Page 59 of Wicked Curses
“If they’re grouping together against me, then they’re protecting themselves from anything I could do to locate them. And I don’t know anyone in this realm with the power to locate them.”
When he rested his hand on her knee, her warmth reminded him how much time had passed since he fed. If he wasn’t careful, he would weaken himself too much, and now that this new danger lurked in the realm, it could be a problem.
He wasn’t ready to seek out someone else to warm his bed; that would be admitting defeat, and herefusedto be defeated by this woman. He’d determined she would be the next one he fed from and would follow through on that… for now. It would have to change if he started to feel too weak.
And damn if he wasn’t starving. He’d been controlling it, but touching and smelling her had awakened it.
But as his cock stirred, his gaze shifted to her bruised face and the finger marks encircling her throat. She was a game to him, but they were also allies outside this realm.
They’d worked together to take down the Lord, and though she’d adamantly deny it, they each had a devious side. They were also willing to do whatever it took to protect their loved ones.
She’d never admit it, but they were alike in some ways and connected by their relatives. No one else in this realm was going to fuck with her.
His sense of right and wrong was a little twisted, but he liked his moral code.
Sahira’s eyes fell to his hand, and she didn’t move for a second. He detected the increased beat of her heart as her scent intensified. She gulped before her dilated eyes met his again.
They held each other’s stare before she shifted her leg. He didn’t fight her on it this time as he released her. He was an asshole—he freely admitted it and would happily screw her until she couldn’t walk—but he wasn’t about to push himself further onto her when she was bruised and battered.
Orin sat back in his chair and rested his hands on his belly while studying her. “Whether you like it or not, we’re allies in this realm. We’re allies out of this realm too.”
“Are we allies, or am I just a game?”
“Why can’t you be both?”
“Because I can’t trust someone who freely admits to toying with me.”
“Why not?”
The incredulous look she gave him made it clear she thought he’d lost his mind, but it was a legitimate question. He waited for her to say something; when she didn’t, he continued.
“It’s rare for the dark fae to consider anyone an ally; that should tell you something. However, you know we enjoy our games, and of course, since there’s little else to do here, I’m going to play them.”
“I don’t want to be your game.”
“Then be happy you’re more than a game; you’re also a beautiful woman I want to fuck. I have for a while now.”
Color stained her cheeks, and he sensed her rising desire instead of uneasiness when she shifted on the bed. This stubborn woman knew how good it would be between them and would cave soon.
“You might as well have fun with life; we never know how long we have here,” he said. “And look at where it’s led us.”
Sahira ran a hand in front of her face and down toward her throat. “I’m having a blast.”
He patted her knee before rising, but the desire she’d awakened wasn’t easily buried as he strode toward the door. Walking away from her proved to be more difficult than he anticipated, and not just because of his erection.
He didn’t like leaving her behind and unprotected when something out there sought to destroy her, but he couldn’t stay. Belda agreed to let him check on her and expected him back at work soon.
“I don’t know if that thing can find you in here, so stay awake until I return,” Orin said.
“And then what?”
He turned to look at her; she remained on the bed with her hands clasped in her lap as she stared out the window.
“We’ll return to your room. Except, when you enter, I’ll follow enshrouded in shadows. Hopefully, whatever or whoever it is will never know anyone else is there, and we’ll destroy it.”
When she didn’t respond, he left the room.
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
