Page 200 of The Curse Trilogy

I pull my hips up to meet his incredibly powerful strokes, and each time sends me into near convulsions as his lips continue to claim mine.

“I love you,” he murmurs against my lips, and then he slams into me again.

“It’s just the blood,” I gasp out as his next thrust goes so much deeper, and then I growl, “Just fuck me.”

His lips cover mine as he moans into my mouth, and he savagely ravages me as if his sanity hasn’t returned. I’m torn as to why I still feel like this about Hale when I’m with Brazen.

It’s just the blood. It’s just the blood… Please, God, let it be just because of the blood.

My hand strokes Hale’s hair as he sleeps on my chest. His warm breath heats the curl of my neck from his angled position. I could stay like this. I could forgive him for everything. I love him that damn much, but I love Brazen too. I don’t think Hale loves me, he just needed me.

I sigh as I stare out the window at the full glow starting to show itself. His arms tighten around me as he nestles into me, and my leg twists around him to give him the comfort his sleeping state needs.

It’s so bright outside, and I’ve only slept for about an hour at the most. It won’t be long until they start calling my name on the speaker. Hale needs sleep after having gone savage, and I have to tell Brazen what the hell happened - or what the Hale happened.

Fuck.

I kiss him softly on the cheek before I crawl out from under him without disturbing his sleep. I quickly grab a change of clothes before heading into the bathroom, and then I find a towel to hang up. I let the water thrash against me to cleanse me of the blood fuck with my unloving ex, and tears start seeping out to hide amongst the trickling downpour cloaking my face.

I was fine until last night. Everything was fine, and I was starting to feel like I could finally move on. Hale is always going to be apart of my life, and we’re always going to need each other. I can’t do that to Brazen. Hale doesn’t have to love me, and I don’t have to be with him, but I have to be there for him when he needs me. I can’t do that if I’m married to Brazen. It will destroy him, and I’m a selfish bitch for ever even considering saying yes to such a thing. Brazen deserves someone without such a connection to someone else. He deserves someone who can focus solely on him. I love him enough to do the right thing even though it’s killing me to even think about.

I turn the water off, and I stare at the tears on my face that are masked by the runs of the water dripping from my hair. A few weeks ago, I had the choice of two men, now I have to let them both go for very different reasons.

With a tired mind and a devastated heart, I wrap up, and then I poke my head out to see Hale is already gone. I finally let the floodgates free as I sob into my towel. My life has always been fucked up, and I’d actually be happy to know there isn’t much time left on my span. Perhaps I will ask Clay to do the blood test.

I pull on my clothes, and then I begin brushing my hair just as the loud speaker comes over.

“Araya Crush, please report to interrogation room seven.”

Well that’s just fucking great.

My sleek camisole clings to me with its satin fabric, and my dark jeans are low enough to reveal my hip bones. My still damp hair hanging past my shoulders and my face barely carrying any makeup will have to do. I’m too tired to start this shit again, and I’m just ready for a full night of sleep.

I scurry down to the interrogation room, and my heart sinks when I see Hale standing with Nicholas inside the viewing room as they stare at a guy in his mid-twenties through the glass.

“Nicholas,” I murmur softly, and Hale continues to stare into the glass while intentionally avoiding eye contact with me.

“Araya, I need you to find out what this guy knows about the blood runners from last night. Captain Banner tells me he saw him at the bar during the fight. He got out before my men got there. We found him sniffing around in the visitor yard after he logged himself under a false name. Our alarms sounded the second he typed it in, and we watched him until it was safe to apprehend him. Now we need you to find out what he wanted to do.”

“Yes, Sir,” I mumble, and then I stare at the guy to study him a little so I can come up with a plan of attack.

“Any quirks or weaknesses I can exploit?” I ask to anyone listening.

“He’s hybrid, so be careful,” Hale murmurs softly.

“A hybrid is undiluted blood?”

“I just know he’s part of this. I don’t know which part,” Hale murmurs softly. “He’s somewhat new, and his scent is very different. His eyes are still a little dark, but he refuses to look up to let us view them from in here. He’s odd, and he’s damn fast to have escaped last night. He’s just too young to outsmart the system.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

For nothing, you cold bastard.

I start to walk out, but his hand tugs at mine before I can leave.

“I mean it,” he mutters gently, his eyes piercing mine with the first bit of animation I‘ve seen him hold since last night. “Be careful, Araya. Go invincible with this one. I’ve got a really bad feeling, and I won’t risk your safety.”

“I usually always go invincible. I just use it in spurts so I don’t run out of time. Chill out,” I grumble, and his hand releases mine with some reluctance.