Magical Mistake (Magic And Metaphysics Academy Book 2) Read online

  "Not to sound crude, but you'll be happier with the largest amount of skin exposed," Brooks said behind me. His reserved, respectful tone of voice caressed my skin, carried by the magic in the air. "And I'm not saying that just because I want to see more of your skin."

  He ducked his head as I swung mine to look at him.

  "Just because?" I asked. His use of the word just indicated he did want to see more of me.

  Brooks lifted his head, looking at me with a panicked expression. He opened his mouth to try to backtrack, but I chuckled and let him off the hook. "It's okay," I whispered. Talking any louder felt wrong. "I'm teasing."

  But, he was right. My feet on the ground wasn't enough. "Why isn't it cold?" I asked him, fighting the urge to strip naked and roll around on the ground like a puppy.

  "It's the circle. It's always this temperature." He slipped off his boots and tossed them outside the ring. "Year-round."

  He stretched, then slipped his coat off. Wiggling my toes in the grass, I crouched down, running my hands along the soft blades. My attention was finally diverted from the magical circle when Brooks took his shirt off.

  With my head down, I tried to look without being obvious. But, no way I could avoid looking. He always dressed in loose tee-shirts and somewhat unflattering jeans at school. It had been obvious he wasn't gross or anything, but no way I could've predicted such a body.

  Slender and lithe, his muscles looked like they'd been chiseled from stone. Or marble. He moved around me, unbuckling his pants. "Don't be offended," he whispered, his words carried to me as if he'd said them in my ear. "It's just a better experience this way."

  He slipped off his pants, bending in front of me and giving me a nice shot of his rear. As he threw them outside the circle, I tried to keep my eyes off of his perfectly muscled, boxer-clad bum.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I pushed my hands into the grass until I felt the cool, damp soil under it.

  The earth grounded me, helped me focus on drawing energy and not Brooks’ sharp shoulder blades.

  He was right, though. I wouldn't get as much out of this experience covered in a thick coat and my sweatshirt.

  Standing, I took off the coat and tossed it on top of his. Then, before I lost my nerve, I pulled off my tee and sweatshirt in one swift movement, leaving me standing in my white, lacey bra.

  If I'd known someone would be seeing my bra I would've worn the red one. Oh well.

  The pants were staying on, at least for now.

  "Come closer," Brooks said from the middle of the circle. The sun beat down through the break in the trees. "It's strongest here."

  He was so right. As I walked closer to the center, my body hummed with energy and magic. My magic responded to the circle, and the circle reacted by feeding me more magic.

  "It's like its a sentient being," I said, face up to soak in the sun's rays.

  "It's believed that it is," Brooks said as he sat down on the soft ground. I followed, settling down close to him and the exact center of the ring. Now he was telling me something I hadn't known before. "Philosophers and scholars that have studied the circles believe that fairy circles spring up at a place of a magical beings death."

  "Did someone die here?" I looked around, a little icked out.

  "Yes, but it was a long time ago when we were babies."

  "What happened?" I asked, peace and calm washing over me. Lowering myself, I settled on my back next to Brooks. Closing my eyes, I basked in the warmth of the sun. "I feel like a cat," I whispered.

  He chuckled. "Yes, my parents have a couple of tabby cats, and I wonder if this is how they feel when they sleep in a patch of sunlight coming through the window."

  "A couple of years after we were born, the shifter alpha's baby was kidnapped."

  I jerked my head and looked at him. My parents and I weren't tied to the shifters, but everyone had heard about Leola, the unicorn shifter Queen and her unicorn shifter Princess. "Hannah?"

  She was close to my age, but I didn't know exactly how close. "Shouldn't she be going to school here?"

  "Not for a couple more years."

  "How do you know so much as a witch?" I teased him.

  "Jayse. His parents are close to the alpha's. He grew up with Hannah and her family."

  "So how does that tie in with who died here?" I turned on my side, propping my head on my had, and Brooks did the same. His eyes fell to my chest. I looked down and realized the position of my arm made my boobs plump up, straining against the cup of the bra. It was so easy to forget I was half-naked in this place.

