The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) (16 page)

I can tell that he has forgiven me. He loves me, I can just tell. Although we've never said the three magical words to each other before I know that he loves me and I know that I love him. It is just a matter of time before we get to say it. I want to tell him now but feel like it is the wrong time. I don't want my words to be tainted by an argument. He deserves the best.
 

"It's okay." He reassures me before kissing me on the lips. The kiss stays simple and pure for a moment but then I deepen it wanting to show him that I am his.—that I only want him. That he consumes me with every fiber of his being.

He kisses me senseless until I lose track of time. Seconds turn to minutes. All I can focus on is Ollie. His skin, his hair, his mouth—all of it takes over my thoughts.
 

I reach under his shirt while we are making out and touch his firm body. I rub every contour of his abs. I feel the hardness in his pecks. I explore the hair on his chest. I want to memorize every inch of his body to truly know him inside and out.
 

He reaches his hands under my shirt and grabs onto my hips. He tugs hard making me ride him and brings his hands up and down my back sending shivers throughout me. His hard touch sends me into over drive and I go crazy inside, craving more.
 

He reaches a hand under my leggings and starts rubbing me. At first I'm taken aback. We are in school but then it feels so damn good that I don't even care. He makes circles on the sensitive spot I love while I grind my hips on his lap. He moans against my neck and I continue, wanting him to moan for me again.
 

We probably would never stop if it wasn't for the damn bell. I jump up when it rings loud above our heads. I gaze around seeing if we have voyeurs but we are still alone.
 

"Seriously?" I exclaim out to the school and Ollie openly laughs at me. I can tell under his calm appearance, he is pissed. He wants more just like me. It's only a matter of time before we finally have sex. It's what I want and I know he wants it to. Stupid bell ruining everything.

CHAPTER TEN

bike ride

Ari is the biggest pain in the ass for the rest of the day. He is even more rude and obnoxious after the run in with Ollie, making walking with him a brutal nightmare. It is seventh period, my last one of the day which normally I enjoy but not so much anymore since Ari is in class with me.
 

I walk in three seconds before Ari and pretend that I don't know him. I go into my seat on the far side of the room and hide myself hoping he'll find some other girl to torture but of course I'm wrong.
 

He struts his fine ass over to my side and pauses at my desk. I don't dare breathe as he trails his finger along the edge of my desk. He lets out a low rumble before taking up in the seat behind me.
 

How am I supposed to concentrate in class when he sits right there? He is introduced to the class and everyone coos over him. All the girls bat their lashes at him and I want to gag. I try to focus completely on the words that pour out of our teachers mouth and not all the female attention Ari's garnering.

We are starting a subject on furies. Apparently they are three girls, Tisiphone, Megaera and Alecto, placed in hell to punish bad people. I can't help but think about Becca and her crew. They are definitely put into my life to punish me. Then again we aren't in Hell so never mind.
 

We are starting a project and what do you know, we need a partner. I silently curse myself knowing I am either going to be left without a partner or stuck with Ari. I'm not sure which is the lesser of the evils. The teacher assigns partners by where we are seated which seals my fate when she gets to my desk and pairs me with Ari.
 

The assignment is to pick one of the twelve Gods. We have to do research on them, explain their powers and stuff. I'd much rather do it alone but whatever. Knowing Ari, I'll basically be doing the whole project by myself anyway.
 

"So, Ari, who would you like to do?" I ask Ari trying to include him in the project as I turn in my seat. I admit my question comes out a tad condescending.
 

"I think we should do Apollo." He says totally serious acting like he cares about the project. I have to admit, I didn't expect him to be involved at all.
 

"Why's that? I was thinking Athena or Aphrodite." Both are classic goddesses. Strong yet beautiful. Their stories are very different but I like doing research. The library is kind of my place.
 

"No way. We're doing Apollo." He claims crossing his arms.
 

"That's not fair!" I sink back in my seat defeatedly. I really wanted to do a girl. I could fight him on it but I have a feeling he always gets what he wants.
 

"Trust me, it'll be eye opening." He states ending the conversation. I refuse to talk to him for the remainder of class and stay turned the other way.
 

Finally the bell rings ending my last class period so I grab Ari's schedule to check what he has next. Nothing. He has a free. I'm screwed.

"I figured we might do some research?" He shrugs his shoulders making him seem a little sad but I have no idea why.
 

"I meet Ollie during eighth." I say hoping that he gets my point. I can't jeopardize my relationship.
 

"We'll all sit together. I don't mind." Ari starts packing up his stuff while I stare down at him.
 

"Really..." Ollie was a jerk to him, why wouldn't he mind? That would be like me sitting with Becca. It would be pure torture. I can't even stand being in the same room as her anymore.
 

"Yeah, why? Should I care?" He asks me, staring up at me cocking his eyebrow.
 

"Uh, no. It's fine."

As we walk towards the library, I mentally prepare myself for the show that is about to commence. I know for a fact that Ollie is not going to be okay with this situation. I also know that we had a good time this afternoon so maybe I softened him up a bit. He should be able to tell that Ari isn't a threat. He should just trust me—bottom line.
 

