Page 36 of Cursed
After several minutes, Ryland starts to come back to himself. He takes one more deep inhale at Nori’s neck and pulls them apart to look into her eyes. Ryland cups her face and tries to speak, but he’s too overcome with remorse, relief, guilt, happiness—every possible emotion.
The pain in Ryland’s face brings tears to her eyes. Nori places her hands on top of his. “It’s OK, Ryland.”
He drops his forehead to hers. “What I have done here tonight is definitely not OK.”
Ryland scoops her up into his arms and walks to the couch, where he sits with her in his lap.
Nori curls up against his chest, and Ryland closes his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. His entire body trembles with relief that she’s still alive.
Listening to Ryland’s heart beating a mile a minute, Nori places a hand on his chest. “What do you need?” she asks with concern.
Ryland takes a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. “I need...I need you exactly like this, in my arms. Breathing.” What he really needs is to strip her naked, climb inside her, and Claim her. But for now, he’ll settle for holding her in his arms.
His hands roam over her arms, her legs, and through her hair, desperately trying to reassure himself that she’sunharmed. When his fingers graze over her back, a deep growl rumbles out of him.
Nori leans back, looking up at him. “Ryland?” He gazes down into her lovely amber eyes, listening to her soft voice. “As soon as Beta Garek told me we were in the Blood Moon Pack, I knew being from Starfall was going to be a problem. I used the Mate Bond to buy myself time. Time to explain how awful my life has been, hoping you would let me stay.”
Ryland takes a couple of shaky breaths. “I knew you were using the Bond, Norina, and I was certain you would reject me once I granted you sanctuary.”
He pulls her back against his chest and kisses the top of her head. “But this Bond...” His voice drops lower. “It’s incredibly powerful. After breakfast this morning, I allowed myself to hope that I had finally found the one Mate who could see me and not the scars.”
His body trembles as he continues, “When I read that note, I…I don’t even know how to explain what happened. The rage took on a life of its own, consuming me. It didn’t matter what I knew deep down. I believed that Beta, when he claimed to be your Mate, which meant the Bond I felt for you, had to be some sort of trick.”
Ryland swallows against the ache in his chest. “The fact that you were from Starfall only made it worse. I have wanted to kill Draven for years, ever since he killed my mother.”
His eyes focus on the ceiling to keep his tears at bay. “I was careless, and I am so sorry, Norina. I should have stopped. Should have listened. But I didn’t. When I thought you were dead...” He shudders, hanging his head. “It was the worst moment of my life. I felt our Mate Bond start to rip apart, and I knew how horribly wrong I had been.”
He continues through shallow, ragged breaths, “Then, miraculously, you were breathing again. I’ve never seen anything like it, and honestly, I don’t care how it happened.” He squeezes her tighter. “I’m just so fucking grateful you’re alive.”
Nori leans into him, and Aylin whispers to her, “What are the odds that he is our true, Fated Mate?”
“I don’t know Aylin. I’m too exhausted to think anymore tonight.”
Nori lets him hold her for a while longer until his heartbeat returns to normal rhythm. She tilts her head up to look at him. “Come on. We’ve had a very long day. You look as exhausted as I feel. We need to sleep.”
Ryland releases her when she moves to get up. He’s amazed when she grabs his hand and pulls him off the sofa, but then he winces when he sees the blood from his scar on her face and in her hair. “We need to get you cleaned up a bit, first.”
He leads Nori into the bathroom, where he rinses as much blood out of her hair as he can. After towel-dryingher hair, he runs warm water over a washcloth. When he moves to clean her face, she leans back. “I can do it.”
“I know, but I want to.” Ryland has a powerful need to touch her as much as possible, having nearly lost her. Nori nods, and he gently erases the blood from her face.
After they finish up in the bathroom, Ryland climbs into bed fully clothed minus his boots. Nori looks at him curiously. “You sleep fully clothed?” She shakes her head. “Never mind. You get some sleep. I’ll take the couch.”
Ryland quickly leans forward, grabbing her wrist. She flinches back at the sudden movement. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to scare you. I just didn’t want you to walk away.” He softens his grip on her. “I need you here with me, in my bed tonight, if that’s alright with you.”
He hears her heartbeat quicken. “Just sleep, Norina. And yes, I sleep fully clothed, so my scars don’t mess up the sheets every night.”
Nori looks at him, contemplating his request. “Just sleep. No funny business.”
Ryland smiles for the first time since he burst into the room in a rage. Releasing her wrist, he says, “I swear, just sleep. I need...I need to be as close to you as possible tonight.”
Nori removes her thick leggings and takes a step toward the bed. She backs up. She starts to move forward again, but hesitates.
Ryland can see her thoughts churning. “What are you doing?” he asks, puzzled.
“Hell, Ryland. It’s not like I’ve ever been in bed with a man before. Give me a minute.”
Ryland senses Bade’s shock roll through him when he asks, “She’s never been with a man?”