  Magic thrummed through me as Brooks continued telling his story. My entire body reacted, and the longer I laid on the charged ground, the more I became...hot. Needy. Shit. This place was making me horny.

  "The kidnapper eventually brought her here, and Leola killed him."

  "Here?" I gasped, pushing up and away from the ground. "Does that mean he's haunting this place? Like all evil and stuff?"

  "I don't think it works like that."

  The atmosphere inside the circle calmed me quickly, and I laid back down again.

  "It's more like atonement, in my opinion. I've read a lot about it." I watched his face as he spoke. The subject fascinated him. "I think the shifter that died here is becoming a better person, learning from nature. Then, when he's ready, he'll be reborn." He looked down at his fingers, drifting through the grass. "But that's just my opinion."

  My pants weighed heavy against me, a barrier between me and the earth. Sighing, I shot Brooks a look and unbuttoned them, shimmying them off—and making sure my panties stayed firmly in place.

  Hot pink boyshorts didn't match the white bra, but at least they weren't my period-panties.

  The day we invented a spell to remove our periods would be the day I fully believed witches could take over the world. But no, that would be going against nature.

  Leaning over, I threw the pants as hard as I could. Their materials had started out natural, but they'd been manipulated so much they didn't belong in the circle.

  "Oh," I whispered. They were about to hit the ground, far from the outside of the circle, when a vine whipped out of the trees and snagged them, dropping them just on the outside of the mushrooms. "What the hell?"

  Brooks chuckled. "See what I mean? The forest acts strangely."

  "That wasn't strange. That was amazing."

  When I turned back to him, Brooks’ gaze was glued to my legs. "Eyes up here, earth-boy." I arched an eyebrow at him.

  His gaze flew to mine, and his cheeks stained red. "I'm sorry."

  "It's okay. I snuck a few glances myself." It embarrassed me to admit it, but I didn't want him to feel like he'd committed some big sin.

  "You like looking at your legs, too?" he quipped.

  With a snort, I pushed at his shoulder, but he grabbed my hand, pulling me almost on top of him.

  We both froze, and the humming in my body rose to nearly a full vibration as my magic responded to his.

  As did my body.

  My nipples tightened under the soft lace of my bra as they pressed into his chest. Why hadn't I picked a padded bra?

  Brooks’ attraction to me pressed into my thigh, which had ended up between his. His left leg was between mine.

  "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I meant to play, be silly, but this doesn't feel playful." His eyes widened as the earth shifted under him. I was coaxing it to rise and provide him with a pillow. "Are you doing that?"

  Nodding, I looked down at his lips. It was my play now. I could kiss him, or I could get up and get dressed.

  He shifted his leg, the one pressed against my core, enough to set me from vibrating to completely on fire. Lowering my head, I pressed my lips against his, not sure what to do next.

  Brooks took over for me, thankfully. He traced the seam of my lips with his tongue, prompting me to open my mouth. When I did, he didn't shove his tongue down my throat like I expected. My limited experience with kissing guys indicated he would.

&nb
sp; Instead, he caressed the inside of my lips. I moved my tongue hesitantly, meeting his. The instant they touched, it caused my already overzealous body to take it up another notch. Instinctively, I pressed harder against Brooks.

  He didn't disappoint. The feel of his hard dick against my leg intensified as he flexed his hips. Moaning, he shifted, pulling me up farther on top of him until I straddled him.

  Not that he had to do much to get me there. I went willingly. As I lowered myself, I realized it placed his hardness right at my core. Moving slowly, my eyes widened at the feel of him through the two very thin pieces of fabric.

  What would it be like to have him inside me, moving on top of him? My inner walls clenched at the thought.

  Brooks' hands traced along my side as he continued kissing me. I wanted him to touch my breasts, but how to tell him? I couldn't come out and say it.

  He moved up, his touch firmer, but he went around and stroked my back. Moaning my disappointment, I wiggled slightly, trying to tell him with my body language to bring his hands around. If he did, I'd sit up and let him.

