The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) (13 page)

"I'm fine. Really." I try reassuring him but he doesn't stop. In fact he goes further when he tucks my head under his chin and rocks me a little like I'm a freaking baby.
 

"We've got to stop meeting like this." I joke with him. Running into him, bumping heads and now full out falling. I must seem like a complete clutz.
 

I acknowledge where I am—sitting on his lap in a private area of the library. Our bodies touch on every level. The intimacy between us throws me off. I decide to throw away whatever insecurities I'm harboring. I'm only seventeen once.
 

I wrap both arms around his rock hard body and he holds me. We're matching puzzle pieces finally fitting together. I'm falling hard for Ollie and for once I'm not scared.
 

I raise my head from his shoulder and stare into his beautiful eyes. They're bright blue and vibrant. They're piercing me but I can't pull away.
 

Instead I take one hand and touch the side of his face using my thumb to stroke his cheek. His skin is unbelievably soft. As I reach his chin, it becomes scratchy since the stubble has grown out. I think I love him. Oh my God! What am I thinking? I've only known him a week.
 

I pull his face into mine and close my eyes letting myself kiss him for the first time. I take the initiative and do what I want. At first neither of us really know how to react. I'm shocked by my forwardness and I think he is too.
 

His mouth is warm and completely inviting. The first embrace lasts a couple of seconds. After we both realize what's happening the kiss deepens. He comes back in hard, our touch longer and more passionate. His tongue finds mine and they dance together, swirling until I'm not sure who is who.
 

Suddenly a flash goes off blinding me by the abruptness. I am brought back to reality when I hear cackling. I can tell immediately a group of girls is here although I'm not sure how many.
 

I hear Becca's annoying voice say 'gotcha' and their footsteps scamper away. She ruined my kiss! Our amazing first kiss—passionate, loving, tender, strong, everything I imagined. Now the memory is tainted by Becca.
 

I'm not even upset, I'm simply angry. I want to follow her and punch her in her little bitchy face. What the hell, I'm done caring what people think. I jump up off Ollie's lap and race towards the door. Mary says something to me but I ignore her.

I step out into the hall looking both ways for Becca. She would never think I would chase after her. I've been taking her torment for two years without so much as a whisper.
 

I'm done dealing with her. I decide to go to the left but I take too long. She's no where to be seen. I don't even hear footsteps anymore. Ollie catches up to me and grabs my arm.
 

"Leave her." He pleads to me. He looks me in the eyes trying to persuade me to stop. Becca deserves to be put in her place.
 

"No. She's gone too far. She ruined our first kiss." I confess. Clearly I'm so pissed my mouth doesn't possess a filter because if I was in my right mind set, I would ever say these things. I'm sure guys don't even care about this kind of stuff.
 

"We can try again." He says smirking when I face him. I pout and his smile fades. I know he's just trying to make me feel better but it honestly doesn't work. Just when I'm trying to be normal, something like this shatters it.
 

"It's not the same." I admit slumping against the wall. The floor is disgusting but I hardly care as my knees bend to touch my chest and I bury my face in my hands. I try to take deep breaths and collapse over my legs.
 

On the exhale I get choked up unable to hold my feelings in anymore. A few silent tears fall over my lips and trickle down my face. I try to catch them with my finger but Ollie notices.
 

He crouches down in front of me and takes both of my hands in his. His touch comforts me in a way I never thought was possible. He lifts my face up so I'm looking right at him. He probably thinks I'm an emotional wreck by now.
 

"Let's get out of here." He says perking up and pulling me with him. I nod and we start going back into the library.
 

Instead of staying in the library, he grabs both our bags and starts to go out the doors. I silently follow him trying to figure out where he's taking me. I realize this is exactly what I need. I need to get away from this hell and relax.
 

CHAPTER EIGHT

paradise springs

We head out towards the parking lot but instead of going towards my car, Ollie heads in a different direction. I follow him since he has my hand locked and I'm not about to let him go.
 

We come up to a huge black truck with only two doors. I'm going to have to jump to even get in the thing. We walk to the passenger side and he helps me in by literally picking me up like I weigh a feather, which I don't. I'm astonished by his strength but I don't say anything. He beams at me as he shuts my door. He moves into his seat and starts up his truck.

It rumbles so loud I actually reach up to cover my ears. His car is freaking insane. It's like a monster truck on steroids. I glare over at him and he laughs under his breath. I reach over and shove his shoulder. Of course he doesn't budge.
 

He puts the truck into drive and we head out. I have no idea where we're going but I don't care. I have to learn to take chances and trust people. I feel bad ditching Junior but I am thankful that Ollie whisked me away from the annoyance that is Becca.
 

"So where are we going?" I ask him after a couple minutes of deafening silence.
 

"Secret spot." He states grinning like the Cheshire Cat. His eyes never leave the road ahead as he refuses to look at me.
 

"You've been here all of a month and you have a spot?" I ask, skeptical.
 

"Indeed, I do. I play here sometimes." He says shrugging his shoulders. It can't be that secret if he has already found it. I've lived here my whole life—I have to know where we're going.
 

"Gotcha." I say and we fall into a comfortable silence. I just sit back and let him lead the way. Even though Becca ruined the day, I'm still in a great mood thanks to that kiss. I start to daydream about his lips. They're so soft and plump—so very kissable.
 

Finally he pulls off the main road and drives us onto a gravel path. It probably isn't meant for cars to go down but his truck makes it since it's enormous. He stops before a clearing in the woods. I'm confused since to my knowledge the only thing around here is woods and more woods.
 

