Eternal Love: (The Cursed Series, Book 4)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “Well, duh.”

  He laughed, then pushed himself off me and stood, the simple act so incredibly graceful it was anything but ordinary. I leaned up on my elbows and watched him, loving the way he moved.

  “Are you leaving?” I asked.

  Trent sat on the bed, hand propped on the other side of my hip so he had me boxed in. “Do you want me to leave?”

  I shook my head. “You have to behave though.” I fought not to smile.

  “I’m pretty sure you’re the one who started that.”

  I laughed. “Clearly, you have a very short memory.”

  “Whatever.” He nudged my leg. “C’mon, move over, bed hog.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him, then scooted over to make space, and he settled on his back next to me. Without hesitation, I cuddled up next to him, my head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around me, and I knew we’d end up getting physical again—we couldn’t ever seem to stop ourselves.

  “So, is there anything else you want to add to this list?” he asked after a moment, his voice soft in the quiet room.

  “Yes, but you’re not going to like it.”

  I already knew how he felt about it, and I was pretty sure he hadn’t changed his mind, especially after everything that had happened. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything; it could erupt into another argument.

  “Try me,” he said.

  A flutter of nerves twisted in my gut. “I want you to bite me,” I whispered.

  Trent was deathly still beneath me, and the arm he’d had wrapped around me loosened. “You want me to bite you?” His voice was oddly detached and sounded far away.

  I shouldn’t have said anything, but it was too late now. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  I swallowed hard, unsure how to explain myself without upsetting him. “You told me once that getting bitten causes a very physical reaction, and you weren’t lying.” I hesitated, trying hard not to get swept up in those memories. “I… liked those rush of feelings when…” I cleared my throat. “I want to know what it will be like with you, with someone I love. And…”

  “And what?” There was a sharp edge to his tone.

  “And I want you to experience this with me, too.”

  “Why?”

  He wasn’t going to make this easy, was he? I knew how he felt about biting for pleasure, but I didn’t realize he was so set against it. Besides, this was just some stupid game anyway. It’s not like any of it would ever actually happen.

  “Never mind. Forget it,” I said.

  “No, I want to know why this is on your list. Why is me biting you so important to you, Chloe?” His body relaxed just a little, and he tightened his arm around me.

  “Because I feel like I shared something with Jax that I shouldn’t have, that I gave him a piece of me that should have been yours. I guess I just want to try to fix it so I can leave my human life with no regrets.”

  “You do know I have to bite you to change you, right? And to claim you.” There was a hint of playfulness back in his voice.

  “Yeah, but it’s not the same, and you know it,” I said.

  I sounded like a spoiled child, and regret filled me. The last thing I wanted to do was make Trent do something he really didn’t want to do. Or to make him feel bad for that fact that he couldn’t do it even if he wanted to. Suddenly, this game was no longer fun.

  “Is claiming you something you want to happen while you’re still human?” he asked.

  “Does that matter?” I asked, genuinely curious. “I mean, does that make a difference for you? Can you still claim me if I’m a vampire? Or do I need to be human?”

  “It doesn’t matter for us,” he said. “But…”

  My stomach knotted. I had a bad feeling whatever he was about to say wasn’t going to be good. “But what?” I asked.

  “My instinct is to claim you, and that instinct is as natural as yours is to breathe. The first time I were to bite you, it’s going to be because I’m claiming you. I won’t be able to stop myself,” he said, his voice calm despite his now tense muscles.

  “Oh,” I said. “Then we can add claiming me to my human bucket list.” I dragged my fingertips up and down his chest.

  “Chloe,” he warned.

  I jerked my hand back. “Sorry.”

  “I should probably go.”

  “Probably.” I sighed. “But I don’t want you to.”

  “I know.” He kissed the top of my head again. “But we don’t need to get caught. And neither of us have any self-control, apparently.”

  “You’re not mad, are you?” I wouldn’t be able to stand it if he left here mad at me.

