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.."

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

make the first move, as

I wanted it...

I finally felt that last piece

to give in, my own hand

just as I was about to make contact, his words

“.Mine...," he whispered.

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

know that?" I

word you could possibly say, you somehow manage to say that exact one?" Kieran held up his hands to

"Relax," he said.

a big deal.

didn’t feel like a light matter. It felt far

I

I started to think over everything that had just happened, taking a moment to realise just how crazy the

that was so batshit insane that

I asked in a hushed

He had to have.

and lack of control, my inability to make rational

it could only be explained by one thing.I quickly looked over to where my

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

to me?!" I asked

went wide, clearly not expecting me to say it

not expecting me

way, I didn’t

what? No!"

second." He tried to move closer but I

Don’t touch

few people around us, briefly turning their heads to what

confusion and intrigue as they fed off the

they

Kieran hissed, grabbing back my

me a

last time I let him freely talk to me, he almost made

state where I had

my life, control

his attempt of drugging me didn’t accidentally result in his death, because that was the true

creature could

"Raven."

"No...," I whispered.

not doing

punishment would be worth that

i f he could so easily drug a

be damned,

it, this was going to end in disappointing him regardless.I snatched my purse away from the counter and immediately started walking to the exit as fast

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

deep familiar voice called out,

the eyes of my father who

I made my way home in

didn’t randomly pass out

all I needed to do was

the biggest side effect I was feeling wasn’t fatigue or drowsiness, as

it felt

something was hollowing out my chest the further I traveled away

to what was waiting for

off the thoughts instantly and gritted

I’d never seen

such a specific yet fast chemical reaction that it

breakthrough, for

best to distract my mind

think of to stop myself from feeling the

seemed to be

slowly drifted off into sleep, there was still

Kieran.

next day feeling slightly better

I felt as

it would take another day or so before the effects wore off completely? I could only

feeling of infatuation

a voice said suddenly from my door,

I recognised it immediately.

Gavin.

feeling well enough for training today," I

ordeal and just wanted a day to

door swung open anyway, revealing that it wasn’t only Gavin alone...I knew instantly what

"Morning Raven,"my father said.

"Did you sleep well?"

Oh...