  He must've gotten the picture. He began fiddling with my bra. Oh, yes. He was going to take it off. I wiggled again, and he paused, pressing his hands into my back as he pushed upward with his hips.

  My wiggles got a strong reaction from him. Good to know.

  I did it again, but this time, more focused on my core moving over his. His hands were back on my bra, but he paused again as he nibbled my lips, pulled me close, and thrust his hips slowly upward.

  This time, I must've shifted our positions with my movements, because when he moved, he rubbed himself on me more centrally, hitting that nub that gave me such good orgasms in the shower or my bed.

  I gasped into his mouth, amazed at the sensation. He finally succeeded in unclasping my bra. Sitting up, I marveled at the feel of him under me, and how small movements made such a huge spread of pleasure wash over me. Sliding my bra straps down my arms, I held it out, my gaze on Brooks as his was on my nipples. Something took the bra from me, but I didn't even notice if it was a vine. It could've been a giant ladybug, I wouldn't have noticed.

  His hands had rested on my thighs as I sat up. He moved them up my stomach, cupping my breasts and lifting them. "You are the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen."

  "That's just the fairy magic talking," I teased.

  He gave me a mischievous grin, and the next thing I knew, I was the one settled against the earth-pillow, with Brooks over me. His hips flexed into my core and his mouth covered my nipple as his hand squeezed the other breast.

  "Oh," I said, my voice all breath. My sweet, girly sounds changed, though, as he flexed against me and sucked on my nipple. Moans erupted from my mouth. I grabbed his shoulders, barely holding on.

  When he moved his hand from my breast and slid it into my panties, wedged between us, his finger going straight to the spot I needed it most, I shattered. An orgasm washed through me, and I yelled out my pleasure into the magically charged air.

  "Brooks," I cried. He pressed harder and sucked harder and pretty much made me ride out the most intense orgasm of my life.

  Panting, I came down from the high as he moved off of me and tucked himself in beside me. His still-hard dick pressed against my side, and he laid his head on my shoulder.

  I turned, tucking my front against his on the soft ground. I hadn't felt this good in so long. I couldn't remember when. "Let me return the favor." I put my hands on his waistband, completely out of my element. I had no idea how to give him one.

  "As much as I would love to have you do that," he said as he squinted up at the sun. "We have to get back. I promised Jayse and Francis I'd meet them before class."

  My heart shattered into a million pieces and tears sprang into my eyes. "Jayse and Francis. Oh, my god. What did I do?" Jumping up, I scurried out of the circle. The instant I stepped over the mushrooms, the intense January cold washed over me. I ran around, picking up my discarded clothes and then jumped back in the circle to put them on.

  "What's wrong?" Brooks asked. I looked at him, standing in the middle of the circle. Now that he was upright, his erection stood straight out from him, tenting his boxers in a large way. Oh my.

  "I like them," I said desperately. "And I like you."

  "It's okay, we like you, too." Brooks held up his hands. "Please calm down and listen to me."

  I shoved my pants and shirts between my legs so I could clasp my bra. Looking at Brooks, I stayed silent so he could continue.

  "We all three like you. Poly relationships aren't so weird around here. I've got two dads, and I told you Jayse grew up around Hannah. She's got three dads."

  "And Francis?" I asked as I pulled on my tops.

  "He's on board."

  "Yeah?" I shot back. "He seemed on board with Kristi the last time I checked."

  Brooks furrowed his brown. "What are you talking about? Last I heard from him they were very, very over and he was interested in you."

  I knew what I saw, but that wasn't Brooks’ fault. "Okay. I'll stop freaking out." Sucking in a deep breath as I pulled up my pants, I resolved to give it a chance with Jayse. Not so much Francis.

  He walked over and pulled me into a hug, his boxers still tented out almost comically. As he drew me close, it pressed into my leg through my jeans. "You sure you don't want some help with that?" I asked.

  Brooks chuckled again as he pulled away and grabbed his erection. My jaw dropped. "No, it'll go down as we walk. It's good for me, not always getting what I want. Makes the anticipation better for when I do get it."

