Surviving Plagues (Artemis University Book 3) Read online

  “Sounds nice.” I held my hand out to the door and put up the barrier and magically locked the door how Geiger had showed me and I used when I was going through the portal to Faerie. “Well, no one will hear us now.”

  “You are just full of surprises,” he murmured.

  “I’m a quick study. My tutor helps a lot,” I teased. I had already tossed my jacket on the storage chest and I slid off my heels. Pulling away, I turned around and slowly took off my top before pushing my skirt down. “This is how we met after all.”

  “Yeah, I knew you’d be a handful from the start,” he chuckled as he followed me.

  “Oh, you don’t want me to keep going?”

  He hummed happily as he started to get undressed. I decided to help him but first I turned off the light since we were clearly getting ready for bed. I pulled back the covers and found him there with his hands on me. “Let me?”

  “Depends if you’re still hungry.”

  “Famished,” he growled, lifting me up and tossing me on the bed. He set his glasses on the nightstand and crawled on the bed with me. He moved over me and kissed me until my lips were swollen. “I can’t wait to taste all of you, Tamsin.” He chuckled when I shivered. “You like the idea of my fangs in you while we make love, don’t you?”

  “It sounds interesting,” I admitted. “I’m just worried if you’ll be upset if I don’t like it.”

  “You’ve never had a vampire bite you?” He growled when I shook my head. “Good, no vampire should taste you but me.” As if making that a promise he kissed a mark on my neck and worked his way lower, moaning when I undid my bra for him. He played with my breasts, taking the time and care to show he appreciated them.

  Darby liked making out. I’d learned that in our time together. He was a man who wouldn’t skip to the end of the book or jump to dessert.

  Oh no, he was a man who wanted to enjoy every drop of the wine and savor each bite of the meal before him.

  I fully supported that theory. So far we’d only played with each other, so this was a new step for us and one I didn’t think I was going to regret.

  “I would have lost my mind if I knew you had this tiny fecking thong on during dinner,” he muttered, his Irish coming out which always turned me on. Fine, I was a woman who liked accents and sexy voices.

  I had a feeling there were a lot of us like that.

  “So wet for me,” he groaned as he rubbed his fingers over the thong. “This is the perfect dessert. Eat all you want, agra, and I’ll savor you after the meal.” He chuckled when I got wetter. “You like your pussy licked, huh?”

  “Every woman does,” I defended. “It’s just a matter if I’m the right taste for you.”

  “Too right.” He stripped the thong off of me and spread my legs wide. “You smell heavenly. I want to bite you here too.” He ran his hand over my inner thigh. “I want to drink your blood after feasting on you and then feast on your pussy again before we make love. That’s what I want more than anything, agra.”

  Oh, okay, sign me up. I was about to say something snarky but he lowered his face to me and all I could do was moan. I moaned and moaned as he gobbled me up. He went for the easy orgasm to take the edge off but then took his time and went back to lick and tease all of me.

  Several times. He left me sated and wanting more all in one, desperate to have him in me and seconds from demanding it. But I liked the time and care he was taking with me, not wanting to risk messing that up. I pulled him up and flipped us, taking off his boxer briefs before straddling him. I rubbed my wetness all over him, moaning how his hard cock felt against me.

  “You are so gorgeous,” he panted as he reached up and played with my breasts. “Shit, this is better than the sex I’ve had, Tamsin.”

  “Good,” I growled, leaning down and kissing him as I moved faster. “Come all over me, Darby. Come on your agra.”

  He pulled my head back down and attacked my mouth, grunting in the middle of the kiss to let me know he’d finished. And a good one from the way he was acting.

  I backed off when he was done and let him recover. We slowed down and traded gentle kisses before he flipped us. He pinned my wrists over my head, giving me a challenging look and smiling when I didn’t fight him.

  Fine, he could pin me down and have his naughty way with me. I could try that with him. He licked my nipples as he worked his hips, sliding his dick against me in a way we both liked.

