A Gift from the Goddess

"Alright, a little game sounds fun," I finally replied.

"But you’ ll be disappointed to learn there is no ulterior motive in talking to you.You’ve just piqued my curiosity, is all." I tried to laugh it off but Kieran didn’t seem to notice as he immediately set his drink down, his expression turning serious as he looked me over.

Almost as if I could feel him scrutinising every little detail about me.But that confident look of his...

It took all I had to just calm my heart down, the nervous thumping inside becoming so loud that I was worried he’d hear it.

For a man who could seemingly read me so well...could he really pull this off? 

"Your eyes give you away a lot," he started, leaning forward enough that I could still hear him as he spoke in a low voice.

"Don’t get me wrong, they’re very pretty, but they also betray you."

At this proximity, his scent was beginning to overwhelm me.His compliment wasn’t helping either.I’d never been affected by small things like that before, but with him, it felt almost involuntary.

"I think you’re probably reading too much into it," I replied quietly, smiling.

"Besides, I thought you were meant to be guessing my thoughts, not theorising my tells."

"That's true...."

He moved in a little bit closer again, and I felt as though I became trapped by his gaze alone, unable to move away even if I wanted to.

Which, of course, I didn’t.

No, at this distance, I was helpless to stop myself from thinking about how flawless his features were.

How his defined jawline was such a perfect shape that I could easily picture how my head could fit under it, nestled against his neck comfortably.

‘Mine" that word repeated inside my head, but I bit it back.

"you're thinking...‘why am I so attracted to him?’" he said, sending a jolt of surprise through me.

But after quickly scrambling to find a logical explanation, I realised it was clearly just a magician’s trick.He was influencing my thoughts with his behaviour so I’d be pressured to think what he wanted me to.I laughed his guess off and simply called him out on it.

"How incredibly vague yet conceited of you to thinks o," I said, amused.

"I thought this was a game of guessing my exact thoughts, not giving yourself a backwards compliment."

However, this didn’t seem to deter him in the slightest and a smirk spread across his lips.

"You're thinking...‘why does he make me feel this way?’” I laughed again.

"I just told you that you can’t use ambiguous statements to win.It’s like bogus fortune-telling.It’s not going to work—."

..And then his hand reached out and touched mine, tracing lightly against my skin.

Spreading those sparks through my body that made my breath catch in my throat.

I stared at his hand as he gently enveloped my own, the warmth starting to make me lose concentration.

‘Mine"

That same unrelenting thought kept trying to force itself aloud.He closed the final bit of distance between us, coming in until he was speaking almost directly into my ear.His scent making it impossible to breathe without his influence.

And with one hand holding my own, his other moved to my waist to hold me in place.

"You're thinking...‘why does it feel like sparks against my skin?’"

In surprise, I sharply looked back up towards him, only I found myself now merely inches away from him.

So close, I could feel the warmth of his breath against me.

My gaze trailed down from his eyes until I became fixated on his lips, those thoughts from earlier starting to invade my mind once more.

Wondering just what it would be like to feel them moving against mine.

To taste what they looked to promise me.

‘Mine"

His hand then moved, coming up until it found my cheek and his thumb started tracing along my jaw.

Sending more sparks through me.

But the entire time he did that, I was still transfixed on his lips, watching them closely as he continued to speak.

"you're thinking...that you want to kiss me."

I closed my eyes a little as the pleasure of his presence started to sweep me away.

Letting myself relax into the touch that made me feel so many emotions all at once.I was giving myself over to him and there was nothing I could do.

Nothing I wanted to do.

Like a spell, he had me now completely at his mercy.

‘‘Mine...mine.."

he moved in closer, so close our lips were almost touching, I felt as

the first move, as if promising me water

I wanted it...

finally felt that

my own

just as I was about to make contact, his words

“.Mine...," he whispered.

reality to kick back in. I quickly took a step out of his grasp, hugging my arms to my chest

know that?"

you somehow manage to say that exact one?" Kieran held up his hands to calm me, but

"Relax," he said.

big deal. I can

like a light matter. It

didn’t answer me," I said, gritting

» It was then that I started to think over everything that

that was so batshit insane that I could only come to

I asked

He had to have.

of

be explained by one thing.I quickly looked over to where my drink was and eyed

reaction, but perhaps he’d also done something to me back

you do to me?!" I asked

clearly not

not expecting me

way, I

No!" he

He tried to move closer but

Don’t touch me!" I

the attention of a few people around us, briefly turning their heads to

confusion and intrigue as they fed off the drama

as if they were social

Kieran hissed, grabbing

a

him freely talk to me, he almost made

where I had

in my life,

be lucky that his attempt of drugging me didn’t accidentally

creature could have ended ina

"Raven."

"No...," I whispered.

doing

punishment would be worth that

man was clearly mentally ill i f he could so easily drug a

damned,

my purse away from the

enough to not draw attention by onlookers, but still quick enough that I felt assured he wouldn’t

familiar voice called out,

I kept walking, refusing to meet the eyes of my father who I knew was watching me

checking myself as I made my

I didn’t randomly pass out or show other side effects of

again that all I needed to do was

effect I was feeling wasn’t fatigue or drowsiness, as I would have

it felt almost

chest the further

what

waiting for me.I shook off the thoughts instantly

he gave me, I’d never seen anything

drug with such a specific yet fast

scientific breakthrough, for

mind as

could think of to stop

ultimately, there seemed to be no

into sleep, there was still

Kieran.

awoke the next day feeling slightly better than when

though the thoughts of him still lingered, I felt as though the

take another day or so before the effects wore

feeling of infatuation

voice said suddenly from my door, breaking my

I recognised it immediately.

Gavin.

for training

from the whole ordeal and just wanted a day to fully

the door swung open anyway, revealing that it wasn’t

"Morning Raven,"my father said.

"Did you sleep well?"

Oh...