Aeromancist - The Beginning (Seven Forbidden Arts 2)

“How are you doing?” he asked with a frown while zipping himself up. “Did I take you too hard?”

“No.” She bit her lip. “That was perfect.”

His frown didn’t fade when she went to the bathroom and closed the door.

When she returned after freshening up, Lann stood in front of the window, his gaze pensive.

He offered her a smile, but his demeanor was back to being formal. “I’ve asked Alfonso to set you up in the library. I’ll be working there for most of the day, and I want you close.”

His words warmed her heart, but his eyes seemed cold and far away.

“I need another shower,” she said, aiming for humor with a smile. “I’ll see you downstairs, I guess.”

She was already by the door when he said, “Don’t shower, and leave off the underwear.”

She turned in the frame. “What?”

“I prefer you just as you are.” His gaze darted down to her thighs. “With my mark on you.” When his eyes met hers again, they held a challenge. “Can you do that, krasavitsa?”

“Of course.” A little baffled by the request, she shrugged. “If that’s what turns you on.”

“Good.”

She could’ve sworn there was a purr in his words. She slipped out of his office and went downstairs.

Alfonso waited for her at the bottom of the staircase. He showed her a desk installed at the back of the library, facing Lann’s, that was set with a pot of Juan Valdez coffee and a croissant.

“Thank you,” Kat said, looking at the pastry, “but I don’t really eat breakfast.”

“Sir’s command, Miss. If you prefer something different, you just have to say.”

She said nothing at that, and the butler left. If Martina and the others wondered why she was there, they didn’t ask. They greeted each other briefly, and then Kat started to work in earnest.

The assistants gathered a pile of books Martina had set aside and left for the workshop. When there were only the two of them in the room, Martina said, “Are you working for Lann, Kat?”

“Um, no. I’m working on my thesis.”

“Oh.” Martina didn’t seem content with Kat’s evasive answer, but she didn’t press the issue.

For the next two hours, Kat worked in silence. She made good progress and was happy with her effort. She was just about to take a break when the door opened and Lann entered. She rubbed the sore muscles of her neck, stiff from typing on her laptop, and flashed him a smile. His face was expressionless, so when he walked over and massaged her shoulders, the thoughtful act caught her off guard. Groaning, she closed her eyes. When she opened them again, Martina was regarding them curiously.

“Working hard?” he asked with a smile in his voice.

“I need to. I’m behind my deadline. I have to hand in the next few pages of this chapter by the end of the week.”

His hair tickled her shoulder as he leaned over her and read what she’d typed on her laptop. When he was done, he wheeled a ladder to a shelf in the middle section, locked it in place, and climbed to the top level. He didn’t have to look for what he needed. He carefully removed a book. Kat watched his lean form as he carried the book to her and placed it on the desk.

“That’ll help,” he said.

She glanced at the title and looked up at him in awe. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He smiled, and went to his desk.

The break she wanted to take was forgotten. She was too excited to go through the book he’d selected, which proved as helpful as he’d promised.

They worked until Alfonso came to tell them lunch was served on the pool deck. Martina and the rest of the staff ate at the big table in the kitchen. Kat enjoyed the grilled chicken breast and butternut salad, having found her appetite again. They didn’t linger over lunch, and she was grateful. She wanted to get back to her task.

She was bent over her laptop, her lip caught between her teeth, when she became aware of Lann’s stare. She stopped typing and looked up. He stood at the light table, and when their eyes met, he smiled.

Her heart did a backflip. That smile was so damn disarming. He looked sinfully hot, especially with those glasses. “What are you working on?”

“Restoration.” He motioned at the books. “I’m going through them, assessing what needs to be done to either maintain or repair them.”

Her interest was piqued. “How come you know so much about this?”

“It’s a passion. This collection was falling to pieces. It was a shame to let it go to waste because of a lack of government funding.”

“Is that why you bought it?”

“Yes, and I wanted to make it accessible to the public. These works belong to everyone, not only to theology students and monks.”