by Brenda Trim
“I want to taste your sweet honey, Braveheart,” he whispered as he sat back on his knees and looked to her beautiful face. She stared at him for a few seconds, then red flushed her cheeks. It was all the confirmation he needed to know she’d never experienced this either.
Regardless of what the future held, this moment felt good, and right. He connected with Maurelle’s soul. Or at least it felt like he did. He wasn’t entirely sure. All he knew at that moment was that he cared about her almost as much as he cared for him mom.
“Are you sure? I’ve never…” she muttered, and he sensed her embarrassment.
“I haven’t either. If you don’t like it, I’ll stop,” he whispered and switched their positions.
He gently laid her on the blanket and inched his way lower. His mouth paused at her breast and paid homage to the round globe as he licked, nibbled, and sucked her nipple. Maurelle was careful to keep her noises quiet, but she couldn’t stop writhing and thrusting her hips toward him. Uncertain, but determined to give her this moment, Ryker continued lower, kissing her flesh as he went until he settled between her thighs.
With shaking hands, Ryker removed her panties and tossed them to the floor. It was a small miracle he didn’t shred them from her body and give into his demanding need. His cock was hard as stone, and he was certain it would break through the thin material of his sweats and claim her.
Maurelle gasped then covered her mouth when he ran a finger through her moist center. He stayed there and teased her feminine flesh. Wetness coated his fingers as he slid between her folds. She bit her lip as her hips drove upward, seeking relief. She may be inexperienced in oral sex, but she was a Fae and everything she did showcased her sensuality.
Ryker smiled up at her and slowly nudged her legs apart. Her flesh glistened with desire, and he inhaled deeply, filling his senses with her earthy scent. Positioning his mouth at her center, he gazed up at the most exquisite female he’d ever met. “Look at me,” he murmured, and when their gazes locked, Ryker swiped his tongue through her slit.
Maurelle’s hips thrust against his mouth as she gripped the sheets. Her legs moved restlessly as Ryker licked, sucked and nibbled her sex. The more he sucked her clit the wetter she got. She was sweet and succulent and loved his attention. His relief over the fact that he wasn’t terrible at this swamped him.
Her legs started for his back, but he paused and lifted her head. “I want to kiss you while you do that to me. Turn around and hover over me.”
Ryker’s balls drew up tight and he nearly lost it right there. He was up and had his pants off in the blink of an eye. “Someone’s eager,” Maurelle teased in a low voice.
“Are you kidding? I’ve dreamed of a female doing that to me as long as I can remember.”
“Well, get up here then,” she encouraged him.
It was awkward as he positioned himself above Maurelle with his cock over her face and his mouth over her core. When he was finally in place, he yelped when she grabbed hold of him and licked his shaft.
“By the elements that feels fucking amazing,” he exclaimed. For several blissful seconds he enjoyed while Maurelle squeezed, licked and then sucked him into her hot little mouth.
Returning to her core, Ryker slid one finger inside her tight channel before he brought his mouth back to her clit. Her core instantly tightened around his digit, and Maurelle sucked him to the back of her throat while pumping his shaft.
He licked and thrust his finger inside her while she lavished attention on him. All too quickly, Ryker was propelled past the point of no return and knew he was going to come.
“Maurelle. I’m going to come. You might want to stop,” he whispered drawing out the last word when she squeezed him hard.
He felt her shaking her head and set back to pleasuring her, so she came with him. His spine tingled and his seed shot from his shaft several seconds later and he redoubled his efforts, sucking her clit.
Her mouth left him, and she sucked in a breath then arched her back beneath him with her release. Her flesh clamped down on his finger. He lifted his face and looked back at her, mesmerized by her beauty as pleasure washed over her face.
He pressed against her engorged nub until her orgasm waned. Pure bliss was the best description he could give to the way he felt at seeing Maurelle climax.
Ryker lifted off her using his wings then turned and laid down next to her. She ran one hand over his chest while smiling. “Your charms are legendary, Prince Charming. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life,” she panted. Her chest heaved with each breath.
Ryker kissed her gently. “I haven’t either. Can I stay for a little longer? I’m too tired to move just yet.”
“As long as you don’t fall asleep. You’ll need to fly back to your room while it’s still dark,” she replied as she snuggled close to his side. Maybe the academy wasn’t so bad after all, Ryker thought.
It led him to Maurelle, which felt like Fate at the moment. He just hoped nothing happened to tear them apart. As he’d seen so far, nothing at Bramble’s Edge Academy was safe or straight forward.
Chapter Nine
“Hey Pinkie,” Dani called out as Maurelle hurried across the quad to class. She had no desire to tangle with the female. She was spiteful, mean and had most other females on her side or terrified. “You finally come to your senses and gave up panting after Ryker? He’s never going to want a female like you.”
“You finally bought a shirt in your size, I see. I’m sure Professor Romelda will appreciate that,” she countered, without pausing in her trek across the courtyard. The weather had turned cold and blustery. Most Fae didn’t have appropriate winter clothes and Dani might think she was referring to her lack of a jacket. If only the female would actually get that she was talking about the tight, thin shirts she always wore.
