The Thousand Year Curse (The Curse Books) (26 page)

I feel like we're a couple but push the feeling down, knowing we can't be. The stupid dream is messing with my head! Still, the comfort of his arms is enough to put me to sleep. Instead of the spark boosting me with energy, it lulls me into a quiet sleep.
 

Apparently I sleep the final four hours because I'm being shaken awake, to Ari's kissable face. I must have moved when I was asleep because now I am resting on his lap, my feet curled up on my seat in the fetal position.
 

My head lays right on his lap. I look down and there is his crotch just sitting there in my line of sight. I blush immensely but doubt Ari notices since I'm facing out.
 

It's so damn comfy that I don't want to move until I feel something move under my ear, making me jerk up fast to get away. I shut my eyes waiting for the head rush to pass. After a couple seconds my eyes open trying to adjust to the bright sun.
 

"Sorry." I murmur noticing his face is alight with humor.
Yeah, it's so funny that I felt your dick on my face!

"It's alright, Eury." He says, blushing yet still looking pleased. We get our stuff together, which is nothing for me, and hop off the plane.
 

We land at FCO airport which is teenie tiny compared New York. We have a hotel for the night, which is really day here—I think. The time change is really messing with me.
 

After taking a taxi to the hotel, we make it to our room. There is only one bed in the room but I don't really mind idea of Ari snuggled up to me all night.
 

"You can take the bed." Ari says crushing my thought as he grabs extra blankets from the closet and starts building a bed on the floor. I am disappointed even though my brain tells me it's for the better.

I cannot like Ari. I just had sex with Ollie, for crying out loud. How am I even thinking of this? Ari is way too complicated anyway. Not to mention the fact that I think he's bipolar. I can only have feelings for Ollie. He is my soul mate, the one for me. Period.
 

"Can you set the alarm for four?" Ari asks me, finishing his small mound of blankets he calls a bed.

"Four am?" I ask, hoping that I heard him wrong.

"Yeah. We need an early start when everyone else is asleep." He explains.

"Fine." I mutter, reaching towards the bed side table where the small alarm clock sits.
 

Ari instructs me to get ready for bed when he leaves the bathroom, all cleaned up. I go in the bathroom changing and brushing my teeth fast. Ari sits on the floor waiting for me the whole time. "Goodnight, Eury. Try to sleep." Ari says, turning over to face away from me in his make shift bed.
 

"You too." I say, jumping into the bed and flicking off the lamp.
 

The room turns black but I can't seem to fall asleep. Ari quickly falls asleep on the floor beside me, his breathing evening out, a slight snore coming from him. I fall asleep listening to him breathe, which acts as a perfect lullaby.
 

CHAPTER NINETEEN

twenty questions

I wake up in a pool of my own sweat. I flip over, nuzzling into the pillow trying to fall back asleep. I turn again, this time facing the window but stiffen, noticing a silhouette of a man at the window. I can tell it's Ari from the glow of the moon showcasing his profile.
 

I try to study his body language to figure out why he's staring outside and not asleep. His back hunches over, one hand resting against the window sill, the other shoved in his pocket. The tension radiates off of him in waves of heat.
 

His posture changes. He turns to face the window, placing both hands above his head. Before letting out a long sigh, his head falls against the window, his forehead resting on the glass.
 

I can't let him stand there and visibly ache so I crawl out of bed pushing the covers aside. I don't want to startle him so I walk over quietly wrapping both my arms around his abdomen from behind. He instantly stiffens tilting his head to see my face. I rest my head on his back holding him tight, not needing words to convey my thoughts.

His body relaxes into me but his breathing remains irregular. I continue to hold him there, not wanting to break the connection. I shouldn't be feeling these emotions towards him. I have the most amazing guy already. There isn't room in my heart for two yet they're still there.

"I need you." He whispers and I nod in understanding.
 

He turns around to face me looking down to question my intentions. I take his hands in mine and start walking us backwards.
 

When his knees find the bed, he sits down on it, hesitant but he needs this as much as I suddenly realize I do. I all but force him to lay down, before tucking him in the bed.
 

After getting in bed, I debate how much I should push the boundaries tonight. I get underneath the covers, moving myself closer to Ari. Even though I am much smaller than him, I try to spoon him, wrapping my arms around his torso, pressing the full length of my body against his.
 

I can tell Ari starts to relax when his breathing finally returns to normal. His back relaxes, his body shaping into mine, hugging my every curve. I am not tired but the warmth and comfort from Ari lulls me into a deep sleep.
 

Beep. Beep. Beep.

With a groan I reach out my hand, banging on the alarm clock that so rudely interrupts my sleep. I sigh loudly, stretching out my body when my hand feels skin that isn't mine, making me immediately draw my arm back.
 

