Page 5 of Cursed

“Branden, I need you inside me,” she begs.

“Goddess, Shayla. I can’t. I almost killed you.” I barely get the words out and choke when I confess, “Ididkill you.”

“I’m here. You didn’t mean to. It was the night terrors. You didn’t remember me.”

“But how could I forget you?” I ask, mostly of myself.

“I don’t blame you for that. You didn’t even remember Rourke, and you’ve loved him for years.” She tries to sit up to get closer to me. “You’re my mate. Don’t you see the cord?”

“Cord?” I attempt to see what she is talking about, but I never had the Sight. I’m a sensitive and an intuitive, yet I can’t see energy like an incubus or a druid can. Or even as some mages do. “I can’t see it,my love.” Then I remember… she told me she loved me… after seeing me at my weakest. She didn’t turn away from me—or abandon me.

“Please, Branden?” she whines. Then, in a flash, she throws me onto my back with a vampire’s strength and speed, climbing over my waist. Although she has the vampire’s ability, she still isn’t quite a vamp. She seems to be in a blissful, orgasmic state, as if she were drunk.

“After what I’ve done, I don’t deserve to be inside you,” I say, lightly caressing her hips with my hands. “I hurt you with my damaged soul.” But my cock has other plans and perks up with the mere thought of having her again.

“You don’t want me?” she asks. Concern washes over her sweet face.

With her straddling me, she can feel my hardened cock bumping against her plump ass. “You know that I do, but…” My eyes dart over to my other love.

Shayla glances at Rourke too, who has been uncomfortably quiet during this entire exchange. He covers his growing erection with the blanket.

“Do you only want me if Rourke is part of it?” she asks. Her eyes linger on the stunned dragon shifter for a beat, and then she looks at me, waiting for my honest answer.

I stare at him for a moment and frown. “He and I can only work if we both haveyou. He will never accept me on his own, not completely. But you accept me, forme.” I sigh and explain, “Even though Rourke loves me, he always chooses his father over me—”

“Not anymore,” Rourke cuts in. “He’s behind all of this fucked up shit. And… I realize my mistake… that I hurt both of you with my stubbornness. I don’t deserve forgiveness from either of you, but I hope to make up for my stupidity somehow.”

Shayla places her hand over his, squeezes it, and says kindly but firmly, “I hope that’s all true, but this isn’t about your feelings right now.”

Goddess, Icannotbelieve she said that. But fuck, she’s right. We both appreciate his sentiment, but he really doesn’t know when to shut the fuck up and not make everything about howhe’sfeeling.

I burst out in laughter, which causes Shayla’s body to vibrate on top of me.

She grins as she looks at me, sitting so casually over my hips. “Well?” she asks simply.

“Of course I fucking want you.” My voice comes out in a low, desperate rumble. “I need you—all of you, my beautiful brat.” I pull her down to me so her lips meet mine. Then I lick the fang marks on her neck and seal them shut.

“Holy panty melter,” she groans, grinding her slick pussy over my abdomen.

“You ready, my love?” I ask.

After she nods, I lift her hips and spear her with my cock. “Damn, you feel so good. Like you were meant to take me.”

“I am,” she whispers, rocking on my shaft.

I don’t try to set the rhythm but allow her the control that she deserves to take.

She arches her back, and I take the hint.

I lean forward and suck on one nipple, then the other. Skimming my fang over them, making her tremble with need.

Her honey and citrus scent crashes over me, and if I weren’t already lured in, I would be just with this. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted—smart, sexy, and filled with a loving strength that is so fucking rare that I thought it was a myth.

Shayla quickens her pace as she finds her orgasm not far off. Her tight pussy clenches and practically strangles my cock as she screams out a string of curses from the pleasure.

Shayla takes a few deep breaths but doesn’t stop pumping and grinding on my dick. She’ll have at least one other orgasm before she’s done with me.

I reach up and cradle her cheek, capturing her attention. Once I have it, I confess, “I love you.” I pour all of myself, my very soul, into those words, so she won’t forget it. In case she ever finds herself in her own nightmare, she will remember how I feel about her, and maybe, just maybe, my love will guide her out of a hellscape.

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