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“Oh. Well, how are you feeling?”

Thankful for the change of subject, Blaire walked back across the room. “I told you, I’m fine. I’ve been eating regularly, and my cycle is finally gone. It usually passes quickly when it’s heavy like this.” She shrugged at no one in the room and sat on the edge of her bed. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind at this point.”

“What’s wrong?”

Blaire sighed. “Well, when I met with the professor, she told me Lukas had visited her several times. I don’t know what about, but whatever it was, it was enough to convince her we really are a fated pair.”

“See, I told you!” Riley laughed.

“Yeah, well, she also told me I need to bond with him soon, otherwise there’s no reason for me to be here if I don’t. And you know what that means… I’d have to return to the life I had before Blackthorn. Caleb. The diner. All of it.” Blaire closed her eyes and tried to force away the swelling anxiety, her eyes burning behind her eyelids.

“Then do it.”

“What?” Blaire opened her eyes and furrowed her brows in confusion. Had she missed something?

Riley sighed in exasperation. “Bond with him. You both want each other. Stop fighting it.”

Blaire sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

Riley clucked her tongue. “Look, I gotta go. I just wanted to check on you. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? It’s gonna be alright. Goodnight, Blaire.”

“Yeah… I guess. Goodnight.” She ended the call and set the phone back where she found it.

She lay back on her bed and grabbed her book again, trying to read once more, but her thoughts drifted again. This time she recalled the dream where Lukas bit her, which made her body stir. Sighing, she set the book aside, giving up on the idea of getting anywhere in that fantasy world.

Reaching over, she turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the room into total darkness. Even the moon hid away from what she was about to do. She settled back onto her bed, nervousness washing over her despite knowing Lukas wouldn’t be back for a while. Contemplating what she hadn’t done in a long time, in the room she shared with him, in the same room where she dreamed of him so many times, heightened the ache of need in her body.

Blaire slipped her hand beneath her pajama shorts and under her panties, dragging her fingertips over her already damp crease. She was so pent up, having not taken the chance to do anything since she came to the academy, that she whimpered at first touch. With Lukas invading her senses daily, it didn’t take much to get her going.

The room was heady with the scent of Lukas, and Blaire moaned low in her throat as she worked her clit with her fingers, her hips grinding and seeking something to fill her that wasn’t there for her to take. Her body chased the orgasm she longed for.

She froze when the lock on the door clicked, and then the room filled with light from the hallway. Closing the door, Lukas flipped on the overhead light and Blaire stared at him with wide eyes.

“Lukas…” she whispered; her voice strained.

As his eyes fell on where her hand rested, he tripped over the books at the foot of his bed.

In her shock, she hadn’t removed her hand from her shorts. While he recovered his balance, Blaire whipped her hand from beneath her clothes, but her fingers were shiny with the evidence of her silky arousal.

Lukas growled low in his throat, eyes widening before a smile curled his lips and his gaze heated. Blaire bit her lower lip. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears. Her desire for him overrode her embarrassment of being caught in a moment of self-care.

Walking toward her, Lukas kept his eyes locked on hers. Laid bare under his gaze, a delicious shiver passed over her. He stopped next to her bed and leaned his knee on the mattress.

“You are so beautiful…” he whispered.

Her face and neck warmed.

Lukas moved farther onto the bed and leaned over her. Drunk on the scent of that perfect blend of apple and spice, she lay her head back against the pillow and let out a sigh of contentment as the weight of his body pressed against her. The physical connection lit up her nerve endings and tingles passed over her body.

Her heart beat in an uneven rhythm she was sure wasn’t healthy.

Lukas brushed her hair away from her neck, trailing his fingers over the pulse point that beat erratically. A shiver of anticipation passed over her body. His face looked tortured, as if he was doing everything possible to maintain self-control, his desire more than evident in his intense green stare that bore into her. His breathing came as ragged as hers.

“Lukas…” she whispered, breaking the spell.

He leaned in, never taking his eyes from hers, and captured her lips with his in a demanding kiss. Blaire moaned into his mouth as they fought for dominance of the kiss that had her body trembling beneath his. She didn’t want it to end. She wanted to get lost forever in the kiss. Lost forever in him.

Lukas stopped the kiss abruptly.