Dark Curse (Dark Wolf Series Book 2) Read online

  She came toward him and put her hand on his chest. He could feel the warmth of her palm against his chest, her skin against his and he swallowed hard. He could feel his blood rushing to his groin and had to bite his lip to keep from groaning. All because she touched his chest. Jesus if she had put her hand down his pants he probably would have exploded like a teenager after a pretty intense wet dream.

  “Have you changed your mind about wanting me?” She lifted her palm so that only the tips of her fingers were touching his skin. She moved them in slow circles, edging closer to his nipple. He closed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. “I know I haven’t made this easy for you, and if you’re fed up with the doubts I’ve put you through, I’ll understand if you don’t want to do this any more.”

  Not want to do this? Nick’s eyes snapped open, and he looked at her, reading the hesitation in her eyes despite what her fingers were doing. He clasped her hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing the back.

  “Baby, I haven’t change my mind. I still want you. Will always want you.” He turned her hand over and pressed his mouth against her palm, running his tongue over her skin. The scent of her skin, which reminded him of running through the woods on a cool autumn day, filled his senses, and he drank her in.

  “How should we do this?” She wasn’t turned on enough to stop talking, but he was happy to hear her breathing speed up and there was a tiny catch in her voice that made him want to pump his fist in victory.

  “The usual way I suppose.” Although he’d do kinky if she wanted him to. Just the thought of it had his cock straining against his jeans.

  “No, I mean should we do it now or wait until after dinner. Anticipation sometimes makes it sweeter.”

  “Honey, I’ve been anticipating this for four years. And if I try to eat with this... ” he guided her hand down to his fly and hissed in his breath when she gave him a squeeze. “I’ll choke.”

  She ran her hand up and down his fly, and he thought he would go blind at the pleasure of her touch. He eased her hand away and took a step back.

  “I don’t want to do this in the kitchen. I want you in my bed, where I’ve pictured you in every fantasy I’ve had for the past four years.” He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen, down the hall and up the stairs to his loft bedroom.

  The sun was only just beginning to set, and its orange glow filtered through the window, adding a fiery touch to the silken curtain of her hair. God he loved her hair. The length, the texture, the smell. He’d seen her in his minds eye for years, wearing only her hair. He slid his fingers through it, cupping the back of her head and pulling her to him.

  He kissed the berry sweet lushness of her lips, and thought he would happily drown in her. His hand tightened in the silk of her hair as her hands came around his back, gliding up and down his skin. How had he resisted her for the last four years? Kissing her felt like coming home. His heart pounded, exhilaration rushed through his veins, and he realized that he would never be able to let her go. He wanted to kiss her for the rest of his life, to hold her to him until there could be no doubt in her mind that she was his and he was hers.

  She pulled back and he groaned at the loss of her. Her hands glided around his side and onto his abdomen. His muscles tightened, his stomach going rock hard under her touch.

  “I want to feel your skin against mine when I kiss you.” She took a step back and reached for the hem of her shirt. Swallowing hard, he watched her fingers tighten in the fabric of her T-shirt. Up and up, too slow for his liking, the cotton drifted along her flawless, golden skin. Up and over her stomach, revealing the winking jewel of a navel ring. Oh he’d have to explore that once he was able to roll his tongue back into his mouth.

  The slow passage of her shirt revealed her bra next, a flimsy lacy thing that was working hard to contain her full breasts. Her tight nipples pressed against the see through fabric, and he had the insane urge to howl at the sight of it. Clamping his jaw tight, he drew in a deep breath through his nose as his hands curled into fists at his side. Soon her arms were lifted above her head and then the shirt was gone. She reached behind her back, arching slightly while she found the clasp of her bra. A whimper escaped him as her breast strained against the fabric. It loosened, and she brought her arms forward, allowing the lingerie to slid down. She pulled it off and tossed it aside.

