by Nikki Dean
“Of course not, asshole. I'd never do anything that would jeopardize that. I can still do missions.”
What other link is Damon talking about? Mallory tensed just thinking about it. What are they hiding?
“I feel it, too,” Matt said. “Since the first time I laid eyes on her. She was like a force of nature, dirty and topless, but demanding help for her friend and telling off the rest of my squad any time one of them gave her shit. Then I saw that video of her and realized just what a force she actually is. She's got a shot at the amaroq, Nico. Probably more than you want to admit.”
“She's not getting anywhere near it again.” The determination in his voice was final. Mal straightened beneath the shower, rinsing off quickly.
Damn right I’m not. Wait a minute, just because I agree with that doesn’t mean he gets to make ultimatums about what I can and can't do, even if we are dating. Who does he think he is? Grabbing her towel, she dried off quickly and rubbed the water from her hair.
“That's not up to you though, is it?” Damon asked loud enough for her to hear through the door. “She proved tonight that she's not afraid of it, the little idiot. That thing is literally a monster, and she wants to be left alone with it. Your girlfriend is crazy.”
Nico snorted. “But in a good way. She was just looking out for us the only way she knew how, and weirdly enough, I think it was starting to work.”
“You mean pissing it off until it almost ripped her head off? Yeah, that was effective.” There was rustling as Damon stood and walked to the door. “Shower's off, so I know you can hear me, Bunny. Good luck tomorrow, don't do anything stupid.”
That asshole! She wrenched the bathroom door open just in time to see him wiggle his fingers at her from the hall. Her room door shut behind him, leaving her glaring at it in just her short robe. “Why's he such an asshole?” she asked as she came out.
“He needs to get laid,” Matt scoffed.
“Seems like a problem you all have.”
“And on that note,” Matt replied with a wink, “I'll be sure to cover my ears if you guys wanna, you know. That was a pretty hot kiss in the gym.”
“Why is he sleeping in here again? Instead of in your room?” Mallory asked with a roll of her eyes. Matt immediately lay down onto his bed and threw one arm over his eyes, then began to snore. She just stared at him. “Is he serious right now? Closing his eyes so he can't see me coming isn't a stellar plan.”
Matt's lips quirked, but he kept up the fake snores.
“You pervert.”
He rolled over so that she couldn't see his face, but the silent laughter rolling in from his spot on her web told her everything she needed to know. She picked up a pillow and hit him with it.
Nico wrapped his arms around her, pulling her shoulders back against his chest. He nuzzled against her wet hair, breathing in the scent of her shampoo.
“You okay?” Mallory asked, turning in his arms. She hugged him close, giving him the affection he craved.
He nodded, but didn't say anything.
“Come here,” she whispered as she stepped back and took his hand. Leading him to the walk-in closet, she tugged him inside and pulled the folding door shut behind them. It was a flimsy barrier, but it would do. “What's wrong? Talk to me.”
He shook his head, then kissed her instead. Mal rose up onto her toes and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck as heat rose inside her.
He was clearly feeling the same way, judging from the bulge in his sweats. The front of her robe fell open and he slipped his hands inside, grabbing her hips so tightly she was sure there would be finger marks later. They both froze as they heard the bathroom door open and close, then the water turn on inside.
“Matt's taking a shower. See, he's not a total pervert, " Nico whispered.
“Mmm, so you're saying we've got time?” Mallory whispered back as she lowered one hand to the front of his pants, cupping his hard length in her palm.
“You're perfect,” Nico groaned. “Now turn around.”
She pretended to pout, earning a swat on the ass before he twirled her around himself. Bending her over, he guided her hands to the edge of the shelf that lined the back wall before pushing his hips against her ass. They both sucked in their breaths with pleasure.
Nico pulled back and flipped the back of her robe up, exposing her naked ass. He grabbed one ass cheek with each hand, squeezing them before dropping to his knees. Nico pulling them apart to bury his face between her legs.
Mallory moaned as she arched against him, spreading her thighs and bending farther to give him more room. He took full advantage, licking up and down her wet pussy until she dripped for him. It wasn't long before he stood up and jerked his cock out of his sweats, rubbing it across her opening, teasing her before he filled her in one hard thrust.
Mal clutched the shelf and bit her lip to keep from crying out in pleasure as he set up a hard, fast pace, not even giving her time to slip into his mind and experience what he felt. The lust, mixed with savage delight, radiating from his point on her web was enough to tell her exactly how he was feeling.
He rode her without mercy, gripping her hips as he slammed her back against him, filling her to the brim every time. It didn't take long before she was teetering on the edge of an orgasm, driven closer every time he hit some spot deep inside her. She arched against him, trying to take more.
“What do you want from me, Bunny?” he rasped out. She looked back to see him staring at her ass, watching as he pounded her from behind.
“Pull my hair,” she whispered. His eyes snapped up to hers and he gave her a half-feral grin. Nico's hand shot forward and he grabbed a fistful of her blonde hair, using it to anchor himself while he thrust, pulling her head back.
The mix of pain with her pleasure was enough to throw her over the edge and she called his name as the orgasm crashed through her.