  He caressed my cheek with the back of his hand, a tender smile on his face. “No, I’m not mad.”

  Relief settled over me as I followed him to the window. He opened it effortlessly and then turned back to give me a kiss goodbye.

  “Thanks for sneaking into my room,” I said.

  Nodding, he draped one leg over the windowsill, and I grabbed his arm before he could jump out. “Wait. Is there anything you would want to do with me while I was still human?” I asked.

  “Yeah.” A slow, seductive grin curved his lips. “I’m going to find a way to get that mark off your neck, and then I’m going to cross off every item on your list.”

  My eyes widened.

  “Then I’m going to change you, because I am not willing to give up an eternity with you.” And then he disappeared out my window.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

  A Few of My Favorite Things

  THE FOLLOWING DAY AT SCHOOL, THINGS were back to normal. Trent was waiting for me at my locker, and he met me between classes, constantly holding my hand and giving me kisses. When he acted that way, it was easy to forget the impossible odds stacked against us.

  “So, I see you and Trent made up,” Ellie said as she fell into step beside me. We walked into the cafeteria together.

  “Yeah, we did.” I smiled, and my gaze was immediately drawn to Trent.

  He sat at our usual table, surrounded by our friends. He laughed at something someone said, and my smile widened.

  Before I’d changed my mind about becoming a vampire, I’d been content with spending my human life with him. With time, I could get back to being okay with that. I had to, because forever was better than nothing, and forever was all we’d ever have. Unless I agreed to Ivy’s deal and took a leap of faith that Trent and I would figure out a way to change me without risking his life.

  “I’m happy,” Ellie said, drawing my attention back to her. “Does this mean the sleepover is back on for Saturday?”

  I laughed. “Absolutely.”

  “Good. My parents’ retreat got cancelled last weekend because of some freak tropical storm, so they’re going somewhere different this weekend, which means we have the house all to ourselves.” She giggled.

  “Awesome.”

  We approached the table, and Ellie claimed her seat next to Nick. I was really glad those two got together and were doing well. It was clear they liked each other a lot.

  Trent pulled me down onto his lap. “Can you come over after school today?” he asked.

  Excitement swelled inside of me. The thought of going home with Trent was always enticing, but knowing we’d just made up, being with him was twice as amazing. It’s like we had all this lost time to make up for, even though it had only been three days.

  The urge to be with him all the time, to constantly be touching him was beginning to overwhelm me. If we let Ivy transfer the bond, these urges would intensify. I’d crave Trent more than I already did. Could I handle that?

  A very large part of me wanted to find out. If I reacted to being bonded to Trent the same way I reacted to Jax… My entire body flushed with warmth. Was it suddenly hot in here?

  “Chloe?” Trent said, gently nudging me.

  “Sorry. Yeah, I can text my aunt and ask her.”

  He tilted his head, studying me with inquisitive eyes. “What were you t
hinking about?”

  “Nothing,” I said a little too quickly and then kissed him.

  Something cold hit the side of my face and then quickly disappeared, and I jerked away from Trent. A slice of cheese lay on my leg.

  I pinched it between my fingers and dropped it onto the table. “Who just threw this at me?”

  Whitney giggled, then Abby, followed by Ellie. I glared at the three of them, which only made them laugh harder. “I hate all of you,” I said around my own laughter.

  “You’ve got plans with us today,” Whitney said.

  “I do?” I didn’t remember making plans with them.

  Ellie nodded. “You do as of five minutes ago.”

  “Yeah, so stop trying to steal her away from us.” Abby pointed at Trent. “I already talked to Mom,” she said to me. “So we’re good to go.”

  Go where? Was it some big secret or something?

  “Uh, okay.” I still had no idea what we were doing or why, but I was kind of afraid to tell them no now. “Sorry,” I said to Trent. “Guess I’m already busy today.”

  “That’s okay,” he said. “Are you going to let me take you out Saturday?”

  “That depends. Where are you taking me?”