  “Spread wider for me, Tamsin. Offer all of you to me.”

  “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” I teased, even as I let my legs fall completely open. “How did I taste? You seemed to like it.”

  He didn’t answer but kissed me and I felt how much he’d like it. Apparently I was the right taste for Darby the prickly smartie vampire.

  Nice.

  I pressed my lips to his ear and taunted him more, bringing him higher and higher as I told him all the places and ways I wanted him to taste me. When I mentioned handcuffs and letting him use them on me, he came again, sucking another kiss mark on my skin. He barely finished and he was pushing fingers in me, clearly not having that he orgasmed and I didn’t.

  It was worth it as I got two orgasms for his one and I hadn’t returned the oral sex favor.

  “So do I just have to hold my hands above my head anytime I want that sort of attention?” I teased him when we were done, gasping for air and wrapped around each other.

  “Yes, that is exactly how it works,” he promised, kissing me quiet for whatever I was going to say next. “Glad you might be as addicted to me as I am to you.”

  “You might need to work some more magic on me to make me an addict but I’m open to the idea.” I laughed as he pinched my side and started tickling me. Yeah, well, it was only fair after all the headaches he’d caused me.

  16

  The next morning everyone was on edge waiting for whatever was next… But it never came. I wasn’t the only one checking around to see and even Mason in bear form seemed to be on alert, but then he didn’t take the second part of his run with me so then I thought something happened. I didn’t think he was the type to bail in trouble and nothing happened.

  So I finished my run and exercises and headed to the cafeteria. Still nothing.

  Was that it? Was the threat those two things and that had been the big magic to try and get me to cave? Or just fuck with us around finals?

  People were whispering about it at breakfast and sounded ready to give the collective sigh the crap was over.

  Hudson was frowning harder than normal where he was sitting with Juan, and I found myself wondering what was up with him. I’d seen him for naked fun… A week ago. Yeah, it had been almost a week ago.

  Fine, we were busy with studying but I didn’t think it was about me—not that I was so self-involved but I didn’t know all that much about his life or day to day otherwise.

  I flipped on my telepathy, risking it in the cafeteria, to find out what was going on.

  But it wasn’t his thoughts that I caught first.

  “She’s so fucking gorgeous. And she always smells amazing. How does she smell amazing even as she sweats? I bet she tastes delicious. Fuck, I want to taste her. I’m going to kill Father for what he said to her that makes her so leery of him. He had to piss off the hottest girl at school that I’m dying for. Just one taste and I could show her I wasn’t like him, that I’d be good to her, beg to lick her.”

  I realized I was staring at gorgeous hazel eyes that were looking at me but unfocused like he was lost in his head. I was too and that’s why I didn’t realize it was Lucca.

  I licked my lips as I looked him over. He was so fucking hot too. I hated he was a Von Thann and his dad was an asshole because Lucca Von Thann was delicious and something I would normally love to take a bite out of.

  His thoughts kept going and I had an image of him finding me coming out of the practice labs and begging me for a chance, a taste, and giving it to him. Kneeling before me, he smelled me and loved my scen
t all over, ripping off my panties and licking me.

  He’d beg for more of my pussy as he ate me. Shit, it was so vivid I started squirming.

  And I’d let him have me. He’d strip me down and fuck me right there in the practice room. Folding me in half with my feet on his shoulders, he’d take me slow and deep, begging to be my bear and making me scream in bliss. I’d make him work for it, driving him nuts before—

  “What are you thinking about so hard?” Izzy asked as she sat down, startling me.

  I snapped out of his thoughts, Lucca blinking around as well.

  “What the fuck was that? How did those images get in my head?” His eyes went wide as he locked gazes with me. “Were you listening? Was that you?”

  Oh shit. I flipped off my telepathy in a flash and acted as if I hadn’t heard him, hadn’t just shared my naughty fantasy with him. Hudson had said I would be able to project images, not just thoughts. Did I seriously just accidentally share a fantasy with him?

