He cupped my face in his and the heat turned into tenderness.
After a moment he pulled back looking at me intently, before
leaning his head back. He closed his eyes as he breathed in
deeply.
Don’t pull away from
me, I thought to him.
He opened his eyes quickly, staring at me
with a curiously surprised expression.
Just—don’t’ be so delicate
with me, I thought trying to explain
myself. I knew he was holding back, I could feel the flame between
us. Hurting me was the only reason I could think of why he’d be so
careful; so guarded.
He held my gaze with, looking at me with an
expression so jumbled I couldn’t understand it. His hands slid
beneath me gripping me firmly and he lifted me up unto my knees. I
gasped in surprise. My head was dangling just above his now. A sly,
mischievously grin pulled at his lips and I couldn’t resist dipping
my head down to take a kiss from him.
His fingers slipped along the line between
the bottom of my suit and my wet skin. But he just teased me and
the lack of release was making me frustrated, not to mention,
confused.
You’re not ready. We’re
not ready. Keegan thought to me finally
after what felt like an eternity.
What are you afraid
of? I asked him.
Trying to taunt me into action?
“ Yes,” I snapped back
aloud.
Keegan laughed richly, clearly enjoying my
frustration. He reached up with his mouth lightly nipping the
underside of my chin.
“ You haven’t answered me.”
Our mouths were just inches away from each other.
His arms wrapped tightly around my waist
pulling me down back on his lap. He held me against him saying
nothing else. He just sat there, holding me. It was so
uncharacteristic of him to be so quiet that I just submitted to
what he wanted. Maybe he was afraid of was the same two things I
was: loss and love.
“ Are you ready?” Ajani
asked; his tone both playful and taunting. It was the next morning
and I was standing across from Ajani in sparing arena behind
Paramount.
Iris had apologized profusely for the rush
in our training, explaining again that normally there’d be more
than one rushed evaluation, but time was ticking away. She already
knew that Keegan and I were above average—as far as Aura abilities
went—she couldn’t risk the Banguri threat getting any more
prevalent.
It seemed unlikely that
she wouldn’t let
us join the other fighting Aura. There were so few interested or
able to actually fight, anyone was better than no one. Still, I was
glad for the chance to test out my abilities without holding back
as much. Practicing with Keegan was fun, training with Iris
one-on-one was helpful, but I needed to really stretch my abilities
and see what I could do without worrying about mortally injuring
someone.
“ Daydreaming or are you
stalling because you’re petrified?” Ajani taunted. I realized I
hadn’t answered him yet.
“ Neither,” I
answered.
“ Then answer me this time.
Are you ready to start?”
“ I awakened ready,” I
jabbed back.
Clever, he chided, but not
original.
You want to talk like this
now? I thought back surprised.
Why not?
I remember when we first met, you yelled at
me for something similar to this.
This is different, I’m in
control. He told me.
We were circling each other. Neither had
made a move yet. I could see Keegan off on the sidelines, his eyes
following our movements like a cat ready to pounce.
We’re making your venku
jealous, Ajani thought to me.
He has nothing to worry about. I’ve already
chosen him over you.
“ Ha,” Ajani scoffed out
loud, “If only it were that simple, darling.”
He charged forward his deku turning into a
long wooden practice sword. He might have thought he was in
control, but I had been using the banter as a distraction. I was
ready when he struck first. I easily dodged his attack and
countered with a very simple well placed foot. He skidded to the
ground. I repositioned myself so we were facing again and I used my
telekinesis to push him
After a moment he pulled back looking at me intently, before
leaning his head back. He closed his eyes as he breathed in
deeply.
Don’t pull away from
me, I thought to him.
He opened his eyes quickly, staring at me
with a curiously surprised expression.
Just—don’t’ be so delicate
with me, I thought trying to explain
myself. I knew he was holding back, I could feel the flame between
us. Hurting me was the only reason I could think of why he’d be so
careful; so guarded.
He held my gaze with, looking at me with an
expression so jumbled I couldn’t understand it. His hands slid
beneath me gripping me firmly and he lifted me up unto my knees. I
gasped in surprise. My head was dangling just above his now. A sly,
mischievously grin pulled at his lips and I couldn’t resist dipping
my head down to take a kiss from him.
His fingers slipped along the line between
the bottom of my suit and my wet skin. But he just teased me and
the lack of release was making me frustrated, not to mention,
confused.
You’re not ready. We’re
not ready. Keegan thought to me finally
after what felt like an eternity.
What are you afraid
of? I asked him.
Trying to taunt me into action?
“ Yes,” I snapped back
aloud.
Keegan laughed richly, clearly enjoying my
frustration. He reached up with his mouth lightly nipping the
underside of my chin.
“ You haven’t answered me.”
Our mouths were just inches away from each other.
His arms wrapped tightly around my waist
pulling me down back on his lap. He held me against him saying
nothing else. He just sat there, holding me. It was so
uncharacteristic of him to be so quiet that I just submitted to
what he wanted. Maybe he was afraid of was the same two things I
was: loss and love.
“ Are you ready?” Ajani
asked; his tone both playful and taunting. It was the next morning
and I was standing across from Ajani in sparing arena behind
Paramount.
Iris had apologized profusely for the rush
in our training, explaining again that normally there’d be more
than one rushed evaluation, but time was ticking away. She already
knew that Keegan and I were above average—as far as Aura abilities
went—she couldn’t risk the Banguri threat getting any more
prevalent.
It seemed unlikely that
she wouldn’t let
us join the other fighting Aura. There were so few interested or
able to actually fight, anyone was better than no one. Still, I was
glad for the chance to test out my abilities without holding back
as much. Practicing with Keegan was fun, training with Iris
one-on-one was helpful, but I needed to really stretch my abilities
and see what I could do without worrying about mortally injuring
someone.
“ Daydreaming or are you
stalling because you’re petrified?” Ajani taunted. I realized I
hadn’t answered him yet.
“ Neither,” I
answered.
“ Then answer me this time.
Are you ready to start?”
“ I awakened ready,” I
jabbed back.
Clever, he chided, but not
original.
You want to talk like this
now? I thought back surprised.
Why not?
I remember when we first met, you yelled at
me for something similar to this.
This is different, I’m in
control. He told me.
We were circling each other. Neither had
made a move yet. I could see Keegan off on the sidelines, his eyes
following our movements like a cat ready to pounce.
We’re making your venku
jealous, Ajani thought to me.
He has nothing to worry about. I’ve already
chosen him over you.
“ Ha,” Ajani scoffed out
loud, “If only it were that simple, darling.”
He charged forward his deku turning into a
long wooden practice sword. He might have thought he was in
control, but I had been using the banter as a distraction. I was
ready when he struck first. I easily dodged his attack and
countered with a very simple well placed foot. He skidded to the
ground. I repositioned myself so we were facing again and I used my
telekinesis to push him
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