<h4>Chapter 641: Spending Time Together</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    I stepped into Oscar’s private quarters as he quietly closed the door behind us.


    The moment I crossed the threshold, a familiar warmth wrapped around me.


    It wasn’t just the temperature.


    It was the ce itself.


    My mates’ private quarters had slowly be one of the few spaces in the academy where I could truly rx. The soft lighting, the dark wooden furniture, the faint scent of sandalwood and pine that always lingered in the air... it all carried a sense offort that my mind desperately needed after the emotional chaos of thest hour.


    I exhaled slowly as I slipped off my coat and ced it on the nearby chair.


    My eyes briefly moved to the wall clock - the hands were approaching seven.


    That meant I had spent over three hours in the experimentb after my sses ended in the early afternoon. Time always seemed to disappear whenever I was working with potions or experimenting with healing magic.


    And dinner wasn’t until nine.


    Which meant there were still two full hours before I needed to leave.


    A small smile tugged at my lips. Two hours - that’s plenty of time. Unless Oscar had somewhere else to be.


    I was still lost in that thought when I heard the quiet click of the door lock behind me.


    Before I could even turn around, warm arms slid around my waist from behind, and Oscar pulled me gently back against his chest into a soft back hug.


    The tension I didn’t even realize I was holding melted instantly. I rxed into him without hesitation, letting my head tilt slightly to the side as his warmth surrounded me.


    For a moment, neither of us spoke.


    And honestly... I didn’t want to.


    After the emotional wreck Rowan had caused earlier, this quiet closeness felt like medicine.


    My eyes closed briefly.


    I was still somewhat mad at Rowan.


    Only I truly knew how badly I had panicked when he copsed like that. The memory alone made my chest tighten again.


    But most of my anger had already faded.


    Because the moment he realized I had taken the prank seriously - when he saw me crying - I knew he regretted it immediately.


    Rowan wasn’t the type to pull pranks. In fact, he almost never did. Which meant the disaster earlier was probably just the result of hisck of experience in that department.


    Still...


    Just because he regretted it and most of my anger had faded didn’t mean he was getting away with it.


    Not even close.


    I would definitely be having a conversation with himter tonight. And he better be ready. Because I was not letting him forget that stunt so easily.


    My thoughts were abruptly interrupted when something warm brushed against my ear.


    And then...


    A quick nip.


    I gasped softly, startled, and turned my head.


    Oscar was looking at me with a small, satisfied smirk.


    "That," he said calmly, "is your punishment."


    I blinked at him.


    "For what?"


    "For being lost in your thoughts while I’m right here."


    Augh escaped me before I could stop it. "Sorry," I murmured softly. I tilted my head slightly and ced a gentle kiss against his jaw in apology.


    The tension in his posture immediately eased.


    "Apology epted," he said simply.


    Of course it was.


    Oscar had never been very good at staying upset with me.


    His arms loosened slightly around my waist as he asked, "So... what do you want to do?"


    I hummed thoughtfully.


    "Talk?" he suggested.


    I tilted my head slightly.


    "Not very tempting."


    He chuckled softly behind me.


    "Alright... what about watching a movie or a series?"


    "Still not tempting enough."


    I felt him sigh dramatically.


    "Sleep?"


    I snorted.


    "I have the entire night for that."


    He was clearly about to suggest something else... probably something equally boring... when I decided to stop him.


    I let my head fall back against his chest. My hand slid up around the back of his neck, gently pulling his face down toward mine.


    Before he could react... I stole a kiss.


    Just a quick one.


    My lips brushed against his as I whispered softly, "You need to find something fun for us to do."


    I started to pull away.


    But he didn’t let me.


    His hand suddenly came up and wrapped around my throat. His hold wasn’t tight, not painful, but... firm, possessive, dominant.


    The sudden shift made my breath catch.


    My body instantly reacted to the familiar pressure of his hand, heat blooming beneath my skin as my instincts responded to the im.


    Before I could say anything... he kissed me - hard, deep, andpletely without restraint.


    His lips captured mine with an intensity that sent a jolt through my entire body.


    The kiss wasn’t gentle.


    It was hungry.


    Demanding.


    His thumb pressed lightly against the side of my throat as his mouth moved over mine, coaxing my lips apart. The moment they did, his tongue slipped inside, immediately finding mine.


    A soft sound escaped my throat, and his grip tightened just slightly as he deepened the kiss.


    His tongue slid against mine slowly, teasing, tasting, exploring with deliberate patience that made my knees weaken. Every movement felt calcted... like he knew exactly how to make my body melt against him.


    My fingers tightened in his hair.


    The warmth of his chest against my back, the steady strength of his arm around my waist, and the possessive hold on my throat created a dizzyingbination that made it nearly impossible to think.


    He kissed me like he had all the time in the world... slow, wet, thorough.


    Every brush of his tongue sent small sparks racing through my nerves.


    I tried to pull back for air... and he followed, deepening the kiss even further.


    My breathing grew uneven as his lips moved more urgently against mine, stealing every breath I tried to take. My body felt softer with every passing second, leaning into himpletely as the world around us faded away.


    By the time he finally pulled back... I waspletely out of breath.


    My chest rose and fell rapidly as I tried to steady my breathing.


    He didn’t move away. Instead, his lips brushed along my jaw.


    Then down my neck.


    He pressed slow, warm kisses against my skin, each one lingering slightly longer than thest.


    My fingers tightened on his arm as a soft shiver ran through me.


    When he finally spoke, his voice was low against my neck.


    "I think..."


    Another kiss.


    "...I might have found..."


    His lips pressed firmly just below my ear.


    "...the perfect way for us to spend time together."