The Kyriakis Curse (19 page)

His ear twitched as he caught the faint sound of buzzing; then he remembered he’d put his cell phone on vibrate. He really should have turned it off, but Constantine hadn’t thought it would matter much because reception was usually lousy in this area even with phones that had GPS capabilities. The sound persisted. Shit. He could have ignored it, but something told him he should answer.

Picking up his jeans, he dug into his pockets and pulled out his phone. Taking a peek at the caller I.D., he groaned before speaking. “Why are you calling now? Before I left Circe, I told you I didn’t want to be disturbed.”

“Don’t give me attitude, Con. If anything, you should be on your knees kissing my hairy nut sac for the favor I’ve done you. It’s going to get me into a lot of trouble with Uncle Paris.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry, Aries, but you didn’t pick a good time to call.”

“Did I interrupt your fuck-a-thon?”

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Constantine could hear the smugness in his cousin’s voice; if the man were nearby,

Constantine would have slugged Aries a good one. “Don’t be do so goddamn crude,” he

hissed.

He stole a quick look at Sarah’s sleeping form. A slow smile tilted the corners of her full lips as she pulled the extra pillow closer to her body. His prick instantly shot to attention. He was sure he had never wanted to be anything more than he wanted to be that pillow right now, nestled so snuggly against her soft warm curves.

Turning his back to her, he whispered into the phone, “Okay, so I owe you one. What

did Papa do when he found we were gone?”

“To say he flipped out would be putting it mildly. He lifted a recliner and threw it across the room. He also hoisted me by the collar and would have done the same to me had I not talked some sense into him. I thought he’d beat the living daylights out of me when I couldn’t tell him where you were. It’s a good thing you didn’t let me know, although I have a pretty good idea where you are. And if I do, so does he. I’m just warning you, coz.” Aries paused. “I just don’t get it, though.”

“What’s there to get?”

“You’ve evaded every single one of your father’s matchmaking attempts since you

could walk; then suddenly this half-breed storms into your life, and you’re ready to settle down.”

“Don’t call Sarah a half-breed.”

“Why not? That’s what she is.”

“You don’t have to say it in such a derogatory way.”

“You need to stop being so damned sensitive, especially when you know I meant

nothing by it.”

Constantine didn’t care for where this conversation was headed. “Do I?”

“Cut it out, Con. I put myself on the line for you. All I’m asking is what happened.

What is it about this bitch that now has you outright defying your father?”

Constantine growled louder than he meant to. Stealing another quick look over his

shoulder, he assured himself Sarah still slept. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m only asking because I care, you idiot. Sarah obviously has powerful enemies if

they’ve chased her down all these years. I gotta say I’m with Uncle Paris on this one. You shouldn’t have left Circe. I’m worried about you. It’s not as if you couldn’t have had your little love fest here.”

“I couldn’t do that with Papa around. He didn’t want me to be with Sarah in the first place. He doesn’t think she’s good enough for me.”

“Are you sure you didn’t misunderstand him?”

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“He didn’t say it in so many words, but he didn’t have to. I caught his meaning loud and clear.”

“He seemed to like her.”

“But not for me. You know how he feels about half-breeds.”

“I know, but I got the impression... well, never mind. Whatever he said I’m sure you’ll work it out. There’s no changing things, is there? You’ve already claimed her. Had you not marked her when you did, I would have stormed the manor and taken her myself. Her scent drove me crazy.”

“Fuck off.”

“That’s exactly what I’d intended to do to her had you not done it first.”

Jealousy reared up so strongly, Constantine could feel his blood boiling. “Get to the point before I hang up. This reception is bad enough as it is, and the last thing I need is to be annoyed by you.”

“Just friendly words of caution. Uncle Paris is on the warpath, and if I were you, I wouldn’t stay in one place for long.”

“Gotcha.”

“Consider yourself warned.” Aries disconnected.

