Gifted Curse (Curse Trilogy) (6 page)

Brazen rolls his eyes and flops down on his back to stare at the ceiling in disappointment.

“Clay, this should be my choice.  I think I’ve earned the right to go out into the field when I want to,” I grumble.

“You’re right.  If you were anyone else I would give you that choice, but you’re not anyone else.  You’re Araya Crush.  We’ve been friends since before we understood the world we lived in.  We endured the wrath of what it means to be a hybrid, you more so than me, and then we suffered through change when our aging halted.  We’ve seen hell together, and I can’t risk what happened five years ago ever, ever happening again,” he says with such a guilty rattle.

“I’ll be fine.  Brazen will be there,” I murmur softly, and then I’ve got my man’s arms back around me.

He no longer cares about Clay’s objections.  He just cares about my body being in his arms.   His lips stroke my ear, and I nestle in closer while trying to stay focused on my arguing skills.

“I can’t, Araya.  It’s just too dangerous.  Right now we don’t know where we’re going or what to expect.  These people could be setting up an ambush.  I won’t risk it.”

I roll my eyes, and Brazen mimics my exasperation while pulling me even tighter into his arms.

“Then at least take Hale with you,” I growl.

Brazen’s jaw clenches the moment Hale’s name leaves my lips.

“I can’t do that either.  The Seminole is the strongest compound in our region.  That’s due to him.  We have several very prominent and important people that will be bunking here until this threat is eliminated.  He has to be here to keep an eye on things,” Clay grumbles.

Brazen huffs and pulls his pants on while walking over to the kitchen area to pull out a bottle of whiskey.  I feel the agitation growing in me, but Clay isn’t going to budge, no matter how adamantly I beg.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I grouse, and then I hang up before pulling the sheet around me to sluggishly walk to the kitchen area as well.

“He wants the two of you back together,” Brazen dryly remarks out of nowhere.

“My accident really did shake him up,” I softly defend, but I also think leaving Hale behind is part of a reconciliation ploy.

Now that I’ve had my drought thoroughly drenched, I should be okay to be around Hale.  He shouldn’t get to me the way he did. 
At least I hope not.

“I know it did.  I’ve heard him speak of it numerous times, but it doesn’t mean I trust his intentions,” he sighs.

I slide my arms around his waist while he sips his amber drink.  His hand clasps over mine, his rigid body slowly loosening up under my touch.

“Let’s not spend the night talking about Hale or Clay,” I seduce, and he almost smirks.

“What did you have in mind?” he says with mock innocence.

“Several things,” I smolder, and then I drop the sheet to the floor to leave his eyes teeming with pure, unadulterated desire.

“I’m so glad I’m marrying you,” he murmurs with breathless enthusiasm.

I grin the vixen’s smile as I successfully deter his worried mind, and he follows me back to the bed.  Now that the frustrating bit is out of the way, we can take our time, and I plan on making it a night for him to remember for a while.

Chapter  2

The Wavering Barrier

“I wish I had more time with you.  I’m sorry I’ve been gone so much,” Brazen breathes into our kiss, and I snuggle up a little closer while checking the clock.

“I wish I had more time with you too.  They should have the tinted the skies by now,” I murmur softly, and then I walk over to check to be certain.

I stick my hand behind the very thick shade.  The filtered light promises to be no threat to my full blood piece of art, and I pull it back to let the harmless orange hue shine through freely.

“I wish I could see the sun in full glow,” he murmurs sadly, and it’s almost heartbreaking.

“It’s nothing special,” I say with indifference.

If I make it seem meaningless, then maybe won’t want to see it so badly.

“It is when you’ve never seen it,” he snaps.

I bow my head shamefully.  I hate it when he’s upset, and I know how much it would mean to him to enjoy the warmth of the full glowing beauty instead of hiding from it.

“I’m sorry.  I was just trying to-”

“I know.  I didn’t mean to… I’m still just a little ill about your new living arrangements.  I don’t like you being here alone with him,” he interrupts with a huff, and I can see the exhaustion in his eyes.

“Please don’t worry.  I love you, and that’s all that should matter.”

“It is, but I really do want my girl on the road with me,” he says with an adorable pouting tone.

My lips call to his, and he lifts me up to sit on the counter while filling my mouth with reluctant good-byes.

“I love you,” I murmur between his lips.

His soft, button up shirt dares me to free his immaculate body from its clutches, and I quickly oblige with a very slow seduction.

“I love you,” he utters, and then my legs wrap around his waist just before a spoiler alert sounds out.

“Attention all Seminole guests,” the loud speaker crackles out.  “Training classes will start in fifteen minutes.  Any personnel just visiting, please report to the gate in five minutes.”