Not that Dani had anything to display, but every male in class focused on the sight of her nipples showing through the fabric. Except Ryker, Maurelle amended. Not once had she caught him staring at the beautiful Fae female.
“What are you talking about? It’s not that cold, besides Ryker will keep me warm,” Dani announced and flounced on ahead of Maurelle.
‘Like hell he will,’ Maurelle thought. Two days had passed since the night she had been intimate with Ryker and she wasn’t sure where things stood between them. She had no idea what she expected, other than for him not to want a female like Dani after being intimate with her.
Ryker hadn’t acted any differently toward her, which was comforting, but also part of the problem. Her feelings towards him changed from what they had been before. She wanted so much more from him, but didn’t dare ask for anything.
“Braveheart,” Ryker called out. Brokk was next to him.
Maurelle turned and saw them crossing the quad. “Hey guys,” she replied.
“We missed you at breakfast,” Brokk told her as they reached her side. Ryker’s gaze remained on her, making her think of the other night. She had no idea where they stood.
Ryker reached out silently. and his fingers twined with hers. It wasn’t exactly a pronouncement of his undying love, but she took it as a positive sign. Brokk glanced between the two and shook his head. “When did that freaking happen? I’m always left out,” he grumbled, but he didn’t walk away from their group.
Maurelle might not know a lot, but she knew Ryker at least liked her. ‘This doesn’t mean he wants to date you.’ her skeptical side reminded her. Of course, her mind remained a confusing mess. After the bliss she experienced, she expected to feel more. Apparently, that wasn’t in the cards for her.
“I ate early and had to finish an assignment before class. Are you guys excited to learn what your skills are?” She asked, changing the subject.
“I’m not sure. Yeah, I’m happy to know what I can do, but I don’t trust the staff,” Ryker admitted while Brokk said, “Hell yeah. I hope I’m able to go invisible or something cool like that.”
“Eh. They know their shit and ar
e here to help us,” Maurelle replied to Ryker having nothing to say to Brokk. Ryker stopped walking and she didn’t know until his hold jerked her to a stop. “Are you okay?”
Ryker shook his head and continued walking. “Yeah. Sorry. But you know I wasn’t referring to their skill.” Brokk stood a few steps away from them looking over his shoulder.
Something slithered in Maurelle’s stomach, making her feel sick. “Of course,” she said, for once at a loss for snark. Her heart raced, unsure why she was suddenly sweating. She smiled at Brokk and started walking again.
The warmth as they entered the building was a drastic difference from the cold air outside. The students made their way up the stairs and to the large open classroom. Being part of the air league was a new adventure she wasn’t totally certain about.
Since arriving at the academy, she noticed there was a block in her mind that hadn’t always been there. It was kinda like thick fog that numbed her to a large extent. The only time she really realized how much it impacted her was when she thought of her mother or was in situations where she’d normally be fidgeting or biting her nails or trying to disappear into the background.
As she glanced around the room at the other students, she couldn’t help but wonder if they felt the same thing. None of them showed any indication they were anything short of excited.
When her gaze landed on Ryker, she saw the hesitation and suspicion in his gaze while Brokk was eager and anxious to find out what he could do. She knew Ryker’s attitude should bother her and she should ask him about it, but it didn’t actually register on her radar.
She noticed it, but not much beyond that, kinda like the fact that her feelings for him hadn’t changed since they had been intimate even though logically, she felt like they should have.
Dani glanced over and her eyes narrowed when she saw Ryker holding Maurelle’s hand. A sarcastic comment normally would have flown from her mouth, but with the fog in her mind, she barely registered the anger. It seemed to have intensified when she entered the building.
Being criticized and made fun of was old hat for her, but typically it ate at her. Making her doubt herself and lash out with her sharp tongue. It was another time she felt like the barrier was helping her. Having dulled emotions was a benefit for her in a program where so much was unknown.
In a flourish of color, Professor Romelda entered through a side door. Her yellow and green wings flapped at her back, sending her long skirt waving in the subsequent wind. Her hair didn’t move thanks to her ever-present bun at the back of her head.
The style put her pointed ears on full display and highlighted her sharp angular features. Maurelle watched her, wondering why she was so different. She had the wings and pointed ears, but there was nothing sharp about her.
“I am pleased to announce that only a few of you have left us with further questions about your abilities. Otherwise we have a solid starting point for most of you so we can get to work on your control. Collect your results and we can start practicing how you identify each power,” the professor announced as she set the papers she was holding on the desk she had shoved off to the side.
Maurelle hung back and allowed everyone to grab their assessment results before she took hers. Ryker and Brokk were reading theirs by the time she returned to their side. The professor gave directions as Maurelle tried to make sense of what her report said.
Animal communication? The psychometry and glamour she understood, but she’d never spoken to an animal. She had no idea that was even a possibility. It seemed like a terrible power to have, in her opinion. When would she ever need to talk to a bird or a squirrel or wolf?
“What does yours say?” Brokk asked.
“I have psychometry which I already knew along with glamour. Oh, and if you ever wonder what a rabbit thinks before being caught for stew, I can ask it.”