Constantine realized he’d spoken more harshly to his cousin than he should have but, damn it, so much for his plans of an idyllic getaway for a few days. They’d have to leave in the morning. Tossing the phone aside, Constantine slid back into bed with Sarah, gently pulling the pillow away from her.

Sarah’s breasts were small, but incredibly responsive. Palming them, he brought one

distended tip to his mouth, drawing it to life, and rolled her other nipple between his fingers and thumb. He sucked voraciously, willing her to wake up. He needed her to the point of madness.

“Mmm.” She wriggled against him.

“Mana mou.” He transferred his mouth the nipple he’d been pinching. She sighed, her

fingers stroking his jaw. After taking his time to bring her tips to swollen throbbing points, Constantine moved up to capture her mouth. It lit up his heart the way she returned his kiss so enthusiastically.

Moving on top of her, he dipped his fingers between her damp labia, still wet from

their previous bout of lovemaking. Then he slipped two fingers between her ass cheeks, rubbing them on her puckered rose. Sarah’s sharp inhalation halted him. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck. “Easy, mana mou. I’ve coveted this ass since I saw you at the gallery. I think you’re ready for me, for this.”

She gripped his biceps, her teeth gnawing at her bottom lip. “I trust you, but please be gentle.”

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This gave him more hope than he’d had earlier. She actually had faith in him. So what that it only seemed to relate to them in bed? It was at least a step closer to what he wanted.

“Let me hear the words. Tell me you want my cock in your ass.” Easing his slick middle finger into her rectum, he prepared the snug canal for the coming invasion of his dick. He licked his lips in anticipation of squeezing inside that tightness.

“I want your cock in my ass. I want you to take all I have to give.”

“What I want is--” He stopped short of saying her heart.

“What?” Dark eyes searched his face.

“Your sexy body,” he finished lamely.

“You have it. Take my ass. I’ve... I’ve been wondering when you would ever since you mentioned it when we first mated. I like it when you touch and lick me there.”

“You’ll like it even more when I fuck you there.” When he felt she was sufficiently

slippery to make his passage through her back door easier, Constantine folded her knees over his arms, bent her legs toward her chest, and parted her cheeks, his cock resting at her taut hole. “Just relax, mana mou. It may be uncomfortable at first, but once I’m inside of you, I swear you won’t be disappointed.” Sarah nodded, her eyes shining with passion.

With one smooth thrust, he jutted forward, his dick gliding into her ass.

“Oh, God!”

His eyes locked with hers. “Did I hurt you?”

“No. You could never hurt me,” she assured breathlessly, even though he could sense

her pain. “This is something I’ll get used to.” When she wiggled her hips, Constantine drove forward slowly, then pulled back until his tip nearly came out of her. Then he shoved it into her again, this time with a little more force. The heat she gave off was incredible. He knew she was beginning to enjoy this as much as he did.

“Don’t stop!”

“You like this?”

“God, yes.”

“You’re just as wild for it as I am, aren’t you? This ass has been waiting for my cock, hasn’t it?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! This ass belongs to you! Fuck me harder!” she screamed, clawing at his back. Had he known she would take him so willingly, he would have initiated her in the act of anal love much sooner.

Pushing in and out of her puckered ring sent a thrill of wondrous passion ripping

through his body. Her ass jiggled when he pounded into it, generating a rhythmic slapping sound. She lifted her head and bit into his chest with a hungry growl. He grunted from the pleasure-pain and rode her backside harder than ever, frantically racing to reach his peak.

She was so tight and slick around him, clenching his cock like a firm fist.

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“Constantine! More! Don’t stop! I need you!” She clutched him closer against her as if this would be the last time they’d be together. The way she gave herself to him so completely cost him his control. Bellowing his release, he shot a load of come into her bottom even as he thumbed her clit. Sarah panted, her body starting to convulse.

“Let go. Give over, my beauty.”

Her climax rocked her body in shuddering, visible waves. Her fingernails ripped into his skin.

