Page 256 of The Curse Trilogy

He’s suddenly in front of me tilting my chin up so my eyes are forced to meet his.

“You are perfect, baby. Please wear the dress, and I’d like it if you reconsidered coming to my place. It’s huge now, and you would have your own space as if I wasn’t even there. It’s two fucking apartments combined. Someone will be sleeping on the pullout here, and you’ll have very little privacy,” he murmurs softly, and his lips brush mine.

“Not someone, I will be sleeping on the pullout, and I will be perfectly fine with such an arrangement. If I stayed with you, I’d be a tormented mess because you won’t back off. All is not forgiven because you bought me a dress and some food. Even though I do appreciate both. I’m starving.”

I start unwrapping the salad and soup, and he sighs out while running his lips over my revealed shoulder. My breath slowly finds its way into my parted lips as I relish the touch I should hate right now.

“I promise I’ll back off if you stay with me. I did the last time you asked me to. I just want to see with my own eyes that you’re okay,” he mutters while he brushes my hair to the side to start running his lips up my neck.

“You did do very well the last time… almost too well. I didn’t though. I threw myself back at the man who doesn’t give a damn about lying to me. It’s too easy for you, and apparently Brazen isn’t any different. I think I’ll keep my distance from both of you,” I say while trying to sound as though his touch isn’t affecting me.

I slip my fingers under the sleeve of my shirt and pull it to cover my shoulder while leaning away.

“I’m sorry. I’ve already said that over and over. I never cheated, I’ve always loved you, and I would have never left you for any reason outside of your safety. Please call me if you need me, and don’t even think about walking around by yourself. I’ll swing by from time to time to check in on you. I’m sure Brazen and Clay will be doing the same to ensure you’re okay. Answer the door every time, please.”

“I’ll answer,” I mumble through my mouthful of the leafy delight.

He smirks as his lips find my shoulder through my shirt, and then he kisses the top of my head before walking out. I release the breath I didn’t know I was holding, and then my trembling legs force me to sit down.

This is going to be harder than I thought. My anger is slowly leaving me because of how fucking much I love him. I’m barely mad at him or Brazen anymore, and I need that rage to keep me away.

Maybe they’ll both do something to piss me off tonight.

“Araya Crush, please report. Araya Crush, please report,” the loud speaker announces with its obnoxious crackling in the background.

Report? What the fuck?

I slip into my high heels and glance in the mirror at the stunning dress Hale bought me. The blue matches my eyes perfectly even though the violet rim seems to be a little more pronounced tonight. They’re only getting worse these days. The purple has steadily started taking over my blue eyes, but no one else really seems to notice. With all this dress shows, very few people will be looking at my eyes tonight.

I pick up my phone, but I don’t know who to call. Report to Clay? Hale? Who?

“Araya Crush, please report. Araya Crush, please report,” the speaker repeats, and I roll my eyes while barging out of the apartment still only occupied by me.

“Hey,” Brazen chirps as he jogs toward me. “Have you not heard them calling for you?”

He looks so fucking good right now. His sexy pale blue, almost white shirt highlights his eyes, and that damn tie matches my hybrid blues. His pants dare me to rip them off with my teeth, and his luscious lips pop open suddenly when he takes a better look at the dress I’m wearing.

“Holy fuck,” he exhales, and I stifle my pleased grin while he adjusts his tie.

“I don’t know who I’m supposed to report to.”

He shakes his head as if he’s trying to snap out of a trance, and my long curls are suddenly in his hand as he brings me closer to him.

“You were supposed to be in the yard seven minutes ago for a brief meeting. We’ve been waiting. We were all freaking out when you were late.”

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and he pulls it out quickly to answer the panicked voice on the other end.

“Is she okay?” Hale panics.

“She’s fine. I don’t think she knew she where she was supposed to be,” Brazen murmurs softly.

I hear Hale’s breath of relief before he mutters, “Tell her to use the fucking phone I gave her. Show her how to answer it when someone calls,” he snarks, and I roll my eyes again.

Brazen stifles a grin, and he pulls out the phone I never even turned on. I hear the dinging as it pronounces its powered up state, and then he puts it back in my purse.

“It’s on now. We’re heading down,” he utters while his eyes dance over my body.

“Make sure she-”