Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(103)

I slipped on the pink dress, which was the same shade as my hair, only a little darker. It actually went really nicely with my complexion, making my skin look even more sun-kissed than normal. I decided to pile my hair up in loose curls, leaving just a few tendrils falling down to showcase the strapless neckline. The dress was cut low, just across the top of my boobs, and it was formfitting all the way down until the mermaid tail.

I kind of loved it. And once my makeup was done, hair up, and heels on, I was more than happy with Ilia’s choice.

“We’re so fucking hot,” she said, twirling in the mirror.

She was hot. White minidress, stilettos, legs that went on for a few hundred miles, red hair, lips, and eye makeup.

Perfection.

When we made it to the commons, there were students everywhere in various states of dress. And undress. Depending on how you looked at it. A real trend existed in this school of wearing shirts the size of bras and skirts the size of stamps.

“I’m glad to see the Clovers’ punishment stuck,” Ilia said, her eyes locked on their empty table. Last dance they’d been there, holding court with all of their followers. This week they were gone. They’d been exiled out of the main courtyard, forced to sit on the sidelines. All thanks to Kate and Chellie. Those two were awaiting trial in Germany right now, and could soon be sharing a cell with a bunch of other criminals.

I couldn’t even find it in myself to care. They’d almost cost me everything.

They’d almost cost me Asher.

Speaking of. There was a hush when Asher and the other guys entered the commons. All eyes turned to them, students hurrying forward, calling his name and saying hello. He acknowledged a few of them with a nod, but his eyes never wavered. They were locked on me as he stalked forward. The crowds parted for him even while trying to grab his attention.

Unable to wait, I moved toward him, a little unsteady on my heels, but determination kept me walking. Asher’s pace picked up, and we all but crashed together as his arms wrapped around my back. Asher leaned down so that our lips could meet, and gasps rang out around us.

Guess the secret was out now.

The kiss ended up somewhere between casual and ready to rip each other’s clothes off. My breathing was fast when he pulled back, his arms holding me close.

“Pink is a gorgeous color on you,” he said, resting his forehead against mine. “You look so beautiful.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I told him, trying to keep the awe out of my voice.

He was wearing a dark gray shirt that hugged his biceps and chest muscles. It was just tight enough that I could make out the faint outline of his abs, which kind of made me want to drag him back to his room and strip that shirt right off him. He had on jeans, the sort of well-worn, faded denim that was both sexy and casual. His boots added height, his hair was roughly styled, and his dimples were already killing me.

“I’m really glad you didn’t die,” I said softly.

His smile grew until a low, husky laugh escaped. “I’m really glad too, and if you keep looking at me like that, we’re definitely not making it to the dance.”

I had to really think for a second if that was a bad idea or not. A classmate from my demonology class dashed past then, and seeing me did a huge backtrack.

“Maddi!” Trent shouted, somehow the only student here who wasn’t fixated on Asher. Instead, he was staring at me. Or my boobs, to be more accurate. “How did your last exam go.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I shot him a “seriously” look. “It went fine. It was easier than I expected. Yours?”

He groaned, finally looking at my face. “I thought it was so hard. They had like twenty different timelines we had to remember. I mean, how many demon wars has this world had? I couldn’t keep up.”

Trent wasn’t the sharpest tool, so this didn’t really surprise me. But apparently he had some powerful, rich parents, and his connections would keep him in school and moving through the grades.

“Save me a dance,” Trent said, his eyes back on my boobs.

“Yeah, that’s probably not going to happen,” I said seriously.

Trent pushed closer to me.

Asher moved, inserting himself between us. “Go away,” he growled. “She’s not interested.”

Trent blinked, his gaze tipping up to meet the icy eyes of the Atlantean standing there. Panic dropped across his features, and he started to back up. “Sorry,” he stuttered, the smooth smarminess disappearing. “I didn’t realize.”

Asher’s rigid features didn’t relax. “Now you do.”

Trent ran, and I smacked Asher on the arm. “I had it handled,” I told him.

Finally some of the pissed-off anger faded from his face, and he winked at me. “I know that, but it’s in my nature to protect what’s mine. I’m just one of those guys.”

He was; he protected the people he cared about with a ferocity that would scare most supes. I could never be mad about being one of those people. Plus…

“I feel the same way about you,” I admitted. “Whenever those chicks drape themselves over you, I kind of want to rip their faces off.”

It was my first experience with being possessive, and it certainly took controlling myself to a new level.

Asher’s gaze went all dark and sexy. “I fucking love that about you.”