Anice: The Cursed Clan

by Schroeder, Melissa

  He closed his eyes and tried to calm the pounding in his head. He hadn’t had a good meal in days, only nibbling here and there. He couldn’t seem to stomach the idea of eating. He knew what was causing it, and it was his fault.

  Every day that passed, he lost a little more of himself, and it was only every now and then he could feel like himself. He hadn’t been normal in months and, even as he thought that, he felt darkness loom over him. The oily presence slide over his soul. He couldn’t remember when that started to happen or when he had stopped fighting it. Had he ever really fought it?

  No, because you liked the power.

  He closed his eyes and tried his best to fight back the bile rising in his throat. He spent most of his days fighting the need to throw up...and the headaches. Those left him sick and dizzy, so tired that he couldn’t seem to figure out which way was right.

  “Sir,” his manservant Bellows said.

  It took him a few seconds to compose himself. “Yes?”

  “There was a late RSVP to the party. The Lennons are coming and they are bringing one extra.”

  “Phoebe and Callum are coming?” he asked, sick excitement dancing through his blood. He wanted them there at the same time he wanted them to stay away.

  He was losing his fucking mind.

  “No. They sent their regrets now that Mrs. Lennon is in her last trimester. Instead, Angus, Maggie, and Anice Lennon, along with a Brody Stewart are coming.”

  Anger filled him as any feelings of remorse faded.

  “Was there anything else you needed, sir?”

  “No. Thank you.”

  He said nothing else as he waited for the servant to leave. Once alone, Gavin started to pace. He should have known better than to trust one of the Stewarts. Shifters were...shifty.

  He laughed at his joke, the bubble of laughter turned hysterical. Gavin covered his mouth. He should stop this now. It wasn’t important. Who gave a flying fuck if the McLennans grabbed the last jewel? If they were stupid enough to give up immortality, then let them.

  But it will be your destruction.

  The dark voice echoed through the chamber; although, he was sure he was the only one who heard it. It had been happening more and more lately, and he didn’t know what to do about it.

  He closed his eyes again and tried to block it out, but he knew it wouldn’t work. It never did.

  You will need your wits about you, Gavin. You need to control the situation.

  “But if I doona, I die.”

  And I will have your soul. If you live, you continue to have wealth and power.

  But he didn’t have those now. He did when he was handed the job as laird. It was one of the reasons he had thought long and hard about it. He knew that every laird in the last two hundred years had lost their fortunes. And he was dangerously close to doing just that now. He’d sunk his money into finding that bloody amethyst and now, he was throwing a party he couldn’t afford just to lure those idiots closer, so he could kill them. Or at least kill Brody. He would take great pleasure in that.

  And then, they will continue to suffer.

  “Is it that important? Immortality seems like a good thing.”

  You are a fool. All of your ancestors were, so it makes sense that you are.

  Anger and shame lit his temper. When he spoke, he bellowed. “I am not a fool.”

  Then you do not question this. You do as we order?

  “We?”

  I mean I. Yes, do as I order.

  “I...” He couldn’t finish the sentence. Pain speared is head, pulsating out through his entire body. He fell to his hands and knees, breathing in and out, concentrating on pushing the pain away.

  Once it had finally subsided, he collapsed on the floor. Gavin drew in a ragged breath.

  There was no way of going back.

  Chapter Thirteen

  After the family meeting, Brody craved another run, but knew that wasn’t going to help. His earlier sprint had taken the edge off his need, but not nearly enough. He seriously doubted that a second run would help. If anything, it would probably make things worse. After being out in the wild wind and enjoying the exercise, he had wanted nothing more than to take the interaction with Anice a step further.

  His brother had saved him from making an ass out of himself. One of the many times that had occurred in their long lives.

  Being older, Cayden had the expertise of a seasoned wolf, and the years had weighed heavily on him. Their father had been Alpha, but he had relinquished the reigns to his son earlier than most. Their father and mother were sick of the fighting, and Cayden had been chomping at the bit to take on the Alpha role of the Stewarts. It had been disaster…emotionally and physically. They were just now getting their pack in order. Getting their land back was the final step in the process.

  And for that, he resisted the allure of Anice. Mostly. That one sniff of her earlier had almost sent him into heat. It was an intoxicating mix of herbal soap and Anice. Her unique womanly scent called to him like no other—human or shifter—had ever before.

  His phone buzzed, and he grabbed it. It was his brother Archie sending a picture of himself in the cabin of the private McLennan jet. The caption read, Unfuckingbelievable!

  He chuckled. Out of them all, his brother was the dreamer, a bit like Anice in that manner. Brody knew, from what little her family had said, that this was Anice’s idea. She had been the driving force behind the quest to break the curse; although, a bit of him wondered why.

  Shifters lived long lives. Cats lived the longest, but wolves were right up there in expectancy. Not immortal and maybe that was the difference. He wanted to find her and ask her and was already walking to the door when he stopped himself. To ask a question was a stupid excuse. If he got near her right now, there was a good chance he would lose it and take her to bed. That would not be a good idea.

