Cursed: Brides of the Kindred 13 (23 page)

“Greetings, Joined One,” Ta’no spoke reverently. “I was just telling our guests how privileged they are to receive private instruction from one of your caliber.”

“We shall see if they can be taught.” It was the male face that spoke this time—certainly. His voice was deep and booming in the enclosed space and he stared fiercely at her and Stavros who was standing behind her.

“I am certain they can, my love,” the female face said softly.

“But Ta’no has said that they hate one another,” the male face insisted.

“The opposite of love is not hate but indifference,” the female replied. “In any strong emotion the seeds of affection are present. We must nurture those seeds and see that they grow to blossom in our students’ souls.”

“As you say,” the male face grumbled. “So then—let us begin. Come closer—approach us.”

Charlie
really
didn’t want to. She hung back, crossing her arms over her chest protectively as the beast from her childhood nightmares flashed before her eyes. God, she felt
sick
.

“What is wrong with the female?” the male face boomed. The creature strode towards them, glaring at Charlie.

She backed away—all she could see was the two-faced monster that had terrified her so long ago. The recurring dream so dark and horrifying it made her afraid to go to sleep unless her sister was right there beside her. But Missy was gone now…had been gone for years…

Suddenly her back bumped into something hard and warm. She looked up to see Stavros standing behind her, looking down at her with obvious concern.

“Charlotte?” he said softly. “Are you well?”

“I…I…” The old fear robbed her of speech and she could only shake her head.

A sudden impulse struck her—the desperate urge to turn and bury her face in his broad, bare chest—to seek safety and shelter in his arms until the nightmare was past. He was so big and strong…clearly he could keep her safe!

Somehow she managed not to do it. She hung onto her dignity by a thread and stood her ground. But she didn’t try to shake off his hands when he placed them firmly on her shoulders. Instead, she huddled back against him, feeling his big body like a comforting wall, radiating heat and safety that surrounded her.

“Well?” The monster was getting closer and closer. Charlie couldn’t bear to look anymore—she closed her eyes.

“Step back.” Stavros’s voice was soft but it had an edge of steel in it. Pressed as she was against him, Charlie could feel it rumble through her entire body.

There was a little gasp from Nar’sa. “You must not speak so to a Joined One!”

“I will speak however I feel necessary,” Stav growled. “You are distressing my mate. Now
step back.”

Charlie cracked one eye open just enough to see the monstrous Joined One retreating.

“Very well,” the male face said huffily. “Then Nar’sa and Ta’no must teach the class.”

“But, Joined One,” Nar’sa protested. “Ta’no and I are not in perfect harmony yet. We are nowhere near the level that you are.”

“We cannot work with a student who does not respect us,” the female face said, frowning reprovingly. “Come, we will give you a few moments of instruction on what is to be done and then you must take over.”

The Joined One and their councilors went into a corner of the blue room and began to speak in low voices.

“Charlotte? Are you feeling better?” The deep voice in her ear made her jump and Charlie realized Stavros was still standing behind her with his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t need to be afraid,” he murmured. “I will not let the Joined One touch or hurt you.”

“I’m not afraid of it—it just…creeps me out, that’s all,” she denied uneasily.

“You’re certain?” he squeezed her shoulders lightly. “Because your heart is pounding—I can feel it when you press against me.”

“I
said
I’m fine.”
God, what’s wrong with me, acting like that? He must think I’m some stupid little coward!
She shook off his hands and stepped away from him, frowning.

“There is no shame in admitting you feel fear.” Stavros raised an eyebrow at her. “I feel it every time I go into battle—I’d be a fool not to. This situation is much like that—we are in enemy territory and—”

“Well, it appears that instead of having expert instruction you must make do with Nar’sa and myself,” Ta’no said, coming over to them. To Charlie’s relief, the Joined One was leaving through a door on the opposite side of the room.

“That’s fine with us,” she said steadily. “Just tell us what to do and let’s get this over with.”

Nar’sa glided over. “According to the Joined One, you must make use of whatever the cleansing pool gave you.”

“What?” Stavros frowned. “I was given nothing but this...clothing. He looked down at his Pharaoh-skirt, as Charlie privately thought of it, with obvious distaste.

“
You
were given something though, Charlotte,” Nar’sa said gently. “Now is the time to bring it out.”

“But I’m not sure how to—” Charlie was patting the side of her robe where the pocket had disappeared as she spoke. Suddenly, the pocket appeared again with the handle of the hard wooden hairbrush poking out of it. “…get to it. Oh…” she finished as she drew the hairbrush out.

“What is that?” Stavros asked, frowning at the dark brown handle and the black bristles. “Some kind of tool?”

“It’s a hairbrush.” She glowered at him. “And no—it’s not for spanking. So don’t even
think
about that.”

Stavros looked mystified. “Why would I think such a thing? I would imagine that an implement called a ‘hairbrush’ would be for brushing hair, would it not?”

“Well…that’s
supposed
to be its use, anyway,” Charlie said, thinking of the many whuppuns she’d gotten with an “implement” exactly like the one she was holding.

“Well then…am I supposed to brush your hair?” he asked, still looking at the hairbrush uncertainly.

“Actually, I believe it is Charlotte who is supposed to brush
your
hair,” Nar’sa said gently. “The brush was given to
her
—she is the one who must use it.”

“Oh, well…” Charlie shrugged. “I don’t mind, I guess. “Except he’s so tall he’s not going to be easy to reach.”

“That is easily managed. Simply sit on the thera-mat.”