He comes to my side of the truck and opens the door for me. I basically jump into his arms and he catches me. He holds me for a second before pecking my cheek and putting me down. I am falling so hard it's scary.

He grabs my hand and we start walking together. He leads the way through the woods. I trust him, yet again. I'm proud of myself but at the same time I'm scared I'm going to get burned and hurt.
 

It is only two o'clock but the woods are creepy. The trees create a cover that the sun can't get through. I feel like at any second a serial killer will jump out and kill us. I've seen Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I know how it goes down. I inch closer to Ollie, practically glued to his side.
 

We walk for like ten minutes. The area is rocky and there are hills making it hard to navigate. I try not to sweat too much. I want to drop his hand since my palms are getting clammy.
 

As if he's reading my mind, he clenches my hand harder. He smiles at me and pulls me in closer. I like him all possessive. I don't want him to let me go.
 

"Close your eyes." He commands when he stops walking abruptly. I look at him like he's crazy.
 

"I can't walk if I can't see." I tell him. Knowing me, I will trip and fall flat on my face. He already thinks I'm the most clumsy person on the face of the Earth.
 

"I'll carry you then." And just like that he picks me up, holding me like a newborn. He looks down at me waiting for me to close my eyes. I give him a last glare and reluctantly shut my eyes.
 

His steps are bumpy, bobbing me up and down in his arms. He walks only for a couple more minutes before stopping again. He puts his hands over my eyes for assurance that I won't peek as he places me on the ground.
 

"Okay, open." He says dropping his hands to my shoulders. At first all I see is more woods. Then I notice that the ground ends. I'm only a foot away from the edge and there's nothing else left. I look over the edge and we're on a freaking cliff. It's probably only thirty feet high but still.
 

Below the cliff is some sort of body of water. It's not a lake or anything. It's kind of like a spring but bigger I guess. If I had to categorize it I would say it's a pond, but that's not completely accurate.

When I think of the word pond I think of goose poop and dirty, murky water. The water in this place is crystal clear. It's a true paradise.
 

How could I not have seen this place before? This is a magical hidden gem. It would be a perfect place to come in the summer and relax alone. I doubt people have discovered this before. It wouldn't be this clean.

"It's beautiful." I whisper. It takes me a moment to tear my eyes away from the pond to look at Ollie. When I finally do I see him partially behind a tree. I walk towards him and notice that he's taking his clothes off. Pretty sure I just found something thats more beautiful than the pond.
 

He doesn't have a shirt on. He's not super buff like a body builder or anything but he's definitely defined. I can count six abs easily but his arms are what is truly amazing. They're perfect—nice and strong but not overwhelming. He must work out daily. He turns to me and cocks his head to one side.
 

"Like the view?" He asks, laughing at me as I continue to stare at him with wide eyes. "Wanna swim?" He continues to undress slipping his socks and shoes off. I start feeling hot all over. I have to gain some control. I can't stop staring as I wait for more clothing to fall.
 

"Um, it's uh, kind of cold." I brush him off. It's the only thing that I can come up with.
 

I can't remember what underwear I put on this morning. I pray it's not my stupid granny panty ones. I would never be able to live it down.
 

"It's a natural spring. It's like a freaking hot tub in there. You'll be fine." He explains taking his pants off.
 

He's a brief guy—I have wondered about that. I've never seen a guy like this before and I cant help but blush. I can see everything—literally, everything. I decide to just go for it. I've been confident all day, why stop now?
 

I take off my top and am relieved at what I see—a simple black bra. The bottom part is what scares me. I don't want to wear a thong but I don't want granny panties either. I take my skirt off and am somewhat relieved.
 

I'm wearing boy shorts which are kind of dorky but I'll take it. They are blue and hug my hips. They're a little small so my butt sort of hangs out but it's not like I knew this was going to happen.
 

I look at Ollie and realize he's been watching me undress with hooded eyes. The thought gets me excited. I shake my head and playfully frown at him. No guy has ever seen me like this before. I feel vulnerable but with Ollie I don't really mind. He doesn't make it awkward or overly sexual. I'm comfortable right now, which surprises me.
 

He closes the space between us with a predatory look on his face. I open my arms when he's close enough and he engulfs me in his arms lifting me up. My feet barely touch the ground as I hold onto his neck.
 

Both of our bodies are completely pressed together, skin on skin. For some reason this feels more intimate than anything I've ever experienced. Even though we are partially clothed, I feel naked.
 

He pulls back and kisses me hard. It's different than the first kiss. This one feels more like a need, like we need to express how we feel through each other. His tongue enters my mouth caressing with each stroke. I rake my hands down his muscled back.
 

I move one hand up and into his hair pulling it teasingly. It feels like I've dreamt it would—smooth and silky. He moans into my mouth.
 

We keeping making out until neither of us can breathe. I feel like we've just had sex, even though we didn't at all. I open my eyes first and stare at him. His eyes are still closed like he's trying to compose himself. His lips puff out from our kiss and as I touch my fingers to my own lips, I realize mine are too. Inside, I smile.
 

He opens his eyes and immediately they lock onto mine. The fire inside of them has faded and his eyes are back to icy blue. He smiles placing me back firmly on the ground. I'm not sure I can stand but I make do.
 

He heads towards the edge of the cliff as I follow closely behind. Once we're there, I peek over the edge and my stomach flip flops. It looks so high. I freaking hate heights.