  He licked his lips, longing to take her flesh in his mouth. She mirrored his action as she brought her hands up to her breasts and cupped them. He couldn’t stand there watching any more. He had to touch her, taste her, and lose himself inside her. Pulling her to him, he swooped down to take her mouth in a kiss that was different from the one they’d shared earlier. Her naked breasts pressed against his chest as he ravaged her mouth. Time and space had no meaning for him as he lost himself. His feet moved automatically as he walked them to the bed.

  She managed to turn him around, and the mattress hit the backs of his knees. He tumbled down on the bed, his mouth never leaving hers. Her body rested on top of him, her legs bending until she was straddling him. He pressed up against her, grinding against her as she pushed her hips down on top of his.

  He tore his mouth away, trying to gain control of his ragged breathing. “We’re going too fast. I’ve wanted this for so long that I don’t want it to be over in five seconds.”

  He lifted her off him and laid her gently back on the bed. He kissed her again, trying to temper his response so he wouldn’t take her like a wild animal. There would be time enough for sweaty animal sex, but he wanted this first time with her to be something special. He wanted to show her how much he wanted to cherish her, to erase all the pain she’d been through in the past.

  Her hands tunneled through his hair, tightening until he felt the sting in his scalp. He growled, sliding his tongue into the recesses of her mouth. Okay, so maybe they could have hot, sweaty animal sex. There would always be time to go slow the second time, or maybe even the third time. All he did know was that he wouldn’t be satisfied with having her just once.

  He broke the kiss. “What do you want? Tell me what you want?” He needed her guidance on what she needed, on what would please her. He had to get himself under some semblance of control, otherwise this was going to be over real quick.

  “I want you to take my breast in your mouth.” Her voice had changed slightly, grown huskier and more strained. He could smell her arousal, and it tightened every muscle in his body. He did as she demanded and closed his lips around her nipple. The salty sweet taste of her tightening flesh sent his arousal up another notch. Desire for her pounded in his blood, like the beat of the drums in a Zeppelin song. The taste of her skin, the scent of her body and the aroused sounds she was making ignited a lust inside him that he’d never felt for another woman.

  ***

  The feel of Nick’s mouth on her breast was like nothing she’d ever experienced before. God how had she resisted him for so long? If she’d known he would feel this good, that he would set her body on fire like this, she would have done this with him sooner. His attention shifted to her other breast and she moved restlessly upon the bed. She didn’t want him to stop what he was doing, but at the same time she wanted his mouth everywhere on her body.

  “Oh God Nick.” She hardly recognized the sobbing voice that came out of her mouth. Her feverish hands ran down his body to the waistband of his jeans. She needed him naked. She eased down the zipper and reached inside his pants to hold him. He tore his mouth away from her breasts, his breath hissing in through his teeth. She moaned when his hands cupped her breasts, caressing her as she stroked him.

  He removed her hand. “I want you naked.” The growling rumble of his voice sent her blood racing through her veins and she couldn’t get her pants off fast enough.

  He shucked her jeans, tossing them over his shoulder. She lay on the bed before him, dressed only in a pair of lacy briefs. His hands grasped the fabric and ripped her underwear from her body, and she couldn’t bring herself to care. The fin
e tremors of his body sent a surge of female power through her. She’d aroused this strong willed man to the point where he was shaking, and it thrilled her to know that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

  His hand dipped between her legs. Her hips lifted off the bed at the shock waves of pleasure his touch sent through her. She widened her legs so he could have full access to her, so he could see her, and from the feral look in his eyes she could tell that he liked what he saw.

  “I have to taste you.” His head dipped down and she ran her fingers through his hair as he tongued her. Her breath came fast and hard as a pleasure so intense at his touch frightened her for a moment. She didn’t think she could stand much more of it, and tried to pull her hips away, the feelings he evoked in her too intense for her to handle. His fingers tightened on hips as he continued his torture of her. Her limbs stiffened as she felt the climax build inside her.

