Valen purrs, “That wasn’t part of the terms. She’ll have to decide if finding out what you have is worth it.”
Lucas’ jaw flickers and his gaze meets mine again. The world slows, something shifting in the air. My hands ball into fists from where they’re trapped against Valen. I whimper as he whispers against my ear, “Now be my good girl, Astoria. Come on my fingers.”
His thumb slides over my clit softly and it’s not fair. I’m pulsing, my pussy greedily clenching around the long fingers that slip in to rub that hot spot within me. Oh fuck, I’m going to come and I don’t have the space to figure out if that’s a good or bad thing. If I hold out, maybe Lucas will get a turn. The idea is thrilling, but oh fuck, the consequences. The damn, fucking consequences and how our lives will change because of it.
I don’t know if I want that. I don’t know if it’s worth it. I don’t know how I feel about him. I don’t know, I don’t know…
Valen laughs and I throb with the sound. “Oh, Tori. Did you miss me that much?”
I whimper, clenching. I did, I really did. Valen knows my body so well and it feels so good to be played with by him again. Lucas is holding my face and it’s so sweet, so tender. My eyes beg, my face tight with suffering. I don’t have a choice. I can’t stop myself. “Lucas…”
Lucas searches my face. Then our eyes meet again. The intensity has my undulating body stilling, my chest heaving. His thumb slides from my cheek to my bottom lip. His expression shifts as his thumb draws down my lower lip. Pure, unadulterated want floods his face and I gasp, breath ghosting over his thumb. My tongue touches the tip and his hand convulses with the force of his shiver. My eyes squeeze shut, head tilting back as pleasure wracks my body. A soft sound full of suffering vibrates from Lucas and I am done for.
My orgasm crashes into me, sweeping me away as I sob. Valen pins me to him, his hand slapping wetly as he fucks me, amping up my pleasure higher and higher until I beg for reprieve. But he doesn’t stop. He presses the heel of his palm against my clit and circles. A second orgasm hits me and my legs snap together. I groan, trapping his hand to my pulsing pussy as I fuck myself on him, my eyes rolling back.
Finally, I return to my body, sweat-soaked and trembling. Valen presses soft kisses along my neck until I get my legs under me. It takes me a moment to support my own weight, but once I do, his magic releases my pinned arms.
He tilts my head back and kisses my lips sweetly, “You did so good, my love. Thank you.”
I clutch the rolling stairs for support. Valen smirks at Lucas. “I told you, magician. It doesn’t matter in the end. She willalwayswant me.”
Lucas’ gaze finally leaves me to sweep over Valen coolly. He leans forward and his smile is dark, his light brown eyes glinting, “And yet she saidmyname.”
My heart clenches, eyes wide. Valen’s jaw drops before it snaps closed with aclick. Lucas steps away. When he speaks to me, his tone is back to normal, like we spent the day doing inventory, not crossing a line in our friendship I’m unsure can be undone. “Did you find what you needed?”
I huff in breath and nod.
“We’ll go with my plan then?”
I wet my lips and force the breathless words from my lips. “Hypnokinesis could work. Stay away from illusions or mind tricks. She’s immune.”
“Perfect.” He searches me, pausing at the way I lean heavily against the ladder. “Have you eaten today?”
All I can do is shake my head.
“I figured. Come on. Let’s load up before facing the sphinx.”
He sweeps me up in his arms. I don’t dare look at Valen and instead curl into Lucas’ chest. I close my eyes and try to steady my racing heart.
It’s fine. We’re fine. We’re still friends. Nothing is changing. He won’t abandon me.
My eyes burn and I squeeze them harder shut. I’m fine.
CHAPTER 16
After stuffing myself to near bursting, under Lucas’ watchful gaze, in the Bauers’ luxurious dining room, I return to my bedroom for a quick wash to clean off the unease of what I’ve done. Permitting Valen to play with my body was a delight that I don’t regret. I desperately needed that release, but Lucas… we’ve never done anything like that before. I towel myself roughly to try to shake off this tricky uncertainty. I’ll put a pin in this line of thought for later. For now, I am grateful that he is giving me space to process. Or perhaps he is as confused as I am.
Bottom line is that Ican’tlose Lucas. In four years, he’s become as dear to me as Jinx. What we have is working. Confusing and blurry at times, but working. We work well together and I need his partnership in my business.
And his friendship. That comradery is irreplaceable.
Perhaps we can both file away the library experience as a fun, tension-easing activity. Then we never need to speak of it again.
I step out of the bathroom to spot a rectangular box waiting for me at the foot of my bed. I rub my wet hair with the enchanted towel that drinks up the liquid from the strands in greedy gulps and pad over to investigate.
A note is affixed to it. I set down the towel and unfold it.
In case the dresses are no longer to your liking.
