by Jill Archer
“An unusual choice,” Rochester said. “You know he dropped out of school recently, although I hear he’s back. His father’s not very prominent either. But he has a strong reputation at the Joshua School. I hear he’s brilliant, astute, and driven. And his specialty is an interesting and ambitious new field of study—power polarities, the reversal of power and negation.”
Ari clenched his jaw and pressed his lips together in a firm line. It must have been hard for him to hear Rochester sing Peter’s praises.
“I’ve also heard he’s an amateur archeologist, as interested in the history of spellcasting as its future,” Rochester said. “All things considered, he’s a fine candidate. Have you approached him yet?”
Ari shook his head.
“No? Well, despite Mr. Aster’s patchy record, I agree. He has great potential as a Guardian. Don’t wait to speak with him.”
Rochester turned to me.
“Ms. Onyx, any thoughts on who you’d like to work with over at the Joshua School?”
After class, Ari quickly packed up his books and left. I sprinted to catch up with him but didn’t reach him until he was in Timothy’s Square. He was just about to turn the corner and walk down Victory Street when I called his name, causing him to abruptly stop, but not turn around. A light, steady drizzle dribbled down from the sky, making me regret my earlier umbrella toss. I reached Ari and walked around to face him.
“What are you doing?” I cried.
“What do you mean?” Laudably, his tone wasn’t the least bit facetious. He sounded serious. I made a derisive sound that was a combination of disgust and disbelief.
“You know what I mean. Telling Rochester you want to work with Peter.”
“I do.”
“No you don’t,” I said, shaking my head.
He smiled then, but without warmth or humor. “I do,” he said simply, “because I don’t want you working with him.”
“Peter won’t work with you.”
Ari shrugged. “It’ll buy me time,” he said.
“Time for what?”
Suddenly I was too aware of the fact that we were alone for the first time since he’d said he loved me. And we hadn’t even talked about it. We were only talking around it. He stared at me. I swallowed, standing my ground.
“Time to convince you,” Ari said, glancing around to see if anyone was watching us. It was late in the day and the temperature was dropping, but it was still pretty warm for spring. The slight heat and light rain produced a misty shroud that shielded us from prying eyes. Those few students who were still out and about weren’t recognizable. They were just gray shapes walking in the rain, anonymous drifters floating around campus.
“I want you to come to the Barrister’s Ball,” Ari said. His voice had an odd catch to it that I wasn’t used to hearing.
“I’m already going,” I said. “I promised Ivy I’d go with her.”
Ari shook his head. “I want you to promise me. I want you to go as my date. Before you make irreversible choices, I deserve a chance to show you what one night of a life with me would be like. I deserve a real date.”
I stared at him incredulously. I don’t know what I’d been expecting after that stunt he’d just pulled in Manipulation but I definitely hadn’t expected this. And I certainly didn’t expect what came next.
“And I want you to come home with me for Beltane Break. Meet my family. I think you’ll like them. They’re Hyrkes, you know. We live in Bradbury, not Etincelle. You won’t have to talk about St. Lucifer’s unless you want to. We could just hang out and do Hyrke stuff. You’d like that, right? Matt finally decided to go to Gaillard and you and he could talk.”
He seemed to realize he sounded like Fitz and closed his mouth. He cleared his throat and looked away. But he remained silent when he looked back at me, apparently deciding whatever he had been about to say was ten things too many. His uncharacteristic rush of words had the most profound effect on me. He was nervous. Luck below, Ari Carmine, the man who was ranked Primoris in Manipulation class, the man who had formerly been a demon executioner for my father, the man who turned me into a melted puddle of pleading desire nearly every night in the stacks of Corpus Justica, was nervous about asking me on a date.
I had qualms, to be sure. It wouldn’t be a good idea to show up on Ari’s arm. For so many reasons. First, there was the fact that he was opposing counsel and we’d been warned many times to avoid even the appearance of collaboration. Certainly, appearing arm in arm at the Barrister’s Ball might be reasonable grounds for thinking we were in cahoots. Second, Rochester had warned me that he thought I was in danger of being enchanted by Ari. Swooning in Ari’s arms, as I was sure to do at some point if I went with him to the ball, would lend credence to that theory. Third, since the ball was being held at Empyr, it was inevitable that Peter would be there. If I arrived with Ari, would Peter refuse to cast the Reversal Spell over me? We were so close, was one dance worth throwing away my dream?
