Lifted Curse

by Owens, C. M.

  “What did I do?” he muses suspiciously.

  I smirk as I pull his lips down to meet mine, and I feel his bemused smile behind the kiss as he pulls me closer. His tongue lightly dances in my mouth, and my hands latch onto the back of his neck as I start pulling him toward the bedroom. It’s not soundproof in there, but they’re hybrids… they’ll understand.

  “What did I do?” he chuckles out as I shut the door to the bedroom.

  “What you always do,” I murmur vaguely while pulling him to the bed.

  His confusion grows, but he doesn’t question the reasons why I want to ravage him. He simply falls into the moment while sliding my shirt over my head. His soft lips roll down my chest as his teeth lightly graze my skin. I gasp as my pants begin sliding down, and his lips cover me in his place of refuge.

  His tongue plays back and forth, and I latch onto his hair as the stimulation grows more surreal. He tugs at my sensitive area with his incredibly soft lips while circling his tongue. The surreal feelings are beyond tantalizing, and I grip him more as he holds my hips down to force me to absorb each twisting motion of divine pleasure.

  His hands slide up to my breasts momentarily before returning to my hips when I begin squirming too much. I feel him smiling against me, and then his expertise down there shines when the quickening within me threatens to force the shattering effect.

  I tug at his hair as my fingers tangle in it, and I wiggle around all the more as he fights to still me. His lips and tongue work together as his breath heats me. The cool air rushes in a little more noticeably when he takes a breath, and each exhaled one brings back the warmth.

  My breaths grow coarse, and my moans mingle with my pants as my breath finally does escape me. I grip him tighter to me, and then I gasp out my release when it’s too hard to scream. His lips smile again as he kisses the insides of my quivering thighs, and he slowly rolls up my body with those devilishly perfect lips.

  His kiss devours me the moment he reaches my mouth, and he grips my body to his before I push him onto his back. He smirks as I play the slow game of seduction, and my tongue drags down his chest, to his stomach, and then his glorious erection.

  His breath hitches when I slide his pants down, and my mouth slowly rolls over the tip. He moans as I slide my lips down to his base, and then I gingerly pull back before repeating the motion with perfect finesse.

  “Damn, I love your mouth,” he exhales.

  I love yours too, but mine is too full to say so right now.

  I smile lightly as my motion quickens, and he grips my hair as he starts slamming me against him. I’m not ready for this game to be over just yet, so I use my gift to pin him down as I drag out the slower motion.

  “Fuck. That’s not fair,” he breathes.

  I smirk as I continue to torment him lightly, and he does his best to free himself from the invisible restraints. I relish his moans of ecstasy, and despite my slowed motion, I suddenly feel his warmth filling my mouth. I swallow his delicious taste, and then my lips find his as I continue to smile against him.

  “One week,” I murmur against his lips as he pulls my body over his.

  “One week for what?” he asks while distracted by our heated bodies rolling against each other.

  “I want to get married in one week.”

  He jerks me back to look at me, and it seems like he’s scared to be excited.

  “Please tell me I heard you right,” he almost prays.

  “Yes,” I giggle. “Unless you don’t want-”

  He rips me back to his lips to silence the rest of the unnecessary sentence, and I smile bigger against the kiss as his exuberance shines through. He thrusts into me with his new erection, and I gasp as the power of his body owns mine.

  His sliding motions force my body to bend and fold with pleasure as a few moans escape. My back arches to bring my ribs to his, finding the skin on skin feeling I love so much. He flips me to be underneath him, and then his lips tackle mine harder as his punishing rhythm picks up.

  His strokes aren’t calculated, teasing, or dawdling in the least. I can feel his genuine excitement, and my erratic breaths rattle out as I grip him tighter. My heart pounds as my eyes gaze upon the incredible, sculpted body sliding in and out of mine, and each blistering gasp of air is divine.

