me feel… How she held my gaze as she touched me…
“Can I tell you something?” she murmured against my inner thigh, her breath warm on my skin.
“Y-yes,” I stammered, my head so cloudy I barely got the word out.
“I’m secretly glad you found out about magic. About what my mom and I are trying to do. Now we don’t have to keep secrets from each other.”
“Me too,” I said, closing my eyes and leaning my head back. “No secrets.”
Guilt burned like a flame inside me…but given where her mouth went next, it was hard to focus on that for longer than a second.
With my hands bound above my head and my legs draped over the sides of the couch, I succumbed to her over and over, her tongue and fingers tipping me over the edge like nothing I’ve ever felt. She left me sweaty and exhausted—and as always, wanting more. Wanting to pleasure her the sameway she pleasured me until the sun rose and we had to pry ourselves away from each other.
I can’t help feeling like something has shifted between us now that I know her secret. She’s really looking into my eyes now…like maybe I’m not just a casual fling or a distraction from her dangerous life. And while she’s being honest with me, I’m betraying her, gathering information to use against her.
And yet…
For huge chunks of time, I forget I’m pretending. When we cuddle or kiss or fuck, I’m not thinking about the coven or Katie or any of it. I’m only thinking about her.
Oh God, I can’t think like that.
I can’t fall in love with the person I’m supposed to be spying on.
Chapter 17
Witches and Chimeras
Thesteamclockbillowsinto the chilly air, its whistles chiming a haunting midnight song as I sprint toward it. My legs burn and my hand is sweaty as I clutch my ringing phone.So close…
Natalie materializes out of the cobblestones like smoke taking form, walking toward me with her phone pressed to her ear and a frown on her lips. When she sees me, relief flashes across her face before hardening into something colder.
She ends the call, and my phone falls silent.
I stop in front of her, clutching a stitch in my side. “I—I’m here,” I say, as if that’ll somehow excuse my absence.
She closes the last stride between us and grabs my arm, her fingers digging through my sleeve. “Wherewereyou?” she asks through her teeth.
My stomach lurches as she brings me right back down through the steam clock. We land in the brick hallway under the warm glow of a Victorian street lamp, and I suck in a breath. “Lighthouse Park. The chimeras were there.Tons—maybe all of them.”
Natalie stares at me, frozen, before pulling me down the hall by the elbow. “You went into the woods alone at night?”
“That’s beside the point.” My voice bounces as I pick up a jog to keep pace, my muddy runners slipping on the cobblestones. “I had a chance to learn more about the chimeras, and I took it. And I learned we’ve got it all wrong.”
Natalie glances around the lounge as we cross through it. It’s late enough that the booths and tables have emptied. “Why didn’t you bring me with you?” she growls.
Beneath the anger, her voice trembles, and her eyes are wide. She keeps a tight hold on my arm, like she’s afraid I might slip away again.
“Because they wanted to talk to me,” I say gently. “Just me.”
“Talk?” she snaps. “Bio magic doesn’t talk.”
“Lucy spoke to me.”