Charlie didn’t see any mat but Nar’sa seemed to be indicating the floor. It was covered in a thick, spongy blue material that reminded Charlie of the padding they put under the jungle gym equipment in some of the nicer playgrounds.

“All right.” Shrugging, she sat down and Stavros did as well, sitting in front of her with his back to her so that she could get to his hair. He was so tall, however, that she still couldn’t reach him with both of them seated. “This isn’t going to work,” she said to Nar’sa. “Maybe if he sits and I stand…”

“Unnecessary,” Ta’no said. Leaning down he patted the mat around where she was sitting. Suddenly it began to rise and before Charlie knew it, she was perched on a spongy, blue stool which was just the right height. The back of Stavros’s head was a waist level now since he was still sitting on the ground.

“Oh, uh…perfect, I guess.” Charlie was a little unsettled after being hoisted up by the mat but at least it had put her where she needed to be. Now to work on the big Kindred’s hair, which was bound tightly into the club at the back of his neck. She looked blankly at the elaborate series of knots that held it in place. “Um…”

Stavros turned his head for a moment to look at her.

“If my mark bothers you, you do not have to touch it,” he said stiffly.

“Your mark?” Charlie frowned. “Oh—you mean you tattoos?” She nodded at the shifting, swirling black lines that covered his back. They shimmered and changed as she watched, showing that rainbow-on-an-oilslick effect that had so fascinated her the first time she saw them.

“That is exactly what I mean. If you prefer to keep your distance from it—”

“No, no—it’s not the tattoo, er, mark,” Charlie said, frowning. “Why would I care about that?”

Stavros looked away. “As I believe I told you before, on my home planet is considered…distasteful.”

His obvious apprehension about the markings on his back surprised and touched her unexpectedly. It was hard to believe that someone as big and muscular and handsome as Stavros could have body issues but clearly he did.

“It’s just your hair,” she explained. “You’ve got it tied up in all these knots and I don’t know if I can get it down without pulling it.”

“Oh, is that all?” He reached behind his head and his fingers flew nimbly over the black cord that bound the club. After a moment it came loose and his hair fell down over his shoulders in rough auburn waves.

“Oh…” The breath fell out of Charlie in a long sigh. Thick and shining, his hair had every color of the sunset from deep auburn to burnt umber to golden reddish brown. It came down around his muscular shoulders in a wild mane and stopped just below his shoulder blades.

I never would have guessed he had this depth of color! It just looks dark reddish brown when he has it up!

Tentatively, she reached out to stroke it, as though it was the pelt of some wild, gorgeous animal she wanted to tame. Indeed, it seemed to have a life of its own now that Stavros had finally set it free. It crackled against her fingertips and the long strands clung to her hands.

“Gorgeous,” she murmured as she ran her fingers through it. “Just…gorgeous.”

Stavros shivered under her light touch. “Charlotte?” He made her name a question. “Aren’t you supposed to be…” He cleared his throat. “Aren’t you supposed to be brushing?”

His words made Charlie realized that she’d been sitting there running her fingers through his hair without actually brushing it. Indeed, to an outside observer it would probably look like she was getting off on petting his (admittedly gorgeous) hair.

“Sorry!” she exclaimed. “I just…I’ve never seen hair quite like yours.”

“It is not the usual shade for a Blood Kindred,” Stavros admitted. “I was tormented in school because of it. All of the other children were blond.”

“But it’s beautiful!” She took a thick handful and began to brush it with long, controlled strokes, the way Missy had always brushed her hair when she was little.

Stavros sat quietly at her feet as she worked on him and gradually, some of the tension she’d seen in the set of his broad, bare shoulders began to melt away. In fact, he seemed like he might almost be enjoying himself. Charlie wished she could see his face to know for sure.

Why should you care if he’s enjoying it or not?
whispered a little voice in her brain.
Just do your job and play your part.
But still, she couldn’t help liking the silky-rough texture of his hair and the warm, spicy scent that rose from it as she brushed.

At least his hair is all I’m touching,
she told herself. With a name like The Sensuous Touch, she’d been afraid this class would be all about weird ways to make each other orgasm. And she was
so
not up to performing an alien Karma Sutra right now.

“Very good,” Nar’sa murmured, coming up beside her. “You are doing an excellent job so far.”

“Thank you but it’s not hard—I mean, I’m just brushing his hair,” Charlie pointed out.

“But you are brushing
gently
and with love and patience,” Nar’sa said. “It is a small step but through such steps we come to know the one we call beloved. We come to respect and revere their inner self by worshiping their outer shell.”

“Um…okay.” Charlie shrugged. “I guess.” It all sounded like new-age mumbo-jumbo to her but she was willing enough to go along with it. After all, brushing hair was easy. She could do it all day.

“I am glad you understand,” Nar’sa said. “Ta’no and I were afraid it might take a long time for the two of you to get to this point but we are pleasantly surprised. It seems you have truly internalized this lesson, Charlotte.”

“Sure have.” She was in a rhythm now, gliding the brush through the big Kindred’s thick hair, making the long strands gleam with a healthy shine. In fact, she was barely paying attention to what the councilor was saying at this point. Which was why she nearly missed Nar’sa’s next statement.

“Which is why it is time to move on to the next part of our class—sensual massage.”

* * * * *

It took a moment but then Charlotte said, “What?” and the hairbrush paused in mid-stroke.

Stavros, who had been enjoying her soft hands on his hair immensely, felt frozen in place. What would they be required to do next? And how would Charlotte react?

“Do not fear,” Ta’no said. “The class is
sensual
massage—not sexual massage. You will not be required to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Yeah, right,” Charlotte muttered under her breath. “I’m
already
uncomfortable.”