Spring Rain (The Witchling #4)(58)

Morgan smiled, always touched when her valiant, confident Master of Light showed his vulnerable side. It made her want to wrap her arms around him and burn anyone who came near. She took his face in her hands instead and kissed him. Surer of herself today, she opened to him without prodding, and he kissed her long, deep, and tender. Her fire crept over his skin while his earth magick floated through her. He was no longer trying to suppress her, instead exploring her body while she did his.

Beck withdrew and rested his head against hers. “Is that a yes?” he asked hoarsely. “Because I’m about to climb back in bed with you.”

A thrill went through her. “I think you should,” she said with boldness born of the fire magick coursing through her. “And yes.”

He stood and eased into bed beside her, his kisses growing more intense while one of his hands pushed the sheet down her body.

Suddenly, he stiffened, his head lifting. Morgan felt the change in him, in his magick.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, shivering at the sensation of his bare chest touching hers. She ran her fingertips down his jaw and neck, once more awed by his raw beauty and how natural it felt to be naked with him.

“Something’s happening at the school. I haven’t quite figured out yet what this feeling means, but I’m pretty sure it’s a warning,” he admitted, blinking the alarm from his features. “I need to go, Morgan.” He gazed down at her warmly. “To be continued?”

She nodded. “I can come with you. I’ll protect you.”

He hesitated. She didn’t have to ask why. The moment she spoke, she knew it was wrong.

“Never mind. I’m sorry. I know I can’t,” she said hastily, afraid of his rejection.

“We’ll figure it out, Morgan. I swear it.” Beck kissed her gently then eased off her.

She tugged the sheet up and sat, watching him get dressed. She thrummed with need and ecstasy at the idea of forever with Beck.

When he had left, she stretched for the soul stone. This was the reason she couldn’t help him now. Maybe never.

What good was she to him, if she couldn’t protect him from someone like Dawn? If she couldn’t help the Light? If she always had to stay away?

A sliver of her uncertainty returned, along with the fear one day Beck would tire of the fact he couldn’t have her and the Light at the same time. Last night was beyond incredible for her, the mixing of their magicks and bodies, his electric touch and how tenderly he’d treated her. She no longer doubted his feelings for her, but if his choice was to his duty or her, then she also knew she’d never let him make it.

I can’t have him and the stone. Morgan’s fist glowed with fire. Frustration fed her flames, and they turned purple then white. The brilliant fire came more readily to her today. She wanted so much to throw the stone away and for it to be gone forever.

Nothing she ever did warmed it, not even the purple-white flames that burned the Dark out of Noah. Thoughts on him, she grabbed her phone. Her mother had texted twice, and so had Noah. His message was simple. I freakin’ love you, Morgan!!!!! As a friend, of course.

His happiness soothed her pain a little. Her mother had texted to say to let her know if they were going to meet up for breakfast. Morgan responded quickly then rose. She started to put on her own clothing and stopped to sniff her skin.

She smelled like Beck. She didn’t want to ever stop smelling like him. Better enjoy it while I can, before he figures out I’m still an issue. After a moment, she picked up the t-shirt he’d been wearing the night before and put it on, hugging herself in it. She put on her sweater, jeans and shoes, all of which had dried by the fire.

With a deep breath, Morgan left Beck’s room. She padded down the hallway towards the stairs and to the ground floor. She heard voices from the direction of the kitchen lined with a bank of windows streaming in brilliant, morning light. Her first instinct was to leave quickly through the front door down the other end, and embarrassment made her blush. She had no idea what she was supposed to say or do the night after sleeping with Beck. Would his parents assume they’d had sex if she walked into the kitchen? Would they be upset? Could she pull off acting normal, like nothing happened?

She started quietly towards the front door, not hearing the steps of whoever followed her, but sensing the fire magick.

“Tell me you used protection.”

Morgan’s fire flared in the air around her.

The woman behind her, Beck’s mother, laughed warmly. A pulse of her magick pushed Morgan’s back into her where it belonged. “Come on. Have breakfast.”

Humiliated, Morgan waited a moment then turned.

Rania Turner hadn’t left. Small, beautiful and Dark, she radiated sultriness and shadows. Her blue-black hair was in a ponytail, and she was dressed casually in jeans and a dark sweater. There was a smile on her face while the Darkness in her eyes peered at Morgan with curiosity that scared her a little.

Morgan recalled the twin’s mother had been the Mistress of Dark before Decker and reached protectively for the soul stone. Decker had been mesmerized by it to the point it worried her. She wasn’t going to trust anyone else Dark with the stone.

But she started forward awkwardly, not sure how she was supposed to act and whether she should try to lie about what happened between her and Beck.

Rania led her into the kitchen, where Michael Turner sat at the breakfast table. He glanced up when they entered, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at his wife. Morgan had noticed his subtle earth magick when they met briefly at the charity ball in December. It seemed stronger now, filling the air, as if he were aware that having two fire witchling women in the house meant it was going to take more to stabilize his environment. His magick was soothing like Beck’s.