“What do you mean bodies?” Agness asked.
“Uh.” I licked my lips, as if I didn’t already look nervous enough. “I’m assuming there was more than one murder.”
Agness narrowed her eyes at me. “And what gives you that impression?”
“Um… common sense?” I mentally slapped myself for being so incompetent at lying. They should have that as a class here, since the goddesses liked stupid classes so much—lying 101. It wouldn’t hurt to know how to get out of sticky situations like these with the powers of deceit.
Her lingering stare warned me that she didn’t completely buy into my lie. I fidgeted on the spot, shrinking back.
Agness tucked a loose strand of hair behind her hair. Not that there was too much hair for her to put away in the first place. She always appeared neat. “I wanted to warn you about Devon.”
“What? That’s he’s a prick?” That wouldn’t be news. Then again, he’d been acting differently recently. “I’m entirely aware of that, even though your concern is appreciated.”
Agness shook her head. “He’s not going to harm you. I’m worried about the contrary. You’re aware that you hold too much power, yes?”
I gestured over my shoulder. “You mustn’t have heard about my recent, terrible performance. You wouldn’t be saying that if you saw me fail.”
Agness raised a brow, indicating that she didn’t understand where I was coming from. I didn’t understand myself either, so we were on the same page. “You hold great power, Cara—”
“You’re almost making me sound like a special, chosen wizard. Don’t tell me that I belong in another one of those plot lines. Where’s the sorting hat?”
Agness pinned me with a hard look. “Can you stop interrupting me? I’m trying to warn you about something serious.”
I sucked my cheeks in, pursed my lips, then nodded. “Oops. Continue. We were talking about Devon?”
“Yes. My vassal’s son. Maxwell told me that he’s concerned about Devon’s safety. You see, Maxwell is blessed with the gift of foretelling, and especially for those close to him, he can receive visions. Recently, he saw one between you and Devon and warned me that your interaction with his son might prove fatal.”
“We weren’t having sex in the vision, right?” I asked, my mind immediately jumping to the most horrible thing I could think of. Typical. At nineteen, my hormones hadn’t quite subsided yet. “That’d be an awkward conversation to have with your son. ‘Hey, son, I saw you banging that chick, and I want to warn you not to do that, since she might accidentally break your dick while carrying out that nonsense.’”
Agness gaped at me. I snorted at her flabbergasted expression. You’d think that as a goddess, she’d have seen it all and wouldn’t be the least bit surprised. “No, of course not. Where do such thoughts even come from?”
“That’s a mystery to me, too. I might or might not let you know when I find out the answers.” It might have been due to Aphrodite being my mother, but I highly doubted so.
Agness shook her head. “It’s not”—she cleared her throat—“intercourse that Maxwell saw you in. You were standing somewhere with white walls. Maxwell couldn’t pinpoint the exact location. You hurt Devon very badly.”
“I’m not the violent kind,” I said halfheartedly. The dark thoughts still plagued me every so often. “I wouldn’t hurt my vassals.” I cared for them all, even though half of the entourage needed to tone down on their levels of assholery. Thoughts of any harm coming to them almost hurt me on a physical level, and I was surprised to find myself having this much care for them.
“Perhaps,” Agness said. “But you’re not in full control of your actions.” She twined her fingers and looked at me like I was a conundrum.
Agness finally broke the silence and said, “Be wary about your emotions. Controlling them is a sign of mental strength, and as much as you worry me, I see that you have good control of them. Don’t let me down.”
I had no need or intention to prove anything to Agness. Still, I didn’t rebut.
Agness continued, “I asked Devon if he’d like to pull out of your team of vassals, since his life is as stake, but the stubborn oaf refuses to part from you for no apparent reason. He’s insisting on being with you no matter the cost, even if that cost might be his own life. I’m not sure what you did, but that man is dedicated to serving you.”
I balked hearing Agness’s statement about Devon. He was devoted to me? I still couldn’t wrap my head around his one-eighty.
“I wish you good luck,” Agness said, palming my shoulder. “I’m a busy woman and have someplace else to go, but do keep what I’ve told you in consideration.”