But I could have had a hundred qualms and I still would have agreed. Because the one thing, the only thing, that convinced me, was that one moment of vulnerability I’d glimpsed before Ari had clamped his mouth shut. If Ari had tried to bribe me (by agreeing to rescind his request to work with Peter, for instance) or if he’d tried to coerce me (by attempting to assert some sort of signare right) or if he’d tried to threaten me (the threats he could make were limitless), I would have flatly rejected him. But he so obviously wanted me to go with him, and for such a normal reason, that I couldn’t bear the thought of saying no.
Besides, hadn’t I been incensed by Rochester’s completely inappropriate interest in my love life? Had I ever felt sick or poisoned when in Ari’s presence? Confused and muddled—yes. At times, undeniably rattled, but the feelings Ari aroused in me were as different from those I’d experienced with Serafina as a Gaillard street party was likely to be from the Barrister’s Ball. Lastly, did I really care what Peter thought of my relationship with Ari? Did I care if, in the end, Peter refused to help me?
Well… that was the million dollar question. But not one I had to answer now. Truth is, I was a little nervous about how Peter might react, but Ari was watching my face carefully. I knew how keenly he could sense my feelings and I wanted him to know that I wanted to go with him.
“You convinced me,” I said, reaching up and lowering his head to mine. “I’ll go to the ball with you.” I kissed him then, slow and sweet and then moved my hand lower until my fingertips rested lightly on the soft linen of his shirt just above his demon mark. Beneath my hand, he tensed. Suddenly, I knew what I wanted—at least with Ari.
“Where can we go where no one else will bother us?” I asked him. “Somewhere with no librarians, desk clerks, or classmates?”
His bold gaze met mine.
“Somewhere we could walk to right now?” I asked, reaching for his hands.
Ari’s face beamed with an emotion I hardly recognized on him—happiness. In fact, I was pretty sure I had just made him grin.
He grabbed my hand with his and said one word before bolting from the spot with me in tow, “Lekai.”
If I was doubtful that Lekai Auditorium would provide the privacy we needed for what I had in mind, I needn’t have worried. All lectures, classes, and events were over for the day. In fact, when we got there, the interior was so dark, I half expected the doors to be locked. Thankfully, they weren’t and we went right in.
Like all of the buildings on St. Luck’s campus, Lekai was grand. Its lobby was large, almost majestic, with rich embellishments. Front and center was an ornately carved wooden counter where students and guests could check their cloaks. On either side of the counter were twin staircases rising to the mezzanine level. Ari lit a small, glowing fireball and led me upstairs.
“Where are we going?” I whispered.
“Somewhere I’ve wanted to take you all semester.” At the top of the stairs, he led me around the corner and into a small room. There were no exterior windows in
this room. It was even darker than the lobby had been. In the flickering light of his magic, I got a glimpse of a large, dust-covered desk; a terra-cotta oil lamp; a wall of cubbies stuffed with yellowing letters, crumbling scrolls, and fraying scarves; and an old settee. The manager’s office, I thought.
“How did you know about this place?” I asked, worried for a moment that I wasn’t the first girl he’d brought here. But his signature was still radiating what I’d seen on his face earlier—happiness—so I had no reason to doubt his answer.
“Mercator. Lekai hasn’t had a manager since before Seknecus became the dean of demon affairs.”
With easy control I couldn’t help but envy, Ari directed the fire from his hand onto the wick of the lamp. We stood facing one another, the warm, orange glow of the wick echoing our signatures. I swiped at the rain that had beaded on my cheek while we were still outside.
The care that I had taken with my appearance earlier today was laughable now, the effect totally ruined. My hair hung in drippy threads, my makeup was surely smeared, and my silver top clung tightly to me, heavy and wet. Ari looked at me with smoky, unreadable eyes. He must have sensed my need because he clasped me to him and raked his hands up under my shirt. He skimmed his fingers across my back, bringing delicious heat to skin left slick and damp from my rain-soaked shirt. He lowered his head to my neck and breathed deep. His breath tickled my ear and I gripped his shoulders. He caught my earlobe between his teeth and nibbled, carefully kneading muscles tense with the stress of an unbearable workload, two questionable futures, and countless crises of confidence.
