“That's not the kind of kiss I'm talking about, Princess.”
I feel my cheeks flush. “You weren't specific.”
He shrugs, drawing me an extra inch closer. “Kiss me like you mean it, and I'll let you sit over there likeImean it.”
The challenge is set.
Despite the setting and the people I'm sure are watching, I fall victim to the Water Protector, who has a way of getting exactly what he wants.
Pressing my palm against his cheek, I crush my mouth against his, demanding control, but it lasts all of half a second before he's dominating me.
The connection turns from harsh pressure to gentle strokes of his lips against mine, each sweep more intoxicating than the last, until his tongue strokes across the seam of my mouth.
I lurch back, chest heaving, as my eyes bug out of my head.
“Deal,” I rasp, swaying in place as I watch him brush the pad of his thumb along his lips.
“Deal,” he agrees, his eyes dark and promising, and I feel myself leaning toward him again.
Before I forget what the deal was for, I move. My steps are hasty as I desperately try to fight my way out of his web and see my friends like I just bargained for, but as I drop down in my seat, I’m questioning where I would rather be sitting.
“Girl, what was that?” Meadow asks, and I grimace, shaking my head as I use my hair to hide my face from the rest of the world.
“Don't ask,” I grumble, and she giggles.
“So much for terrible mates,” she says with a snicker, and I glare at her, but the emotion behind it doesn't stick.
“They're myhatedmates, actually,” I mumble, and before she can press me any further, Dorian clears his throat from across the table.
“How was your lunch break?” he asks, and I feel my cheeks heat for an entirely different reason this time.
“He told us what happened,” Meadow blurts, and my eyes widen as I glance back to the Fire Protector, who discreetly shakes his head, confirming he didn’t tell themallof it. Or hopefully not the part where I was sprawled naked on the ground, dressed only in flames.
“They shouldn't have kept you in the class like that,” Toby states, and I shrug.
“It was worthwhile in the end,” I admit, and Dorian snickers. “Anyway, enough about that. I'm on the verge of starvation, and if I don't eat soon, my stomach is going to implode,” I admit.
Wordlessly, everybody moves to order, and I quickly opt for carb loading with mac and cheese, topped with some pulled pork and barbecue sauce, and a fresh lemonade on the side.
Relaxing back in my seat, acutely aware of the stares aimed my way, most coming from my hated mates, I focus my attention on my friends.
“So, tell me all about what you've had going on, because I'm pretty sure we all know what I've been dealing with,” I grumble, desperate to hear about someone else’s life for a minute, and Meadow smiles.
“Nothing much. It's just been classes as usual since the Rejuvenating Ceremony.”
I frown for a brief moment until I quickly recall the night my father took me from Teddy's room. The power was out.
A hint of sadness bleeds through me as I realize I didn't get to be a part of it this time, but the last Rejuvenating Ceremony still lives rent-free in my mind.
What I felt, how I touched myself, the way Archer took care of me.
My thighs clench.
Before I lose myself down memory lane, I shake my head and return my attention to my friend.
“Hopefully, next time there's a power outage, I can join the party that happens,” I say with a sigh, and she grins.
“Well, we’re having a party this weekend. It's Toby's birthday.”
