Phoenix Academy - Lucy Auburn Page 0,49

He jerks his chin towards the picnic table behind us. "Want to go talk about it somewhere else? These two are snoring big time."

I laugh softly. "Sure."

Which is how we wind up walking back to the picnic table. I curl up with my feet beside me, blushing as I realize I'm still barefoot. The soles of my feet are tough and calloused—witch's feet, I'd call them. But it must be a turnoff to guys, so I fidget a little as Xavier sits across from me, his elbows on the table, bare arms muscular and flexed. Heat crawls up my neck, and I'm grateful for the secrecy that the night sky brings.

I have to start some kind of conversation with him before I default to jumping his bones and licking his bare chest like an animal.

"When we were down there..." Insatiably curious, I lick my lips and try to think of the best way to pose my question. "What is it that you wanted to forget? I mean, from my point of view, your life is pretty fantastic."

"True enough." He clears his throat, glancing aside as if embarrassed. "What you've been through... I couldn't even begin to imagine. It makes sense that you would want to forget all of it. I don't really have a good excuse."

"I shouldn't have said it that way." Reaching across, I place a hand on top of his, urging his fingers to uncurl and relax so I can hold his grip in mine. "We all have troubles and worries. I barely know yours. I was just thinking, as long as we're talking, maybe we could get to know each other better."

"It's really not that interesting."

"Try me."

His eyes meet mine, warm brown reflecting the silver crescent of the moon. "I just know that I'm going to wind up alone one day. It's this feeling deep in my bones. Reggie will graduate and go off to be a Shield, and I'll just... rot away with all my books." A pained smile twists his mouth. "I know it's a ridiculous fear born out of anxiety. But seeing him be so popular all the time, knowing I'll never measure up... it makes me feel that much more alone."

"Oh, X." I squeeze his hand and lean over the picnic table to delicately kiss his forehead, eyes fluttering closed. "You won't be alone."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"I'll be with you." I stare into his eyes and try to let him see the truth of my words reflected back in my gaze. "No matter what, you won't be alone. Reggie isn't going anywhere, and neither am I."

"Everyone gets tired of me eventually." His voice is husky with pain and self-pity even as he tries to put on a brave face and a false smile. "You'll see."

"Never."

And I find that I mean it, heart and soul. About each of them in their own way. Xavier's quiet trustworthiness and incredible intelligence, Reggie's infectious laugh and spontaneity, and David's brooding nature that hides a deeply caring soul—I want them with me, now and always.

Until the day is done and the goddess rests.

Walking around the picnic table, I slide onto the bench on Xavier's side and throw my legs into his lap. As the moon lights his face and reflects in the deep pools of his eyes, I gaze at him, my heart fluttering and beating wildly.

"You're not as alone as you think," I reassure him. "I love you, Xavier Black. I really, really swear that I do."

"I love you too, Ari."

His hand curves around my neck as we kiss. I sink into his mouth, hard shivers going down my back, heat curling inside me like a big cat by a fire. Xavier's tongue is patient but insistent, diving between my lips and stroking desire within me. I respond to his kiss with movements of my own, enjoying the hardness I feel between his legs as I press my body against him.

Putting his hands on my waist, he draws me into his lap and swings his legs over the bench of the picnic table. Then he carries me a few paces over and sets me down in the soft embrace of freshly fallen leaves. My legs instinctively go around his hips as he braces himself above me, panting at the breaking of our kiss, looking deep into my eyes.

"Do you think... without that magic..."

"That I could fuck you?" I raise my brows and wriggle my body against him, enjoying the flush of heat that crosses his