Spycraft Academy by B. Miles (little readers .txt) 📕

He looked at her from the corner of his eyes. She was staring at the ground, silent and thoughtful. "What are you thinking?"

She sighed quietly and leaned in a little closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't know if I'll make it to graduation, Sam."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her into the hollow of his arm. She was so slim and fine-boned that people never guessed how deadly she could be. When she moved, it was like watching a river pouring downstream. She had a way of scaling walls and maneuvering around obstacles that was elegant in its own way, like a dance. Right now, though, as he held her, she felt as delicate as she looked.

"Those two were just pulling the nobles' legs earlier." He didn't think so, but it would soothe her for now. Even if the process was dangerous, Mattie would make it. She was more capable than she knew. He would have never survived without her. "Do you really think a bunch of wealthy families would send their children to a place where they might get hurt?"

"Grown children," Mattie said, "and have you noticed that when they talk about their families, they always mention their older siblings?"

Sam didn't answer her. He'd noticed, he was just hoping that she hadn't.

"They aren't heirs. They aren't even second or third in line, if I had to guess. Where else would their families send them so they're out of the way yet still able to bring glory to their houses?"

Sam finished his bread and put the brown paper to the side before turning fully to her, wrapping his other arm around her shoulder until he held her fully and she had to crane her neck to peer into his face.

"I will never let anything, or anyone, hurt you." Sam's eyes bore into hers as he spoke. He knew he couldn't make her believe him, but he needed her to understand it.

Mattie opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. Instead, her eyes roamed all over his face. What are you thinking, Mattie?

Suddenly, she lurched forward and pressed her lips to his and his thoughts stuttered to a halt. She was kissing him, this was actually happening right now. He didn't know how to react. His stomach was filled with air and his arms were frozen around her. Mattie pulled away, just a little, and Sam moved before his mind could comprehend what he was doing. Sam pulled her tighter to him until her chest was pressed against his. He deepened the kiss, and his hand came up to grasp her hair, anchoring her to him. Their tongues danced against each other and Sam's face flushed with warmth.

Mattie broke the kiss. Their lips were still close enough to feel each other’s breath. Sam tried to find answers in her eyes. He didn't know why she'd done it, but he was glad she did. He'd been wanting to do that for years but never tried, he thought she wouldn't want him like he wanted her. Maybe she didn't and this was a one-off, but with the way she was looking at him now, he didn't think so.

Silently, Mattie stood up and took his hand, pulling him with her. Sam grabbed his pack and didn't ask any questions as he stood up and followed, he was too busy hoping she was taking him to the woods.

Instead, Mattie stooped at the campfire. "Let's go to sleep, Sam."

But . . . what? What was that kiss?

The nobles were starting to bed down for the night. He and Mattie were planning on sharing a palette, but now there was an extra danger in it. Sam wasn't sure if he'd be able to keep his hands to himself unless Mattie told him to cut it out. He needed to know what she meant by kissing him, if it was because she was scared or because she wanted to. If it was for his devotion to her safety or because she wanted him.

Wordlessly, Sam unpacked their bed. It was the same palette he slept in at home. Mattie left hers so their crew could split it up and keep warm.

He unfurled the bed beside the fire and as soon as it touched the ground, Mattie was burrowing inside of it with a contented sigh. Sam took a breath for composure and slowly slipped in beside her, keeping his back to the fire so Mattie didn't have to breathe in the smoke.

Sam pulled the blankets around his shoulder, trying to come up with the best way to articulate his thoughts, then he froze. Mattie flipped to face him and planted her small hand on his abdomen before it dipped into his trousers.

She wrapped her hand around the base of him and he let out a slow, steady breath. He didn't know why, all of a sudden, Mattie wanted to kiss or touch him, but he was definitely not about to complain. Her hand slid up and down his shaft, so slow that it was almost torturous. Sam stayed perfectly still as a bubbling heat began to grow in his belly, dropping lower by the second and swelling like a balloon. She gave him a few lofty tugs before her nimble fingers trailed along the crown. His hips jerked when her thumb suddenly swiped against the head, smearing the fluid beading at the tip.

Sam captured her mouth in another kiss, one hand slipping under her to hold her close and the other thrusting up her shirt. He yanked at the wrap binding her chest and when her breasts were free, he took one in his palm and circled her little pebble with his thumb. Mattie inhaled sharply and the hand working at Sam tightened. Her mouth went slack and her head lolled back, leaving him to trail little bites and kisses along her delicate jaw.

He wasn't thinking that there were dozens of other people near the two of