The Entanglement of Rival Wizards (Magic and Romance, #1)

by Sara Raasch

Are you, sweetheart?”

The autumn-chilled air stabs into my lungs. It smells like damp leaves. Dying, mildewy rot, but in the comforting way that promises the season’s changing so you can change with it.

He’s probably just as concerned that you’ll try to get your joint project to go up online for free.”

“I will, and I’ll think of you while I do it.”

Neither of us will leave until the other does, which adds another self-sabotaging layer to the already toxic work ethic we both seem to share.

This isn’t a thing you do on your own.”

“I’m allowed to talk to you now?”

What you’re not going to do is spiral out and punish yourself, okay?

I can still feel all of it, everywhere, the kiss remembered in parts of my body that weren’t complicit in it. The inside of my elbows. My eyelids.

There’s something wrong with me. Which is not a new revelation.

He feels … safe.

This is a safer detonation than screaming at each other. Although, not gonna lie, that’s pretty hot, too.

I never knew, never fucking knew that calamities could be wondrous, too.

because I’m a possessive fucking bastard.”

I want him to look at me like he wants to eat me, not like he wants shit I can’t give.

But I can do that and still respect you,

Wait until he leaves. He’ll slip out and then I can fall apart,

You’re allowed to like him.”

Elethior catches my tone with a resigned smile. “I’m guessing I shouldn’t ask how you slept, then.” Better than I have in weeks, but I woke up and you were gone.

I don’t tell him to call me Seb. This isn’t tit for tat. And it definitely isn’t because I like him calling me Sebastian, the way his tongue folds around my whole name.

“You’re not the only one whose project hurts!”

I distantly wish we were back at the lab. The soundproof walls would trap the noise he makes, a cracked cry that sticks against his tongue, a chewed-up Fuck, baby, yes, and I want nothing more than to be sure I’m the only one who hears it. It’s mine, and I get where his possessiveness comes from.

He leaves kisses like breadcrumbs he’ll pick back up later

He’s irate.

I want to bring him a research solution on bended knee.