Page 6 of The Vampire Curse

“I’m wearing a dress,” I say through clenched teeth.

He shrugs, and the horse starts to move.

“Fine,” I say.

His arm tightens around my waist, and I indelicately move one leg to the other side. My skirt bunches up around my thighs, showing the lower half of my legs. I should be embarrassed, but there is only Alaric and nature for as far as the eye can see as we move away from the manor.

The horse walks at a leisurely pace. I hold my breath, waiting for the horse to take off at a teeth-jarring run. But the ride is smooth and steady.

At my back, Alaric holds me against him with his arm, hand splayed across my belly. I feel safe. My breathing evens and I lean back into him without thinking.

We ride in silence for the first lap around the pasture.

“What did you mean by you being demon cursed?” I ask.

I know he heard me because every muscle in his body goes rigid at my back. He says nothing for so long I’m not sure he will answer.

“It is a figure of speech—nothing more,” Alaric says in a clipped tone. His fingers twitch as if he’s calculating his thoughts and unaware of this tick.

It’s a lie. If that were true, he would have replied immediately. I twist to face him and find his mouth inches from my own.

My heart thumps against my ribs, remembering the feel of his full lips.Demons and saints…

I swallow those thoughts and meet his gaze. “No, I don’t think so,” I say sharply. He frowns, his sapphire eyes darkening. This time I speak in a kinder tone. “You don’t need to lie to me. I should think we were past all that. Whatever it is, youcantrust me.”

I’m not sure why I say that. I’ve never given Alaric a reason to trust me. I’ve spent weeks attempting to stab him…

Things feel different between us now. I’m not sure when they changed. Maybe the night he was injured, or the night when I would have given him everything had he not stopped us, or two nights ago when Elise tried to kill me.

Or some other moment, or perhaps all of them combined.

There’s a heavy pause hovering between us as I realize those words are true. Alaric must come to the same conclusion because his features soften.

“I have said too much already, and we have other matters we must discuss.”

I want to push but decide to let it go, for now.

With his free hand, he reaches up and pulls my hair over one shoulder. And then his mouth rests against my skin. My pulse jumps and I know he can feel it as he places slow kisses along the space between my neck and shoulder.

Between his kisses, the hand holding me to him, and the other resting on my upper thigh, a haze settles over my thoughts, clouding my mind. Warmth pools low in my belly. It takes everything in me to keep from shaking my head in an attempt to clear it. I am thankful his hands aren’t wandering freely, then thinking would be impossible.

“This visit will be dangerous for you,” he whispers between kisses.

And with those words, icy adrenaline floods my veins.

“But I will do everything in my power to protect you. They are not to be trusted, so don’t let your guard down, even for a second.” Another kiss. “And always carry the dagger.”

I swallow. Were it not for Alaric’s words keeping me grounded, I might almost believe this moment is real.

“What aboutthis,” I ask, pressing my back against him to indicate how intimate he is when we are seemingly alone.

He breathes a heavy sigh. “We must make them believe you have the mark. I will touch you as if youaremine.”

My heart lodges between my ribs and Alaric smiles against my shoulder.

“And not just when you attempt to kill me.” The corners of his lips turn down. “Forgive me, my dear Clara, that bargain must be placed on hold for the time being. We cannot have them knowing the truth if you wish to live.”

“Then, how am I to earn my freedom?”