Page 257 of The Curse Trilogy

Brazen hangs up, and I have to choke back my laughter at the fact he was done listening to Hale.

“You look so fucking good, baby,” he sizzles out.

“Thanks, but don’t get any ideas. You’re not in any better of a place than Hale.”

He wraps his arm around my waist, and then he presses the elevator button while turning me to face him.

“I don’t want you staying down here. It’s too far away, and they won’t let me get a room down here because of my damn rank. Clay says it’s inappropriate given the United coming in. The good news is they won’t let Hale move down here either,” he snarks. “I’ve got plenty of room at my place. Just come stay with me. The bed is enormous, but I can sleep on the couch if it makes you more comfortable.”

His soft eyes almost evade the betraying undertones, but I can’t forgive just yet.

“No. I’ve already told Hale no, and now I’m telling you no too. I’m not reconciling with either of you, so stop trying.”

“You’ve never spoken as if you were having to make a choice,” he murmurs with a stinging tone.

“That’s because you’ve never made me feel just as low as he did. You popped off a hurtful comment once, but you were never a liar, a fraud, or a sneak. Now you’ve proven to be all three… just like him. You destroyed that stupid pedestal I foolishly had you placed on.”

His hand cups my face as he fights off my cruel words, and then his lips stroke my forehead very gingerly.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I wish I could turn back time and just stay in bed with you that night.”

“You can’t. I had just been attacked, and you took off to go jump in cahoots with my ex that I left because he lied to me. It doesn’t seem like you really understand how grave this choice was. You knew the consequences, and you willingly risked it. I heard it all, Brazen. I love you, but I don’t trust you anymore. Trust isn’t something I take lightly. That comfort in your touch, it came from the trust I had in you. I could have stayed in your arms forever, but you snuck out and left me behind.”

His eyes sting more, and then we load the elevator.

“I know I fucked up, baby, but I can fix this if you let me. I’m tired of getting your ring back.”

“Well, you’re in luck. That’s the last time you’ll ever get it back. The two of you can fight over me all you want, but I’m not going to fall for either of you ever again. You need to just get over me,” I huff out, and I dart off the elevator the moment it opens again.

“Araya, I’ll never get over you. I’m immortal. The only reason for me to look forward to anything is because of you. Death doesn’t threaten me, and life could go on forever. I won’t live knowing you’re not mine,” he whimpers.

“Don’t,” I bark. “Don’t you dare do that to me. You’re right. You fucked up. That means you live with your mistakes. Don’t you dare tell me you’ll die without me. I don’t fucking deserve that,” I murmur with tears staining my eyes, and his eyes soften with guilt as he pulls me to his chest.

“I’m sorry, baby. You’re right. That wasn’t fair,” he soothes, and my eyes drip lightly as the tears crash to the ground between our bodies.

“I need a damn drink,” I bumble out through the emotion, and he moves back to take my hand in his.

“There’s plenty to drink in the yard,” he says while kissing the back of my hand.

“So the rest of the United is here? I still don’t have a roommate, and I didn’t know about a meeting,” I mumble to continue to veer the direction of the conversation.

“Wendy should have passed out your itinerary, but she has been pretty swamped. Hale may need to look into getting her some help during the United stay.”

“Crap,” I gasp out as I see a familiar face growing more obvious among the crowd.

“What’s wrong?” Brazen asks curiously.

The soft brown hair and hybrid blue eyes walk toward me, and the overindulged muscles which weren’t there before flex to act as a show of manhood as the old flame stalks through the starchy crowd. His devious smirk, his perfectly white teeth, and his entire over all appearance don’t make me throb, they don’t excite me, and his scent doesn’t leave me entranced in the least.

Why did I ever like this creep?

“Araya Crush,” Ty releases too seductively as he continues to strut toward me.

He jerks me out of Brazen’s arms, and then I feel the air swishing against me as he spins me around.

“Put me down,” I demand, and he laughs as he lowers me back to the ground.

“Damn, I’ve missed you. I heard you and Hale broke up. It was so fucking sweet to hear that. That smug bastard never deserved you,” he cockily snorts.