Page 31 of Sinful Curses
If she let it, her thoughts would give way to a panic she couldn’t control. It would become a runaway monster that steamrolled through everything, including her.
She had to keep it controlled and locked away, but that was easier said than done. This realm had a way of stripping away everything; she could feel it chiseling away at her, trying to steal pieces of the sanity she was desperate to cleave to.
Twisting the knob, she opened the door and slipped into the hall. She tiptoed to the bathroom, stripped out of the clothes she’d slept in, showered, dressed, and brushed her teeth before reluctantly leaving the bathroom behind. She was going to miss that shower and hot water.
Descending the steps, she made it to the bottom before realizing Orin sat on a stool at the bar. He’d rested his elbow on the bar to face her.
He must have opened the shutters as the early morning sun spilled through the windows and across the floor. It did little to illuminate him as he seemed made of shadows, but his crow-black eyes latched onto her.
The predatory gleam in those eyes caused her to gulp as a thrill pulsed through her. She shouldn’t be here; she should turn around and go back upstairs. She didn’t care if it made her look cowardly or let him know how much he affected her.
The second the idea crossed her mind, she cursed herself. She wouldn’t let him intimidate her, no matter how much he rattled her.
Throwing her shoulders back, she walked proudly across the floor and settled onto the stool beside him. She tried to ignore the heat of his eyes as his gaze ran over her, but she felt it as acutely as if his hands were caressing her.
How could one look turn her legs to rubber and cause her heart to lodge in her throat? She didn’t know, but Orin had a way of battering down her defenses.
He’d lost weight, and his coloring wasn’t as healthy as normal, but he still looked good enough to lick. And she yearned to taste himeverywhere.
“Good morning, little witchy witch,” he murmured.
Sahira swallowed to wet her suddenly parched throat before responding. She’d probably jump out of her skin or into his lap if he touched her now. She wasn’t sure which would be worse.
“Good morning. You’re up early.”
His knee brushed her leg when he turned on his stool a little more. Sahira clamped her teeth against the visceralneedgripping her.
With one simple touch, he could make her feel more desire than anyone she’d ever known before. It wasn’t fair.
But then, nothing was in life, especially in this realm, butwhydid it have to be him who could make her feel this alive and aware of another living being? Why couldn’t it have been one of the other billions of men in all the realms? She would have preferred a human to Orin.
He was one of those crazy, unfair things many faced and her cross to bear. She wasn’t sure how long she could carry that load before she broke.
CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT
“I came down here to think,”he said.
“Don’t hurt yourself.”
The corners of his oh-too-alluring mouth twitched toward a smile. “Why, Sahira, I believe you’ve been hanging out with me too much. You’re adopting my sarcasm.”
“I believe I have too. Maybe it’s time we stop.”
He chuckled. “Now, what fun would that be? This realm is boring enough without the entertainment we provide for each other.”
Sahira didn’t agree about this being entertaining. It was more a slow form of torture that would eventually drive her out of her mind… or to the murder of oneveryannoying dark fae.
Spinning to face the bar, Orin clasped his hands before him while studying the wall of drinks. There was nowhere near as much alcohol here as Belda’s pub, but enough for at least another week of solid drinking.
“Already thinking about a drink?” she asked.
“I wouldn’t mind being drunk right now, but no. I’m thinking about what traveling through more of the mountains will be like.”
“I’d like to say it can’t be any worse than what we’ve already faced, but I’d probably jinx us.”
“At least I don’t have sand in my ass and stuck to my balls anymore.”
“That’s a lovely picture.”