“I’m really not sure what to make of it,” I said.
“Just be careful. I only have the students’ well-being in mind.”
“Uh, sure.” I kept my mouth shut, refusing to point out the irony of that statement.
Agness left me standing alone in the corridor. I already had the layout of the Sanctuary roughly memorized, and it wouldn’t take me long to get to the next class. Right before I put one foot in front of the other—in an unrefined fashion that would let Dahliana down miserably—Liam and Devon appeared from a corner.
As soon as they spotted me, they came to me, with Devon leading the way.
“I bumped into Theo,” Devon said. “He told me about what happened. You feeling all right?”
“Just jaded,” I said. Too much drama and information was swirling through my mind.
Unexpectedly, Devon swept me into his arms. I eyed Liam, sharing looks of puzzlement when Devon planted a kiss on my cheek. His lips were soft and left a tingling sensation where they brushed across. Liam’s expression lit with both jealousy and passion, and I had a feeling that he wanted to do the same thing to me.
“You tried your best,” Devon said, running his hand down the side of my arm. His touch left a trail of heat on my skin. “Don’t sweat over it.”
Really? He wasn’t going to reprimand me about the concentration camps and whatnot? I thought he’d be more concerned about me dropping in the ranksm since it put him in danger, too.
“Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?” I asked. He’d already answered this question, but his change in demeanor might take a while to get used to.
“Because you deserve to be treated well,” Devon said.
Liam squinted an eye. “Did you use your powers on him?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Cara’s just warming up on me,” Devon replied.
“Looks like it’s happening too much,” Liam added.
“Yep,” I said, trying to get used to the love I felt when he hugged me.
Chapter Ten
Devon and Hansel waited for me outside my bathroom as my arms fought a battle. Out of all the challenges I’d faced in the Sanctuary, this might have been one of the greatest. My arms strained. My breath knotted in my throat as I struggled against the odds.
But my fucking top wouldn’t come off.
It was stuck around my torso, bunched in an awkward manner, locking my elbows in a weird position where they pointed toward the ceiling. The backs of my arms ached, and so did my back. Fucking top.
I spun and looked at myself in the mirror. My bra was pulled up slightly, showing off the underside of my boobs. Showing boobs off was supposed to be seductive, but with the way I looked currently? With my frazzled hair and the puffiness of my cheeks, I gave off the impression that I’d been run over by a truck. Boobs or not, I wasn’t seducing anyone while looking this pathetic.
Should I call the guys in for assistance? Hansel did choose this top for me, after all. I wouldn’t have slipped it on if I’d known that it’d be so damn difficult to tear off. I growled in frustration and tried wiggling the damn thing off, but it was more stubborn than me in the morning. The fabric wouldn’t budge!
I spent another five minutes in misery, bumping around the toilet, knocking over soaps and almost tripping over myself trying to undre
ss for a shower. Today just wasn’t my day. First, all my efforts at climbing up the scoreboard had been useless, and now this?
I groaned, finally giving up. “Hansel!” I shouted. I’d gotten used to asking for his help. He always seemed to be ready at my side, eager to offer his service. I knew Hansel spoiled me too much, but I enjoyed the attention. Max never gave me any of his. He was too busy on his phone all the time, and when I caught him cheating, I’d found out the reason why.
Hansel pulled the door of the restroom open. “Cara?” he asked. I glanced at him, forcing my embarrassment down. The strange way I stood wasn’t exactly the most dignified image I could project. “What’s happening?” I studied Hansel’s beautiful features, his blonde hair and sea-green eyes. Why did I even bother thinking about Max when I was with somebody like him?
I sniffed. “Life’s happening, that’s what. There are dangers all around, and sometimes your clothes decide to attack you. Can you help me with this?” I wiggled my arms to indicate the shirt.
“What on Haven happened with you?” Hansel asked. “I thought you were taking a shower.”
“Me too.”
