CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It was difficult for Robin to think much and plan too many details ahead of time because of a couple of things: first, there was the cave, which was closed off to the outside world—if there was even one—and shorter than she initially assessed, making for an almost suffocating feel. Had she been claustrophobic, she would never have survived here with its minimal lighting and general coldness.
Second, while she did say that her magic allowed her to create food, it was mostly sustenance and tasted bland, sometimes bitter. Robin hadn’t actually ever tried perfecting this magic skill yet, and she was pretty sure even her mentor didn’t know much about it. It was just something she discovered and was still trying to develop, and obviously, it still needed work as Simon complained about the first bite, but tried to man up and eat the rest.
Third was the devil himself—or rather, the werewolf who was supposed to be her friend. Yet here she was thinking about him nonstop, unable to get his words out of her brain as she tossed and re-tossed it over in her head.
Robin did trust him. She trusted him with all her heart and soul, and it was scary how much she did. But there was nothing scarier than the emotions roiling inside her every time he did something.
Like make her laugh.
Like bring her water and cover her up when she was feeling tired, and pull her into his arms for a hug in the middle of them sleeping on the ground.
Like sneaking in little looks and glances that she caught often, his gray eyes filled with so much longing and desire that it threatened to consume her.
The longing echoed inside her, and she tried to fight it off as they tried to survive in their little prison. His friendship mattered so much to her, and she didn’t want to ruin it by the desire she was feeling.
And she was feeling it. In fact, Robin was feeling so much of it that she was worried she was going to spontaneously combust any second now at the persistent throbbing in her legs that just wouldn’t go away.
“Let’s play a game,” Simon said on their…ninth hour in the cave. At least, based on their estimate, it felt like the ninth.
They were sitting side by side while she played with some of her magic, having regained a minimal enough amount to start a glowing fire in front of them. It looked like an orb with different colors swirling inside, and strands leaking through. It reminded Robin of a lava lamp’s calming effect, and she latched onto it to distract herself from Simon’s warmth beside her.
“What kind of game?” she asked cautiously.
Simon smiled, all easy and casual. He was really keeping to his promise to treat her as nothing but a friend, trying to put her at ease.
“Truth or dare? You like?”
There was nothing better to do, really. Plus she wanted to return his effort and treat him the same way. So Robin nodded her head.
They started with easy enough questions, with Simon mostly asking about what she did to kill Jin and all the other magical things she did that he’d never seen before. Not many people knew of the capacity of her magic, and she really didn’t like boasting, but telling Simon felt more like opening up than bragging. He began asking about her training years with Red, and excitement filled her as she told him about the improvements she’d achieved and her urge to experiment some more. She asked him questions in turn about his missions when she left, and he made it seem comical despite the underlying danger she could sense in each and every one of them. Robin knew Simon was an asset to the shifter community—she just didn’t realize how much.
They indulged themselves in some dares, then ate more of her magic food. But with a space like the cave, there really wasn’t any chance to do any huge dares, so they switched back to truths and settled comfortably near the wall as they kept the conversation going. After a while, they gave in to the urge to lie down next to each other. Robin hadn’t been this relaxed in a long time, and she realized how tense she’d been since undergoing training, then jumping to this mission right away.
“You always said you wanted to be a great witch. What else do you want?”
She pondered this. What else did she want?
“To travel,” she said. “And gain more experience during missions. To experience something thrilling, something that will make my heart leap with joy. To do this world so much good. I want to help get rid of evil in any way I can.”
He remained silent at her admission, and she turned her head slightly in his direction. He was looking at the ceiling, a thoughtful look on his face.
“What about you?” she asked. “What else do you want? Is it all about missions for you?”
He was silent for the first few seconds. When he spoke, his voice was quiet. “No, it’s not all about missions. I want to settle down someday. Have a house of my own and a forest I can run in every day. I want a place that’s protected from all the evil in the world, too—and maybe that’s why I’m doing my best right now…because when I retire from this life, I want this place to be more…livable.”
It was a kind thought, and she watched his side feature as he kept talking. A grin slid on his face, charming and taking her breath away.