“Fuck, yes,” he hissed, burying himself to the hilt as she spasmed around him. It was enough to make him come as well, filling her with wet heat as he ground against her. It took a second for him to let go of her hair and rub her head with a sheepish grin. “You okay?”
She dropped her forehead to her knuckles, still breathing hard as aftershocks sent delicious waves of frisson up and down her spine.
“Bunny?” Nico whispered again.
“I'm fine. More than fine, if you really want to know,” she answered. They both groaned as he pulled out, catching the mess with a t-shirt he'd grabbed off its hanger. “Well, less fine now,” she pouted.
“I know, I didn't want to move either, but the shower just turned off and Matt's going to need a towel. So unless you want him to see that perfect ass in the air, I thought maybe we should do something about it.” Finished cleaning himself up, he pressed the shirt between her legs. “Fuck, you're beautiful.”
Aww, he really thinks so. She took the shirt from him and straightened, then turned to give him a kiss. He smiled, his eyes crinkling around the edges as he studied her face for a second. Affection surrounded her mind from the web, like a warm blanket in the middle of winter. She blinked at the intensity, so strong that it bordered on something else entirely. He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss.
Matt knocked on the closet door. “Hey, are there any towels in there?” he called. “I might be drip-drying in the bathroom for a while if not.”
Nico grabbed one off the shelf and opened the closet door a few inches to shove it through. “Here.”
“I can just go sleep upstairs if you guys want me to,” he muttered. “I don't want to be the third wheel all night, or keep you from enjoying yourselves. We did just almost die and all.”
Mallory had to cover her mouth to keep the embarrassed laughter from slipping out. Nico smiled down at her and pulled her robe the rest of the way closed. “It's okay,” she managed to choke out.
“What was that?” Matt asked. They could hear him moving just outside the door.
“Is he drying off right there? Like,
he's literally naked right outside the door?” she hissed at Nico. “Your friend, man.”
“It's cool, you can stay,” Nico called a little louder as he shook his head at Mallory. “I'm about to come out, are you dressed?”
“Of course,” Matt scoffed. “I just needed to dry off a little more.”
Mallory rolled her eyes and grabbed her pajamas. Nico gave her another kiss and went out first, blocking Matt's view as he shoved the other guy into the bedroom area. Mal dressed quickly and came out to find them both on their phones, Nico lying in her bed while Matt lay in the other.
“Well, goodnight then,” she said, hitting the lights. Matt grunted and rolled over, turning his back to them as he shut off his phone. “Is he mad?” she whispered to Nico.
Nico shook his head and pulled his phone back up, making her squint at its brightness. Nah, he's not mad, he typed.
Mallory grabbed the phone and typed back, Then why's he acting like that?
Nico: It's not really my place to say anything. You already know, anyway.
Mal: Because of the kiss? Did he just want to stay the night in here because I kissed him in the gym? She wrinkled her nose at the thought.
Nico: No, he's not expecting anything from you. Just wishes you’d picked him first, I think.
Mal: I thought you said no one would get jealous.
Nico: He's not jealous, in so many words. He just feels a connection with you, same as I do, and wants the chance to explore that. Even if I'm involved.
She sat there a minute, thinking it over. I've never been in this situation before. I don't know what to do, she typed back.
Nico: Just do whatever comes naturally, and don't overthink it. How's your head? Did I hurt you in there?
She blushed as her pussy gave a little spasm at the thought of just how good he'd hurt her. Not that hurt was really the right word for it. Nope, it didn't hurt. It feels great now, actually.
Nico smiled and turned off his phone, cuddling her close. Like she could get very far away on a twin-size bed anyway, but she wasn't going to complain.
“Goodnight, Bunny,” he whispered into her ear. “Sleep well.”
“Night.” Mallory gave him a quick kiss and turned over, snuggling her backside into his hips. He caught his breath and rocked against her for a second, then relaxed, tangling his legs with hers. It didn't take long before he was snoring quietly in her ear.
Mal, on the other hand, stayed awake a long time even after Matt had finally drifted off, thinking about the amaroq.
Why did they say I have a chance with it, and why was it there tonight? What are they keeping from me, and what does this thing know that I don't?
Chapter 5
“All right Team 2, this is your base, and there is your flag," Professor MacKenna declared, pointing at the two foot by three foot red flag rippling gently in the breeze. “The rules are simple. Protect your flag and you pass. Give up and you fail. Any questions?"
Mallory looked around the small wooden structure that was barely bigger than her dorm room and shook her head. Six other students were inside its walls with her, standing beneath the open roof. Another seven students were inside its mirror on the other side of the fenced-in forest area just behind the school, no doubt receiving similar instructions from the class TA.
What am I supposed to do? Mallory wondered. I don't really want to tell them all that I can feel people on my web, and I don't know how long I'll be able to do it anyway. Not the whole hour and fifteen minutes, surely. Not with that many people trying to come at us at once, and I don't even know half of them. And what happens if my powers knock me out again? It'd be better to lie low, like Alec said. Well, maybe not that low, but still.
Janae edged closer to Mallory and gave her a tight nod. Mallory flashed a surreptitious thumbs-up and jerked her chin to the exit closest to them. The little wooden enclosure only had two, so it wasn't hard to figure out what she meant.
