Cursed-epub (11 page)

Kell yelled at her, “Carmella, please,
now
!”

She stared at him, and it took her a second to figure out why she was here. The succubus hissed inside her mind as Kell's interruption broke the spell of seduction it was weaving around her.

Shuddering at how close she had come to giving into the lies, she ripped the ring off. It tried to squirm out of her fingers before she dropped it into the circle of salt. Her middle finger was red and swollen, as if she had been stung by a bee.

Sean stopped playing the pipe and gripped his sword, moving swiftly to the circle of salt. From the ring, a shape formed, and sand-colored mist shifted and flowed within the boundaries of the circle of salt that now glittered like diamonds. It finally took on the curves of a woman, and its raspy voice filled the air.

“
If you let me go, Chosen, I will tell you all I know of their plans. Without me, you will never be able to stop them and Guaricana will kill you all
,”
the succubus whispered into the room.

Carmella held her hand against her chest as she alternated her wide eyes between Sean and the devil. What did it mean by calling Sean “Chosen,” and who in the world was Guaricana?

“I don't deal with demons, especially ones that threatened my
Comhcheol
,” Sean said with a snarl, the tendons in his arm standing out as his grip on his sword tightened.

“I never harmed her. She's as pure as when I came into her…oh well, she might be responsible, in part, for a few dozen murders…but her body is still pure,” the devil mused, twirling gently in its confines of salt. Sean raised the sword over his head, the blessed steel shining in the lamplight. Just before he brought it down, the devil hissed out, “You cannot destroy me, Chosen. I will simply return to the Chaos and await my rebirth.”

Using both hands, Sean slammed the sword down onto the carpet, splitting the ring neatly in two. Carmella clasped her hands to her ears as an unearthly shriek made her bones ache. Sean rocked the tip of his sword out of the floor. The white ring of salt was now a scorched black circle.

“Is it gone?” she asked in a faint voice.

“It's gone.” Sean moved quickly to her side.

“Okay, I think I'm going to pass—” She didn't even get the chance to finish the sentence before her eyes rolled back.

****

The warmth of sunlight on her eyelids woke Carmella from a deep sleep. The first thing she became aware of was that she was lying on someone's chest. A quick peek confirmed she cuddled against Sean as he slept. She had to suppress a giggle when she heard him snore ever so slightly.

The windows facing the coastline and ocean stood wide open, and she had to appreciate the view. Rio looked much better from twenty stories up. The ocean reflected the oranges and reds of the sunrise, and a few people strolled the white sand beach. She stroked her hand lightly over the red-gold hair on his arm, marveling at the reality of being here with him.

The day should be starting with a chilly shower before boarding the bus for the hour ride to work. Instead, she absorbed the warmth of the most amazing man she had ever met and watched the sunrise. In his sleep, he tucked his arm around her waist and cuddled her closer with a low murmur and a soft smile.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, the need to use the bathroom became urgent enough to take the romance out of listening to his heartbeat as he slept.

Moving slowly, she lifted his arm from her shoulders and padded across the room to the open bathroom door. After taking care of business, she looked at herself in the mirror. For a moment, she just stared at her reflection and ran a wondering fingertip over her face. She looked so different. It wasn't just the lighting or the subdued colors of the walls. She looked at herself clearly for the first time in what seemed like forever.

Leaning forward to peer into the glass, she examined her eyes. Yesterday she had been ashamed at the light brown color. Her mind told her they looked like stupid cow eyes that no man would ever be attracted to. Now she could see the delicate shades of browns and amber and appreciated their depth and complexity.
I'm not ugly.
I might not be a beauty queen, but I'm not ugly. Maybe someone who looks like me can interest Sean. Maybe I do have a chance with him.
Smacking her lips together, she made a sour face. She wasn't going to have a chance with anyone if she didn't brush the funk of last night's tequila out of her mouth.

After opening the medicine cabinet, she did her best to brush her teeth with her finger and some toothpaste. Having found some mouthwash, she gave a silent prayer of thanks to whatever god watched over women without toothbrushes.