“I also want fun. I’m all for fun, as long as it’s harmless and in the right moment. A beautiful woman, a great time…” He shrugged. “I’m a man. Needs and all. I’ve never had one-night stands, but I indulge myself in seducing a woman I really like.” He finally seemed to realize who was beside him, and she saw his eyes widen. Then he uttered a curse word. “Shit. Sorry. Too much information.”
Robin smiled. “I like too much information.” A pause, then, “Ask me what else I want.”
He turned her head towards him, giving her a quizzical look. She was pretty sure he wasn’t aware she’d been watching him because a look of surprise crossed his face before he pushed it down—and something else, something that made a thrill run down her spine before she could stop it.
Perhaps she couldn’t ever stop it.
“What else do you want, Robin?” he asked, voice turning low and husky. Perhaps unintentionally, but it didn’t matter because heat settled in her belly and spread all over her.
“I want what I’m not supposed to want,” she confessed. “I want…I want a certain man’s hands on me. I want…I want to lose control, even for just a day.” She looked at him, watching his gray eyes turn dark with every word. “I want…I want…”
She wanted him. She wanted him too much, and she could no longer restrain herself. Without thought, Robin pressed her lips against his and felt his breath turn sharp at the movement. Her hand went to his arm.
“Are you sure, Robin?” he breathed out. “You have to be absolutely sure because I won’t be able to stop—”
“Don’t stop,” she murmured.
Then she closed the distance between them and moved her body closer, pressing it against his to show him she meant business.
Or rather…pleasure.
He already had an erection, and she felt that hardness press against her stomach and spread tingles all over her skin. Simon yanked her closer, rolling them around until she was on her back and he was right on top of her, kissing her in a way that had her insides roiling with the pleasure of it. His tongue came out to dominate, and his hands were everywhere, touching her in places that she imagined him touching her and more. Little sounds kept coming out of her mouth, and the kiss turned hungrier and deeper until she was completely lost.
He began removing her clothes. She began removing his cloak trousers, fascinated at the muscles she saw in the dim lighting and unable to help herself from touching. She let her fingers caress happy little trails all over him, loving the way groans came out of his mouth. She let her tongue explore him, but stopped with a gasp when his mouth fastened on her throat…then further down, latching on to her stiffened nipple and shooting intense desire inside her. She cried out in pleasure, and he licked and sucked to his heart’s content, switching from one breast to the other until she was swimming in need.
Then his mouth trailed further down, and whatever she felt earlier weakened in comparison to how he used his fingers and tongue to pleasure her in between her legs. He licked at her core and slid his fingers in, using a thrusting motion to bring her to the peak as he murmured things to her—about how wet and tight she was, how he wanted her to come for him.
It only took a few thrusts. Robin felt the pleasure focus down below, building and building right before it shattered her in a mass of pleasure and bliss. She held on to the feeling, unable to believe how good it was.
Then Simon’s long, lean body surged up again to press against her, rolling them both until he was now the one on his back and she was straddling him. Her hand instinctively went to his cock, and she looked down as she wrapped her hand around the thick, pulsing part of him, her mouth dry with the want to…taste it. She licked her lips.
Simon groaned. “Robin. I want to be inside you.”
Robin looked up, freezing in shock at the need in his voice—so much of it. Then she smiled as she guided his cock inside her, taking it slow and watching his expression raptly as he finally slid in to the hilt. She then leaned down to kiss him, unable to get enough.
“I’ve only done it once,” she admitted. “You’re going to have to help.”
A devilish grin slid off his mouth, making her heart drop, then pound so hard. He placed his hands on her hips, directing her to an up and down motion until she got used to the feeling. It felt just like being full down there at first…and then it became something more as the tingles came back, intensifying by the second until it turned into full-blown pleasure. Fire spread through her, burning her inside out, and she reveled in it, bouncing on top of him and making her lose her mind.
He lost his control, too, his hips surging up to drive into her faster. Deeper. Harder. When that wasn’t enough, he rolled her onto her back and pounded inside her until desperation filled her and she sought out that release once more. Every pound hit her pleasure spot, and she cried out his name and clawed at his back as she felt that release come—first in waves, then in rigid turns that left her shattered all over again.
She held on to him. She clung to him as she flew, and a few thrusts later, she felt him go rigid against her.
Then he was shattering, too, and it was the biggest thrill of them all.