“An encyclopedia is decidedlynotthe same as a dictionary,” I argued, still examining the room. “They are two entirely different forms of reference.”
“I dunno, they look pretty similar to me.”
“They don’t even—Are youtryingto get me worked up?”
I paused my greedy exploration of his private space to shoot him a pointed stare, to which he ran his eyes up and down my body with a wickedly lascivious gleam in his eyes.
“Is it working?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Vistarii,” I warned. “You’re on shift, and I’ve got another lecture in an hour.”
“An hour is quite a lot of time, Little Conduit,” he replied. I jumped as I heard the click of the lock behind me—in my curiosity, I’d forgotten to even close the door. “A great many things can be accomplished in under an hour.”
“Did you just?—”
“Yes.”
I didn’t often see Kieran use his arcana—at least, not like that. The ability to channel elemental energy with such strength and finesse that he could close and lock doors without a single incantation or gesture was impressive. It was a subtle reminder that Kieran’s command over Shadow and his skill in the arcane arts were just as deadly as his martial prowess—a thought that made me shiver for more reasons than one.
Though hewasmurmuring a quiet incantation now, paired with a precise set of twisting motions between two fingers.
I glanced over my shoulder to where his gaze seemed to be focused and watched in fascination as Shadows began to meld with the doorframe, like a thick, dark smoke, snuffing out any and all light between the cracks. I felt a subtle, protective hum reverberating through the air once the spell was complete.
“You presumptuous bastard.” He had just cast a soundproofing ward.
Kieran kicked his legs up on the desk, casually tilting his chair back as he crossed his arms behind his head. “Go ahead, Ark. Tell me mypresumptionwas made in error,” he crooned. “Tell me youdon’twant me to bend you over this desk and make you come until you see stars. I’ll wait.”
Curls of tension and heat thickened as they danced along my throat, skittering down my spine before settling and pooling at my core. I swallowed hard, attempting to maintain my resolve.
“You need to eat something,” I reminded him, nodding to the parcels in hand. “That’s the whole reason I’m here, if you recall—to bring you lunch?”
“Perhaps that was just an excuse to get you here,” Kieran mused, inspecting his fingernails. “An elaborate ruse, if you will.”
My eyes narrowed. “I swear to the Source, Vistarii, if you’re not actually hungry and you just lied to me just to get me out of class?—”
“I didn’tlie,” Kieran interjected. “All statements made were true, thank you very much. I didn’t have time to grab breakfast outside of the one I took between your legs. And yes, Little Conduit, as a result, I am feeling rather…hungry.”
His tone made it exceptionally clear that we were no longer discussing food, and my jaw dropped, mouth falling open in shock when the shameless bastard slid his hand over one thigh, palming what was averyobvious erection.Fucking Hel.
“Ravenous, one might say,” he added, lowering his voice as if to tempt me to come closer.
“Are you really about to start stroking your cock in front of me on government property?” I asked, arching a brow.
“I might. Why? Can you think of something better for me to do with it?”
That smile was so wicked it bordered on lecherous.
“Or would you rather watch?” he inquired, knowing damn well that my eyes were glued to his hand right now, watching the way his prominent veins flexed as he put a bit more pressure behind those languid strokes above his pants.
Fuck.
“This is so inappropriate,” I muttered, feeling the last dregs of my willpower and better sense slipping through my fingers.
“And you’re already soaking through your panties over it,” he smirked. “So why don’t you come here and bend over, pretty girl? We’ve only got an hour.”
Asshole.
And he wasn’t even wrong.