Page 67 of Cursed Love
“I thought you were going to rip him to shreds!” Brandy yelled at Peter, who merely picked up the controller as his game started.
“Babycakes, he disrespected me and my pack. I needed to—”
“Mark your territory?”
Peter cocked his head to the side in thoughtful consideration and smiled. “Well, yeah. It’s part of my DNA.”
Brandy shook her head with a chuckle at his double meaning. It had taken them quite a bit to defuse the situation about the baby. Once Peter’s status as a werewolf, the alpha of his pack at that, and another round of information were explained, Junior finally relented that she was indeed safer at Peter’s. The only thing she had left out was the damn curse. He was still trying to wrap his head around the fact she was pregnant.
Hell, she was still trying to process it too. If she was honest with herself, she’d admit she was in denial. Not a hell of a lot of time had passed for her to think on it since Peter had sniffed her out.
Peter paused his game, and his serious eyes met hers. “You think you kept him safe from ‘being ripped to shreds’? Hurting Junior would have hurt you. I hope the rest of your brothers aren’t as much of an asshole as he is. I like Ethan. I hope they’re more like him.” He un-paused the game and shot someone in the face. The screen splattered in crimson.
Dismissed, she grabbed a water bottle and went to her quiet room. Ryan had left with Ethan, mentioning he needed to see Serena. It didn’t sit well in her stomach since he’d admitted to sleeping with the witch in the past.
Brandy crawled in bed, swallowing her jealousy. She lost track of how much time she had been away from the café. Luckily, she had enough of a mind to talk Junior into speaking to Edward.
She loved her job at the café. Her workers were wonderful, and for the exception of some caffeine-deprived assholes, she enjoyed the customers who came through. She also loved her boss… Edward.
The third oldest brother had found the corner store and turned it into a gem, one he’d handed off to Brandy. Since then, he mostly kept out of the business. Only one or two people at the café knew that the owner and her were related. She wanted her workers to be loyal to her because she was a good manager, not because she was the head honcho’s baby sister.
Junior’s power had caught them all by surprise. She wondered if Max, Edward, Carter, or James had been gifted with anything. If they had, how were they able to remain under the radar? Since the moment her powers had come in, she had not been able to avoid tubars or any other chaos linked to the supernatural.
Too tired to get up, she used her magic to bring the grimoire to the bed. She stared at the language on the front and wondered whatCustodes Pacis, terra, aer, ignis, aqua,andspiritusmeant. She pulled up the browser on her phone and was relieved to find the information easily enough.
Guardians of Peace.
Earth, air, fire, water, and spirit
Brandy woke to pain in her arm. When she opened her eyes, she found the large leather-bound book digging into her flesh. She must have fallen asleep soon after her translation. The bedroom door squeaked, drawing her attention from the grimoire.
With practiced ease, she hid the book and slipped it under the bed before rolling over. Ryan approached, his scent mixed with earth and flesh making her stomach clench.
She sat up. “What happened?” Taking him in, she searched for any sign of the enemy.
Ryan lay down and pulled her back to his front. A small groan escaped his lips at the effort. She gave him a moment to gather his thoughts, her nerves churning at the expression she’d seen on his face.
“Mmm… you’re right where you belong,” he murmured against the shell of her ear.
She bit back the sigh his words inspired. Pressing her thighs together, she pushed aside her wanton desires. It seemed his mere presence made her want to forget everything and jump him.
“Tell me…” she said, urging him as his hand caressed her stomach where their child grew. She gave herself a mental shake and set those thoughts aside, unable to process them when Ryan’s eyes held a hard glint.
He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck before sighing in defeat. “We never made it to Serena’s. We got ambushed by two tubars and a lycan.”
Brandy gasped and turned in his arms, needing to get a better look at him. “Are you okay? Ethan?” She ran her fingers along his face, memorizing it and checking him for any visible injuries.
He leaned forward and captured her lips, a kiss meant to comfort her. “We’re fine. A little bruised and a lot exhausted,” he told her and ran his nose along hers.
Exhaling, she forced her body to relax. Ryan pulled her leg over his thigh, bringing them closer. A mix of desire and relief clouded his eyes, and she knew she would find the same in her own.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed against him and took his mouth in a searing kiss. Their tongues tangled in a sensual dance, a show of love not yet confessed.
Ryan rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Her hips rested on his, nestling his hard length against her thin leggings. He caressed and kneaded her ass, simultaneously rocking her along his erection.
“You’ve got the best ass.” He groaned against her lips, drawing a smile from her.
It did not matter that they could count on one hand the amount of times they had come together. Or how little time they had known each other. This man called to her like no other had. He left her dizzy with need, her body yearning for more of him.