Sean's voice came through the door as she opened it. He was just hanging up the phone when she shyly stepped out. Even after everything that had happened last night, she hardly knew him. They were at once intimately familiar with each other and strangers.

His eyes lit up and he gave her a charming smile. His hair glowed like fire in the morning sunlight slanting through the windows at his back. “I took the liberty of ordering some room service for us. I thought you might be hungry.”

They both stood there awkwardly for a moment, the air taking on a weight against her skin as if light had acquired substance. Gripping her hands into fists, she decided to take charge of the situation. She marched over and placed her hands on Sean's warm chest. He grinned down at her, and she rose on her tippytoes to place a gentle kiss on his stubbly cheek. “Thank you for saving my life.”

Cupping her face in one large hand, he said, “You're welcome.” She could feel his heart beating fast beneath her palms, and his excitement gave her pleasure.

The beat of her own heart sped as she kissed his other cheek, a slower brush of her lips over his skin. He smelled so good. Whatever aftershave he used was warm on his skin. “Thank you for letting me borrow your clothes.”

“You're welcome.” His low tone did wonderful things to her body.

Looking into his eyes, she hesitated a moment, drawn in by the emotions she read there. Ever so slowly, she stood on her tiptoes and gently placed her lips against his. A gentle brush of breath and heat, the thinnest of barriers between their skin. It was perfect. Their lips moved softly over each other, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He was so strong, and yet he moved against her lips as though she were made of glass.

He stood still against her, but she could feel his heart speed up. His stillness allowed her to be the bold one. She gently stroked her lips against his, moving her hands from around his neck so she could curl them over the tight muscles of his shoulders. With a sigh against his mouth, she traced the muscles of his back and wound her fingers into his hair. Fisting her hands in his hair, she tugged him closer and nipped his lower lip. A savage gleam shone in his gaze and his control snapped. With a low growl he pressed her against him, all that strength holding her gently, in marked contrast to how tight she was holding him.

He felt so good, his kiss firm without bruising, soft without being sloppy. His tongue slipped between her lips, and he fed off the silken moan that escaped her lips. Taking a deep breath, he pulled back and looked down at her, his eyes storm grey with desire. His hard erection pressed against her stomach, and the sensation made her wet.

She gave him a sassy grin. “Thank you for ordering room service. I'm famished.” His body tensed against hers, and she couldn't resist doing a slow slide against him. He growled, and she tried to dart away with a challenging grin.

His eyes darkened to slate, and her breath caught in her throat.

“Carmella,” her nipples hardened at the way he said her name, “I still have to thank you.”

“Oh?” She tried to make it sound light and teasing, but instead her voice took on a husky purr. “What do you have to thank me for?”

Gods, he was overwhelming. He stalked toward her, and she backed away until her knees hit the edge of the bed. Her breath came out in a little sigh as he stopped inches away and slowly pulled off his shirt. The first glimpse of his hard abdominal muscles had her heart pounding, and by the time he tossed the shirt on the floor, she thought she was going to pass out.

He stood still and let her be the one to reach out and touch him. Soft hair, a darker red than that on his head, trailed down from his chest and disappeared into the waistband of his shorts. It felt velvety beneath her fingertips as she ran her palms over the hair of his lower abdomen. The way his muscles tensed and flexed beneath her fingertips made her hormones hum with approval.

Glancing up at him through her lowered lashes, she found him watching her with eyes half closed in pleasure. Her own need made her bold as she slid her hands over his ribs and around to his back, pulling him closer. The back of the bed hit her thighs and she sat on the edge. Spreading her legs, she tugged him between them and gently licked the sensitive skin just beneath his navel.

He twitched in her grasp, and the knowledge that she affected him so deeply burned away any traces of shyness until she was just a creature of warmth and desire. The smooth expanse of his skin felt wonderful against her face as she rubbed her cheek back and forth on his stomach. A little lower, his cock stood out in sharp relief from his shorts. He was a very big man all over.