  His lips find my neck as his head presses into the pillow beside me, and he jerks my hips to make me meet his ruthless but exquisite thrusts. I’m still captivated by him after so many years, and I’m ready to spend my life in the arms that never let me go.

  I start to scream, and his hand presses over my mouth to muffle my show of climax. I feel his warmth spreading inside me as he follows, filling me with a piece of himself. He smiles as he gently slides his hand over to press those menacing lips against mine.

  “What did I do?” he asks again, and I laugh at his adorable heaps of confusion mingling with his uncontainable excitement. “I want to know so I can do it again.”

  “I love you,” I murmur while yet again denying him the answer he seeks.

  “I love you, baby,” he says with a salacious grin, and he starts kissing me wildly all over in a way that evokes my laughter.

  We can hear a knocking against the front door, and Hale lets a chuckle free at the thin walls that have barely separated us from the other hybrid couple.

  “My wallet is on the table,” Hale shouts while stifling a laugh.

  “Got it,” Grayson murmurs with casual nonchalance.

  “Let’s go grab our food,” he mutters while grinning. “Then I’ll take you shopping. You’ll need a dress and anything else you want.”

  “I can buy my own dress,” I giggle out.

  “I want to buy it. I want to buy everything,” he says too enthusiastically while standing to pull his pants back up.

  I just laugh in defeat while pulling on my own clothes, and I smile as he pulls me into his arms before gingerly kissing me.

  “One week,” he says, and his smile grows too big for his face.

  “One week,” I utter in a goofy tone.

  One week.

  Chapter 9

  Wedding Day Nightmares

  The sun dances on the sandy grounds being stirred by the winds. I smile when I see Hale laughing with a man below, and his eyes look up to the window to catch my spying. He gives me a wink before returning to his casual conversation, and I lean against the frame when I realize I can’t take my eyes off him.

  His dark hair is tousled with a seductive edge, his hybrid blue eyes glisten so beautifully I can see them from all the way up here, and his pristine ensemble is tailored to fit him in the sexiest way possible.

  He looks back up, and his grin grows a little bashful when he sees my gawking gaze of adoration still fixated on him. I let a shy smile of my own free, and he starts walking toward the building when he sees I can’t look away.

  I sigh happily as I walk through to pull my shoes on.

  One more day.

  As soon as I emerge from the bedroom, Hale is walking in with his silly grin still intact. He walks over to pull me into his arms, and those perfect eyes hold me captive.

  “Tomorrow, baby,” he utters so sweetly.

  “Tomorrow,” I giggle out.

  His lips grip mine as he pulls me to his incredible body I love to feel. I smile behind the delicious kiss when he lifts me up to carry me toward the door.

  “Can I please see your dress?” he murmurs against my lips.

  “Absolutely. You can see it all you want to tomorrow.”

  He chuckles lightly while rolling his eyes, and then puts me down so we walk out of the apartment hand in hand on our way to meet Clay.

  “Did he ever say why he needed to speak with us?” I ask as I think back to the urgent tone in his voice yesterday.

  “No. He left to meet with the Hershian officials about… a replacement, and you heard the same thing I did. He just said he had to speak with both of us as soon as he got back. Angelica, Grayson, and Brazen will be there a
s well.”

  “I’m sorry about your having to be around Brazen so much. I know that can’t be too comfortable,” I sigh.

  “It’s only uncomfortable sometimes, but you chose me. You’re marrying me tomorrow. I want you to be taken care of when my span ends, and I’m almost glad-”

  My lips attack his to silence the words he’s trying to speak.

  “Never talk like that. I never want you thinking he’s just waiting on your span to end. I don’t even want to think about you ever leaving me,” I whimper, and his lips close back over mine again as his hands tangle in my hair.

  “You still want me?” he murmurs softly, and I smile as my lips stroke the side of his neck.

  “Yes. Always.”

  He picks me back up while walking toward his office where Clay has requested we meet him. I can’t stop smiling, and I couldn’t be happier. There’s nothing in this world that can sour this moment no matter how hard it tries.

