Page 38 of Cursed (Blood Moon Pack #1)

A fter pulling up his pants, Ryland helps Nori get dressed. He’s quiet as he continues to adjust to feeling her emotions—a perk of the Claiming. He senses her sudden happiness before he hears her laughter.

“What’s so funny?” He grins at her.

“I was thinking how lucky we are that fridge is so sturdy!” Her giggles continue.

Ryland laughs with her, marveling at the new sensations. “I wasn’t thinking of how it would hold up to kitchen sex when I bought it, but it performed well.”

Nori laughs louder at his ‘kitchen sex’ comment.

Taking her hand and smiling, Ryland leads her out of the kitchen. Both of them are quiet on their walk through the castle.

About halfway back to Ryland’s rooms, Nori’s emotions flow from bliss to anger to sadness. Ryland sneaks quick glances at her the rest of the way back to his quarters.

Aylin whispers in Nori’s mind, “ You need to tell him, Nori. ”

“ No fucking way! That is NEVER going to happen, Aylin, ” Nori yells at Aylin as they approach the doors to Ryland’s rooms.

As soon as she enters his chambers, Nori makes a beeline for the bathroom.

“Nori?” Ryland calls after her.

“I’m fine, Ryland. Please, just give me a minute.”

When she closes the door, Ryland sits in the armchair in the bedroom, facing the bathroom, and waits.

Nori splashes some water on her face, trying to calm herself.

“ Well, you’re going to have to tell him something. He probably thinks you are regretting the Claiming, Nori, ” Aylin says gently.

“ Shit! I know. Damn that fucking Beta asshole for turning me into an emotional wreck. ” Nori hangs her head for a moment, dries her face, and steels herself for the conversation she needs to have .

She exits the bathroom and stands there, frozen. Her anxiety washes over him, so Ryland walks over to her and takes her hand. He leads her back to the armchair and eases her into his lap.

Nori is on the verge of tears, which is driving him crazy. “Nori, I cannot read your thoughts, but what you may not know is, now that I’ve Claimed you, I can feel your emotions.”

He takes a shaky breath and says, “I am begging you, please. Tell me what has happened from the kitchen to the bedroom.”

She covers her face, trying to contain her sobs. Breathing deeply to calm herself, she says, “The sex, Ryland, was truly amazing, and I am aware you can now sense my emotions.”

Nori lets out a quiet laugh. “You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into.” She runs her hands through her hair. “I probably should have said ‘no’ to the Claiming and spared you the emotional roller coaster that you are about to experience with me.”

Ryland’s heart plummets, thinking she regrets the Claiming. “Nori…” He doesn’t know how to finish the sentence.

Realizing her poor choice of words, she cups his face, avoiding the scar. “Make no mistake, Ryland. I do not regret letting you Claim me. I love that you Claimed me. I’m sorry for you at the same time. Because I’m so, well, damaged, I guess is the best word for it.”

Ryland’s heart soars at her use of the word ‘love’. She’s right; he’s already on the roller coaster with her, and he fucking loves it.

“Who isn’t damaged in some way or another? And I love roller coasters, Nori.” He runs his fingers through her hair. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I am pretty emotionally damaged myself.” He sighs. “Now, quit stalling.”

“Shit. I know I’m fucking stalling because I don’t want to have to have this conversation with you.” She covers her face again. “Sorry.”

Nori turns to look at him, frowning slightly. “I need...OK...” She pauses, wringing her hands. “When you moved my hand up over my head, I had a millisecond of panic. Once I understood that I needed to hold the top of the fridge for the very spectacular sex, I was fine.” She smiles briefly.

Nori lowers her head and quietly says, “What I need from you is a promise to never bind or hold my hands together over my head. I will be hysterical if you do.”

Ryland, feeling her panic, gently tilts her chin back up to look at him. “Why, Nori?”

Nori purses her lips. “I am never going to tell you why. Aylin doesn’t even know because I blocked her out completely. To spare her.” She puffs out a breath and continues, “That particular memory is in a box, nailed shut with chains all over it, never ever to be opened. You understand?”

Every muscle in Ryland’s body is taut, trying to hold back his rage at the person who hurt Nori so badly that she will not consider discussing it.

“Yes, Nori. I understand. I will remember your rule, and I promise never to hold or bind your hands above your head. Are there any other rules I need to be mindful of?”

She sighs in relief, relaxing against him. “No, that’s it. I’m sorry I put a downer on what was really the most phenomenal experience.”

She smiles up at him and kisses his chin. “I liked the way you picked me up and shoved me against the fridge, and I thought I was going to combust when you Claimed me.” She grabs his shirt and whispers, “It was extraordinary, Ryland.”

Ryland holds her tightly, placing a kiss on her forehead. “I always want you to tell me what you need, Nori. You should not feel embarrassed.”

She sighs and runs her fingers along his strong jaw and his firm, but soft lips. She wants to feel him completely naked against her skin; is that a need?

Nori’s desire floats all around him and through him, now that he can sense her emotions. He’s startled when she leans up and kisses the top of his forehead just under the scar, then the right side of his nose .

He sucks in a breath when she pulls his bottom lip into her mouth, tasting it with her tongue.

“Mmmm, Nori,” Ryland growls, placing a finger under her chin and gently kissing her lips.

Nori shifts in his lap and leans back to look at him, her hands on his shoulders. “I don’t think it’s an actual need, Ryland, but I have a want.”

Ryland’s face breaks into a half grin. “And what do you want, Nori?”

“I think what I want might make you uncomfortable, and you can totally say no.”

