Disclaimer: All characters, that engage in sexual activities are older than 21!
____________
I woke up the next morning, my head resting on Aedan's bare chest and my hand on his stomach. His naked upper body was... nice to look at. Very nice to look at.
His left arm was underneath me, holding me to him, as his right one was resting on the back of his head, a strand of hair hanging over his eyes, that were closed in a peaceful sleep.
I couldn't help but trace a finger over his defined abs, as I admired the way his muscles moved beneath the skin with each breath.
My fingers traveled further down his stomach and a bit up to his chest, where his heart was beating calmly.
I couldn't help but marvel at the perfect, muscled chest of a man, I could happily spend a day looking at.
My fingers wandered to the little strip of hair that disappeared under the blanket.
He was handsome, smart, witty and a good friend, but he was a man and right now, he was just the sexiest man I had ever seen.
I traced my finger along the skin and his muscles twitched lightly.
How could he sleep through this? I looked at his face and realized that he was grinning, but he was faking being asleep.
So he was awake the whole time, enjoying my caresses.
I rolled my eyes and sighed, but couldn't suppress a smile, while I continued to admire him.
His body was strong, his skin was tanned, his arms and legs were muscular and he had a scar here and there, which only made him more handsome in my eyes.
I traced my finger over his stomach, up to his chest and back down, as far as I could reach.
"Mhm, you can keep doing that, you know, princess?" he mumbled and yawned.
"Oh, so you are awake?" I asked and he nodded.
"Yes, I have been awake the whole time, watching you play with my body, while you had a little adventure yourself."
"Glad, I could entertain you!" He grinned.
He yawned again, as he pulled me a bit closer, kissing the top of my head.
"Let's stay in bed, a little longer," he whispered and closed his eyes again, while he rubbed his fingers up and down my back.
"Gladly," I murmured and traced my fingers up his ribs, over his chest and to his shoulders, as I enjoyed the touch of his skin, the sound of his heart and his warm, bare body beneath mine.
He was here with me, holding me, letting me be close. And I would not waste this chance.
***
We joined the others in the library, as we would have another meeting regarding the dam here, our fingers intertwined, when Kassandra looked up at us.
"By the goddess, finally!" she said and looked up from the book.
"Finally what?" I asked and Aedan chuckled beside me.
"You guys took a while."
I blushed deeply, looking around but luckily Asher was not there.
"Your mating bond has finally snapped in place, I can smell it," Carr said casually and I cocked my head in confusion.
"But we have been bonded before...," I said and Kassandra looked at me.
"But you have to..."
"Fuck," Carr completed her sentence and she rolled her eyes.
"Yes, exactly," she said and continued, "you have to fuck, the connection won't form properly otherwise."
"Are you serious?" Aedan asked, his mouth gaping.
"Lex, did you seriously not pay attention in class? Don't tell me, you didn't know that!" Kassandra said, her eyebrows raised, as she placed the book on the table.
"Well... no."
"Aedan!" she scolded him and then groaned while she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ugh, you will have the hots for each other for at least a week, probably longer. I hope you will be able to concentrate, though." She winked and I blushed deeply. I mean, my desire for him had been high the last few days anyway, would that increase? Even further? It couldn't get more intense! Could it? I swallowed dryly, suddenly feeling really hot, as Aedan seemed lost in thoughts, but Kassandra eyed me suspiciously, obviously realizing something.
"You didn't know? Did you?" Kassandra asked. I shook my head. No I hadn't. Not in the slightest.
"Can we change the topic, please?" I asked, a deep blush covering my face and she grinned.
Luckily the door opened and Asher and the Queen entered.
"We have to find out, what poisoned the water in the dam and what made the weather change all of a sudden," I said and the Queen nodded, while Asher was busy trying to not look at me.
I was wearing a tight, blue dress with a sweetheart neckline, that came down to my knees, revealing a bit of cleavage, and hugged my curves, leaving little to imagination. Not that he had to imagine things, as he had seen me naked in nearly every angle.
"What is the connection between the dam and the storm?" Kassandra asked, leaning back in her chair, her arms crossed in front of her chest, her eyebrows furrowed.
"I don't know, but they have to be connected somehow," I replied and Aedan nodded.
"Once we were up there, hell broke loose. There is still the huge crack in the earth."
"Yeah, that is a problem, it could have been a natural occurrence, but I would assume it is the work of magic," Kassandra said and tapped her lips with her index finger.
"Magic?" Asher asked skeptically.
"What other explanation would there be?" Carr asked and leaned forward, his brows furrowed.
"I don't know, maybe some strange experiment?"
"A scientist trying to create a natural disaster?" Kassandra asked, while she cocked an eyebrow and Asher shook his head.
"You are right. But magic is so..."
"Unbelievable?" I offered and rubbed my mark, which was definitely magical.
"Yeah, something like that," he agreed, but frowned, as he looked at me.
"Do you remember anything that could help us, Enya?"
I looked at Aedan, who seemed to think as well.
"I had a feeling that something bad would happen," he said and rubbed his chin, while his other hand rested on the table.
"The dam, the river, the drought, the storms, they are all connected, I am sure of it. If we find out how and why, we will find the solution."
"Yes, but how can we find out, when we can't get near it?" the Queen asked and sighed.
"Are there any phenomena recorded in this area?" I asked and everyone in the room looked at me.
"What?" Kassandra asked and raised an eyebrow.
"Phenomena? Strange weather patterns, unusual plant growths, animals behaving strangely?" I asked and looked at them.
"Well I guess, I will be locking myself into the library and will try to find something," I said and looked at the rest of the group. "Anyone else?"
"I will go with you, to help with the research, I guess," Aedan offered and looked at the others.
"Alright, I will come along, too," Asher said.
"And I will check the archives and the history of the region," Carr offered and the Queen nodded.