  He could've taken me right then and there on the forest floor after watching him touch himself. Instead, I watched him dress and followed him out of the circle and into the cold, feeling a million times better than when we'd arrived. "Let's get to class," I said as he took my hand. "Oh, boy."

  Chapter Three

  Physical Defense was the last place I wanted to be, but PD was on my schedule, so I forced myself to walk into the room with my head held high. This was the only class I shared with Kristi, which had given me a great excuse for avoiding her.

  "Lou, there you are." The witch in question threw an arm over my shoulder and steered me toward the other Sparkles.

  Madison gave me a small wave, while Sadie offered me an uncomfortable smile. My guess would be the two of them were well aware of what had happened at the party, and now felt guilty about it. If I got any time with them alone, I'd assure them that I didn't hold them responsible in any way. It was Kristi through and through who'd ruined my glamour and kissed a guy I liked. They'd done nothing, and, unlike Estelle, I wasn't about to forget that.

  "We were just saying how much we missed you," Kristi lied. I didn't need any special magic to be able to tell she was full of it. The look on Sadie's face said it all.

  "I had a lot of homework to catch up on." She wasn't the only one who could cover up the truth. For some reason, I didn't think she'd take kindly to the knowledge that I'd been spending time in the woods with Brooks, or that I'd had to recharge. The fact I was a green witch was almost as much of a secret as the fact I was a hybrid.

  When had my life become a ball of secrets? Oh right, yes. When I came to the Magic and Metaphysics Academy and somehow ended up as one of the Sparkles because of my roommate's revenge schemes.

  I should have stayed at home with my parents. My education would have been as good. Probably better since I wouldn't have had all these distractions.

  Ignoring Kristi as she regaled us all with a tale of convincing her older sister to swap cars with her, I glanced over at Jayse, Francis, and Brooks. Images of my time in the woods with my fellow green witch flashed through my mind, only reminding me of the guilt that accompanied it. And the pleasure.

  "Attention," the teacher called. "Can the vampires and witches gather around? Everyone else as you were."

  Chatter filled the room as the shifters paired off with one another to do whatever exercises they were supposed to be doing, w
hile witches and vampires jostled around for a good spot to listen.

  Or most of them did. We stood there, with no one getting too close to us. They wouldn't dare, not when Kristi stood with her hands on her hips and a death stare on her face. No one wanted to mess with her, which was as good a reason as any to bring her down. If only that made it easier to do.

  "I'm going to put you into pairs, one vampire and one witch to each," the teacher instructed. "Then the witches are going to fire stinging hexes while the vampires dodge and defend. Stinging hexes only, nothing that will hurt anyone." He gave a group of jocks to the left a warning glance.

  Everyone moved toward someone they knew, but the teacher was having none of it and paired people up with one another.

  Francis was directed towards me, a cocky smirk on his face as he approached. "I guess you're stuck with me," he teased.

  A scowl threatened to come over me, but I pushed it back, trying to remember what Brooks had said about Francis liking me. It made no sense. Not when he'd been kissing Kristi at the party.

  "Alright, go find your places and have at one another," the teacher called, a note of glee in his voice that was kind of disconcerting. If I had to place bets on this, I'd say that he was enjoying the idea of us all risking hurting one another.

  "Shall we go over here?" Francis asked, placing a hand on the small of my back as he gestured to an empty corner.

  I jerked forward, disliking his touch. It still hurt too much, despite what Brooks had said.

  "Don't worry about hurting me," he assured me once we were in position. "I can take a little bit of a beating."

  I nodded but said nothing. Instead, I focused on readying a stinging hex in my hands. It wasn't often that I was handed the perfect excuse to attack someone who'd wronged me, I should make the most of this situation in case it didn't arise again.

  Without thinking too hard about it, I flung the hex at him. He dodged to the left and it sailed past, crashing into the wall behind him and showering sparks everywhere.

  Oops. Maybe should've dialed down the power a little bit. Even if Francis thought he could take it, the building might not be able to. At least if that spark show was anything to go by.