“No, Jessica, I mean this literally.” He cleared his throat, embarrassed. “There is a curse on me. There has been for many years.”
Jessica’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s a long story.” He hesitated. “When I was a young man, I was a fool.”
“You’re still a fool.”
“Insolent woman.” A smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. “Anyway … I lost my parents at a young age, as you know, and I was accustomed to taking care of myself. I had grown confident of my own power, and I thought I could get away with anything. On a dare, I stole something from a very powerful mage. He wasn’t pleased, to say the least. When he caught me, I thought he was going to kill me. Instead, he placed a curse on me. This mage had a rather twisted sense of humor. He said he would curse me with the very thing that young men desired above all else--a limitless sexual potency. He gave me an animal hunger for women so intense that to resist it for long enough would result in madness.”
Jessica stared at him, wide-eyed.
He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “If I don’t satisfy the need, the hunger grows. It eats at me, until I am literally more animal than man. Part of the curse is that I am unable to relieve the need myself. I need a woman. I have tried everything to master my desires. At first, I was convinced that I could learn to resist and overcome them. I tried. How I tried. I asked a friend, once, to chain me in a cell overnight, when the need was particularly intense, just to be sure I would not give in to it. The hunger grew so strong that I screamed and wept with it. I thought I would die. I begged him to release me, and he was too frightened of me not to comply.” He stared into space, his jaw clenched. “That night was the one and only time I have used my mental gifts to seduce a woman to my bed, and I vowed I would never do it again. But I was desperate. I feared what I would do if I didn’t find release soon.” He sighed. “Please believe me, Jessica, I don’t enjoy living like this. I hate being a slave to desires beyond my control. I’ve thought about taking certain, drastic measures to end the need permanently, but I am a coward at heart. I fear the knife.” A quick, mirthless smile darted across his lips. “I’ve learned how to live with it, how to manage it and control it, to an extent. But I cannot hold out forever. In the end, the need always wins.”
She drew in a breath slowly. “Is there any way to end the curse?”
He shook his head. “Like your curse, it can only be undone by the one who inflicts it. I once tried to approach the mage, to beg him for mercy, but he only laughed at me. The only way to escape it is through death.”
“Dear God. I never knew.”
“How could you? I never told you the truth. I dare not let the world know about this weakness, for I have enemies, and I’m certain they would find some way to use it to their advantage. It is easier, safer, to let people believe I’m simply an irresponsible playboy with an appetite for flesh.”
Jessica bit her lower lip. She was silent for a few minutes, thinking, trying to absorb all that she had learned. “This curse, this hunger, does it mean that you must sleep with many women?”
“Not necessarily.”
“Then why? Why do you not simply choose a mate? Wouldn’t it be easier?”
“Because,” he said quietly, “you are the only woman I have ever wanted as my mate. And I was afraid to tell you the truth about my curse.”
“But why?”
He shrugged. “It’s humiliating. A true man is not a helpless slave to his own lust. A true man is the master of his desires. I am only an animal.”
“No. Victor was an animal. He did not even try to fight his twisted urges. He embraced them. You have done everything in your power to master your desires. It isn’t your fault if the curse is simply too strong. I know, from personal experience, how strong and how devastating a curse can be.” Her eyes searched his face. “You understand,” she said, “that if I did agree to be your mate, you would have to be faithful to me, curse or no curse?”
“My appetites are voracious,” he warned her.
She raised an eyebrow. “You think I wouldn’t be able to handle it?”
“I don’t know. I fear it would prove to be a bit much for any one woman to handle.”
“Oh, really. What do you take me for, some delicate china doll that will break if you handle her too roughly?” She slid a finger down his cheek. “You really are arrogant. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’ve been told that once or twice.” He raised his eyes, meeting hers. “I’m serious, Jessica. I’m afraid I would hurt you.”
“What about all those other women? You weren’t afraid of hurting them?”
“They were the kind of women who liked roughness. I made sure of that ahead of time.”
“How do you know I’m not?”
“Because I know you, Jessica. I know you are far gentler and more sensitive than you would like most people to believe. I am capable of tenderness at times, when the need has been sated, but when the need grows too strong … I fear the consequences.”
She slid a hand into his hair, gripping it tightly. “I think I’m up to the challenge.”
“Jessica….” He leaned closer, his lips brushing hers. He felt her mouth soften beneath his as he pressed more firmly against it, savoring the kiss like wine, paying special attention to her full, soft bottom lip. It was silky warmth, yielding and sweet. He tugged it gently between his teeth, and a small, soft moan escaped her throat.