"Hi Mary!" I say as I enter the library. She looks at me and then at Ari sending us each warm smiles. "This is Ari, he's new here." I introduce them pointing to the large body next to me.
 

"Welcome Ari, any friend of Ryder's is a friend of mine." She smiles wider as they shake hands. I am about to speak up and protest that he is indeed not my friend but Ari pokes my back to shut me up. I jump a little from his contact but Mary doesn't notice the playful exchange.
 

"It's a pleasure." Ari says before dropping her hand. They smile at each other very pleasantly which takes me off guard. At least Ari has good manners.
 

"Come on back here." I tell him grabbing him by the elbow. I show him to my secret spot in the back taking a table instead of my usual cubical since I have a plus one now.
 

I don't want to be too close with Ari and figure it might send him the wrong message. Plus there's no room for three of us. I lay out my English papers and figure we can go in search of books about Apollo first.

"Are you coming or what?" I ask as I get up from the table. I look back to him once I start walking and he has a sly grin across his face.
 

"Oh, I'm coming." He proclaims his voice all raspy and seductive. When I give him a dirty look he returns it.
 

I burst out laughing and he does the same, bending at the hips chuckling. It is surprisingly comfortable like we are building some weird, twisted friendship.
 

He challenges me and I think I like it. I shoot down my brain before I start to think too much. In another five minutes he is probably going to be a jerk again.
 

"You know I could just tell you what I know about Apollo." He suggests as we peruse the aisles. He hasn't picked out a single book or even looked at one—some help he is.
 

"I don't think you count as a reputable source." I respond elbowing him in the rib. He flies back a couple of feet landing near the bookcase. He stumbles but recovers rather gracefully. When his eyes meet mine, I can't miss the crazy look he has, probably wondering how the hell I just pushed him down. I'd be confused too if I just flew across the room thanks to some scrawny girl.
 

"What was that?" He asks me in a hushed tone pulling me towards him so our bodies are uncomfortably close.
 

"I don't know what you're talking about." I say pulling away and focus completely on the book shelves. He doesn't push me to elaborate more and honestly I'm glad. I don't know what I would have said.
 

Yes, I pushed you with inhuman strength. It's just this thing that I do now. Oh! I also have these screwed up visions and guess what—you're the star! And I sort of think you're beautiful.
Yeah,
that would go over well.
 

We get all the books we need in silence and head back to the table to research and take notes. After I round the corner of the last bookshelf, I notice Ollie sitting quietly at the table.
 

He looks so peaceful sitting there alone. I basically run the rest of the way not able to wait to get close to him. I drop the books on the table and give him a hug from behind. I lengthen the hug giving him one last big squeeze before pecking him on the cheek. I take up a seat next to him wanting to prove where my loyalty lies.

"Ari." Ollie mutters and looks away towards me. He's mad but I can tell he's trying to control himself. I take his hand in mine and squeeze it, trying to show him how much I appreciate him.
 

"Ollie." Ari responds staring daggers at him. He meets Ollie head on like a challenge. It scares me because I have no idea what is going to happen.

"We're doing a project for our English class." I try to explain a little to cut the tension. Ollie doesn't respond to me or even glance my way. It almost looks like he's talking to Ari telepathically. I start to fume feeling like a third wheel.
 

"Don't you want to know what it's on?" Ari asks him.

"Sure what's it on,
babe
." He says facing me and smiling. I like that I have his attention but I know he's just using me to get under Ari's skin.
 

"We had to choose one of the twelve Olympians or Gods or whatever. Ari decided we should do Apollo so now we have to research him and write a powerpoint or paper about it." I state proudly. "We're looking at books…"

"Are you kidding me?" Ollie cuts me off yelling as loud as he can. He places both hands on the table and pushes up to stand. His chair kicks back against a nearby shelf rocking to the floor. My papers scatter and a book lands with a bang. He stares violently right in Ari's face.
 

Ari stands up and starts backing away towards the wall of shelves behind him. He raises his hands in defeat but the smug look on his face shows he isn't serious.
 

"What's the problem with that?" Ari asks acting all innocent. He doesn't take anything seriously! He's really acting like this whole thing is a joke. I stand up and move towards Ollie.
 

"You need to leave, right now." Ollie demands. He uses his singing voice—the voice that I don't like at all.
 

Over the past few weeks he hasn't used the voice at all or at least that I hear. It creeps into my skin and slithers around. I can feel the air escape me. I get an unsettling feeling in my stomach and back away from him the slightest bit feeling like he might attack me next.
 

Ari stands up and starts packing his things. He doesn't have any expression on his face at all. In fact, he looks a little robotic. He finishes packing and turns to leave. He doesn't say good bye or see you later. He literally walks away without a word, never glancing back towards us, never stopping.
 

"What the hell was that about Ollie?" I question once Ari is gone. Ari has done nothing to invoke that kind of threatening behavior. It just doesn't seem fair that Ollie would treat another person like that.
 

"It was nothing." He responds. He won't make eye contact with me which is a tell tale sign that he's lying.