Page 5 of The Curse Trilogy

“Yes. You’ve just stepped into my compound. Worried?” he smolders out, his captivating eyes drawing me in.

Balls.

Fortunately Clay walks up before Hale can seduce me further. I’m going to have to put steel rods in my knees to steady them while I’m here. I wish our connection could be broken. I wish he didn’t own a piece of me I can’t take back.

“Well seeing you two so close together brings back old memories,” he chuckles out, and Hale offers a wolfish grin to me before turning to face the commander of the United and our shared friend.

“It feels pretty damn good,” Hale rolls out too easily.

Why haven’t I told him I’m engaged?

“We’re ready for you in the interrogation room. Let’s get the sham out of the way for today so we can start on the real stuff,” Clay grouches.

“So they’re learning interrogation today?” I inquire.

“Go easy on them, they’re new, young, and very eager to be the best. You’ll be taking lead of course.”

“I love watching her work,” Hale says to Clay, but his eyes stay fixated on mine, holding that endearing admiration I can’t bear to see in this moment of weakness I’m almost drowning in.

I quickly sprint toward the assembled group to try to avoid the in depth game of seduction we seem to keep toying with. I clear my throat, ready to forget Hale and get to work.

I examine the room to see the setup is about the same. The walls promise to carry the same secrets, and the layout offers the same work room. I smile at the familiarity in the strange place, and a calm washes over me.

“This is Araya Crush. She’ll be your instructor this evening. Please don’t ask questions, just listen for the answers you would be seeking while she advises,” Clay asserts.

All the eager students show their readiness to impress the commander of the United by saluting in perfect unison. I take my cue, and I point to a ready to oblige girl in the front row of the seven newbies.

“You can go first. We need to know the name of someone. The answer is hidden inside this room, but you can’t look for it anywhere but your suspect. Use your wit, your skill, and your ability to bring out the truth. Commander Jude and Captain Banner both know the name you seek. I don’t know the name because I’ll be stepping in when you fail to show you the proper way to execute an interrogation. Captain Banner will be your suspect for the demonstration. Make him talk,” I add very mischievously, and Hale’s eyes narrow at me for volunteering his services.

“Very well,” he murmurs hesitantly, and he takes his seat behind the steel table.

The girl turns to break the rules about not asking questions.

“What all can we do?” she inquires.

“The only thing you can’t do is kill him,” I menace, and Hale glares at me for opening such a gaping door.

Take that Captain Sexy.

She smirks, and then she walks around him to size up his incredibly sculpted physique. She fights a blushing urge when her eyes linger against his face for too long, and his eyes look up to catch her ogling instead of working.

Yes, he’s very distracting, little girl, but you couldn’t handle him.

My twisted mind flashes back to the scandalous things we once did, and my bottom lip folds between my teeth to clue him in on my dark thoughts. His eyes burn into mine, and for a second too long, we’re lost in our own little world - one in which his body owns mine just as mine owns his.

“You should tell me what you know,” she murmurs with a touch of embarrassment for her earlier slip, and we both snap out of our dangerously erotic trance.

I have to stifle my laughter for her pathetic opening. She’s a beginner. Play nice, Araya.

“Go fuck yourself,” Hale chirps while stifling a grin of his own, his eyes catching mine again.

He’s playing the belligerent suspect a little too well. Her temper flares as her cheeks heat. I’m sure she’s used to feeling more in control. Hale’s too hot to let a girl think straight. Welcome to my world, bitch.

Her eyes burn with anger, and she smirks more before he suddenly grips his side, instantly writhing in pain. His face distorts, forcing me to wince.

Oh crap.

“What the fuck?” he strains out.