Page 25 of 3 Shifters to Break a Curse

I wasn’t expecting Ezra’s mouth to gently brush along mine. But now that it had, I wanted—no, needed—more. It was as if some sort of flame was ignited within me. A passion I had only ever dreamed of burst to life within my center. And once that spark caught, all I could think about was having more of him.

Though, I probably shouldn’t. I turned men sour, after all. And the last thing I wanted to do was ruin a man as kind and gentle as Ezra. I couldn’t allow that to happen. He was too good for someone like me. I pulled away from him and readjusted my clothes and ran my fingers through my hair.

“What’s wrong?” Ezra asked. He sounded half drunk.

I blinked away the stab of pain that filled my chest and forced tears to sting my eyes again. My voice cracked as I said, “I don’t want to ruin you.”

He laughed under his breath and shook his head. He gently used the tips of his fingers on the side of my chin to make me look at him. “What do you mean by ‘ruin’ me?”

I shrugged and pulled my gaze away. I twiddled with my fingers as I took in a deep breath. “I’ve had a rough history in the romance department. If Jared isn’t proof enough of that, I honestly don’t know what is.”

“Toni, you didn’t ruin your ex. You are not responsible for his actions. Nor should you accept the blame for the things he had done to you,” he said.

I nodded, but I didn’t believe the words he said. It was hard to put belief in something that I could prove time and again.

He used his fingers to gently force me to look at him again. I met his beautiful eyes and sucked in a small breath.

“You’re not ruining anything or anyone,” he said and brushed the tears from my cheeks. “I don’t mind comforting you. I want you as bad as you want me.”

He added the last with a smile.

I opened my mouth to argue, but no words would come out. My head screamed at me not to let this happen. My heart urged me forward, desperate for acceptance and love.

Ezra gently added, “No strings. It may even help you out more than you realize.”

“That’s true,” I finally said. Though my voice came out soft and distant. “I’m a witch and we gain a lot of energy and healing through sex.”

“I know,” he said through another smile.

“You don’t think this is a historically bad idea?” I asked, hoping he would get second thoughts and I could spare him from a fate I desperately didn’t want to impose on him.

He shrugged. “Should I?”

“I… I don’t know,” I stammered.

“Do you believe that?” he asked, voice as smooth as honey.

I thought about it for a second. Yes and no. Part of me wanted to believe I wasn’t broken and didn’t ruin men, even though it was hard to refute. Another part of me hung on to what he had said. “No strings.”

If I didn’t look at it as a start to a relationship, maybe I wouldn’t ruin him. And I did want him. He was sweet and kind and he made me want to believe in a better world. He made me want to believe that despite it all, there were good men out in the world. He made me want to believe I wasn’t broken. He was giving me everything I wanted. Everything I needed. Even if it was just for one time.

“Okay,” I whispered and leaned into him.

Our lips met, and our tongues danced in each other’s mouths. Ezra’s hands held onto mine and he pulled away from me long enough to help me stand. Then he pulled me back into him. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders as he continued to kiss me and gently guided me back up to his room.

It was the first time I was in this part of the cabin, and I didn’t care to do any sightseeing. The more I tasted of his mouth, the more I wanted. I wanted to be ravished by him and have him fill me completely.

The click of a lock on the handle happened seconds before the back of my legs pressed against a mattress. We broke from our kissing once more to climb onto his bed. He laid next to me on his side and then used his hand to carefully inch my shirt over my abdomen.

His fingers softly grazed my skin as they moved my shirt farther up my body. Goosebumps prickled my skin, following the same path his fingers had taken. Once my shirt was off, he took in my body and froze. I sucked in a breath, worried about what his next reaction would be. Would he stop? Would he refuse to touch me?

The darkness in his eyes played havoc on my anxieties until they met mine, and instead of disgust, I saw a deep, protective need.

That was a shock.

“He will pay for what he has done to you,” Ezra said.

I looked down at my body and saw the bruises that stained my skin. I laid back and nodded, unsure of what else I could do. The protectiveness in his gaze was comforting and welcomed. Much different from what I had experienced before.

---