Page 304 of Castings & Curses

“It tickles.”

Good. My lips butterfly their way across her cheek and the scar, a thousand flutters that bring out restrained laughter from her half-sequestered mouth. Then I aim for her neck, just under her ears and down to her collarbone. She sighs. Not relief, no. Pleasure. I know it because I love it there too. As my mouth and tongue go on to play with her nipples, I caress her arm and side. More sighs, deeper pleasure. Goosebumps raise the tiny hair on her forearm as my fingers glide on it. I lift my chin to look at her. She’s biting on the closest pillow, failing to repress the vocalization of her pleasure.

I let my fingers swirl down to the bush between her perfect thighs and explore her intimacy like she did mine. Then I go down on her, my tongue licking and lapping and twirling and sucking. She gulps and gasps, her body convulsing to escape the infinite pleasure I’m giving it, but I’m not having it. I aim to please. I aim to have her scream like she made me. I double the intensity of my strokes; my tongue is a brush and I’m painting a paradise on her clit. My fingers play inside of her while my other hand is busy pinching and massaging her tits and scratching the small of her back. She’s swallowing air like she’s a fish out of water, trying to grasp at anything within her reach.

“Don’t stop. Don’t stop!”

I don’t. I’m here for it, gorgeous. I’ll hear you scream.

CHAPTER12

Morning dawnson us without a warning. What a night! I watch Bella’s smile soften her tired features as I caress her arm, playing the big protective spoon to her athletic frame. She turns towards me, and the pale rays of barely awoken sun glint in the sapphire of her eyes, specks of gold shimmering around her dilated pupils.

As I’m about to profess my adoration for her, my belly grumbles like an empty sinkhole. We both laugh.

“Let me get you some breakfast,” Bella offers, already halfway out of the bed.

I grab her wrist. “Can we have it outside? I want to see the sun rise over your amazing garden and—”

She stiffens and pulls her arm away. Her mask of apathy is back in a flash as she grabs her clothes on the floor.

“What did I say?” I ask, pushing the covers away like they’re a nuisance. “Bella? Why are you like that again?”

She turns to me, her face a sullen facade, her shoulders slumped, like she’s bearing the weight of the universe on them. But she’s on edge underneath. I’ve hit a nerve.

“It’s nothing. I’m grabbing something to eat. You’re welcome to join me if you want.”

She makes her way to the door, but I stop her before she can open it. “Talk to me. Come on, Bella. After last night, I think you can let me in a little, can’t you?”

She pierces me with her most glacial stare. I flinch and let her go. She stops on the threshold though, and whispers something.

“Sorry, what?” I’d do anything to keep her here. I’m so scared she’ll disappear again in this gigantic mansion with so many rooms. I don’t know where hers is. I can’t find her if she goes. So, I hold on to anything she gives me.

“I never go outside.” And she’s off, ambling down the hallway towards the grand staircase.

I ponder for a second on her words. Then I run after her.

“That’s not true.”

She glares at me over her shoulder. “Are you saying I’m a liar?” Disappointment and annoyance lace her question.

“You saved me.”

She halts, her back to me, stiff as a locked door. “It wasn’t... I didn’t.” She walks off again, faster, fleeing.

“You did. You said so yourself.” I wait.

Bella’s at the top of the staircase, but she’s not taking another step.

“I thanked you for saving my life,” I drone on, “and you said welcome. I don’t remember much of that day, but I do remember your eyes in my slumber as you carried me past the threshold of—”

It hits me. A memory, a fucking flash piercing through my brain like lightning. Her eyes, the lock of blonde hair shining in the entrance’s light. But a second before, I was huddled in furry arms, lulled against a furry chest. The threshold brought about her transformation.

Her hands are white against the marble balustrade, knuckles tight, veins protruding. Fear has drained her cheeks of any color. Her face is gaunt, her eyes haggard.

“You’re the...” My breath hitches. The word remains stuck in my throat. She can’t be. And yet...

“Say it.” Her voice sails like a ghost ship through her lips. Gloomy, raspy, subdued. “Go on. Say it.”

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