  My feet find the ground again when his office comes into view along with the pale blue eyes staring at our interlocked fingers as he walks up to hold the door open for us. Hale shifts a little awkwardly as Brazen glares at me with a menacing smirk because he’s constantly thinking of the day when Hale won’t be around to contend with. The morbid fascination only irritates me, and I hope he stops taunting Hale with it very soon.

  “What’s up?” Hale asks casually as he shuts the door to the office.

  Everyone is calm, collected, and casual except for Clay who looks to have not slept for three days. He paces wildly back and forth while chewing on his fingernails that barely exist anymore. Hale’s body tenses because he knows it has to be bad if Clay is this freaked out.

  “For fuck’s sake, just tell us what’s going on, Clay,” Hale demands as he grows frustrated from the suspense.

  “I don’t even know how to start,” Clay almost whispers as his remaining color flees, leaving him a ghostly white.

  “What the hell?” Brazen prompts.

  “I should have probably spoken to just Araya and Hale first, but this is a really big deal. Everyone will have to keep this incredibly quiet - beyond quiet. You can’t even whisper about this until I figure out a way to make it work.”

  “Make what work?” I muse as I curl into Hale’s arms.

  “Araya, the new samples of blood I took from you the other day, did anyone touch them besides you?”

  “No. Why? Is something wrong with me?” I panic.

  He sighs as he slumps down to a chair, and he grabs his head as though it aches with the strain Atlas felt when he held the world on his shoulders.

  “I don’t know how to say this. I never thought these words would leave my mouth, but, Araya… you’re… you’re pregnant.”

  Ice seems to fill the room when my own breaths chill me to the core. Hale doesn’t move. He feels petrified just as I do while time passes us by. Brazen’s eyes are just as wide, but Grayson seems confused as the three of us remain frozen by the words I never thought possible to hear.

  “How is she pregnant? Hybrids can’t have children,” Grayson objects.

  “I know they’re not supposed to be able to bear children. Her blood is different though, and she’s barely over a week pregnant. Her blood heals, and Hale has been drinking it in heavy doses for a long, long time. Not to mention, in her savage state her blood changes. I’ve never analyzed it in phase three since she’s only been there once, but it’s possible it healed her dormant womb and made her able to bear a child while making Hale fertile.”

  “Fucking shit,” Brazen exasperates while gripping his head. “You’re sure about this?”

  “I’m positive.”

  I stumble when I start to fall, and Angelica catches me before I hit the ground. Hale is still frozen, ashen, and damn near trembling.

  “They’ll be after her if they find out. They’ll want that baby, not to mention everyone else. A hybrid child being born from a hybrid… they’ll never accept it,” Angelica murmurs to Brazen and Clay while my incoherent hybrid stares blankly at the wall.

  “I have to get her out of here until the child is born. We’ll think of something after that,” Hale’s hoarse tone rattles free, finally acknowledging Clay’s bomb drop.

  “We have a few months before she will start showing. If you leave now, it’ll raise suspicion when you’re gone for nine months. We need to stay together. Go forth with the wedding as planned. Live your lives as though nothing has changed, and I will send you on detail together for a few months when Araya can’t hide her bump any longer.”

  Bump? Oh fuck. I can’t be pregnant. This isn’t possible.

  Tears flow from my eyes, and I feel the chill shattering around me as Hale pulls my frozen body to him. His soft lips gingerly stroke my forehead, and I feel him suppressing his own emotions to help me handle mine.

  Elation, jubilance, terror, and absolute shock all mingle together in this bomb that has just landed on us. My purple eyes have burned through the blue contacts as they release their acidic tears that burn through my shirt when they drip too far. The excitement of the fact I’m having a child is eclipsed and jaded by the reality this child will be hunted because it’s new, evolved, and different - even more so than me.

  Instinctively my hand strums across my belly, and Hale’s hand covers mine as he feels the home for his child. Our child.

  “Do you think they got my blood in phase three?” my crackling voice forces out.