“Damn it,” he grumbles.  “I have to go.”

“I really don’t want you to go,” I almost whimper, and his lips pull mine back to them.

He draws back solemnly, and then he walks over to the far corner to grab his bag.

“Will you walk me out?” he sadly inquires.

“I always do,” I mumble, and he pulls me to his body so that my heat is forced against his chill.

“Fire and ice,” he smolders.

“It’s always a good combination for steam,” I joke with corny finesse.

“Indeed,” he seduces, and his lips offer another velvet stroke before we swish out hand-in-hand.

The assembled group plays as if they aren’t about to go on a dangerous mission, and it’s all starting to build the tense knots in my stomach.

“I’ll come back for you as soon as I can, and we’ll return to Javeline together,” Brazen coos, and then he cups my face to pull me into his wonderful kiss.

“Captain Mordel,” a man says with salute.

“At ease,” Brazen grumbles while reluctantly pulling away from me.

“We’re ready to move out, Sir,” he very formally offers.

“Thank you,” Brazen sighs wearily, and then he turns back to me to offer me one last incredible farewell.  “I love you,” he whispers, and then he’s gone before I can even say anything.

A tear tugs at my eye, and then I turn around slowly to head to the training rooms.  My breath almost escapes me completely when I see Hale walking with his very deliberate sexy strut, his path aimed right at me.

“You ready?” he sizzles out, and the only thing I can think of is his hands gripping me and slamming me into the wall as my crude fantasies run awry.

Ready for what is the question.

This shouldn’t be happening.  Counter part or not, I should be able to leave him behind when I want to.  I spent the night getting thoroughly fucked.  I shouldn’t feel the least bit tempted right now… so why do I?

“Yes,” I strangle out.

He steps dangerously close so that he has to tilt his head to look down into my eyes.

“Today we’ll be showing them a thing or two about how to disarm your adversary without using your gift,” he says with far too much menace, and I know it’s because there’s going to have to be heavy physical contact between us.

“Great,” I gripe, and I see a daring smirk spread over his conniving face.

“What’s wrong, Araya?  Don’t like getting rough anymore?” he taunts, and more memories flash through my mind.

All of our fucked up and crazy kink rattles around like yesterday’s memories instead of things that happened three years ago.  My knees threaten to give out, causing his eyes to darken all the more.

“Let’s get this over with,” I mumble, and then I deliberately step as far away from him as I can before walking down the hall.

“So, a full blood?  What made you decide to go that route?” he pries.

You, jackass.  You’re the reason I went that route.
“I needed a change, and Brazen is unlike anyone I’ve ever known,” I say too sweetly, and I can see the cutting effect I’ve just had on him.

“I see.  So how does he feel about you being the only one able to taste the blood during a blood fuck?”

I say nothing.  I’m a little stunned by his blunt line of questioning even though I shouldn’t be.  It’s Hale.  He never holds back.

His eyes widen, and I quickly look away when I see realization covering his face. 
Crap.  You should have said something, you idiot girl.

“Whoa.  Really?  You two haven’t-”

“It’s none of your fucking business,” I snap, and everyone in the hall stops instantly to try and find out what the hell just happened.

Hale chuckles a little as I hastily retreat the embarrassing outburst.

“Why not?” he snickers out.  “Are you afraid it won’t work the same?”

“It wouldn’t be fair to him,” I grumble.

“What wouldn’t?  Having incredible sex?”

“Shut-up.  This has nothing to do with you,” I growl, and then I turn another corner, my speed gradually picking up with each step.

He persists with his invasive line of questioning.

“Are you worried he might get too carried away and taste your poison in his mouth?” he says a little more seriously.

“No, I’m not.  Brazen isn’t an idiot.  He knows the consequences a full blood would suffer after drinking a hybrid’s blood.”

“Then why?” he insists.

“Why do you want to know so badly?” I bark.

“It just seems like a waste.  I happen to know how phenomenal you are during a blood fuck.  It’s sort of sad you’re going to marry someone you’re not willing to share that intimacy with,” he murmurs with a bit of hesitance.

“It’s not that either.  I could taste his blood, and yes, the sex would be ridiculously mind-blowing, but it wouldn’t be fair for him to see me taking his blood in my mouth.  He’s a full blood.  They crave the vein, and he’s sacrificing that chance just to be with me.  He’ll never have the opportunity to change a human, taste another full blood again, or enjoy a blood fuck where he’s the instigator… ever again.  Why would I make him watch me enjoy the one thing he never can?” I whimper, and then I wipe a tear from my eye before fleeing once more.

“Sorry,” Hale murmurs when he jogs back up to be beside me.  “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“Forget it.  Let’s just get this week over so I can get home.”