Constantine grinned fiercely, taking all she had. She most likely didn’t realize it, but she was marking him as well, branding him hers. As an immortal, his scars would mostly heal, but a slight scar would remain because she was his bond mate. Releasing her legs and lowering himself gently on top of her, he slid his cock out of her ass with a pop! and gush of come.

“I love you so much, Sarah.”

She turned her head away, avoiding his eyes. Catching her chin, he brushed her

slightly parted lips with his. Then he searched her face and smiled. What he saw in the depths of her eyes was promising.

“You don’t have to say it now, but one day you will admit you love me, too.”

“Constantine--”

He covered her lips with his index finger. “You know what?” She shook her head. “I

think you love me, too. I know it’s been only a few days, but that doesn’t matter when it comes to the heart. I know you’re scared to love me, but I’ll be patient -- to an extent.”

He grazed her cheek with his lips. “Let’s shower.”

She lifted one perfectly arched brow. “Shower or screw? Every time we step into the

bathroom together, we end up doing much more than washing ourselves.”

“You make that sound like a bad thing.”

She giggled, burying her face against him. “It’s not. I’m just making sure we’re on the same page.”

Laughter tore from his throat. “You shameless hussy.”

A wicked gleam sparked in her eyes. “You read me so well.”

* * * * *

beneath her fingertips. His upper body was all hollows and ridges and muscle. His horniness only enhanced his masculinity.

“I think I’m going to have the cleanest chest in the world if you keep at this any

longer.”

“Is it a crime that I like touching you?”

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“Not at all. I love it that you want to acquaint yourself with my body, just as I adore touching yours.”

“I know I sound like a broken record, but I really would like to paint you. I think

you’re the most perfect male specimen I’ve ever seen in the nude.”

When he swiftly pulled her against his soapy body, she gasped. His eyes had changed

to that yellow gleam, full of possession. “And how many naked men have you seen?”

It would take her a while to get used to his mercurial moods. Sarah held his face and ran her tongue along the seam of his lips, her nipples brushing against his hair-roughened torso. She’d heard it was much better to catch flies with honey than with vinegar. When her studly shifter sighed, she stuffed her questing tongue into his mouth in a gentle exploration.

Sarah pulled back gradually, noting his ragged breathing.

“I’m an artist and took some art classes at a local community college. It stands to reason I’ve painted nudes before. Occasionally we’d get naked subjects, male and female, but none of them ever did a thing for me. Not like you do.” She kissed his jaw.

“I’m being a jealous jerk, aren’t I? I can’t help it. You just make me... I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I love you so much, and I... I don’t ever want to let you go. Every person you’ve ever come in contact with, smiled at, spent time with, I’m going to be jealous about. I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it’s in my nature to be proprietary where my mate is concerned.”

Sarah saw the sincerity in his eyes; something she thought had died within her a long time ago flourished to life. Could this be the love she’d long denied herself? But if she made that final declaration, she’d risk losing him. After all, hadn’t she lost every person she’d ever loved?

She leaned her head against his chest. “Your words are so sweet. I-I know you want me to say them back, but I need some time. When I do say the words, I want to mean them. I’m already halfway to loving you, but...”

Constantine lifted her chin with his forefinger, bringing her head up so their eyes met.

“I know. I said I’d give you time, but I’m not a patient man.”

She nodded. “I’m just so scared. You’ve been so good to me. No one has ever made me

feel this way. With you, I can let go and forget about my past. I feel safe with you, as if no one can get to me as long as I’m with you.”

“As God is my witness, I’ll protect you.”

And Sarah believed him. She threw her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek

against his shoulders, letting the spray of the shower hit her back. “Mmm, I think I could remain like this for a very long time. How long will we get to stay in this lovely hideaway?”

“Unfortunately, we have to leave in the morning.”

She looked up at him, craning her neck to meet his gaze. Disappointment gathered in

her breast. “Why? You said we’d be here for a few days before we headed back to Circe.”

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“Sweetheart, I would love to spend as much time with you here as possible, but my

father will probably be here tomorrow, demanding we return to Circe. He’s not very happy I’ve taken you off the island.”