His tongue began a slow exploration of the sensitive outer edge of my ear. I shivered and he brought his hands around to my abdomen. I knew he wanted to raise them higher and I tensed, thinking of the last time he’d touched my demon mark. But he moved his hands to my hips and squeezed me tighter to him. My breasts were crushed against his hard chest and the air left my lungs, making me breathless.
Ari captured my mouth in a scalding kiss before I had time to breathe. My hands raked through his hair, but then, as I started to feel light-headed, I moved them down and started pressing against Ari’s shoulders, urging him to release me. He did, but only for a moment. His kisses became fierce and possessive. Finally, he nipped my lip and relented, holding me close.
Ari seemed delighted with my response to him. And I have to admit, he made me feel so desirable I was willing to let him do almost anything to me. I caught my breath and he started again, this time nipping at my neck. His hands worked their way underneath my shirt again and he moved them around back, dipping his fingers below my waistband. Slowly, he traced the top of my pants. His fingers stopped at the front pewter button. I knew what he wanted. I knew why he paused there, his fingers stiff, his mouth hovering, his breath hot on my skin. I knew what he was asking.
“Noon—Nouiomo,” he begged, wrapping his hands in my hair. He brushed his lips down my nose and across my cheekbone. “Let me love you.”
I would have said yes even if he hadn’t asked so nicely. This is what I’d come here to do after all. In answer, I threw my arms around his neck.
His warm, soft, full lips closed on mine as he scooped me up into his arms. He laid me down on the settee, oblivious to everything but us. I could tell by his signature that he was lost in his arousal. His signature felt red and hazy, thick and viscous, enlarged. It bumped up against mine but instead of the popping and grinding sensation I sometimes experienced when rubbing up against a signature that was stronger than mine, there was only a slow gooey feeling as the edge of Ari’s magic met mine. Without waiting for further permission, Ari stripped off my top. I lay beneath him, my breasts heaving beneath my lacy brassiere, my eyes likely dilated to full black, my breath hitching convulsively, thinking if all there was to love was a physical reaction then I had been in love with Ari Carmine since the day we’d first met.
“You are amazing,” Ari said, his voice husky and warm. His eyes fastened on my demon mark and I marvelled that he could see its pale shape in the dim light from the lamp.
His hand moved up and unclasped my brassiere. My breasts sprang free, jiggling a bit. They’d always been more than ample and I tried to compensate by buying a brassiere two sizes too small. Ari grunted in surprise and, seeming unable to help himself, immediately lowered his mouth to one, sucking roughly on the nipple. I mewled in protest as the other one puckered, awaiting his touch. It was embarrassing how my body betrayed me, showing Ari the feelings I didn’t want to acknowledge.
He lifted his head and smiled at me, his eyes half-closed with desire. “Your body and your magic are always in sync, Noon. You are put together so well, both inside and out.” He gazed reverently up and down the length of me. “You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.” I swallowed, my throat dry.
Ari splayed his hand across my stomach and moved it lower, over my thin gabardine trousers to the heat between my legs. He cupped the area as he kissed me, his tongue exploring my mouth, slow and deep. I pressed against him, wanting more. The cool wet cotton of his shirt rubbed against my bared nipples, causing an unbearable friction. I sat up suddenly, and tore the brassiere from my shoulders. I yanked Ari’s shirt off. I glanced at his face, expecting to see a wolfish grin, but instead I saw a look of fierce longing.
He pushed me back onto the settee but instead of kissing me, he started licking me, slowly, with the tip of his tongue. He traced the line of my jaw and the pulse in my throat. He nibbled at my collarbone, and then, taking great care to avoid my demon mark, he trailed his tongue lower, between my breasts, and then in lazy circles around an areola, getting closer and closer to the center, where I most wanted to be touched. But he was agonizingly slow about it. He seemed to take great pleasure in teasing me.
He was still circling with his tongue when he popped the front button on my trousers and slid his hand underneath the slip of silk that served as panties. I gasped, knowing where his fingers were headed. Still it was a shock when he plunged in, taking my nipple in his mouth at the same time. I bucked beneath him and he shushed me, murmuring my name.