  “I don’t know. You were bleeding for a while before the two of you healed off each other. I can’t be certain if they did or didn’t,” Clay huffs out in exhaustion.

  Hale’s fingers stroll through my hair as he kisses my forehead comfortingly. Each breath everyone exhales is laced with anxiety right now - including my own.

  “I’m not going to let anything happen to our child,” he whispers into my ear.

  “Neither am I,” I say with a newfound strength and protectiveness growing inside me.

  “None of us will,” Grayson asserts. “We’ll just have to figure out a way for them to raise the child without arousing suspicion. You’re the damn commander, so can’t you adjust the laws where hybrids can be adopted? That would explain a child in their home.”

  “I wish. I’m working on that though. Adoption is illegal due to experimentations in the past which were conducted. At one point they believed it to be more humane to send an abandoned hybrid to live as a forgotten in an effort to keep the freaks, creeps, and experimenters away. In some cases that is very true, but when you have places like Cheyenne… we’ll figure something out. Perhaps I can bring up an officer’s adoption. United officers are highly regarded, and it’s possible we could curve the law where only officers can adopt.”

  “Do what you can. We’re raising our child even if we have to do it in hiding,” Hale growls.

  “I’ll make it work, Hale. I won’t rest until I get it all sorted out. Keeping her secret is the most important thing right now. The rest is on me, and I won’t let you down.”

  “Do we know where Ty is crouching yet?” I grumble as his sadistic face flashes through my mind.

  If he was willing to do the things he had someone do to me five years ago, what will he do with my child?

  “We’re checking over the western areas. The sand had a residue can only be found there. There were also some moist patches of soil recovered, meaning he could be in the dark lands or wetlands.”

  “We have to find him and eliminate him soon. I don’t need to worry about him and everyone else while we try to make this work,” Hale urges.

  “I’ve got a team working on it right now.”

  “Who’s leading them?” Brazen asks.

  “Captain Harris.”

  “Tell him to stand down. I’ll take over the Ty search. Hale can’t leave Araya right now, and I don’t trust anyone else to find him. I’m not going to let him touch her again.”

  My eyes glance over to the pale beauties staring into mine with fear and pangs of worry s
taining them. Then I look up to the hybrid blue ones praying for a way to keep me safe.

  My wedding day has a bit of a damper on it now. I’ll be terrified someone will know. Please don’t let anyone know.

  “Go get some rest. You’re going to have to appear to be able to keep your strength up. Being pregnant with a hybrid is very exhausting on the full blood or human mother. I can only imagine a true hybrid being born. You’ll need plenty of rest, food, and hydration.”

  Hale tugs at my hand while leading me to the door, and I lean into him as the lights overhead seem to blaringly obscure the darkness lurking beyond the walls.

  “Is it wrong to be incredibly excited about this?” I whisper while suspiciously looking around.

  Hale jerks me to him while continuing to walk, and his lips consume mine as I taste his emotional pour. It’s a completely different feeling we’re sharing right now, and my legs wrap around his waist as we continue heading back to the apartment.

  “Not at all, baby. I am too,” he almost laughs out, tears sneaking into the corners of his eyes, and I smile as my lips reclaim his.

  “I love you so much,” I say as the tears roll down my cheeks.

  “I love the hell out of you,” he murmurs as I feel the door against my back opening.

  I giggle louder as we make it into the sanctity of his apartment, and he pulls off my shirt as soon as we do. We can’t say it out loud because the walls are too thin to contain our secret, but his lips stroll over my stomach as if he’s kissing his child. Tears whelp up in my eyes when I see the dedication he’s already giving our unknown little one.

  “I love you too,” he whispers to my belly, and my tears drip upon hearing the endearing sentiment.

  He coughs to clear his throat as the tears make themselves more noticeable, teetering on the edge of his lids and threatening to fall. His lips find mine before pushing me into the bedroom. I feel the bed beneath me as the tears continue to drip free, and his soft lips slide down to my neck and then my chest.