Ari. He smiles with his eyes still closed, probably just noticing that I'm here as well.
 

He murmurs something inaudible and then reaches over to me, catching my side. He pulls me towards him while tickling me. I giggle but let him capture me, wanting him to touch me at any cost.

"Thank you." He mutters. I turn my head back to question him. "For last night. I needed that." He admits, burying his face into my hair. He inhales my scent deeply as his eyes roll into the back of his head.

"I like you like this." I tell him. Last night broke a barrier between us that opened me up to a whole new person. He's vulnerable and caring and so not what I expected.

"Enjoy it while you have it." He says, making my heart stutter. He pulls away from me, ending our fairytale moment then instructs me to get ready and with a sigh, I do.
 

Once I'm dressed in my Lara Croft inspired get up, I feel like I can accomplish anything. Leaving the bathroom, I see Ari putting on a leather jacket and his usual dark clothing. He looks freaking bad ass.

"See something you like?" He smirks over at me. I grab a pillow while he's not looking and chuck it at his head but with unparalleled speed, he dodges it. My face must drop because Ari starts laughing at my expression.
 

We stop at a huge plaza on our way to the portal, with a monstrous fountain dead in the center. The fountain is made of white marble that glistens like diamonds in the moonlight. A large set of steps pass the fountain leading up to a stone castle-looking church. The steeple is hundreds of feet above my head, towering into the sky.
 

Ari walks past the fountain to get a better view of the church and pauses, reflecting on it for a moment. He bends down to the gravel, giving me a perfect view of his stomach as his shirt rides up.

I don't even realize what he's done until there's a gaping hole in the middle of the street. I peek over trying to figure out what the hell he's doing but don't see anything except blackness seeming to never end.
 

He reaches to his back, taking of the backpack and then tosses it down the hole. We both lean down waiting to hear a thud when it reaches the floor. Instead, all there is is silence.
 

We both look up and our eyes meet. We both stare in disbelief before he shrugs it off and reaches for me, pulling me down towards the hole. He has me dangle my legs in the hole, sitting on the road.

"Please don't make me go alone." I beg him reaching for his hand.

"Come sit on my lap, Eury." He tells me, his eyes sympathetic. Happily, I scramble over, positioning myself on his lap. He fixes me turning so I face him, wrapping both my arms and legs around his torso and neck. I cross my legs making sure there's no way I'll get loose.

It's odd but I sort of have an epiphany. This whole thing is about me. I'm in the curse. The guys love me. We're searching for my mom. I'm kind of important and for once I like being noticed. I'm not being selfish but always being a loser is hard. Being important gives me this sense of self confidence.
 

"On the count of three." He states, kickstarting my heart rate from zero to ninety. I get the feeling like I am going to throw up but swallow it down, not wanting to prolong this jump. "One." He says. "Two." Before he can utter the word 'three' he lowers us in slowly, pushing off and my stomach drops.
 

I let out a scream but Ari shushes me, wrapping his arm around my back and the other holding my head into his chest. I try to focus on Ari instead of the unending fall. I check my body, counting all the places we're touching—which is everywhere. The hum starts, sending adrenaline to gush through my veins.
 

"When will it end?" I murmur into his shoulder as he squeezes me to his body. I start counting in my head. I get up to seventy before Ari speaks up.
 

"Hold on tight. We're here." He says.

I panic, thinking about the landing. We never figured out how we can safely land on the ground after we've just picked up however much speed free falling. I'm yanked to the side, my head jerking violently. I shut my eyes, trying to push back the dread of my almost certain death.

After a couple seconds of nothing happening, I open my eyes and see that we aren't falling anymore. I pull back uncertain and look into Ari's evergreen eyes and the way they turn up in a smile.

"How the heck did you land like that?" I ask him not believing that he can be that graceful.

"Magic, baby." He responds, his eyes traveling down my body to my chest pressed against his. Realizing I'm still clinging to him for dear life, I loosen my grip and plant both feet firmly on the ground.
 

I glance around the hole, trying to get a feel for where we are. This place isn't hot as Hell as I would have assumed. It's just plain, boring even with muted colors.
 

The air is warm but not dry and scalding, or humid. It's just there almost insignificant. A shiver rolls up my spine as I take in the black shadows surrounding us, acting as walls.
 

"Do not leave my sight." Ari demands sternly, tugging my body close to his, clinging to my hand. I nod in understanding, not wanting to be alone down here.

We start walking around searching for Ari's backpack with all of our supplies. We find the bundle a couple feet away and then start off in some random direction.

"Do you know where we're going?" I ask Ari, looking at the identical walls.

"Sort of. I know a general way. I've been here before but it's never the same." I look at him with dread, understanding that we basically have no idea where to go and we're just winging it.