He haltingly tugged my pants off. When they were finally bunched around my ankles, I hastily kicked them off the rest of the way. He stood up to remove his as I lay splayed on the settee, nearly naked and waiting. For one tense moment, I second-guessed myself. How could I ignore his wishes after this? What promises might he demand? But I couldn’t stop the wanting and I probably would have offered him anything right then if he would just finish what we started. Ari’s signature radiated happiness and arousal. I remembered how anxious he’d been about asking me to the ball. How much he had wanted me to say yes. This man cared about me. He loved me. More than I ever thought possible.
The sound of the rain on the roof above us stopped and all was silent. There were no footsteps or voices. I couldn’t even hear the sounds of the cabriolets splashing on the still-wet streets outside. The entire world seemed far off and distant. There was only us.
Ari stood above me, hands fisted on his hips, filling himself with the sight of me—as far from nervous now as any man could be. His gaze lingered on the tiny strip of lace covering the only part of me that was still hidden from him. He arched an eyebrow, clearly contemplating the artful but impractical design.
“You better have worn those for me,” he said gruffly. I blushed, remembering how I’d spent the earlier part of my day, and wondered again at Luck’s hand in all this. How much of my destiny was really mine to direct?
I drank in the sight of Ari hulking above me. In the long shadows he looked almost demonlike. But I wasn’t afraid. He knelt before me, hunched and ready, his muscles bunched, his eyes gleaming. I shook with anticipation.
“I want you, Nouiomo.” He bowed his head as though making an offering and then looked up at me, his eyes full of longing. “Do you want me?”
It was so unexpected. No one had ever asked me before. But then I’d never given myself to anyone the way I was giving myself to Ari.
Every part of me—body, mind, and magic, was open to receive him. I wanted nothing else but to be full of Ari.
I slid off my panties. Any barriers between us now seemed ludicrous. Ari growled, a sound so real, so animal-like, I twitched in response.
“Yes,” I said, opening my arms wide. My voice was throaty and rough with desire.
Ari lowered himself down on top of me and nudged my legs apart with his knees. He dipped his head to kiss me, but I knew the kiss wouldn’t last long. It was time. He wanted something more and so did I. He lowered his mouth to my demon mark and kissed me there. I cried out, forgetting the sting of his touch there, and arched my back. My hips rose to meet his. Ari’s magic swirled around mine, the edges between our signatures blurring. He entered me, a slow thrusting motion that filled every part of me. I wriggled and twisted under him, wanting to get closer, wanting him deeper, just wanting more.
He plunged in and out in rhythmic strokes designed to send me over the edge. Just when I was on the verge of peaking, he would slow until I begged him faster, Ari or please, Ari! or just simply cried out his name. Finally, when I had been reduced to such a whimpering, pleading state I wasn’t sure how I could ever hold my head up again, he bit my demon mark, drawing blood, and plunged himself so deep inside me I thought I’d be skewered in half. He shuddered convulsively and I felt the world slip away. I came with such explosive force I feared we’d be singed to ashes. Who knew I would respond so pleasurably to such a rough touch?
Afterward, it seemed as if Ari didn’t want to let me go. We lay on the settee, naked in each other’s arms. Ari’s signature wrapped around and inside of mine as surely as his body had. It felt like someone had poured honey all over me. The sensation of Ari was everywhere on me, in my hair, on my skin—
The sound of one of Lekai’s outer doors opening dissolved the honey feeling as surely as a bucket of vinegar would have. I leapt up and grabbed my clothes. Ari was right behind me. We heard footsteps echo on the marble floor of the lobby below us. We dressed in a frantic rush, leaning against one another to pull on pants and shirts, fumbling with buttons and brassiere clasps, tying laces and tucking in shirttails. Finally, when we were both fully clothed, we collapsed on top of one another in a heap of quiet laughter. Ari scooped me up, settled me in his lap, and waited for the footsteps in the lobby to recede. A moment later, I heard the sound of a lock turning in Lekai’s outer door and wondered if we were locked in for the night. Beneath me, Ari shifted into a more comfortable position. The muscles in his thighs hardened and I grinned.