Hansel sighed and shook his head, even though he continued to smile. He hooked his fingers around the fabric. The light touch sent my pulse racing. He stood in front of me as he undressed me. Slowly, he attempted to un-bunch the fabric, but I’d messed up and tightened it so much that it wouldn’t budge from my torso. “Wow, this is bad,” he said.
“Here,” Devon said, standing at the entrance of the washroom. “Use this.” He tossed a pair of scissors to Hansel. They shouldn’t be throwing sharp objects around so carelessly, but Hansel caught the scissors casually without a blink. He turned to me.
“I’ll have to cut it off,” Hansel said.
“Um, sure,” I replied, trying to ignore how his voice sounded like liquid. “Do your thing. Just help me take off my clothes so my hands can rest.”
Hansel nodded. “You’re cute when you’re struggling. Reminds me that you still need me to take care of you, and it’s nice to feel needed.”
“To this extent?” I’d consider myself pretty pathetic if I needed Hansel’s assistance to take a shower every time. Because I wanted to feign competence, I said, “What if this was my ploy all along? I just wanted to make you feel better about yourself, so I did um, this.” Whatever this was, anyway.
“It’s not every day I see a girl so desperate to take her clothes off,” Hansel teased.
“You don’t get many chances with girls,” Devon added. “You’re always so devoted to Cara.”
“That I am.”
Hansel worked at the fabric, snipping off parts of it methodically. It took him about a minute before he fully got it off me. When he finished, I stood half-naked before them in only my bra. I met Devon’s gaze and saw that he was raking his eyes over me with a hunger I wasn’t used to seeing from him. My stomach tensed, and a blush crept to my cheeks. Devon wanted me. The way he looked at me spelled that out clearly. I hooked my fingers beneath the bottom of my bra and pulled it down to fully cover my breasts, but Hansel caught my wrist before I completely covered them.
“Maybe it’s time,” Hansel said. “I’ve discussed with the others, and we’ve agreed that we should all be able to take you.”
“Even Liam?” I swallowed nervously.
Hansel chuckled. “He was outvoted.”
Briefly, I caught his gaze. It was filled with passion and lust. The intensity sent little shock waves of excitement through me. My breath hitched in my throat as trickles of lust crawled down my spine.
Hansel leaned forward. He hugged his arms around me and blew against my ear. The cool air sent tingles across my skin. I bit the inside of my cheek and let Hansel rake his hands down my bare back. My insides tensed from need. Hansel began kissing me. First my cheek, then my jaw. He began sending kisses down the curve of my neck while kneading small circles into my back. He lowered his hand to the hem of my pants.
The burning inside me grew hotter. The temperature of the washroom increased to unbearable levels as I grabbed Hansel’s arm to steady the giddiness that took over me. Why was I feeling this tempted? Hansel had barely done anything, and yet the little touches he gave me here and there were enough to drive me insane. I imagined myself hooking a leg around his hip and kissing his face off, but would that make me look too desperate and needy?
Over Hansel’s shoulder, I spotted Devon watching us with his yellow eyes. A lump formed in my throat. Devon’s eyes smoldered. I could almost see the sinful thoughts running through his mind.
Hansel unzipped my pants and pulled it from my waist. He’d dragged my underwear along with it. I suddenly felt too exposed, but I embraced my nudity and stood straighter with confidence. I was supposed to be their goddess and shouldn’t shun their attention.
“Are you trying to have her to yourself, Hansel?” Devon asked. His tone was hard, his words carrying a certain stiffness that told me he held himself back. I got the impression that if he’d just let himself relax slightly, he’d be ripping Hansel away before ravaging me.
“Maybe,” Hansel replied. “The thought of sharing Cara bothers me. It’s strange. I’m not usually the greedy type.”
I quavered at Hansel’s admission.
Hansel hadn’t stopped assaulting me with his kisses. He backed me against the basin and ran his kisses lightly across my collarbone. Using his hips, he spread my legs apart and situated himself between me. I moaned softly, ignoring how his actions caused my pulse to race. I heard the thrumming of my heartbeat against my eardrums. It wasn’t just lust that I felt, but a bond that I’d never experienced before. Was it because he’d treated me so well? When had I begun experiencing these feelings for Hansel? Maybe I’d had them all along. Maybe they’d begun at the beginning, when I met him in front of the convenience store. He’d found me at my low point and cheered me up.
