“Yeah, I guess it all worked out.” We turn down another hall and walk in silence.
“I have papers to grade, and then I might try and catch a nap before my next class,” Ruby says, pausing outside her office door. “I’ll see you at dinner?”
I mentally count down the hours until I drop another bomb on my friends. “I’ll be there.”
We part ways, and I continue down the hall and up a flight of stairs. The door to the current headmaster’s office is open, and Binx and Freya run inside to wrestle with Pricilla, the headmaster’s fat white cat—who is one hundred percent just a normal cat and not a familiar.
“Take it easy on the old girl,” I tell my familiars with a laugh. They’ll never admit it, but they love acting like normal cats as well. I watch them tumble around for a minute, and some of the tension leaves me. Knowing I’m just seconds away from being back in my dead lover’s arms helps even more.
Stopping outside the door, I flick my wrist and telekinetically open it. Lucas is sitting at the desk with a large book open in front of him.
“Callie.” Lucas looks up, fangs already drawn, and speeds over. He takes me in his arms, closing the door behind us. Without a word, he puts his mouth to mine and presses me against the wall. My arms wrap around him, and we kiss with fervor.
“You’re really okay?” I pant between kisses. Lucas picks me up, carrying me to the desk. For a split second, everything in the world feels okay. My heart skips a beat as I look upon my husband’s face. We’ve only been apart a few hours and I missed him so damn much.
“I’m perfectly fine, my love. But please, strip me bare and inspect every inch of me if it makes you feel better.”
“Don’t tempt me.”
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.” He smirks, making my insides feel all squishy and sending a desperate need for him though my very core.
We kiss again, and Lucas puts his lips to my neck, fangs scraping over my skin. My eyes flutter shut and I rake a hand through his hair, fingers tangling in his dark curls. He puts his lips back on mine, and my entire body goes into overdrive, reeling from both his touch and the very fact that we’re together again. Call me pathetic but I don’t care. Since Lucas and I got married, we haven’t really been apart. I love him with every fiber of my being, and while I don’t need to spend every waking moment next to him, having him near brings me a sense of peace and comfort.
“I was so worried,” I pant between kisses.
“I know,” he growls. “I didn’t like it, but in the end, I agreed it was worth the risk to keep you safe.” He pushes me back on the desk, moving between my legs. I can feel his cock start to harden against me, and the thought of that big thing pulverizing me almost does me in right here and now. “You are everything to me, Callie. Every fucking thing. I won’t put you in harm’s way, and if that pisses you off, so be it. I’ll risk myself before I risk you.” His dark blue eyes search mine. “I refuse to accept a world without you in it.”
“I don’t want to not be in this world,” I say, fumbling over my words. I’m nowhere near as eloquent as Lucas, and I can only hope he finds that part of my charm. “I fucking hate being sidelined, but I get it, Lucas. I do. And I know it wasn’t your choice to kick me to the curb while everyone else partook in a historic exorcism.”
“Fuck,” Lucas chides, hardly able to keep the grin off his face.
“What?”
“Our daughter is going to have your flare for drama and your knack for getting into trouble.” His eyes meet mine, and we both laugh. Resting his forehead against mine for a moment, Lucas runs his hands down my body, tracing the lines of my hips. He grips my thighs, parting them as he drops to his knees.
“Silentium,” I pant, eyeing the door before my head falls back. Lucas curls his fingers around the elastic waistband of my leggings, ready to pull them down.
“No one has ever fucked you in the headmaster’s office, have they?” he growls.
“Technically, this is the assistant headmaster’s office. But no. No one has even come close.”
“Until now.” In a swift movement, Lucas removes my leggings, laying me back on the desk. He kisses his way up my thigh, and my body hums with anticipation. Whatever book Lucas was reading clatters to the ground, but neither one of us pays it any mind. Lucas turns his head, mouth brushing over my core. His fangs bite against my skin, pressing against me enough to cause a little bit of pain but not hard enough to break through my flesh.