Page 249 of The Curse Trilogy

“Don’t bother. I don’t care if the full bloods know you can walk around during full glow because of me. Let them come. I’ve gotten a hell of a lot better with my gift during these two weeks since I’ve had time to practice,” I scoff.

“Araya, I love you. I’m sorry. Please just come back with us,” Brazen almost whispers as he fights back his emotion.

“Sorry, but no,” I growl.

He sighs as he starts jogging off to the car I can’t see. I’m sure they parked at a safe distance to keep me from hearing the vehicle.

My body remains stretched out and loving the tanning session. Suddenly Hale’s hands are gripping me at my thighs and jerking me against his body. I gasp slightly at the touch I’ve long avoided, and then his perfect lips grab mine before I can object.

For a minute, I forget why I’m even mad as I indulge in the guilty moment of pleasure. His tongue dances carelessly in my mouth, and then his erection promises to claim my body all the more.

Sanity returns, and I push him back with almost too much force. He laughs lightly when his back slaps the hot black sand that has started to sizzle beneath the sun’s full strength.

“You think that’s funny?” I scoff.

“No, I don’t. I think the fact you think I’m leaving here without you is funny. I’ve been dying to tell you for so long about the fucking scorpion shit, and now it’s finally out there. Now there’s nothing stopping me from being with you,” he smolders out, his eyes cleansed of all secrets.

It’s just Hale… my Hale. And fucking shit he’s sexy as Hale right now. Stay mad, Araya. Keep your anger, dummy.

“Oh really? So now I can have you, Captain Banner?” I say with the air of a seductive goddess while stepping onto the blazing hot sands that wiggle beneath my feet.

His eyes dance menacingly as he says, “That’s right, baby. I’m all yours. There’s nothing standing in our way now.”

My lips graze his chest as I bring my blood bringers out of hiding, and his breath hitches as I slowly scrape across his skin - just barely avoiding drawing blood. I slide down to the top of his pants, and my tongue dips just below the waistband. I start undoing his pants, and my lips graze his erection through his boxers just before I use my gift to sling him across the beach.

I smirk as he digs up the sand with a thudding landing, and I dust my hands off as though I’ve just done strenuous labor. He grumbles as he hops to his feet, and his eyes narrow as he starts buttoning his pants.

“That’s not cool at all,” he growls.

“Neither is lying to me for five fucking years, Hale. You had ample opportunity to tell me the truth over and over. You had the chance to take my side against Angelica, but you chose to side with her. You! I expected it out of everyone else. Oh poor girl. Poor pitiful girl. Don’t be mean, Araya. Blah blah blah. I didn’t expect it out of you though. I’ve never stood against you when others were involved. I’ve always had your back even with Brazen. How fucking dare you show up and think there’s nothing standing in our way when you built a fucking mountain between us. Go to hell,” I blare, and then I start walking back toward my car to escape his pain-stained eyes.

“I’ve been in hell, Araya,” he counters with complete seriousness. “I’ve been in

hell for too fucking long because I’ve had to stand by and watch you be with someone else. Could you do it? Could you stand by and watch me be with another girl because you were trying to keep me safe? It’s torture. I don’t have anything left to hide now, baby. I’m not going to watch anymore. You’re mine just like I’m yours. You know you can’t deny it.”

“That’s the problem, Hale. You still don’t see what you’ve done wrong. I wouldn’t stand by and watch you be with another girl for any other reason than the fact I’m over us. I wouldn’t leave you in the dark about a threat out there looking for you because you were my lover, my best friend, and the man I thought I was going to marry. Now you’re just the asshole that filled me full of lies on a daily basis.”

I quickly start pulling all my shit off my hood, and then I toss it into the car before climbing in the driver’s seat. Hale pokes his head through the window before ripping the keys out of my hand.

I laugh in mocking form as I murmur, “You really think you can keep those keys away from me?”

“Just listen to me for a damn minute. I’m sorry. I should have taken your side - right or wrong - against Angelica. I know you’ve always been on my side, but I’m pushing for a reconciliation between the two of you. I’m looking at the big picture, and I think you have a lot to teach her if you take a second to realize this rare opportunity. You have a sister. You have a father. You have something most of us only dream of, baby. Just come back with me and talk to them. Come back and let me convince you, yet again, to fall in love with me,” he smolders out, and his lips attack mine again as he pulls me out of the car.

My thin bikini is annoying the fuck out of me because it makes it far too easy to feel his erection pressing in just the right spot.

“No,” I breathe through the incredible kiss.

“I love you, Araya. I’m so sorry,” he murmurs before slamming his erection against me through his pants.

“You destroyed me when you told me you never loved me,” I whimper, a tear threatening to fall from my eye. “Really destroyed me… destroyed us.”

His eyes soften and then close again as his lips devour mine, and I’m just vulnerable enough in this moment to let it happen.

“I know. I wanted you to hate me so you didn’t follow me,” he murmurs guiltily.

Once again my sound mind escapes insanity’s clutches, and I shove him backwards.

“It worked. I’m done playing your fool, Hale. I’m done with you. I could have never told you I didn’t love you. I couldn’t have ever broken you the way you did me. I’m your savage tamer now, and you’re mine. That’s it. Just go away and leave me the fuck alone. We’ll find each other when needed.”