Kneeling down in front of her, he arched a brow as she pulled her shirt over her head. His eyes widened as her breasts came into view, and he made a growling sound deep in his throat that sent little darts of pleasure through her. As much as she craved his touch, on a deeper level she craved his approval even more. It had been so long since she had let herself connect with anyone, and she was starving for his attention.

Giving her all the time in the world to pull away, he leaned forward until his hot breath against her nipple had her ready to scream in frustration. She wanted him, needed him, now. Memories of their time dancing together surfaced, freed from their spell-imposed prison, and her body ached for his touch. Ached for him to give her the orgasm that Dianta had stolen from her like so much else.

She arched into his mouth, pressing her nipple against his lips. He quickly opened to accept her and lashed at her aching tip, drawing it in and sucking hard. Her whole body shuddered at the sensation, and she held on to his shoulders in a death grip. Teeth, tongue, and heat assaulted her senses until she was rocking against him. Never before had she felt so closely connected to someone and she reveled in not only the physical pleasure he was giving her, but in the intense connection between them. She felt…no longer alone. Complete.

“Thank you for your bravery,” he murmured against her skin as he licked his way to her other breast.

Words were beyond her as he continued his assault on her body, raking his teeth over her breast until she thought she would go mad. The center of her world narrowed down to his hard sucks, and when he pulled back, she made a sound of disappointment.

The corners of his lips turned up, and he stood and pushed her back on the bed until she was lying down with her legs hanging over the edge, spread wide by his body. His hands ran down her ribs, touching every inch of her. He didn't have to say what he was thinking; it was in the way he touched her, as if she was the best thing he’d ever felt. His gaze darkened and lust rolled off of him, drowning her in desire. The path of his fingertips had her aching for him and moisture flooded her cleft. He made her feel as though she were flying.

Warm and wet, his lips and tongue worked their way down to her belly button. He licked the little hollow, and she wiggled beneath his mouth.

“Wait, stand up please.”

With a curious look he quickly complied and she sat. Not giving herself time to think, she hooked her thumbs into his loose shorts and began to ease them down. She wanted him with a desperation that had her hands shaking at the brief reveal of the skin of his hips and the delicious curve of muscle leading down towards his groin.

Pulling back, he put his hands over hers and stopped her. “You don't have to do that, Carmella.”

She snorted and pushed his hands away. “I may be a virgin, but I'm not inexperienced. I'm twenty-three years old, and I've had boyfriends before.”

He licked his lower lip in a slow motion that had heat suffusing her body. All of her blood seemed to rush to her pussy, and she felt swollen with need. “Today is about you. What would you like me to do? I want to bring you pleasure like you’ve never had Carmella. It will satisfy me in ways you’ll never know. Help me satisfy you. Tell me what you want.” His gaze challenged her, and she knew that he wouldn't go any further unless she was brave enough to say what she wanted.

Silly man, he only knew the Carmella encased in ice. He had no idea how hot her passions ran, especially when she hadn't had an orgasm in what seemed like forever and she was with a man who made her body sing. “Sean, I want you to taste me. I want you to use that talented tongue to make me come.”

His nostrils flared, and her shorts were gone so quickly it seemed like magic. She laughed at his exuberance until he hooked her legs over his shoulders and spread her open for his gaze. All the laughter left her body in a gasp as phantom fingers ruffled through the dark hair covering her mound.

“How…” The words died in her throat as the sensation of teeth scraping against her nipple had her moaning.

He ignored her and ran the tip of his finger down the soft skin of her inner thigh. “Poor baby, you're so wet and swollen. So pretty.” The next words were said with his face hovering over her pussy. “Let me take care of you.”

The first lick of his tongue had her toes curling and her hips lifting off the bed. He parted her labia with his fingers and gave a second lick, from the crack of her bottom all the way to her aching clit. Slow and rhythmic, he continued to lick her like an ice cream cone, hovering over her clit every third or fourth lick.

Gripping the bedspread beneath her, she couldn't stop the moans that tore from her throat. He was as amazing at this as he was at everything else, and she lost herself in his knowing touch. Spreading her wide with his thumbs and fully exposing her clit, he said something in a language she didn't understand before giving her the softest of touches right onto the sensitive bundle of nerves.