Being with me like this could ruin her.
And it’s my responsibility to make sure that doesn’t happen.
So even though it’s physically painful to resist her, especially when she’s sitting on me like this, I lean away, preventing her from capturing my mouth with hers.
“We have to stop,” I whisper, voice husky with hunger.
Her lips—swollen and red from kissing me—pull into a pout. “Why?”
“You know why.” I take her by the waist and move her onto the blanket beside me, then try (and fail) to arrange myself in my trousers. But there’s no room, nowhere for my cock to go, so it just sits there, hard and throbbing, as I prevent myself from doing what I so badly want to do to her.
“No, I don’t.” Lyra crosses her arms and glowers at me.
“Because,” I grumble, “if someone sees you with me, you could get expelled. And...” I let out a slow sigh and scoot away from her. “And I don’t want that to happen.”
The glower softens, and Lyra’s tense shoulders droop. “No one’s going to see us out here,” she says, but I can tell by the tone of her voice that she’s uncertain.
Good. She should focus on her studies, not on me. I’m just a minotaur groundskeeper, a man who likes flowers and herbs and staying away from people. I’m no good for her. And she’s no good for me.
With a grunt, I push to my hooves, then turn away from her and cross my arms, wishing my hard-on would go away and stop tempting me.
“They might,” I say gruffly, not allowing myself to look at her. “It’s too dangerous.”
Lyra’s clothing rustles as she rises to her feet, and I feel her approach from behind, but I don’t turn to look at her. “We could... go inside.”
That same image pops into my mind: her legs spread, bottom lip caught between her teeth, chest rising and falling with panted breaths.
I shake my head hard and flick my tail. “No. That’s... not a good idea.”
“But you want to.” A hard edge has entered her voice. “Don’t you?”
“What I want is irrelevant.”
“Just admit it.” She eases around me, and I tense at the feel of her hand on my arm. The moonlight catches her crimson eyes as she gazes up at me. “Tell me the truth.”
Staring down at her, I consider my options. I could tell her no, that this was a mistake and I’ve no interest in her. But I’ve never liked lying, and the fact that my dick is still creating a tight bulge in my trousers says more words than I need to.
A sigh whooshes out of me, and I scrub one hand down my face. “Yes, I want to.” My gaze meets hers again,and I’m unwavering. “But we’re not going to. And that’s final.”
I’m not sure what I expect her to do. Pout, maybe, or narrow her eyes and set me on fire.
Instead, her lips pull up into a sideways smile. And that’s more terrifying than her chaotic fire magic.
What’s she thinking right now?
“Okay, Mr. Axton.” She steps away from me, and I suddenly don’t like when she says my name like that. It reminds me of our imbalanced power dynamic, our age difference, the fact that I definitely shouldn’t be feeling the way about her that I am. And I think that’s exactly why she used it. To nettle me. Provoke me. Taunt me.
My nostrils flutter with a hard exhale.
Meddlesome witch.
“Well, enjoy that last cupcake,” she says, taking another few steps away. “And I’ll see you soon.” Pushing her vibrant red curls over her shoulder, she tips her head and says, “Try not to think of me while I’m gone.”
My lips pull into a deep scowl.
Then she’s waving goodbye and setting off through the moonlight, walking back toward the castle, leaving me standing in the dark with my cock still throbbing for her.
Chapter 17
