Eternal Love: (The Cursed Series, Book 4)

by Kara Leigh Miller

I had no idea how it was possible for him to look better every time I saw him—but he did, and my mouth went dry just looking at him. My brain couldn’t process the fact that he was mine. That he loved me. My emotions were on a constant high.

  He lay next to me on the bed, careful not to spill my food. “How is it?” he asked.

  “Good. Want some?” I held the plate out to him.

  My hand trembled slightly, though I had no idea why. This was not the first time we’d been alone together, and I wasn’t nervous. But there was something in the way he looked at me, something that made my heart race with anticipation.

  “No, I’m good,” he said.

  Shrugging, I popped a fry into my mouth, then set the plate on the nightstand. “So, now what?” I asked.

  “We can do whatever you want.”

  “Oh yeah?” I grinned, nudged him over onto his back, and flung my leg over his waist, once again straddling him. I planted my hands flat on the mattress on either side of his head and peered down at him. “We could cross another item off my list,” I said.

  “I’m still not proposing,” he said, a trace of humor in his tone. “Not here. Not like this.”

  I sighed. That hadn’t even been on my mind, but now that he brought it up… “Do you know when you’re going to? Like, do you have something planned?”

  “I’m not telling you.” He laughed. “You already know I’m going to do it, so the surprise is ruined. All I have going for me is that you don’t know when or where or how, and I’m not telling you any of that, so stop asking.”

  “Fine.” I pouted. “At least tell me if you’re planning something big.”

  “You’ll find out when it happens.”

  “Whatever.” I rolled my eyes, and he laughed again. Honestly, I was glad he wasn’t telling me, or giving in to my prodding. I wanted to be surprised when he finally asked.

  “I wasn’t even talking about that anyway,” I said.

  “No?” He raised a brow. “What were you talking about then?”

  My heart jackhammered in my chest. When we’d talked about my bucket list, Trent had been clear on how he felt about every item I’d brought up, and he was especially enthusiastic about a couple of them. He’d be okay with what I wanted to do, but I was suddenly too terrified to ask him.

  “Chloe?” he said softly, placing his hands on my waist.

  I pressed my mouth over his, afraid if I didn’t do something, I’d lose my nerve. I’d never been ready to go all the way with a guy before, but I was now. Everything in me was screaming that right now was the moment, the perfect time to give Trent one of my most precious gifts—my virginity.

  “Trent?” I nipped at his jaw, and he groaned, the sound of approval spurring me on.

  “Yeah?” His voice was strangled, but his body told me everything I needed to know—he wanted this, too.

  “I’m ready,” I whispered, moving my lips down to his neck.

  He titled his head, his breath coming in shorter bursts. “You’re absolutely positive you’re ready?”

  “Yes.”

  Trent whipped me around so I was flat on my back, and I yelped with surprise. Dizziness swirled around me, and I had to blink several times to get my bearings.

  “You need to stop doing that.” I laughed.

  “Yeah, I’m not apologizing for that this time.” His smile was pure seduction and possibly the hottest thing I had ever seen. He lowered his head and captured my lips in a much too short kiss.

  Trent kissed my neck, and my pulse raced beneath his lips—I was powerless to stop it, and I didn’t really want to. I wanted him to know how I was both terrified and excited at the same time, how his very presence brought me to life in a way I’d never dreamed possible.

  He tugged at the tie holding my robe closed, exposing me to his hungry gaze. I shivered involuntarily, and he covered me with his body, instantly warming me.

  Brushing the hair from my forehead, he whispered, “I love you, Chloe.”

  “I love you, too.” I tried to sound as sure as he did, but my voice chose that moment to give out, leaving me sounding raspy.

  “If I do anything you don’t like, tell me.” He pinned me with a stare that forced an answer from me.

  “Okay.” I licked my lips. Nerves ping-ponged in my stomach. What, exactly, was he planning to do?

  “And if anything hurts, tell me. I’ll stop immediately.” He trailed his fingers down the side of my face, and I trembled with anticipation.