Janae nodded.
“Anyone caught using excessive force or magic will be disqualified and fail. This is just a simulation, so let's keep it that way. Make good decisions and don't kill each other. I don't need the academy up my ass again about whether or not this exercise is worth it when someone loses an eye, so don't disappoint me," the professor finished up. “The simulation starts when the bell goes off in three minutes!"
They made various noises of agreement and he left, quickly making his way through the trees.
“Stick close and I'll try to make sure you don't get hurt," Janae whispered as they watched him go. “The other team will think you're the weakest link since this is your first simulation, and no one really knows much about your powers.”
Mallory nodded, already expanding her web to see what all was in the woods around them. She didn't want to use any of the animals and risk getting them hurt, or worse killed, but a few well-placed spiderwebs never hurt.
There were few things in life that were more disconcerting than walking face first into a giant spider web that you didn't see coming. Mallory should know, since she had ended up with them all over her closet, and her clothes, until she learned how to get a handle on that.
The other team's outpost was about a half-mile away, and only had six people inside it. Three more students were off on their own, huddled together under the trees.
“Are there two teams?" Mal murmured to Janae. “Or three, but only two outposts? Professor MacKenna only mentioned getting one flag, and that it wouldn’t be in the same location as the last time you guys played."
“Yeah, the outposts are moved every month, to keep it from being repetitive. There are technically two other teams, but one group is supposed to be more like special operatives. They aren't supposed to get the flags, but they are supposed to get something, or someone, else. They have a separate agenda to see how they perform behind enemy lines without support. Why?”
“Just wondering,” Mallory replied quietly. “What do you mean, get someone? They might try to capture someone? Does that person know?”
Janae shrugged. “I don't know. The special ops team is always a wild card, basically creating havoc for their own good. I haven't been on it, myself. Just focus on keeping our flag safe.”
“All right, red team, we only have a few more seconds,” a guy in his early twenties said. He had dark auburn hair and a chiseled jawline, along with bright green eyes. “I know most of you know me, but for those that don't, my name is Conner, and this is what we're going to do. Alfred and Gavin, take point on top of the walls so you have a better defensive position. Use low impact, but effective spells to keep them off our walls. Like MacKenna said, don't kill anyone. Janae, you'll be going back and forth healing them. Caroline, take Brighton and you guys go after their flag. New girl, what can you do?”
Wow, who died and made this guy the leader? “I talk to animals. Sort of. Don't really want to get any of them killed for a game though, so don't get your hopes up.”
Conner gave her a faint look of disgust before he turned away.
“Fine, whatever. You can be on defense in the woods, and call out if you see anyone coming.”
Call out to make myself a target and get attacked? No thanks, dickweed. “I said I can talk to animals. If I stay on top, where I can hear the birds, they'll tell me when anyone comes close.”
His eyebrows went up and he gave her a more speculative look. The bell rang out, indicating that the simulation had officially started.
“That could be helpful. Get up there with Alfred, and don't let us down,” Conner instructed.
“What are you doing?” Mallory couldn't help but ask.
“What I do best,” he replied with a glare. Darkness unfolded around them, encasing the entire structure in a bubble of gloom. It was difficult to see out, but not impossible.
That seems stupid. How are we supposed to protect the flag if we can't see anything coming for it? Mallory wondered. A bird flew by overhead and she connected with it automatically, looking through its eyes to see th
e clearing around them.
She blinked and let it go. Grabbed another. Looked around in confusion.
“We're invisible?” she asked softly. “This bubble makes us invisible?”
“Yep.” Conner gave her a thumbs-up as she followed Alfred, a dark-skinned boy with long, curly hair up to a small catwalk that lined the top of the building. If it could even be called that - the structure’s open roof made it more like a shack than anything.
“How long does this last?” Mallory asked in appreciation. “This is really cool.”
“Yeah, well, it only hides us from sight, but not sound. So shut up,” Conner ordered. The rest of them nodded in agreement.
Well, okay then. I wonder if he can keep this up the entire hour and fifteen minutes that we're going to be out here? I guess he won't need to if they overlook us, then keep searching in another area. I really need to figure out everyone's different powers.
She widened her web, concentrating on the human factors in it to pull them into focus. Conner was already slightly stressed, pushing himself to hold the bubble of invisibility over such a large area. Janae was calm and collected, like always, even if she seemed tired, too. Then again, she was always tired recently.
Alfred and Gavin were both anxious, trying to figure out what spells to use to defend their flag. Caroline and Brighton had split up and were searching the trees around them for the other team's base, where their flag should be.
The blue team, denoted by the blue armbands that had been tied to their biceps, were still mostly in their own fort, about a mile to the northwest of Mallory's location. She almost wished she could tell Caroline and Brighton which way to go, but couldn't risk yelling through the woods and tipping off the other team as to their location.
Not that she really wanted to, since they'd all question how she knew that information so soon. It was better to wait it out and see how the simulation went, since she didn't trust anyone in class yet. There was no way of knowing who was a spy from Fitzam's office, told to keep an eye on her if he had these grand plans that the guys had mentioned.