that make me think I want to undo your buttons with my teeth and lick your abs.
When we’re sitting side by side, I’m hyperaware of him, my skin tingling, my hands almost involuntarily reaching out to touch his arm or his—cough—thigh. I have to hold myself back from leaning in closer to sniff him. That would be weird, but he smells so good, like the sea and cypress and musk. Intoxicating. If I ever get close enough to press my nose to his skin, I’ll probably get dizzy and pass out.
We commence this week’s lesson with a recess for cookies and iced tea. I always make sure I have some kind of sweet treat for Trace. Maybe the way to his heart is through his sweet tooth. He eats two big cookies while I check my phone and guzzle down my icy drink to cool me off. I’ve been feeling overheated ever since he got here, for various reasons.
After the break, Trace seems to take pity on me and suggests we try some simple transformation spells.
My irritation eases. “Okay! What are we transforming?”
“Let’s start in your kitchen.”
“Sure.” I stand and take him over to the kitchen counter. My kitchen’s a small U-shape, open to the living and dining area. I walk inside it, and he stands at the counter. I look at him expectantly.
“Do you have a box of crackers?”
“Sure.” I open a cupboard and pull out a package of Goldfish.
His eyebrows shoot up, but he shrugs.
“What are we going to do?” I set the crackers on the counter.
“You’re going to transform them.”
“Into what?”
“Whatever you want. I suggest not an elephant.”
I snort-laugh. “Good advice.”
“Think it through.”
I focus the power of my mind on the crackers. And holy shit, I do it!
Except… there are live goldfish flopping around on my kitchen counter! “Eeeeeeeh!”
“Jesus Christ.” Trace swats at the fish to keep them from flying off the counter. “Romy!”
“What!” I back up, hands over my mouth. “That wasn’t supposed to happen! They were supposed to be in a fishbowl!”
“Help! Grab that one on the floor.”
“I’m not touching a fish!” I’ll admire a pretty goldfish in an aquarium, but I sure don’t want to pick one up.
It takes Trace seconds to reverse the spell. However, there are tiny crackers spread all over my counter and floor.
I back into the counter opposite and stare. I think I’m in shock.
Trace looks up and sends me a vexed frown. Then he bites his lip. And starts laughing.
“Are you laughing at me?”
He presses his lips together. “Um… no?”
“You are.” My lips twitch too. “It’s okay; it is pretty funny.”
He laughs again. “The look on your face!”
“What?” I wheeze between laughs. “I don’t like fish!”
“Why did you choose to turn the crackers into fish then?”
“I told you, they were supposed to be in a bowl!” I love his laugh—deep and rumbly; I feel it low inside me. And his smile… God. His eyes crease up and gleam, two deep grooves forming in his cheeks from mouth to jaw. That smile makes me want to fall on my knees and…
Well.
Our eyes meet as we laugh, and something soft unfurls in my chest, tugging me toward him. I move the few steps to face him with only the dark granite counter separating us. “I’m really sorry.”
At least he’s not mad. “Now do you understand why we go to the Academy for two years?”
“Yes.”
“It’s amazing having power. But we need to be careful with it.”
“I get it. Good thing they weren’t animal crackers.”
He shakes his head. “Elephants and tigers and…”
“Monkeys. I love monkeys.”
“No monkeys.”
Our gazes connect again in a moment of shared humor and understanding, along with a sizzle that makes me want to leap over the counter and jump him.
He still feels it too. I know it. I lean over the counter. “Trace…”
He closes his eyes, looking like he’s got a bad toothache. “Romy.”
I swallow my sigh and push back. He wants me as much as I want him. I know it. He just won’t give in to it. I guess that’s why he’s such a powerful witch—he has so much self-control and discipline.
I used to be like that, but the more time I spend with him, the more I’m inclined to throw caution to the summer breeze and follow my desires. Maybe that’s why I’m not a good witch.
I straighten my spine and lift my chin. “We should get back to our lesson.”