  The urgency he’d had a moment ago vanished, and he was slow and methodical in the way he explored my body, worshipping every inch, caressing my skin like I was a precious, breakable artifact.

  A myriad of sensations ricocheted inside of me. As soon as one sensation built, it was replaced with another, more intense feeling. My mind spun, and my body came unraveled. But still, I needed more.

  I grabbed at his robe and untied it. He took it off and flung it onto the floor, and I was awestruck by the sight of him. Chiseled muscle beneath smooth, flawless skin beckoned me, and my palms itched with the need to touch him.

  “Trent…” I said.

  He dragged his body up mine and kissed me, silencing whatever I was about to say. Not that I could remember now anyway. I threaded my fingers through his soft locks, my heart rate increasing with each flick of his tongue against mine.

  Trent stilled. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No.” I shifted beneath him, attempting to get a little more comfortable. “I want this. I want you.” My face heated with my raw honesty. I’d never said that to anyone before, but I meant it with every fiber of my being.

  Trent was so gentle and caring, acutely aware of everything about me, attuned to exactly what I wanted and needed. I couldn’t have imagined my first time being anymore perfect than it was in this very moment.

  In the dark of the room, wrapped up in our little bubble, I fully surrendered myself to him—physically and emotionally—he held my body, heart, and soul.

  SPRAWLED ACROSS TRENT’S CHEST, I fought to catch my breath. Beneath me, his heart beat a hard, steady rhythm, and I smiled at the knowledge that each beat was for me.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, smoothing the hair from my face and dropping a tender kiss on my forehead.

  “Mm-hmm,” I said, my mind and body still suspended in a daze. “I had no idea it was going to be so… intense.”

  For my first time, it was a lot better than I ever imagined it would be, and I knew without a doubt that it was so great because of Trent. He’d been so tender and gentle, yet he still managed to set me on fire with every touch.

  “Can I ask you a question?” I dragged my fingertips across his stomach, and he groaned in response, making me smile. “How many girls have you slept with?”

  “Does it matter?” His arm that he’d draped around me tightened as if he were afraid I’d get up and leave him.

  “I was just curious.” I sighed.

  “Three,” he said, his tone regretful. “Including you.”

  For some reason, I expected that number to be a lot higher, though I didn’t say that. I continued to trail my fingers across his bare stomach and chest, unable to get enough of him.

  “Was Hannah your first?” I asked, though I had no idea why.

  It wasn’t really any of my business, and I really didn’t want to hear him talk about how intimate he’d been with other women. Yet, a part of me wanted to know this about him, to know everything about him.

  “No. Hannah was my second. I was still human when I lost my virginity,” he said.

  I propped myself on my elbow and stared at him. “Seriously?”

  “Yeah. I was barely seventeen. She was a local girl.” He shook his head. “It never should’ve happened.”

  He gently grasped the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair, and he brought my mouth down to his in a long, sweet kiss that had fresh desire pooling in my belly. Was this how it was going to be from now on? Would I want to have sex every time
he kissed me?

  “But I can promise that you’re going to be my last,” he said, his gaze smoldering.

  I smiled. “Good answer.”

  Trent chuckled. “It’s getting late. We should probably get ready to go.”

  I groaned. I’d be perfectly happy to stay here with Trent, wrapped up in each other and our own little world. “I don’t want to leave,” I said.

  “I know.” He smoothed my hair from my forehead and dragged his hand down the side of my face in what was quickly become a familiar gesture. “I don’t, either, but I don’t want your aunt and uncle to get mad because I didn’t bring you home in time.”

  “You’re taking me to Ellie’s, remember?”

  “Yeah, but you still need to check in when you get there,” he said.

  I sighed, then slanted my lips over his, wishing today didn’t have to end. Even though I was looking forward to hanging out with Ellie, I really didn’t want to leave Trent.

  He hauled me over on top of him and deepened the kiss. Lust and want whipped through me, and I bore down on him. His body tensed, and he let out a deep, throaty growl that only made me want him even more.

  “We really don’t have time to do this again,” he said in between kisses. But despite his protests, he held me tighter to his body.