  “Does it matter?” His eyes sparkled.

  I rolled my eyes. “You can never just give me a straight answer, can you?” I sighed. “Yes, I’ll go out with you Saturday, but I’m spending the night with Ellie, so you’ll have to drop me off there when we’re done.”

  “I’m so happy you two worked things out,” Ellie said, her voice dreamy. “You guys are so perfect together.”

  I glanced at her and smiled. She had her elbows propped on the table, her chin in her hands.

  “Yeah, well, there’s nothing in this world that can keep me away from her for too long,” he said. Trent addressed his comment to the table, but his heated gaze lingered on me, and my breath hitched.

  The bell rang before I could say anything in response, and disappointment landed in my gut. I hated leaving Trent, even if it was only for the duration of a class.

  “Meet me at my locker at the end of the day,” Abby said as we left the cafeteria.

  “Okay,” I said. Trent and I walked to my locker. “Sorry we can’t hang out.” I stopped and fiddled with my lock, trying to get it to open.

  “We could always skip.” He leaned against his locker. “I can make sure you’re back in time to meet Abby.”

  “Let’s go,” I said without hesitation.

  I LEANED OVER TRENT, again, to look at the clock on his nightstand—1:49 PM. We’d been at his house for almost an hour now, and we were going to have to head back to school soon so I could meet up with Abby. I was tempted to text her and tell her I couldn’t go wherever it was she, Whitney, and Ellie wanted to go.

  “It’s exactly two minutes later than the last time you looked,” Trent said.

  Sighing, I folded my hands on his chest, rested my chin on my hands, and peered up at him. “I just don’t want to leave. Lounging in bed with you like this is one of my favorite things to do.” Just being close to him was euphoric and calming.

  Trent tucked one hand behind his head. “Oh yeah?” He gave me an arrogant smile. “What else is on your favorite things to do list?”

  “Watching movies. Every Wednesday, Mom and I would binge watch horror movies and eat pizza. On Sundays, we’d spend the entire day watching rom-coms and chick flicks. It was our way of decompressing.” I smiled wistfully at the memories.

  Trent rubbed my back, the feeling hypnotic. “What’s your favorite movie?”

  I looked at him like he was crazy. “You really expect me to pick just one? That’s impossible.”

  “All right. Pick one of each type, then.”

  “Well, my favorite horror movie has to be Nightmare on Elm Street. That was the first one I ever watched with my mom. She thought it wasn’t so bad and would be a good one to ease me into.” I laughed. “I had nightmares and then refused to sleep alone for weeks. Mom thought it was hilarious that her tween daughter was sleeping with her.”

  Trent smiled, his eyes twinkling with humor and warmth. “What else?”

  “Gone with the Wind was one of Mom’s favorites. We watched it every year on her birthday, and we’d cry like babies.” I shifted positions and lay next to Trent, my head resting comfortably on his chest.

  He curled his arm around me and caressed my arm.

  “But my absolute favorite movie is Sweet Home Alabama.” I sighed. “Have you ever seen it?”

  “No.”

  I gasped with fake shock. “It’s the best movie ever.”

  “What’s so great about it?” he asked, laughter lifting his tone.

  “Everything,” I said emphatically. “It’s funny, but the romance.” I sighed dreamily. “The chemistry they have on screen… the way they pretend to hate each other, but you know they don’t just by the way they look at each other… the lengths they go to be together… You’re just going to have to watch it and find out.” My explanation wasn’t doing it any justice.

  “Fair enough.”

  We were silent for a few moments, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the way his fingers stroked up and down my arm.

  “I’ve always liked Jerry McGuire,” he said.

  “Ugh. Of course, you’d like a sports movie,” I teased.

  “It’s not a sports movie.” He laughed. “Have you ever seen it?”

  “No, but I’ve heard enough about it to know it’s probably not something I’d like.”

  “I’ll watch your favorite movie if you watch mine. Deal?”

  I tilted my head to look at him. “Deal.”