Gently, he pushed her to the bed. He trailed kisses over her pale throat, her collarbones, and then forced himself to pull back. She wasn’t strong enough yet. She needed to rest.
As he started to stand, though, she gripped his arms, pulling him back down to the bed.
“Please.” The word escaped her in a whispered rush of air. Her breasts heaved beneath her shirt. “Touch me.”
“Are you sure?”
Her small, even teeth pressed into her lower lip, and for a moment, the skin between her brows knitted with uncertainty. But she nodded.
He covered her body with his and kissed her cheeks, her forehead, and her lips. He slid his fingers behind her neck, massaging her nape in slow circles. His tongue lightly traced her ear, slipped briefly inside it.
Her nipples had begun to harden, pushing against the soft fabric of her shirt. He circled one with a fingertip, and then slid his hand beneath her shirt, until his palm found the warm, satin fullness of her breast. He cupped it, and then brushed his thumb over the bud of her nipple. Her breathing quickened.
“Do you want me to undress you, Jessica?” he whispered, his lips moving close to her ear.
“Yes,” she breathed.
Slowly, he slid her shirt off, unbuttoned her jeans, pulled them down, and slid a finger beneath the waistband of her panties. His finger brushed her moist furrow, then probed deeper, into the hot, slick silk of her folds. He found the opening to her sex and teased it, stroking it slowly, watching her mouth fall open, her back arch, listening to the soft, gasping breath of pleasure that escaped her.
He slid her panties down, exposing her sex. Fingers trembling slightly with anticipation, he undid his belt and pulled down his pants and underwear. Her eyes focused on his huge, hard cock, and her tongue crept out to wet her lips. Slowly, she reached out and slid her soft fingertips along its length. A low, hoarse moan rose from his throat. He closed his eyes as those fingers caressed him, and then curled around his cock, sliding up and down the thick column.
He caught her wrist in his hand, and she looked up at him, her eyes wide open. He stared into them. “Let me into your mind, Jessica,” he whispered. It was a command and a plea, wrapped into one.
She hesitated. Her eyes grew a little wider.
“Please,” he whispered.
Slowly, she nodded. Her brilliant, amber-gold eyes seemed to be the only thing in the world. He allowed himself to fall into them, through them, submerging his mind within hers. He felt her need, her fear. His thumb brushed her cheek. �
��Do you want this?”
“Yes,” she breathed.
He positioned himself over her and pushed apart her trembling thighs. The tip of his cock pressed against the entrance to her sex. Still looking into her eyes, his thoughts intertwined with hers, he pushed forward. Her heat engulfed him. She was so hot, so tight. He felt her body arch beneath his, rising up to meet him as he pushed deeper. Her soft moans fed the flames of his need. He tangled his hands in her hair, growling softly, deep in his throat, as he pushed harder and faster into her, needing more, needing to take her harder, deeper.
He forced himself to slow down, to push aside the feverish need and control his pace.
Through their mental link, he felt her pleasure and enhanced it, allowing her to feel his pleasure, as well, the joy of burying himself in the heated silk of her body.
He heard her breathing quicken, felt her fingers tightening in his hair as she neared her climax. Her eyes were closed, her mouth open and gasping. She cried out, once, and then went limp, her breasts heaving and glistening with sweat. Her eyes were unfocused, dreamy and half-closed.
He was perilously close to losing his control. The beast rose within him, demanding satisfaction. He trembled with the effort of holding it back. At last, with a cry, he let go and bit down, hard, on her shoulder. She gasped, tensing beneath him. He growled softly and tangled his fingers in her hair, gripping tightly, as he thrust into her again and again, pounding mercilessly into her body until he came. Panting, he pulled out of her and lay by her side, pulling her into his arms. “Jessica, are you….”
“I’m all right,” she whispered, though her voice trembled slightly.
He looked at the mark on her shoulder, where his teeth had nearly penetrated the skin.
There would be a bruise. He touched it lightly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“It’s all right, Richard.” Her fingers smoothed his hair back from his brow. “How often…?” She trailed off.
“Yes?” he prompted.
“How often do you have to?”
“It varies. Sometimes I can withstand the need for a week or more. Sometimes I cannot last through the day without relieving it. It’s like hunger. You can go a day without eating, if you wish, but you pay a price. Try to go more than a day, and it becomes unbearable. When I don’t, it … weakens me.” He sighed. His eyes were weary. “Do you see why I did not want you to find out about this?”
She frowned. “You should have told me much sooner. I would have understood your behavior.” She touched his cheek, trailing her cool, smooth fingers over the rough stubble of his jaw.
He closed his eyes, savoring the touch. “But now that you know,” he said, “can you ever accept me as a mate, knowing what it would mean for you?”