  “Practice makes perfect, though, right?” I said, fighting again to draw in a deep enough breath.

  “You’re killing me.” He groaned.

  Laughing, I pushed myself up enough to see his face. “Thank you,” I whispered, staring into the clear blue pools that were his eyes. “Today has been amazing.”

  “Well, you’re amazing, so…”

  Rolling my eyes, I forced myself to climb off him. “C’mon.” I pulled him into a sitting position. “You need to take me to Ellie’s or my aunt and uncle won’t ever let you take me out again.”

  “I know, but we can spare a few more minutes.” His eyes sparkled a moment before he yanked me back down onto the bed.

  I laughed, which he silenced with a passionate kiss that had my heart thrashing in my chest and my body heating with desire. “Being bonded to you is going to be brutal,” I said.

  He jerked back. “What? Why?”

  “Because I’m already so… connected to you. All I want is to be with you, to touch you and kiss you, and this bond is going to make all of that a million times worse,” I said. “That’s not a bad thing. It’s just going to be a little overwhelming.”

  Trent’s lips curved with a satisfied smile. “I’ll do whatever I can to help make it a little less overwhelming.”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure that’s possible.” I laughed and gently pushed at his chest. “C’mon, we really need to get going.”

  Twenty minutes later, I was dressed, and we were in his truck headed to Ellie’s house. When we got there, Trent walked me to the front door. Always such a gentleman.

  “I had a lot of fun today,” I said, hugging him.

  “Me too.” He hugged me back and nuzzled my neck before releasing me.

  “Hey,” Ellie said as she swung the door open. Her face was splotchy, her nose was red and puffy, her eyes were droopy, and she had a major case of bed head.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  She shook her head, then coughed. “I’m so sick.”

  I frowned. “You should really be in bed. We can have a sleepover some other time.”

  Ellie nodded and sniffled. “Thanks. I can cover for you if you want to you know…” She inclined her head at Trent.

  “Seriously?” I asked.

  She nodded, turned her head, and sneezed. Then she coughed. I cringed at how bad she sounded. Yeah, she definitely needed to go back to sleep.

  “Thanks,” I said. “I’ll call later to check on you, okay?”

  “Okay.” She gave a weak smile, then shuffled back inside the house.

  I turned to Trent. “Looks like I’m staying with you tonight.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR:

  Traitor?

  “WHAT’RE YOU DOING HERE?” WHITNEY ASKED as soon as I walked into Trent’s house. She was sitting on the couch next to Luke. Both of them held gaming controllers.

  “Ellie’s sick.” I frowned. “So, I’m crashing here tonight instead.”

  “Cool.” Whitney returned her attention to whatever game she was playing.

  Luke nodded in my direction, but he was hyper-focused on the game, too.

  Trent sat on the opposite end of the couch and motioned for me to join him. I sat and stared at the TV. Trent took my hand and laced our fingers.

  Whitney and Luke were engaged in some sort of first-person shooter game. I’d never been interested in or good at video games, but this one looked fun. They were on the same team, apparently, and had to kill as many aliens as possible, without getting shot.

  A bright yellow light flashed on the screen, and then Luke’s character vanished. He let out a loud groan and leaned back on the couch.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “I got abducted,” Luke said.

  I laughed. “You were abducted? So, what happens now?”

  “Depends.” Luke shrugged and sat up on the edge of the couch. “They’ll either kill me and then I’m out of the game. Or they’ll enhance me and drop me back into the action.”

  “Okay, then.” I shook my head.

  “Want to play?” Whitney asked.

  “Uh, no thanks.” I’d probably get abducted the second I started the game. “I’m going to go put my stuff in your room.” I kissed Trent’s cheek, then stood.

  “I can do that for you,” he said.

  “I’m sure I can manage.”

  Besides, I needed to stretch my legs. Even though I’d hiked to the top of a waterfall and a mountain today, I was too anxious to sit still. I felt like we should be doing something, but I had no idea what. Then again, being in this house when everyone else was here had my nerves on edge. I had no issues with Whitney and Luke, but what if Jax was here? I hadn’t seen him, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t here.

