Page 118 of The Curse Trilogy

I sigh out in relief after seeing the fact no child is waiting for her, and Hale pulls me closer to him as he reads along with me.

“Do you think it’s possible she was running her own blood? If she didn’t dilute it enough and the full blood found her, it’s possible he or she was driven to latch on without a choice,” Hale murmurs to Brazen.

“That’s what I thought. It would explain why there was an attack from with inside the compound, and it would explain how they got to her. She would have felt drawn to them as well, though it wouldn’t have been as strong on her end. It’s possible she just let him in the back gate, and or she reacted out of instinct. I didn’t check for evidence of more considering they had already disposed of her remains.”

He’s talking about a blood fuck. That just kills the sex appeal right now.

“Thank you,” I murmur while standing up.

I walk over, and he stands to wrap me up in those arms that have comforted me so many times. I can see Hale’s jaw tensing out of the corner of my eye, but he doesn’t say anything considering Brazen just gave me peace of mind. Just knowing she wasn’t a mother is enough to relieve me of the worst of the burden.

“You’re welcome,” he utters softly before kissing my forehead.

I pull back, and he wipes my tears from my cheeks before Hale can’t sit still any longer. He comes to wrap his arms around my waist with his possessive cloaking, and Brazen gives me a wink before letting himself out the door.

“I really hate him a lot more when he does something I wish I had thought of,” Hale grouses while pulling me back to the couch.

“You were preoccupied. You would have done it too if you had idle hands. I needed you in a different way, and he can’t have me like that anymore,” I murmur while my lips lightly dance on his.

“I love you, Araya.” he sighs out happily once I’ve pushed away his lingering insecurities.

“I love you. Thank you for holding me.”

“Baby, I don’t need thanks for that. It’s by far one of my many favorite things to do with you.”

“Could your other favorite thing to do be just sleeping in the bed with me tonight? I really don’t feel like doing anything else.”

He looks a little hurt by my words, and I slink down when I feel like I’ve made him feel like I don’t want him anymore.

“Araya, I didn’t plan on doing anything else. I love you for a hell of a lot more than sex. It hurts that you think that.”

Oh balls.

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just know we normally… we don’t normally just go to sleep. That’s all I was saying.”

He frowns lightly, and then he leans back so that he can see me better.

“We just reconciled, so we’ve been having a little fun. That doesn’t mean there’s not more substance. I’m perfectly capable of just holding the woman I want to marry.”

I smile a little, and my lips gingerly stroll over his as my tears slip free once more. He wraps his arms around me to hug me while kissing me, and I feel so safe. Brazen has always had the comforting touch, not Hale, but now he’s proving he’s so much more than I ever gave him credit for.

“You hungry?” he murmurs softly.

“No. Now I’m ready to go to bed.”

“It’s still light out, but I’ll go to bed with you until you fall asleep,” he says with such an adorable touch of obliviousness.

My lips fold over his, and then I slide my legs around until I straddle him. He grips me a little tighter when he realizes I’m trying to seduce him. He groans into my mouth, and I start undoing his pants very slowly.

“I didn’t think you wanted to do this,” he mutters between my lips, and I free his erection before sliding my hand against it.

“That was before you made me feel so damn good. You’re incredible, and I don’t think I’ve ever told you that,” I murmur back, and his eyes show such an enamored gaze as he lifts me into the air.

His lips consume mine once more when his eyes close again, and his soft touch is less brutal today as he gently places me on the bed. He slowly removes my shirt, and his lips stroll up my stomach to meet my breasts. His tongue plays momentarily on my nipple, and then the cold air strikes it a little more noticeably when he moves to the other.

I moan lightly as he travels back down, and he gingerly pulls my pants off before actually removing my underwear without shredding them.

His breath stains my skin with perfect, arousing heat. Those perfect, plump lips continue their daring journey until he reaches the apex of my thighs, and I moan as his tongue begins swirling against my most sensitive of spots. He smiles when he feels the pleasure I’m obviously deriving, and then his lips close over it as a light sucking motion starts.