I glanced up at Hansel and searched his eyes, and when I saw the same emotions I felt for him, I moaned softly. Hansel took the sound as permission to continue pleasuring me. He placed his hand at my center and began kneading the nub there. My hips bucked at the pleasure, and I threw my head back, gasping.
Devon pried my attention away from Hansel. I sensed his jealousy as he lowered his lips on mine. He took my mouth aggressively, pressing his lips against mine with a fervor I’d never experienced with any other man. He parted my lips with his tongue. The kiss started off languidly, almost lazily. The hunger rose from Devon soon after. He growled lightly, and the kiss grew more intense. Devon tasted like a mixture of smoke and mint. Intoxicating. I shouldn’t have let him kiss me. He was addictive, and after tasting him, I might not be able to stop myself from having more.
I pulled away from Devon, gasping for air. My heart was beating too hard and fast. Hansel sank two fingers into my center and found my sensitive spot. He bit my shoulder as he pressed his fingers against my core.
I wasn’t going to live through this.
Hansel pushed against me, then, using his free hand, lifted me so I sat on the edge of the basin. Devon pushed my bra from my breasts and cupped one of them. He pinched my nipple, which was already taut from desire.
“You’re beautiful, Cara,” Devon said.
“Stop treating me so nicely,” I replied, gripping the back of his neck. “It’s not like you.” Hansel rested his mouth on my collarbone and began sucking. He was going to leave me a hickey. I should be more concerned about that, but I was feeling too much pleasure to care.
“You changed me,” Devon said. “I don’t think I’m giving you enough as your vassal. Aren’t I supposed to be your good servant?” He ran his hand down my belly and rested at my lower abdomen, spreading his palm out. With his other hand, he unclasped my bra. He helped me pull it off, leaving me naked.
My cheeks heated from how exposed they’d made me. It wasn’t fair for me to have all the pleasure. So, with shaking fingers, I reached for Devon’s pants and fiddled with his belt buckle. Silence fe
ll as the three of us got caught in the fog of desire. My mind blanked, replacing the all-consuming need to have them fill me.
Hansel backed away before pulling his shirt off, revealing his chiseled form. With a gaze clouded with lust, I studied him. He was the leanest of the guys, but his physique still looked strong, every inch of him sinewy muscle. His dimpled smile made his face look friendly, but his body belonged to a warrior. From two steps away, Hansel studied me, just as I was assaulting him with my gaze. The desire spiking between us was mutual. My center tightened from need, and I pushed my thighs together in an attempt to abate the tension, but Devon grabbed the inside of my thighs and kept my legs spread open.
“Don’t try to hide,” he whispered against my ear. “We want to see all of you.”
“Perverts,” I said, trying to hold on to my spunk by offering an insult. My rejection didn’t sound convincing, so Devon and Hansel continued punishing me with their attention. I gave in. “Hurry up and just fuck me already.”
Devon chuckled. He ran his finger across my center, which was already glistening wet for them. He brought his hand to his lip and, with a teasing smirk, flicked his tongue out to taste me. His small hum made my throat dry.
I swallowed thickly. “I’m usually the one doing the licking.”
“Which part of me do you want to lick, then?” Devon asked. He, too, took his shirt off. He dropped it onto the side of the basin.
“Uh…” I ran my eyes over him. “Everywhere.” I turned my attention to Hansel once I heard him taking his pants off. His arousal stood hard and eager for my attention.
“You can start here,” Devon said, gently pulling my eyes from Hansel and redirecting them to himself. He pointed at the base of his neck, an erogenous zone. The command in his tone sent unease through me, but it also made me want to listen. I only hesitated briefly before following his order. I lowered my lips to where he pointed. Devon pried my legs open for Hansel, and Hansel used that opportunity to plunge his length into me.
Goddess Academy: The Complete Reverse Harem Collection Page 22