  “Oh God... Nick... I’m going to... ” She couldn’t finish, could only cry out as he took her over the edge and hurled her into orgasm. On and on it went, as wave after wave washed through her. She lay trembling and sobbing on the bed as he eased back from her, his hands soothing her as he ran them up and down her hips.

  “You okay baby?” His voice rumbled in his chest, and arousal stretched his skin tightly across the bones of his face. She looked at him, unable to format a coherent thought.

  “Can’t... talk,” she managed to pant out as she watched a smug male smile curl his lips. He had the look of a man who knew he’d satisfied his woman.

  “I’m not done yet, darlin’,” he said as he reached over to the bedside drawer for a condom. He sheathed himself in the protection and came back to her. He nudged her hips apart with his thighs and guided himself inside her.

  Her eyes closed as she bit her lip. Jesus, he felt so good as he filled her. A feeling of rightness washed through her as he began to move. Then she couldn’t think at all, could only feel what he was doing to her body when he reached between their joined flesh to stroke her clitoris. She wrapped her legs around his waist, as his thrusts came harder and faster.

  “Yes Nick... yes.” She lifted her hips, up and down, matching the rhythm of his. Her frantic mouth sought his, and she kissed him hard, trying to devour him. Her mouth came away from his as she arched her neck back, unable to hold back the climax that swept through her a second time.

  As if from some distant place she heard him growl her name before he picked up speed, slamming into her as he sought his own pleasure. His body stiffened above her as he gave a long drawn out moan and his quivering body collapsed on top of her.

  She lay beneath him as her breathing slowed, loving the feel of his sweat slicked skin pressed against hers. She didn’t want to move, wanted to feel him inside her for as long as she could. His chest moved against her with less urgency as his breathing slowed, and she could feel his heart rate slow. He leaned up on his elbows and looked at her.

  “You okay?” He reached out to cup the side of her face.

  “I’m fantastic.” She turned her head and pressed her lips against the palm of his hand. “What I want to know is why we didn’t do this sooner.”

  His laughter vibrated her chest where he lay against her, and he pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss before pulling back. “I don’t know how we managed not to until now darlin’,” he said right before he kissed her again.

  Chapter Six

  Nick slowly opened his eyes as he pulled the warm, female body against his. They’d done it. He and Hadria had slept together, and it was better than he imagined. How she would react upon waking was a mystery, but he intended to enjoy lying with her until she woke up.

  She stirred against him, and he tightened his arm around her.

  “How long have we been asleep?” The sleepy edged tone of her voice stirred his blood. He wanted her again and didn’t think he would ever get enough of her.

  “Only a couple of hours.” He lifted her hair and nuzzled the side of her neck. She wiggled against him as he took small, nibbling kisses on her skin.

  “We missed dinner.”

  “So. I’m not hungry for food right now.”

  “I am.” She eased away from him and walked to the bathroom. He grinned at the sight of her backside, barely visible through the swaying curtain of her golden hair. Christ she was a beautiful woman. Their love making had taken on a dream like quality, and if he couldn’t still see her naked before him he’d swear he’d dreamt it all.

  He jumped up and looked at the bed with regret. Too bad she was hungry, he would have liked to spend a little more time with her in his bed. Still, there would be time for that after she’d eaten.

  He pulled on his jeans and walked over to the bathroom door. He tapped on it.

  “I’ll head downstairs. Come down when you’re ready.”

  He waited for her to respond, but she remained silent. He shrugged his shoulders to loosen their stiffness and walked out the bedroom door and down to the kitchen.

  He flicked on the stove to reheat the stew he’d made and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. Taking a long sip, he lounged back against the counter, watching the door. The beer wasn’t sitting very well in his stomach as tension pinched him between the shoulder blades; he set the beer bottle on the counter with a thunk. She’d been acting funny when she’d left the bed. Like she was trying to distance herself from him. He’d hoped they were past that, but now he wasn’t so sure.