  I snatched my bag from where I’d dropped it next to the couch, carried it to Trent’s room, and set it on his floor. I headed back toward the living room when Jax’s bedroom door swung open. I froze, my heart in my throat.

  A girl walked out, and my jaw dropped. But she wasn’t just some girl—I knew her. She was the girl who’d let me and Jax into the pool the night we’d gone out.

  Kat.

  She was as pretty now as she had been the first time I’d seen her. Though now, she wore jeans that looked like they’d been spray painted onto her body and a tank top that was twisted in a way that had her bra peeking out from the side. Her hair was sticking up, and her face was flushed.

  I narrowed my eyes. Jax told me they were just friends, but last I knew, friends didn’t sneak out of each other’s bedrooms, disheveled and looking guilty.

  A moment later, Jax appeared behind her. Shirtless, he fisted a handful of her hair and kissed her in a way that was not suitable for public viewing. She pressed her body to his, and memories of every single time he’d kissed me like that flashed through my mind.

  The mark on my neck flamed, and I winced. Sudden intense jealousy slammed into me so hard I almost stumbled backward. I probably would have if I wasn’t so completely frozen with disbelief and anger. I wanted to rip her from his arms and scream at her that he didn’t belong to her.

  My heart thrashed at my traitorous thoughts. I took a deep breath. I had no reason to be jealous. Jax was free to do whatever he wanted. I’d chosen Trent because I loved him, and I wanted to be with him for eternity. Jax moving on was a good thing.

  “Chloe,” Jax said, his eyes wide. “I didn’t realize you were here.”

  “Obviously,” I snapped.

  “Guess that’s my cue to leave,” Kat said. “Call me later?” She winked at Jax, then gave me a small smile as she walked past me.

  “I didn’t want you—”

  I held up my hand to silence Ja
x. “I don’t care. You can do whatever and whoever you want.”

  In a flash, he was standing in front of me. “C’mon, now, we both know that’s not true, don’t we?” His eyes were dark and intense. “Though, I do find it… interesting that you’re so jealous right now.”

  “I am not.” I huffed and crossed my arms.

  Jax raised a brow.

  “Whatever.” I rolled my eyes.

  “Everything okay?” Trent asked as he walked toward me.

  His gaze was on Jax, though, and I held my breath. Please don’t let them fight. Today had been such an amazing day, and I didn’t want to ruin the night because I couldn’t control my feelings toward Jax. Or rather, because I couldn’t control the feelings the bond elicited in me.

  “Yeah, I was just telling Jax that I’m happy he’s moving on,” I said, looping my arm around Trent’s and resting my head on his bicep.

  Trent narrowed his eyes at Jax, who held up his hands in a show of surrender.

  “I wasn’t doing anything,” Jax said as he slowly backed up toward his room.

  Jax’s gaze snagged with mine, and he gave me a knowing smirk. A look that said he knew I was lying, that I was jealous, and that I still wanted him all rolled into one.

  “Sean’s home,” Trent said to me. Then to Jax, he said, “Get dressed. We need to talk.”

  My stomach sank. So much for just spending the night with Trent and enjoying the wonderful day we’d shared.

  Jax disappeared into his room, and I gazed up at Trent. “We’re telling them about Macaih?” I asked.

  Trent nodded. “We can’t hide it.” His body was tense, and his eyes were a few shades too dark. “Nothing happened?” he asked, inclining his head slightly toward Jax’s bedroom door.

  “Nothing. I promise.” But now, more than ever, I didn’t want to wait to go see Ivy. Maybe I could convince Trent to go after we talked to Sean.

  “Okay.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

  We walked into the living room. Luke was gone, and now Wyatt sat in his place. Whitney was still engrossed in the video game. Sean walked in from the kitchen. He smiled when he saw me.

  “So, what’s wrong now?” Jax asked. He shoved past Trent and flopped down in an empty chair. “That’s the only time we ever have family meetings like this.”