  That was mortifying and hot all at the same time.

  “Hello? Earth to Tamsin,” Izzy called, waving a hand in front of me.

  “What? Yeah, sorry, my head is…” I rubbed my forehead. “Sorry, I think I was amping up for a fight and fizzed out now that there wasn’t one.”

  “Yeah, so weird. I still want to know who made all those damn frogs.”

  “So wait, someone made them? As in we can make animals with magic not simply bespelled the frogs?”

  “No, we can make animals but… There are—I forget the rules and it’s not everyone can do it.” She glanced around and waved at someone. “Professor Campbell, can we have a minute?”

  The professor came over and gave us a nod of greeting. “Yes, but only a minute as I’m running late. We all arrived early and ready for the prank that never came.”

  “It’s about that. How can magic make animals?” I asked, frowning. “I guess if we can make flowers or water it’s organic and…”

  “Your head just spun out on it, yes, it is a complicated topic,” she chuckled. “Elements are different than making other things. The general rule is it has to come from a seed or an egg. I mean an out of body egg, not egg and sperm situation with gestation.”

  Izzy snapped her fingers. “Right, that’s what it is. That’s nature’s balance so—”

  “So no one can use magic and just make babies or minions,” I muttered, getting the line.

  “Yes, exactly. Magic, nature, and the gods—as we believe—find a balance of what can be done but caps it so the least amount of damage can happen if twisted,” Professor Campbell explained, easily falling into teacher mode. “Now that’s not to say it cannot happen. It can—rarely. I’ve seen a few mice but the level of magic it took was monumental.”

  “So just mice?”

  “No, one kitten.” She frowned and then looked away. “And one very deformed fat cat that was put down, which was best for the poor creature. There are things we shouldn’t do even if we can—just as in our non-magical lives—and there are warnings like that cat about going too far.” She glanced at her watch. “Was there anything else?”

  “No, thanks, that—I was trying to get the concept of making them versus just getting a bunch of frogs and putting a spell on them.”

  “Yes, well, there might have been some of that as well. Whoever it was, creating or even bespelling that amount of frogs would take an insane amount of reserves. Plus the coordination to get them here and dumped off—we don’t think it was the act of one person.”

  “Which feeds the theory of another school screwing with us right before finals,” I muttered, bobbing my head. “Thanks, Professor Campbell.”

  “You’re welcome. See you this afternoon then.”

  I nodded and focused on breakfast, careful not to look in Lucca’s direction. I remembered halfway through eating that I had originally wanted to know what was up with Hudson. I pulled my phone out and saw I already had a message from him.

  Hudson: What’s going on with you and Lucca? He looks like he’s about to throw you on the table and take you and you were blushing bright red.

  Tamsin: I got caught in his head and did something new, I think.

  Hudson: Show me.

  Tamsin: Maybe later if you’re good. I flipped on my telepathy to find out what was with you. I was worried you were frowning harder than normal. You okay?

  Hudson: Maybe I’m feeling neglected. I heard Darby slept over. Did he get you all night, my princess?

  Tamsin: Yes, but not like you get me. Don’t deflect. Tell me what’s going on.

  Hudson: The parents got wind of what happened and Izzy’s idea that it was the plagues. The last one of those is death to every firstborn son, so some of the parents were going off the deep end at their heirs being at risk.

  Tamsin: Sounds about right, but your parents actually love you too so of course they’d be worried.

  Hudson: Yeah, they do and they are. I agreed if it keeps up I’ll spend a few days of review time at home. It looks like we’re in the clear though. It had to take a lot of magic to pull off yesterday’s prank.

  Hudson: And someone promised to rub my upset stomach and didn’t. Frogs are not what a dragon likes to eat.

  Tamsin: You’re right, I did. How horrible of me. I’ll pay my debt with interest, I promise.

  Hudson: Seriously, what did you do to Lucca? I’ve never seen him be so feral with a woman. He’s practically begging you to give him a green light.