  She came into the kitchen, and to Nick’s disappointment he noticed that she was fully clothed. He wished she’d come down wearing one of his shirts, but it appeared they weren’t on the same wavelength.

  She avoided his eyes, and his stomach sank further. He turned and pulled two bowls out of the cupboard, banging them on the counter.

  “So what’s up?” He considered ignoring the elephant in the room, but decided he didn’t want to fight with her for another four years before getting her back in his bed.

  “I’m going to head home after we eat. I don’t want to broadcast the fact that we’ve slept together to everyone at work.” She stirred the bubbling stew before reaching over to turn the burner off.

  “What difference does it make if the people at work know we’re sleeping together. Do you regret going to bed with me?” Perhaps his question was a little too blunt, but he didn’t want any misinterpretation of this conversation. He heard her sigh, and his jaw tightened as he tried to keep his eyebrows from drawing together. Getting worked up before she said what was on her mind wouldn’t help either of them.

  “No. I don’t. I just feel a bit funny about it, that’s all. You’re my best friend, and I don’t know where we go from here.” She turned to face him, her face set in serious lines as she finally made eye contact for the first time since she came into the room.

  “I don’t see the problem. Nothing has to change between us.”

  “Don’t you see? Everything has changed.”

  Nick walked over to her and ran his hands up and down her arms. “Nothing’s changed for me. I still feel the same way about you that I did yesterday. Don’t worry so much. Everything’s going to be fine.”

  “I’ve been afraid for so long that I’m having a hard time believing it.”

  “Well, believe it. I promise that you don’t have anything to be afraid of anymore, at least not from me.”

  He drew her to him, putting his arms around her. He pressed his lips against the side of her neck, inhaling her scent. Would he ever get enough of her?

  She wiggled away from him and stood back, resting against the counter with her arms folded across her chest. She looked down at the floor, refusing to meet his eyes.

  “I really need to get home soon, and I don’t think this is a good idea. I don’t think we should get any deeper into this.” She still wouldn’t look at him, and she turned away to turn off the stove. She filled a couple of bowls with the stew and took them over to the kitchen table.

  Nick sat down across from her and took a mouthful of the
stew. He was sure that it tasted good, but right now it was like saw dust in his mouth. He could taste nothing except bitterness on his tongue. He pushed his bowl away and sat there, watching her calmly eat spoonful after spoonful. He clenched his teeth until he thought his jaw bone would snap. The longer he looked at her eating, the more the tension inside him grew until he couldn’t hold back what was inside his head.

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean? You don’t want to get any deeper into this. Honey, we couldn’t get any deeper than we did tonight. You still don’t trust me, do you?” Nick pushed away from the table and paced the kitchen. “Even after sharing your body with me, you still don’t trust that I’m not going to betray you.”

  “Nick... ”

  “No, don’t say anything. I can see now where I stand with you, and what we did in my bed makes absolutely no difference.”

  He turned to leave the room. As he strode to the door, he heard the scrape of her chair against the kitchen floor. He paused when he felt her hand on his arm.

  “Don’t be mad Nick.”

  “Don’t be mad? How can I not be angry when you’re still pushing me away? Is this the way our relationship is going to go? One step forward and two steps back?” He shook off her hand as he stepped away from her.

  “I just need time Nick. I need to get used to the idea that our relationship is evolving into something different. I’m trying, Nick.”

  Nick blew out his breath, not sure what he should say or do. All he knew was that he wanted this woman more than any other, and for all her talk of needing time and trying, she was still pushing him away. Bottom line, she still didn’t trust him, and he didn’t know what more he could do to show her that she could.

  “I’m going to shower and go to bed. I’m not going to beg you to stay, and if you want to go home I’m not going to stop you. Just know that I don’t regret making love to you for one second, and that I have never and will never do anything to hurt you.” Nick turned on his heel and went back up the stairs.