“This could take longer than a week,” he says with a salacious edge.

“Not for me.  If all I’m going to do is wait, then I can wait at home.  I’ll stay and finish the training charade, but I won’t be here beyond that.”

“This is a central location.  It would be faster to get anywhere in our region from here than anywhere else in our division.  Clay will want you to stay,” Hale asserts.

“Clay doesn’t always get his way.”

“He’s still the commander.  Don’t forget who calls the shots,” he cautions.

My eyes narrow when I take a step closer, my teeth chomped tightly together.

“I call the shots where I’m concerned.  He can tell me I can’t come with them, but he can’t tell me not to go home,” I hiss through my fury, and the walls threaten to rumble beneath my sudden rage.

“Easy,” he almost whispers, and his arm slides around my waist in an effort to distract me from my fuming state.

“Don’t touch me,” I growl with my animalistic traits bearing themselves.

“Don’t make me remind you how I used to break you free from these trances,” he seduces, and then I feel the dropping sensation in my lower extremities as the throbbing becomes a pounding inside me.

“Don’t do this, please,” I whisper as his lips almost touch mine.

“It’s hard not to when I still want you as badly as I do.”

His lips graze mine before guilt slaps my face, and I spin out of his arms just in time to avoid the passion trying to escape from his mouth to mine.

“If I’m going to be here for a week, then we need ground rules.  I’m engaged,” I snark.

“You used to be engaged to me.  We both know that’s one promise you don’t mind breaking.”

“The only time I’ve ever broken such a promise is when I realized that I was never going to be important enough to deserve that person’s attention, devotion, or presence,” I retort.

“Is that really what you think?  You had every ounce of my attention at all times, and there’s never been any person more devoted to anyone than what I have been to you - even now.  As for my presence, Brazen doesn’t seem to be around as much as I was,” he admonishes.

“He’s here every time I need him,” I snip, and then I storm away once again.

“Please stop fighting with me,” Hale sighs when he catches back up.

This fucking place is a labyrinth.  I have no idea where in the hell I’m going, and everything looks exactly the same no matter what hallway I turn down.

“I’m not fighting
with
you.  I’m just fighting you.  Leave.  Me.  Alone.  Please.  Let’s be professionals on a job - not exes in an awkward situation,” I almost plead.

“I’m not willing to lose my only opportunity in three years to remind you how good we are together.  No one has ever had what we had, and I’m not going to stop until you come back to me,” he softly releases.

His gentle words pull me in, bringing my eyes to meet his.  His tie dangles close to my hand, and I want to use it to bind my hands and let him have his way with me the second those eyes try to control mine.

“We were good.  I’m not denying that, but I’m in love with someone else now.  Just let me be happy,” I beg.

He takes a step toward me, and I feel the wall against my back just before I feel his hips pinning me down.

“I’ll stop coming after you when I believe you.  Until those eyes stop wanting me, I’m going to be relentless in every possible way,” he smolders out, and then the back of his hand slides down my cheek until he tilts my head up to force my eyes into his once again.

His lips move to be almost on mine, and then the chuckling sound of students draws our attention.

“Let’s get to work,” I shudder out, and then I slip out of his grasp when the moment is iced.

Fuck.  Day one is starting out with the promise of failure.

Why can’t I get him out of my mind?  Brazen and I don’t have that drive-you-mad passion, but what we have is incredible.  I can’t sacrifice it to be with someone I had insanely hot sex with.  I loved Hale with everything in me, and it took me a year to pick up the pieces of that devastating breakup.  I’d still be struggling if it hadn’t been for my full blood.

Brazen was my savior in a time when I needed saving the most.  He showed me how different love could be.  There doesn’t have to be so much push and pull.  There’s not a closet packed full of lies and broken promises.  He’s always there when I need him, and he never stops reminding me how much he loves me.

“Good morning,” Hale chirps when he walks into the class full of eager newbies.

“Good morning, Captain Banner,” they answer in unison.

I stare out at the gallant training facility in front of us, and the enormous circle drawn out in red on the concrete floor gives me a shiver as the adrenaline pumps through me.

“As you all learned yesterday, your gifts are to be used only when there aren’t any options left.  Today, you’ll learn how to go head to head with your adversary because that’s how most fights are won,” Hale says with sexy authority, and I turn to smirk at him as he struts toward me.

“If your assailant has a gift, then you push them to find out how strong it is.  If your assailant doesn’t have a gift, get ready to kick their ass,” he says with his badass tone.

Oh damn.

“So, who would like to go first?” Hale asks, but no one is willing to step forward to join me in the ring.

Hale smirks at a smug guy standing on the end with more muscle than brain, and then he deliberately eases over to him.