Nori’s desperate to get him out of his clothes, so she doesn’t play fair. She leans forward to kiss him along his jaw. With her lips grazing his skin, she says, “I could use a shower, and I thought that maybe, we could take this kissing into the shower...together.”

Ryland hangs his head and exhales through clenched teeth. “That definitely makes me uncomfortable, Nori.”

She places more kisses down his neck. “I want to feel your body against mine, Ryland, your skin on my skin,” she says, kissing him up his neck again. “But I don’t ever want to make you uncomfortable.” She smiles against his skin. “I can shower after.”

Panting heavily from her mouth on his neck and her desire rolling through him, Ryland picks her up and carries her to the bathroom .

Nori, feeling fearless, immediately strips her clothes off and moves to help him undress. He grabs her wrists, sucking in a breath nervously, staring at her hands.

“It’s just me and you, Ryland,” Nori says gently.

Ryland drags his shirt over his head, and Nori takes in the gauze wrapped around his torso and arms. She reaches out to help unwrap him. He stops her again. “It’s not great, Nori.”

She grabs his head, tilting it down so she can look him in the eyes. “Take a breath, Ryland.” She breathes with him.

“Can’t you sense my emotions? I know you can smell my arousal. I’m not bothered by the scars at all.” Nori gently kisses his lips, smiles, and says, “Now, let’s go!”

That spurs him on. Ryland removes his pants, and they both remove the wrappings surrounding his body. The moment he’s free of the gauze, he swiftly pulls Nori into him.

He groans loudly, feeling her soft skin all over his body. He wonders why he ever considered not being naked with this woman. Kissing her until she moans, he’s practically shaking with need.

Ryland lifts her feet off the floor and moves them into the warm shower. He kisses the Claiming Mark on her neck, causing Nori to moan loudly. Holding her tight to his body, he whispers, “You are truly amazing.”

He slams his mouth onto hers, moaning, as his tongue glides along hers. His hands roam over her body in a frenzy, moving over her ass, her back, behind her neck.

Nori leans into him and places her hands gently on Ryland’s shoulders, massaging lightly, not wanting to hurt him. As he moans in her mouth, she slowly runs her hands along the front of his broad chest, around to his sides. When she slides her hands down to his hips, Ryland growls.

He rests his head on her forehead, savoring the warmth of her hands on him. “No one has touched me like this in eighty years, Nori.”

Realizing how much he’s missed this simple act of being touched, Nori places a gentle kiss on his mouth. She glides her right hand slowly along his stomach down to the tip of his cock. Ryland’s hips jerk forward. “Yes, Nori,” he whispers.

His breaths become ragged, and his heart hammers when Nori wraps her hand around his shaft and presses her body into him. She slides her hand down to the base and back up again. She’s never touched a man like this before. She takes her time, exploring the ridges, the length, and the soft skin.

When she repeats the action, Ryland thrusts his hips forward. His head falls back. “Nori. Mmmm.” Then he looks at her. “Please stop, or I’m going to come right now.”

Instead of releasing him, she uses her free hand to reach up to the back of his neck. She pulls his head down, so her lips are against his ear. “Tell the truth, Ryland,” she says in a low voice. “Do you really want me to stop?”

He sucks in a breath, tightening his grip around her back. “Fuck no, Nori! I want your hands all over me. Please don’t stop.” His unguarded reactions to her touch make her feel powerful and wanted. Her heart pounds even harder as she growls, “Yes, Ryland.”

He kisses her savagely, and Nori does exactly as he pleads. Her left hand travels down his back, gripping his ass tightly. She tightens her grip on his hard cock with her other hand and slowly drifts from the base to the tip, circling the tip with her fingers.

As she slides her hand back down to the base harder, he thrusts his hips forward, crying out, “Yes, Nori!” The next time she slides down, she moves past the base and gently runs her fingers along his balls. Ryland throws his head back, releasing a deep, feral groan.

Breathing heavily, Ryland is lost in the ecstasy of her hands on him, her breasts pressing into his chest. He can no longer think straight; he can barely remain standing. All he can do is hold Nori against his body and brace his other hand against the shower wall.

His muscles tighten and he grunts as she grips the base of his cock, harder this time. Her hand slides up and down faster, as he continues to thrust forward in time with her downward motion .

“Don’t stop, Nori!” He’s so close to his orgasm that it’s almost unbearable.

As he presses their bodies closer together, Nori wraps a leg around the back of his thigh. Her desire skyrockets along with his. “Do you feel my desire, Ryland?”

He groans his response. Nori feels how tight his muscles are everywhere her body touches him; he’s almost there. While her right hand continues to move up and down his hard length, her other hand roams over his back and shoulder. “Let go, Ryland.”

That’s all it takes for an orgasm to rip through him so forcefully that he lets out a roar and a release of power that vibrates the floor.

Nori continues gliding her hand up and down his cock through the last of his shudders.

When he’s done, she lays her head on his shoulder, resting her hand on his chest to feel his pounding heart.

She leans her whole body into his, touching as much of him as she can.

She was right. His skin touching hers is sensational.

Ryland is consumed with a fierce, overwhelming emotion for this woman he’s Claimed. He can’t remember the last time he lost control like that. Her body touching his everywhere sent his climax to new heights.

Still holding her, trying to regain control of his breathing, he reaches for Nori’s emotions, hoping it’s not disgust .

He’s shocked to find she still feels aroused and happy and something warm he can’t quite place, but he loves it.

She smiles up at him and turns to reach for the shampoo, but he has other plans. “It’s your turn now, Nori.”

After Ryland makes Nori scream his name again, they both collapse into bed, exhausted. Nori snuggles up tight against his now fully clothed body before drifting off to sleep.