She laughed breathlessly. “Richard, what we just did together is hardly a chore.”
He didn’t smile. “Sometimes it is hard for me to control myself,” he said.
“You could never hurt me, Richard. I understand that now.”
He stared at her, and his yellow eyes seemed to glow in the dim light. “Then you accept me?” His voice was low, husky.
Her heartbeat quickened. “Yes,” she breathed.
Slowly, he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingertips, one by one, his eyes never leaving hers. She felt the heat of his mouth, the wetness, as he slid one of her fingers between his lips and nipped it lightly. Then, slowly, he pushed her to the bed and pressed his mouth to hers. “You are my mate.” He spoke the words softly, his lips moving close to her ear. It was as if he were speaking the words of a magic spell to bind them together.
She slid her fingers into his hair and repeated the words, just as softly. “You are my mate, Richard.”
They lay together in a warm tangle of limbs, their skin flushed and damp with sweat.
Jessica’s eyes were closed as she savored the feeling of Richard’s hand stroking her hair and back. He was right, she realized. She had been deprived of touch for far too long. She hadn’t realized just how much she was missing out on. A smile touched her lips as she felt a deep, rumbling vibration in Richard’s chest. “I hear you purring.”
“Mm?”
“You’re not a tiger. You’re just a big housecat,” she teased.
“Oh, am I?” He rolled over, trapping her beneath him, smiling as he looked down into her eyes.
“Yes, you are. You’re not really so fierce.” She trailed a finger down his chest, her eyes sparkling.
He caught her finger between his teeth and gazed down at her, his eyes half-lidded, yellow fire. She felt the heat and moisture of his tongue and shivered with pleasure. Releasing her finger, he slowly trailed kisses down her body, between her breasts, over her smooth stomach, ending just over the nest of curls between her thighs. His breath caressed the sensitive flesh. “A housecat, am I?” His voice was low, smooth, like oiled silk.
Her breathing had quickened. “Yes,” she said breathlessly. It was becoming a struggle to form words. “That’s exactly what you … oh,” she gasped softly as his tongue darted out, flicking lightly against her clitoris.
He smiled wickedly and traced patterns on her thigh with one fingertip. His tongue traced the moist furrow of her sex, lightly, teasingly. “You’re aroused again,” he said. His voice had dropped even lower. It resonated deep in his chest. He lowered his head, breathing in, inhaling her scent. When he looked up again, the teasing smile was gone. He stared at her, his eyes intent, burning with heat and hunger. His hand covered her mound possessively, his hard, calloused palm pressing against the wet silk of her folds, making her dizzy with need. “Will you let me show you what I can do with my power?” he whispered. “How good I can make it for you? I can give you pleasure beyond anything you’ve ever imagined.”
She smiled. “Arrogant as ever,” she whispered breathlessly.
He squeezed her plump mound, and she gasped. His thumb pushed between her thick outer lips, into her folds, then deeper, into her wet core, caressing it, claiming it. “Let me,” he said. There was urgency in his voice, his eyes. His thumb was still deep inside her. It probed, sought out her most sensitive spot, and stroked.
Heart pounding, Jessica nodded. His hand withdrew, and he positioned himself over her, his eyes burning into hers. She felt his mind within hers at the same moment he slid into her wetness. Her eyes slipped shut, and a moment later, she was drowning in pleasure. She felt as if she were soaring, as if he were carrying her through the sky, above the clouds, taking her to heights of ecstasy she had never dreamed possible. She was dimly aware of herself moaning, of Richard’s huge body over hers, his skin dripping with sweat as he thrust into her again and again, each stroke carrying her higher. When she came, it was like a burst of pure light inside her mind, a sharp, hot point of pleasure deep in her body.
She collapsed to the bed, panting and drenched with sweat. Richard collapsed beside her, pulling her close to him. She felt his heart pounding against the wall of his broad chest. “I love you, Jessica,” he whispered. His arms tightened around her.
“I love you,” she whispered back. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone had spoken those words to her. Not since the loss of her parents had anyone made her feel so cherished, so safe. She felt a tear slide down her cheek. “I’ve been alone so long. I almost thought I had forgotten how to love.”
Richard licked it away and nuzzled her cheek softly. “You never forget something like that,” he whispered. “But I swear to you, Jessica, you will never be alone in the world again. Not while I breathe. I will protect you always.”
She opened her mouth to tell him that she was quite capable of protecting herself, and had been doing it for years now. But he kissed her then, savagely and tenderly, and after a moment, she couldn’t even remember what she’d been about to say.
The End
Cursed Page 7