  Which meant someday soon, I was going to get to have a movie day with Trent, and I couldn’t wait for that to happen. I could already picture it—me and him curled up right here in his bed, watching movies, snuggling, me crying, because I always cried during Sweet Home Alabama. Trent would hold me tighter and kiss me.

  “Is that what you have planned for Saturday?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “You’re still not going to tell me what we’re doing?”

  “Nope.”

  I playfully jabbed him in the side, and he laughed. Then he flipped me over, pinning me beneath him. Slowly, his lips came down on mine in a tender kiss.

  “Tell me more,” he said.

  “More what?”

  “Of your favorite things. What’s your favorite color?”

  “Red.” I refused to let my thoughts wander to what that color symbolized or who it reminded me of. In my defense, though, I’d always liked that color, long before I ever knew Jax. “Yours?”

  “Blue. Favorite song?”

  “Don’t have one.”

  He pulled back slightly, eyes narrowed with disbelief. “You don’t have a favorite song?”

  I shook my head. “I like all sorts of music, so it’s hard to pick just one song. My favorite band is Black Veil Brides.”

  Trent frowned. “Right. The concert with what’s-his-face.”

  “Simon.”

  Trent’s frown morphed into a scowl. I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled up, and I pressed my lips together. He had no reason to be threatened by Simon, then or now. But I understood his jealousy—I’d seen red when he’d been hanging out with Simon’s sister, Olivia. Of course, back then, I hadn’t known he was doing it just to get closer to me.

  “You think this is funny?” he asked. “You have no idea how many times I thought about killing him.”

  I couldn’t control my laughter a moment longer, and I giggled, cupping my hand over my mouth. Eventually, Trent relaxed, and a gorgeous smile graced his lips.

  “Sorry,” I said, gasping for breath. “Simon is the least threatening person I’ve ever known.”

  He shook his head with amusement. “I don’t know what it is about that guy, but I can’t stand him.”

  “Well, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.” I ran my fingers through his hair, and he t
ilted his head, leaning into my touch. Not wanting to ruin what little time we had left with talk of another guy, I asked, “What’s your favorite band?”

  “Aerosmith.”

  “Who?” I asked, my expression dead serious.

  Trent blinked slowly as if he couldn’t comprehend that I didn’t know who Aerosmith was. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from laughing, but the look on his face was too much.

  “Chloe!” he said, a playful warning in his tone. And then he tickled my sides.

  Squealing, I squirmed in a useless attempt to get away from him. “Trent,” I pleaded, out of breath and laughing way too hard to be coherent. “Stop. I’m sorry. Aerosmith is the greatest band ever!” I gasped around bouts of giggles.

  Finally, Trent stopped tickling me. His eyes were clearer and sharper and bluer than I’d ever seen them, and suddenly, I couldn’t catch my breath for an entirely different reason.

  “I love the sound of your laugh,” he said, his gaze roaming my face like he was trying to memorize me. “The only thing I like more is the sound of your voice when you say you love me.”

  “I love you,” I whispered.

  A throaty, satisfied groan rumbled from his chest. “You are so beautiful, Chloe.” He grazed the back of his hand down my cheek, his skin cool against my heated face.

  My face was already flushed from laughing so hard, but I’d bet anything it was even redder now. He was never stingy with his compliments, but the way he was talking now, the sincerity and wonder in his tone had my heart fluttering like crazy.

  “If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?” I asked.

  “For you to have your mom back.”

  Of all the answers he could have given, that wasn’t anywhere on my list of guesses. “Don’t say things like that.” Tears stung my eyes.

  “Why not? It’s the truth.”

  “Because you’re going to make me cry, and I’m so tired of crying all the time.” I pressed the heels of my hands against my eyes and blew out a long, slow breath. “Besides, I asked what you wanted. Not what you wanted for me.”

  He chuckled and gently pulled my hands from my eyes. “I already have everything I want,” he said, kissing my knuckles.