With the towel wrapped around me, I walked out of the small bathroom. A pile of clean clothes selected carefully to accommodate my wings rested on the bed where the Dean had tended to me. The dirty sheets and blankets were already gone and replaced anew. I was about to start dressing when there was a light knock at the door.
“One moment, please.”
I picked up the strappy, halter-necked shirt and turned it to make sure it would work with my wings. The door opened before I had a chance to slip the garment over my head. I jumped back, clenching the towel close to my body. Vaughn poked his head in, and as he caught sight of me his eyes widened.
“Um…” He seemed speechless for an instant, then his expression of surprise change to something quite different. One of his eyebrows went up, and he licked his chiseled lips. Without a word, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him.
“I take it you’re feeling better?” The question was loaded with an insinuation that didn’t escape me. A shiver ran up my legs meeting at the apex. How could he have this sudden effect on me?
“I am.” The words left my lips in a hot breath.
Vaughn locked the door behind him and walked in my direction, his eyes hooded.
He had showered, too. His hair was wet and his clothes clean. He wore a white T-shirt, khaki pants, and a thick watch he hadn’t had before. His eyes traveled the length of my body, taking long pauses at my naked shoulders and legs.
“Forgive me if my thoughts have gone from concern to something entirely different,” he said, his voice becoming a deep growl that sent a thrill deep below my belly, making me painfully aware of my nakedness under the simple towel.
He stopped an inch from me, his fingers pushing wet strands of hair away from my shoulders. He touched my collarbone lightly from one end to the other, his thumb traveling up my neck, sending delicious shivers in places I never knew existed.
With a sharp intake of breath, he pulled his hand away. “I’m sorry. We haven’t even talked and I’m…” He took a step back, lips trembling. “How are you?”
I blinked, trying to switch from wanting his touch to engaging in conversation. “Well. And you?”
“All healed.”
We stared at each other for a long moment, then in unison, stepped forward and pressed our lips together. His mouth traveled over mine as his strong arms slid around my waist and pulled me tight. Heat sizzled over my skin as my blood boiled with passion.
Yes, we should be talking, should be saying how relieved we were to see each other alive and standing. But maybe, this unrestrained desire amounted to the same. It was relief and delight all wrapped into one. My hands and my lips could tell him things that no words could. I caressed his face, slipped my fingers into his silky, wet hair, explored his hard torso with eager fingers.
His hand came dangerously close to the edge of the towel as his lips trailed a path across my jaw. It was unfair that he had a T-shirt on. I wanted to rip it off and explore his shoulders, the way he was exploring mine.
“Tally.” My name rumbled in his chest, igniting something wild within me.
I whirled him around, pushed him onto the bed, and climbed on top of him, wrapping my legs around him. He looked up at me, his hands on my thighs, his eyes wide, very well aware that I was straddling him and wearing nothing underneath the towel.
“So not fair,” he said.
I leaned forward and kissed him. The towel unwrapped itself and fell to the sides, leaving my back exposed. I almost sprang up and gathered it around me, but that thought went out the window when his hands glided under my wings and caressed my back.
Slowly, his hold slid to my waist. There, he gripped me tightly and thrust upward, giving me a feel of his desire for me. A moan escaped me, which seemed to ramp up his desire because he deepened his kiss and held me tighter.
“I want you under me,” he said. “But your wings.”
The length of my body still pressed against him, I glanced into his eyes. “And I want you naked, but your clothes…”
We both laughed, and it was such an easy sound, a moment of light in the long weeks of darkness we’d endured. Could it always be this way? Could we, one day, leave the horrible memories of this place behind?
Vaughn’s green eyes lowered, peering down the length of my neck. “Sit and I’ll take off my shirt,” he said, with a crooked smile.
If I sat, the towel would remain behind, and he would get a full view of my naked glory. It didn’t seem fair, but then again, maybe it was. I could fly out of reach. It would drive him crazy, for sure. My smile matched his, but as I prepared to fly up, an insistent beeping came from the watch at his wrist.
His eyes rolled in frustration, and he groaned. I sat up at once, taking the towel with me and covering myself.
“Damn!” Vaughn complained, glancing regretfully in my direction.
“What is it?”
He got up and sat at the edge of the bed. “Meeting with the dean to discuss what we found.”
I nodded and picked up my stack of clothes, which we’d rumpled during our moment of untamed want.
“When we’re back, we’ll start where we left off,” Vaughn said. “Don’t think I’ll forget.”
“I’m counting on it.” I slipped into the small bathroom to put on my clothes, still thinking of his strong body under mine.
Maybe we hadn’t had long, but it’d been enough to remind me how to smile and give me hope. We would defeat the Habermanns. Vaughn would be fighting alongside me again, after all.
Chapter Eight
Another meeting. We’d only held a few, and I’d already grown weary of them.
But, I sat through it, the whole crew gathered around the table as we discussed our options once again, including the dean who looked tired but alert. Only the silent twins’ chairs remained empty. It seemed they were doing important research.
The helmet I’d stolen from Karen was of use, so my injury and near-death hadn’t been for nothing. At least that made me happy. The silent twins had taken the device to prod and poke and analyze. I hoped we could employ it to free Bael, Wally, Daniella, and Sinasre. But would the answers come soon enough?
At least I’d stopped that bitch, Karen, from using it for a little while. She had a backup, no doubt, and was likely manipulating my friends at this very moment.
The thought of that drew out so much rage that I had to take a series of deep breaths. Vaughn, beside me, put his hand on my leg. We shared a look that helped me calm down, and I’d never been more grateful to have him by my side.
I thought of our moment after my shower and shivered. His hand tightened around my thigh before releasing it.
The information Charlie had found seemed less clear. She’d gotten what she called a “magical signature” of the person responsible for the barrier, but no real details on who the witch or warlock might be. I didn’t exactly understand the nature of a “magical signature”, but Vinya and the dean were discussing at length how to tease out its owner. Something involving a complicated spell I didn’t follow.
I was no witch. My mind glazed over. I hadn’t slept well or much, and all this talk was putting me to sleep.
Finally, they stood. The meeting seemed adjourned. Vaughn glanced at me, a curious look on his face.