  Tamsin: He’s always hoping for that. Most guys are.

  Hudson: You’re not wrong but you’re not going to tell me, are you?

  Tamsin: No.

  Hudson: I should punish my naughty princess.

  Hudson: Never mind, I prefer Craftsman the one in the doghouse. He looked like he was going to cry at dinner when they brought him a tiny, bland meal. It was glorious.

  Tamsin: Good, he started it. Never pick on how much a woman eats.

  Hudson: Agreed. River was not happy and if you didn’t care for him I think he might have charred him a bit.

  Tamsin: As much as I would have loved to see that, I don’t want you in trouble. Thank River for me though.

  Hudson: Does that mean more interest on that debt?

  Tamsin: Yes, and I think you’re going to like your payment.

  Hudson: I need you. It’s been forever since I’ve tasted you.

  Tamsin: A week. We hooked up like a week ago. That’s hardly forever.

  Hudson: I still need you. Lucca looks to be in the same boat. Mason and Juan are trying to get his attention and he’s totally ignoring them and acting like he’s trying to Jedi mind trick you into stripping for him.

  Tamsin: That’s not a real thing, right?

  Hudson: It absolutely is but Lucca wouldn’t ever do it. Mother said your mind was like a vault so you’re safe. It’s why we learn mental shielding. It keeps people out from hearing things, and protects us from influence.

  Tamsin: Well, all the pain I’ve had from telepathy was worth something then.

  Hudson: Tell me what you did to Lucca.

  Tamsin: Pushy damn dragon. No, I’d rather do something else to you and surprise you.

  Hudson: I’m so hard for you.

  I bit back a groan and tucked my phone away before I ended up soaking my running pants in the middle of the damn cafeteria. I hurried to finish eating and headed for our room to get ready for class. Everyone seemed to be falling back into normal routines now that we weren’t preparing for the next issue or problem.

  The tournament for our finals was already starting in physical training and I seriously couldn’t get over how much of a waste of time that class was. Two weeks before the final and all we were doing was sitting around watching other fights in between ours.

  I got bored and flipped on my telepathy, focusing on Hudson. He was intently watching like a good student.

  I listened in and then focused on a visual like I had this morning with Lucca… Just doing it on purpose this time. I
pictured putting up a privacy and sound barrier over the pile of mats and him throwing me on them after ripping all my clothes off.

  I pictured every detail of him kneeling with my legs over his shoulders and feasting on me before flipping me over and riding me hard until my screams filled the gym.

  The cheering for the fight snapped me out of it. I clapped for whoever won and glanced over to see Hudson staring at me like he was debating not even bothering with the privacy barrier and tossing me on the mats in front of everyone. His nostrils flared when I smirked at him and rubbed my arms.

  “Are you cold?” Darby asked.

  “No, just antsy,” I muttered as the next pair moved into place. Just to be a brat I went back into Hudson’s thoughts and pictured me kneeling right in the group and pulling down the front of his shorts, blowing him for everyone in class to watch as he praised his princess as the only woman who could give him what he needed.

  It might have been pushing him a bit too far and certainly waving the flag in front of the bull. Damn it was fun.

  I was really going to misbehave with this for sure.

  I hissed as too many people were shouting in their heads about the fight and quickly flipped off my telepathy. I waved Darby off and went for the fountain.

  “Are you okay?” he demanded after I splashed some water on my face.

  “Yeah, my telepathy is acting up or getting strong and I was bored and decided to play with it.” I groaned as I plopped down and rubbed my head. “That was stupid when a douche was fighting and people were thinking so hard they wanted him to get hit or make an ass of himself. No more playing in large groups.”

  “You want an ice pack or something?” he muttered as he cupped my face. “I can smell the pain you’re in.”

  “Can you just get my water bottle? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have been dicking around with it.”

  “Yeah, just stay here. You were wobbling when you went for the fountain.”

  “Okay.”

  Seconds after he left Hudson was there squatting next to me. “Are you okay?”