Page 37 of Cursed
“That’s not precisely what she said, Bade, but you are likely correct.”
Ryland reaches for her hand again, slowly this time, trying not to scare her. “Slide into the bed and face away from me.”
Nori follows his instructions, nervously climbing into the bed, turning her back to him. Once she’s settled, Ryland slowly reaches around her waist and pulls her snuggly against him. He moves her hair out of the way and rests the right side of his face, this side without the scar, in the crook of her neck. He tunnels his other arm under her neck, wrapping it around her shoulders.
Once he has her exactly where he wants her, he relaxes into her warm body. “Thank you for this.”
He hesitates a moment, then tentatively says, “I know you must be angry with me and probably frightened, too. I assure you, Norina, I will never lose my temper with you again. You have no reason to fear me.”
Nori shakes her head. “It’s just Nori, Ryland. No more Norina. I hate it.”
Taking a deep breath, she says, “I can’t promise not to be afraid of you, at least not right now. I’ve lived in fear of powerful wolves most of my life. I don’t know how I feel about almost dying, but I am mildly pissed you broke your promise to me.”
“I know, Nori. I’m so very sorry. No matter what happens with this Bond, I will never break another promise to you.”
Nori sighs, relaxing into the enormous male surrounding her. “Well, in this moment, I am happy right where I’m at. In this big, giant bed with you.”
“Me too.”
“Maybe tomorrow, you can try not to kill me,” she says with a slight chuckle.
Ryland sucks in a harsh breath.
“Too soon?” Nori asks with a small smile on her face.
“Yes, Nori. Way too fucking soon.” He pulls her in tighter and whispers, “Get some sleep.”
Nori closes her eyes, relishing that delicious smell of smoke, whiskey, and cinnamon that is Ryland before she drifts off to sleep.
chapter twenty-four
Ryland wakes first, savoring the feel of this woman, all soft and warm in his arms, in his bed. He feels her body tense as she starts muttering, “No.”
Bade growls, “She’s having a nightmare; probably about you accidentally killing her last night, you idiot!”
He frowns and releases his hold on her and gently rubs her arm. “Nori? Nori, wake up. You are all right.”
Nori sits straight up in bed, dragging frantic breaths into her lungs. She looks around the room, her eyes wide with panic. When she sees Ryland, her fear subsides. She blows out a breath and falls back into bed.
Covering her face in her hands, she mumbles, “Shit. Sorry. Sorry.”
“It’s OK, Nori. You are safe.”
Nori lets out a dry laugh. Safe. She felt safe wrapped in his arms last night. But before that? She can’t remember the last time she felt safe. Is she really safe with him? Maybe.
She removes her hands and stares at the ceiling, fighting off the embarrassment. “Sorry for my momentary freak-out. It’s been a while since I’ve slept in an actual bed. It took me a moment to remember where I was.”
“How long is a while?”
She frowns for a split second but decides she no longer has a reason to withhold information about her life from him. Nori turns on her side to face him in bed. “A really long time, Ryland.”
He gently shifts a piece of hair out of her face. Resting his hand on her shoulder, Ryland asks, “How long, Nori?”
Nori places her hand on his arm. “Twelve years.” Ryland sucks in a breath, and Nori continues, “You need to prepare yourself, because nearly every story I tell you about my life will be awful.”
“I have a powerful urge to rip the head off that Beta. And anyone else who laid a hand on you.”
She reaches up to touch his forehead, avoiding the scar. “That’s the Mate Bond driving you to protect me, Ryland. We need to talk about what we want to do about this Bond.”
