Page 26 of Zodiac Hybrids

I bit my lip and dropped my chin to my chest, hating that immediately my mind was on Professor Karras again. “I hope Professor Karras will let me stay in the Astrology Club so I can learn more about it.”

“Lila.” Marcus’ tone became serious. “He has no right to keep you from your education. Teacher or not, he can’t kick you out of his class without cause. I can’t imagine you having done anything wrong.”

And to that, I blushed. I blinked a few times, then returned my gaze back to his. He… was right. How would Adrian even justify dropping me? What lie would he make up to administration? Or maybe he’d be too embarrassed to even approach them. He was in the wrong after all, not me. I bet I had more power in this situation than he did.

“Show them that mark on your neck, and they’ll take your side.”

The words entered my mind like an intrusive thought. Though they were in Marcus’ voice, and I found myself wondering when he’d become the voice of my inner narrator. Though I certainly didn’t mind it.

I rubbed the mark unconsciously.

“You’re right.” I finally said. Marcus returned a quiet smile in response that filled me with new resolve. He was right.

“Do you have any idea why he got so crazy in the first place?” He grabbed the last breadstick after an exchange of small, nonverbal nods that basically asked me for permission to do so.

“He mistook me for something I’m not.” I did my best to phrase it as vaguely as possible. Marcus wasn’t giving me any indication that he was a creature like the professor, so I thought better of revealing his secret. “Maybe I looked too much like an ex-girlfriend or something.” I rolled my eyes playfully, and Marcus snorted. I liked that he laughed at my jokes.

“Some men never grow up.” It almost felt like Marcus was reading my mind sometimes, but that made me giggle.

Feeling the most at ease I’d felt all week, I sipped my water through the straw, and let my whole soul relax. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow and get it sorted out. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding.”

Our meal arrived, and we shared the salad and the pasta. We spent the rest of the day on the town, and I was surprised by how easy it was to talk to him. Whether this was a date or “just hanging out,” I was happy to have someone to vent to. It gave me a little social courage before the inevitable moment I’d have to face Professor Karras again.

It was nearly dark by the time we were back on his bike and heading home. I squeezed his waist and relaxed into the sensation of zipping around in open air. When we arrived back at Graves, Marcus walked with me back to my dorm.

I unlocked the door and turned to face him. “I had a great time. Thank you.” I smiled brightly, feeling that happiness and warmth all the way through my core. “I really needed this after the week I’ve had.”

“I did too. Let’s do this again soon.” He remained a couple respectful feet away.

“So then… was this a date?” I faced him as I gripped the doorknob, and I hesitated to open the door just long enough to make it obvious I wasn’t prepared for the day to end. I met those golden eyes of his, and took a few seconds to just get lost in their shine.

“Is the ball in my court or yours right now?” He shifted his weight on his heels.

I bit my lip and cycled a breath or three before I answered. “Yours.”

Marcus nodded. Then he stepped in close.

I fought every flight instinct that made me want to shy away into my room, and I held his gaze as he delicately rested a hand on each side of my face. My throat bobbed the moment before he pressed his lips to mine. My eyes widened for only a second before I relaxed into the feel and taste of him against me.

It was a chaste kiss, only lightly connecting us through the gentlest of surface contact, and it felt right and easy. I closed my eyes and inhaled his soft scent of sage. Losing my virginity was a chaotic mess, but my first kiss was everything I could have asked for.

Chapter 13

My grip was as gentle as I could manage while having the promise of her warm blood so close to my fangs. I wanted her so fucking bad it was maddening, and I couldn’t explain what had suddenly come over me. Every synapse in my brain begged me to bite her. To shove her against that door and drain her into my rapidly beating heart. She was lucky I wasn’t ready to reveal my magical identity yet, because otherwise, she would be naked in the hall right now, crying on my cock and filling my veins at the same time.

But as established, I was a gentleman. I didn’t even dare slip my tongue in her mouth, knowing she was as inexperienced as she was irresistible. Still, I held her captive with the softest pecks on her lips. Making out without tongue or teeth was torture, and I lingered for entirely too long. It was terribly unnatural for that level of simple kissing, but I needed to taste her for just a few more moments.

I slid my hands down to her neck, and I fingered the bandage that she’d placed over my mark, letting our shared energy invigorate me.

It was no wonder Adrian had taken her during the full moon. No matter how in control I’d told myself I had been that night, I hadn’t been any stronger when I’d come across her. I’d taken her like an animal and it had fed a hunger I couldn’t explain.

Probably a good thing. If this had been my first time ever tasting her, I wouldn’t have half the discipline I did right now. I didn’t regret having gone too far. It was easier to enjoy her in her sleep, so I could court her safely in the daylight. Adrian would have been smart to mark her like I had, but now that he’d all but admitted he wanted her, I would not be losing to him.

What didn’t makes sense, however, now that we were long past the lunar pulse, and I should have much more mental clarity, was that I still felt just as driven to possess her. The only difference between now and that night was that now I had enough rational thought and self-control to tell myself I’d have to take it slower if I didn’t want to scare her away.

I subtly dislodged the bandage with a light scrape of my fingernail, so I could connect directly with that beautiful mate scar. The fact that she’d covered it at all was almost offensive. Though since she had no clue what it was, it was probably for the best that she hadn’t flaunted it too openly. I’d planted enough seeds in her mind tonight that she wouldn’t want to reject my mark even if she understood what it meant. I just needed to get her to the point that she wanted to mark me as well.

It took all of my resolve to not deepen the kiss with the overwhelming arousal she was sending through our magic link. If such tame and careful touch was already enough to get her damn near writhing against her door, then I couldn’t wait to see what a hand around her throat and restraints might do.