Brokk cocked his head to the side while Ryker’s expression didn’t change, but he was the one who answered. “That’s pretty rare. No wonder you’re so powerful.”
“What’s rare? The glamour?”
Both males lifted one corner of their mouths in sexy smiles. That was one thing the fog couldn’t take away from her. She could still appreciate an attractive male, even if it didn’t spur her into action all the time. In her opinion, Ryker was more attractive than Brokk, but not by much, she realized with a start.
“The glamour, yes, but also the ability to speak to animals. Not many can do that,” Ryker informed her.
It might be rare, she thought, but it was still useless. “How is glamour rare? Nearly every Fae has at least some ability to glamour. Seems like that’s pretty common.”
Brokk budged her shoulder with his in a friendly gesture. “If they’ve pointed this ability out, you’re at another level from the rest of us entirely. They aren’t referring to the ability to mask small objects or make my eyes seem like they’ve changed color. You will be able to make yourself look like someone else entirely, and no one will be able to tell the difference between you and the real deal.”
Maurelle’s mind whirled as she shook her head. “I had no idea that was even possible. What does your assessment say?”
Brokk’s smile grew and he held up his paper. “I have invisibility, illumination, and telepathy. Pretty cool, huh?”
“That’s great. Those skills can come in handy,” Maurelle told him honestly. It was better than talking to animals.
“What about you, bro?” Brokk asked Ryker.
“I can meld with shadows which, uh, isn’t a surprise. And apparently, I’m a natural fighter which fits more with the fire league and eventually I will be able to go invisible, as well. But,” he said moving closer to her and lowering his voice. “I also showed signs of being nimble, affecting plant life and clairvoyance. Those features barely moved the needle but were there nonetheless.”
“Wow,” Brokk murmured as his eyes went wide. “Are they sure?”
“That’s what this report says,” Ryker replied.
“What do you think that means?” she wondered. Here he was telling her that she was powerful when reality said he was the most powerful Fae in Mag Mell.
“I think they’re wrong. You know as well as I do that no one alive has more than three abilities, and they all typically fall within one league. Two at most. This makes it seem like I can access all four elements.”
“Now that you’ve all had a chance to look over your results, I want you to refer to the reading I assigned two days ago,” Professor Romelda instructed. “That information will help you determine how to identify signs for each of your abilities. For you to master control, it’s key to understand how we call them up and utilize them. I want you to try and access then use each one of your abilities.”
“Ryker,” Dani called out as soon as the professor stopped giving her instructions. Maurelle watched the female bat her lashes at Ryker and put her hand on his arm. “Let’s work together. It’ll be so much easier when I can see such a strong male practice his skills first and Brokk can have Maurelle..”
Ryker’s head shifted from Dani to Maurelle and back again. “Uh, no I can’t sorry. I’ve already agreed to work with Maurelle.”
“She won’t mind, will you? Like I said she has Brokk.” Dani pushed as she narrowed her eyes at Maurelle.
“Not happening,” Ryker interjected. “Brokk and I both will be practicing with Maurelle.”
Dani’s jaw went slack, and it hit her chest as she stood there gaping at Ryker. “Well, next time I get you!” Dani declared a second later.
“Good luck with that,” Maurelle taunted as she turned and walked away from the female. Both males followed without another word. Maurelle’s chest warmed that two gorgeous males would follow her instead of Dani who is perfect.
With an eagerness she hadn’t experienced before, Maurelle smiled at Brokk and Ryker. “Let’s see you both try and go invisible.”
“I can’t do that yet. I’m nowhere near skilled enough yet,” Ryker objected.
“You never know until you try,” Maurelle encouraged. “You shadow melded without even knowing you could.”
“Dude. Why didn’t you tell me?” Brokk insisted. “C’mon, we can do this.”
“You’re right. I’m trying to remember what the book said. I know for shadow melding I call the power from my diaphragm and fighting comes from my core,” Ryker said as he went through the list in the book.
“Invisibility is a water league power, so maybe it has to do with our blood,” Brokk suggested.
Ryker nodded, and both he and Brokk scrunched their foreheads up as they tried to make themselves invisible. When everyone tried to use their powers, it made wind blow through the room, despite the closed windows. Maurelle’s gaze remained on both males. Ryker’s small finger blinked and disappeared for a second, and some of the dark brown hair on Brokk’s head blinked out briefly.
Maurelle’s heart started racing and her eyes got big as she jumped. Before she managed to say anything, water dribbled on her head. “Sorry,” Ryker called out as his powers went out of control for several seconds. It seemed to her Ryker had more than two elements in his wheelhouse. Air and water were fairly obvi, but she’d seen signs for fire and earth, as well. More behavioral, but the elements affected a Fae’s behavior.
“That’s okay. You managed to make your finger disappear and your hair blinked out,” Maurelle told them with a smile. “I take back everything I ever thought about the academy. I can’t imagine being able to accomplish that much without this instruction.”
A green flame flashed in Ryker’s eyes but was gone so quickly Maurelle questioned if she’d really seen it happen. “Our forefathers knew what they were doing when they created Brambles Edge Academy,” Ryker agreed. “Okay. You’re turn. Make yourself look like…”