Page 69 of This Wicked Curse

“Areyoutryingtokill me?” The question is out before I can make sense of the sight before me. Fury, so pure, I can hear my heartbeat rise within me. It claws its way into my tone despite my best efforts to suppress it.

I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be fucking tempted to be here, but I am... I’m staring into those captivating hazel eyes that haunt my dreams and make up my deepest desires, and I’m helpless to resist the pull they have on me. I’ve never felt more powerless in my life than I do at this moment. Not a single muscle would obey if I commanded myself to turn around, to leave before I do something stupid. Instead, I step inside and lock the door.

“Sebastian,” she gasps, her voice wavering. “I’m sorry. I was reading and I’ve never... I didn’t think you’d be awake.”

I glance at the book on the bed. I’ve seen my sister with it countless times. It’s what she calls smut, but in reality, it’s soft-core word porn. I regret to say I’ve picked it up in the past and was surprised at just how... descriptive things can get.

My jaw clenches as I try to steady my breathing. I can’t decide whether to scream or kiss her, but gods be damned if she isn’t the most beautifully damning thing I’ve ever seen.

“Well, I am,” I snap, unable to keep the edge from my words. “Now, move over.”

Her eyes widen even more, and a wave of apprehension seems to wash over her. Then curiosity flickers and I move closer to the bed. The morality of the situation knots within me, but right now, the logical part of me can go fuck itself.

“Slide over, Scarlet,” I command, my voice a low growl.

Scarlet shakes her head, her eyes flashing with defiance. “What are you going to do?” she asks, her voice trembling slightly.

“Put both of us out of our misery because gods, woman, you don’t know how to do it. It shouldn’t take an hour to get yourself off. Now move.” My voice is sharp and pointed as if every syllable is a blade. My eyes narrow and my lips purse into a thin line as I rub at the tightness forming in my chest.

At this rate, it’s not going to be the monsters that put me in an early grave. It’ll be my wife. She’s going to be the reason I have a coronary at twenty-eight.

She protests, clutching the blanket tighter around herself. “You’re the last man I want touching me. I’m your prisoner, nothing more. You made that perfectly clear.”

“Really?” I give her a knowing look, my words dripping with sarcasm. “Are you forgetting about the blood oath we—sorry, I swore? I’m keenly aware of every emotion you feel. It’s excruciating, and lust is by far the worst. So please, move over. I’d like to actually get sleep tonight.”

Her face hardens, and she scoffs, “How romantic.”

“Romantic wasn’t the intention.” Lifting a hand, my shadows shoot through the bed, flinging her up and over into the center of the bed in a fluid motion.

Scarlet squeals as she hits the mattress, white hair flying. I quickly use my darkness to cover her mouth, smothering the noise before it could alert those in the surrounding rooms to what we’re doing.

“Quiet, darling. The walls aren’t thin, but they’re not soundproof either and my sister is on the other side of it. I promise she won’t take kindly to what I’m about to do to you,” I say, pulling my shirt over my head.

She pinches her thighs together, watching me with those bright eyes, the ones so full of longing I can’t look away, and a wave of lust crashes through me so hard, that I have to grip the bedpost to keep my balance.

I grind my palm down my length, smothering the groan that threatens to leave me by biting down on my lower lip. Suddenly, there’s no more space between me and my pants. It’s excruciating.

Crawling onto the bed, I hover over her as my shadows fade away, leaving her exposed beneath me. “Now, you have two choices: let me take care of your needs so we can get some sleep, or I tie you to the bed at four points so you can’t torture me anymore. Your choice.”

Scarlet seems to weigh her options, and I can’t help but wonder what’s going through her mind. The air vibrates between us, like lightning rolling over my skin, tingling, and pricking until you can’t help but get lost in it. I want to be closer, to feel her against me, to make her small body shake as I devour it, but I won’t unless she tells me yes.

As much as I hate to admit it, there’s something undeniably thrilling about this game we’re playing. I watch her closely, my heart hammering in my chest, waiting for her decision.

Scarlet’s silence is deafening as she stares up at me. I can feel the tempest of emotions roiling inside her—desire, need, and a touch of fear.

“Use your words, little lamb,” I prod, watching her intently. She blinks at me, caught off guard by my demand. Her eyes dart to my lips as the tip of my tongue slips through the space between them. “Come on, Scarlet. The gods blessed you with those perfect lips. It’d be a sin not to make use of them... one way or another.”

Deciding she needs more motivation, I slide my ringed fingers up the inside of her thigh. The simple touch sends a shiver through her, and she instinctively spreads her legs wider.

“Please,” she breathes, her voice barely audible.

My mouth curves into a smirk as I lower myself between her thighs.

“That’s more like it.” I kiss down her chest, stopping to nip her hardened peeks through the satin fabric of her nightgown. Her body bows, arching into my mouth, but I don’t let her have everything. She’ll wait. This is my game, and my rules, and she’ll play it like the good little lamb she is.

My hands graze up her thighs, exploring her as if this our the first time. Her eyes blaze as she watches me, and I look at her as I kiss from her knee to where her thighs meet.

With slow precision, my fingers move effortlessly, gliding over her smooth skin, slipping through the most intimate part of her. I groan, closing my eyes to gather myself. She’s so fucking wet for me... So ready to take whatever I give her and gods on high, I want to give her everything and so much more.

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