Page 67 of Sinful Curses
“Don’t I?”
When he prowled toward her, she backed across the room until her heel hit the wall, and she stopped. Her chin lifted as she glowered at him. “Backoff!”
He stopped before her and rested his hands on her hips. She slapped at them, but he didn’t stop as his hands slid up her sides to trace her curves.
She was so lush and supple. He’d never encountered anyone who smelled as good as her. His cock stirred at the memory of her and all the future possibilities as she decked him.
He’d been so focused on the wonder of her body that he didn’t see her fist until it smashed into his nose and shot his head back. His hands flew to his face as he staggered away from her.
Throwing her shoulders back and keeping her chin high, she brushed past him as she headed for the door. Orin blinked away the tears that involuntarily sprang into his eyes when she’d battered his nose.
He should be pissed enough to make her pay, but he admired her feistiness and desired her too badly. There were other, far more pleasurable ways to make someone regret their choices. She’d be pleading for release and spewing apologies by the time he finished with her.
He caught her wrist before she reached the door and pulled her back. She spun and swung at him again, but he grabbed her hand and held it between them. He’d allow many things from her, but not that, not again.
“Iownyou, Sahira, and you’re going to have to accept it. Your body is mine. You’re reacting to me even now; you may hate it, but you can’t deny it.”
“That doesn’t mean youownme, you conceited jackass!”
“Doesn’t it?”
Before she could reply, he kissed her. He would show her that he owned her, make her pay for her defiance, and prove she couldn’t resist him. Shewouldlearn where she belonged.
Instead of doing as he’d planned, she refused to ease into him as she planted her hands on his chest and bit his lower lip. It wasn’t a playful bite either; it made it clear she wasn’t happy.
Jerking her head to the side, she broke the kiss as she pushed against him. “A kiss isn’t going to make this better, and I’m not having sex with you in abathroomthat probably hasn’t been cleaned in centuries.”
He laughed but didn’t release her. “We’ve had worse conditions.”
“You’re gross.”
“Sahira—”
“Let me go!”
The distress on her face caused him to release her. She was his, but he wouldn’t force her into something she didn’t want.
Sahira walked toward the doorway as she spoke over her shoulder. “If the hourglass theory is correct, then the next town should be the last one. After that, you’ll be free to own whoever you want to… again. Since you have a thing for nymphs, you could always start with them.”
Orin didn’t realize he’d considered moving until he was beside her as she started to open the door. When he smashed his palm into it, the door slammed closed.
CHAPTERFIFTY-EIGHT
Her head shottoward him as he leaned so close their noses nearly touched. It was on his tongue to tell her the truth, but again, the words lodged in his throat.
That admission would only make him more vulnerable to her. And standing there, staring at her, he realized he was already too weak when it came to her.
She made him feel and experience things he never had before, things he’dneverwanted to experience. He tried to shut down the emotions battering him, but they refused to be caged as his heart hammered.
When her eyes met his, questions and something more shimmered in them. He had no idea what to say to make her stay… other than the truth.
Instead of revealing that hideous, festering secret to her, he said, “What does it matterwhoI fuck? We’re not together, and I never made you any promises. Why do you care if I moved on after you? What is the bigfuckingdeal?”
Her eyes slipped past him as her jaw locked, and she stared at the door. She didn’t speak while he held his breath and waited for her to say something…anything.
Let her be the one to reveal things; it didn’t have to be him. What would he do if she told him she didn’t want him sleeping with other women and she wanted to be his only one?
Any other woman, he would have laughed the words off and gotten away from her as fast as possible. He didn’t have time for that nonsense, and there were far too many beautiful women in the realms to be saddled to only one.
