Super Villain Academy 2: Polar Opposites by Kai Strand Page A

taken down his defenses.
    “Oh, so you knew it was me? Shucks, I thought I’d done a better job covering my tracks,” Mystic said. She spoke directly into his ear, her curves pressed against him. “Did I leave a footprint? A hair? How did you know?”
    Jeff’s foggy mind urged him to admit he hadn’t figured it out until just then, but in a moment of clarity, he slammed his eyes and mouth shut.
    Mystic chuckled again, and Jeff wanted badly to press his mouth against hers. He knew there was a reason he shouldn’t want this, but reason was dissipating fast and being replaced by desire and need. Sweat beaded on his forehead. He licked his lips and then clamped his teeth down hard on his lower lip. It bothered him to no end that he had the fake memories of him and Mystic doing more than he and Oceanus had done in real life.
    Guttural snarling erupted from around the corner of the building, and Jeff opened his eyes to see what was happening. The image knocked the wind out of him, and he gasped like a drowning man.
    Three dogs drug Oceanus, who bucked and flailed, across the lawn toward the helicopter. At least half a dozen more dogs growled and snipped at the few people who followed behind, apparently hoping to save Oceanus. A green ball of electricity pulsed out of the hand of one of the would-be saviors and hit a dog squarely on his side. The dog yelped and collapsed sideways and two more dogs ran to take its place.
    Jeff sprang forward, but immediately froze when every other gun swiveled in his direction. Mystic sidled up to him and took him by the arm like they were on a proper date and strolling the promenade. “You don’t want to interfere, Polar bear,” Mystic said. “I wouldn’t want to have them hurt you.”
    Oceanus clawed at the grass and dirt with her one free hand. The first two dogs had hold of her legs and the third dog trotted along sideways with her arm in his mouth. No, actually, it looked like he had her jean jacket in his mouth, not her arm; Jeff was relieved to notice that.
    A bowling ball sized clod of dirt hit the third dog in the head, and he lost his grip on Oceanus. Jeff’s spirits rose. There was a chance the heroes would save her. But another dog ran up and grabbed her jacket in his mouth and a fourth dog clamped his jaw down on the wrist of her previously free arm. Oceanus cried out in pain.
    Jeff concentrated on the dogs and tried to gather up gravity to halt their progress, but the animals were too far away.
    Mystic wrapped her fingers through his and raised his hand to her mouth. She straightened his pointer finger and slid it into her mouth like a lollipop. Startled, Jeff swung his attention to her just as she repeated the action with his middle finger. His thoughts grew fuzzy, and her spicy scent was suddenly the only thing he could smell. He furrowed his brow, knowing there was a reason he wanted to look away from her, but he was overwhelmed by the desire to nuzzle her neck and bury his face in her hair. She sucked his ring finger and peered at him through her lashes. Jeff leaned toward her.
    “Got her!” one of the guards yelled.
    “Good. Let’s go.” Mystic’s demeanor instantly switched to woman-in-charge. She spun on her heel and dragged Jeff down the stairs behind her like a toddler. She had his hand locked in a vice grip, and he couldn’t twist free. At the bottom of the stairs, the circle of guards closed in tightly and ushered Mystic and Jeff across the lawn toward the helicopter. The closer they got to the vehicle, the more relieved Jeff felt. He was sure Oceanus was spitting mad, but knew she’d feel a little better once he was with her. Together, they’d figure out an escape.
    The buffeting winds from the spinning copter blades blew Jeff’s hair in his eyes. Just before they got into the helicopter, Mystic turned to Jeff and kissed him. It was hard, deep, and delicious. Images of the two of them wrapped together flashed through Jeff’s mind, and he was