<h4>Chapter 518: A Gift For River (I)</h4>


    <strong>Kieran:</strong>


    Her surprise hit me first.


    It was subtle - the way her brows lifted, the faint widening of her eyes - but through the mate bond, it rang loud and clear. She stared at me as if a piece had finally fallen into ce, one she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.


    "You are here because of the record book that <i>I </i>wanted?" she asked slowly.


    I hummed, confirming her doubt.


    She shook her head, disbelief giving way to something softer. "I was just telling you yesterday how badly I wanted to read itpletely," she murmured. "How I won’t be able to finish it before my work here ends." Her voice dipped. "And now you are... here."


    For a moment, she looked touched.


    And then... there it was.


    Her eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as she crossed her arms. "Wait. Did you seriouslye to the headquarters and pull rank just to get that book for me?"


    Ah.


    I knew that look. Evaline didn’t like favors that leaned too heavily on power. Especially when that power wasn’t hers.


    "Kieran," she continued, usation sharp but not unkind, "you are using your authority for my personal need. That doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel... nice."


    I smiled.


    Not mocking. Not amused.


    Soft.


    I lifted my hand and gently bopped her nose with the back of my finger.


    Her scowl broke instantly, eyes widening in offended surprise. "Hey!"


    "First," I said calmly, "you are allowed to want things."


    She opened her mouth, likely to argue, so I continued.


    "Second, after listening to you talk about that record book for two straight nights," I added, "I got interested in it too."


    Her expression faltered.


    "I’m actually here to collect a few ancient herb and potion records," I exined. "I’m writing new curriculum books for the Academy. Updated ones. So I’ll be needing such old records."


    Her shoulders rxed a fraction.


    "So no," I finished, meeting her gaze steadily, "I didn’te here <i>just</i> for you."


    She nodded slowly, guilt easing from her features, reced by that adorable thoughtful look she got when she realized she had jumped to conclusions.


    "Oh," she said quietly.


    That look... soft eyes, lips parted just slightly... was my undoing.


    Before she could blink, I caught her chin gently between my fingers and leaned in, stealing another kiss.


    She gasped against my mouth, surprised again, fingers gripping my sleeves. I kept it brief but deliberate, enough to leave her breathless and flustered.


    She pulled back first, her eyes darting toward the door. "Kieran... we are at the headquarters."


    I chuckled, leaning in close enough that our foreheads brushed.


    "In River’s office," I corrected.


    Her lips parted.


    "There are cameras," she pointed out weakly.


    "Yes," I agreed smoothly, "and only River has ess to them."


    Meaning - this office was the safest, most private ce in the entire building... especially for us to mess around.


    She opened her mouth, but then closed it. Seemed like she was at a loss for what to say.


    She nced at her wristwatch then, grounding herself, and shifted slightly on the desk. "We don’t have much time," she said, gesturing toward the book andptop beside her. "So if we are doing this, we should hurry and go through the records."


    She tried to push against my chest to slide off the desk.


    I didn’t let her.


    Instead, I caught her wrists and pinned them gently behind her back, stepping in close enough that our bodies nearly collided.


    Her breath hitched sharply.


    "Kieran-"


    Her eyes were wide now, bright with surprise and confusion. I could feel it through the bond... her trying to reconcile my words with my actions.


    The records sat untouched.


    And I wasn’t even looking at them.


    I leaned in, my mouth brushing the shell of her ear as I spoke again, slower this time.


    "My fault. Let me rephrase my words... I’m not here for the records."


    Her breath stuttered.


    "I’m here for <i>you</i>."


    The words sank deep.


    "I’m done with the entrance exams," I continued quietly. "The Academy’s ready for the new semester. For the first time in a whole week, I’m free."


    My grip loosened just enough to let my thumbs trace slow, grounding circles over her wrists.


    "And I missed you."


    She exhaled... a soft, relieved sound... and slipped her hands free from my hold with ease, immediately sliding them over my shoulders, her fingers curling into my cor.


    "What do you want to do now then?" she asked, her voice low... but innocent.


    I leaned back slightly and looked around the office as if considering something important.


    "What’s River’s favorite part of this ce?" I asked casually.


    She blinked. "What?"


    My eyes stopped on the long couch across the room.


    She followed my gaze, confusion flickering again. "The couch," she answered slowly. "Why?"


    I smirked.


    "Thought so."


    Before she could process that, I lifted her again, one arm securely under her thighs. She yelped softly, instinctively wrapping her legs around my waist.


    "Kieran!" she whispered. "What are you doing?"


    I started walking toward the couch, unhurried.


    "Leaving River a gift."


    Her breath caught, heat ring through the bond as realization dawned.


    I set her down on the couch gently, crowding in immediately, hands braced beside her as I leaned over her. Her eyes were brighter now, pulse fluttering visibly at her throat.


    "This," I murmured, brushing my knuckles down her arm, "is my brother’s favorite ce to sit and pretend he’s not overworking himself."


    She swallowed.


    "And today," I continued, my lips curving, "it’s going to smell like you... like <i>us</i>."


    Her gasp was quiet but delicious.


    I didn’t kiss her again... didn’t cross that line.


    Instead, I lingered there, my forehead touching hers, breath mingling.


    "Rx," I whispered. "We are behaving."


    Her lips twitched. "This doesn’t feel like behaving."


    I smiled against her temple.


    "It is," I said. "Because wanting you doesn’t mean taking more than you are ready to give."


    Her fingers tightened in my shirt.


    The records could wait.


    For now, I had exactly what I came for.