  Why not?

  Damn, his wolf was awake and growling.

  I’m ready for our mate. I need her near us.

  “You’re fine,” he said out loud.

  Not if you’re pacing the floor. You know that we need her, we will settle once we have her in bed.

  Yet he knew if he got close to her when they were alone, he would seduce her. She would come willingly, but there was a good chance he would lose her in the morning. He could not have that. He needed Anice now and forever.

  Start tonight, and worry about tomorrow morning later.

  “She would walk away.”

  Before his wolf could answer, there was a knock on his door. Thinking it was his brother, he opened it. Instead, he found Anice bundled up in a robe, her face scrubbed clean.

  She was even more stunning without makeup.

  “Do you mind if we chat?”

  His wolf practically shuddered with excitement.

  “I doona know if that is a good idea, Anice.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because if you come into my room...Why don’t we go downstairs?”

  She frowned at him. “Anyone could barge in on us, and they usually do around here. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

  “That’s true…but,” he glanced back at his bed and apparently, she took that as an invitation and stepped over the threshold.

  His wolf howled in triumph.

  Shut it.

  Quit being a coward.

  Get bent.

  “You’re doing it again.”

  “What?” he asked, giving up and closing the door.

  “Talking to your wolf. Or, at least that’s what I assume you are doing.”

  He shook his head.

  “You’re not?” she asked.

  “No. I am, it’s just scary how easily you have me figured out.”

  Something passed over her face that made him wary. And sad. So very sad.

  “I wish I did.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I doona know you. Not really.”

  Brody frowned. “You do. We’ve been dating a month.”


  “You’ve been spying on me.”

  “I’ve been falling for you.”

  She crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “I told you before, you doona have to lie to me anymore.”

  “I’m not lying to you.”

  She snorted and looked away, but not before he saw the hope...then the sadness that filled her eyes. It was like a bloody knife to his heart. How had he lost this woman so easily? He had wanted her from the moment he saw her, but as he got to know her, he had come to admire her. He knew her life couldn’t have been easy, but she was resilient. She seemed to be the most hopeful out of all of the cousins. She had a unique way of looking at life, and it always amused him to hear her opinion on anything…from world events to the latest rage in reality TV.

  He desperately wanted that back. It had only been a day now, but he felt as if he had lost everything. “I’m not. I’ve been falling for you for weeks now. Months even. From that moment I first saw you.”

  “Brody, we have things to discuss, so just stop lying.”

  “Woman, I swear to God...do you know it’s taking all of my control not to grab you and strip you naked? You’re standing right in front of my bed. I want you on it, under me, moaning my bloody name, and every last shred of my control is holding on by a very thin thread. So doona tell me I’m lying. The truth is, if I didn’t care for you, I wouldn’t think twice about bedding you. But because I do, because I want a future with you, I’m holding back.”

  “Oh...well...” her voice trailed off and he realized he might have just overwhelmed her.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk like that to you.”

  She continued to stare at him as if he had grown a second head.

  Way to sweep her off her feet, wanker.

  He didn’t say anything else because he would definitely make it worse.

  “Okay.” She studied him for a second. “You’re totally serious?”

  He nodded, once.

  “Then,” she said as she stepped closer. He couldn’t help himself. He backed up and found the door at his back.

  Coward.

  Damn right.

  She hesitated again, but then shook her head as if trying to fend off some internal struggle. She crowded him closer, slipping her arms up and over his shoulders. There was that scent again. The herbal soap and more of her. He wanted nothing more than to lose himself in her. His cock throbbed, begging for relief. Bloody hell.

  Stop fucking around. She’s our mate and she wants us.

  “Then I really want you to prove it, Brody.”

  “What?”

  “Take me to bed.”

  “Again, what?”

  She rose up on her toes and pressed her mouth against his. In that quick instant, the entire world dissolved around them. Heat flared as his cock hardened.

  Yes.

  Her tongue danced over the seam of his lips and he opened them. The taste of her filled his senses as his wolf and he growled in happiness. It only took a couple of seconds and he took over the kiss. He wrapped his arms around her as he slanted his mouth over hers again and again. God, she was delicious, exquisite. He had lost track of the women he’d had over the last few decades, but not one of them would ever be able to compare to Anice.

  He reversed their positions, then tore his mouth away from hers. As he sunk to his knees, he tugged at the sash in her robe. It came undone easily and he parted the soft fabric to find that all she wore was a pair of black silky panties.

  He glanced up at her. “If I had known this is all you had on beneath your robe, I might have jumped you the moment you walked in the room.”

  He raised his palm to one breast as he bent his head to take the other nipple into his mouth.

  Then he was kissing his way down her body again. He needed a taste of her before he sunk into the glorious warmth. He eased her panties down her legs, tossing them behind him. Without hesitation, he pressed his mouth against her sex. Anice shivered, then groaned in pleasure. The sound of her pleasure sunk into his body, to his wolf…to his soul. He teased her, slipping his tongue between her folds, then up and over her clit.

  “Oh, Brody,” she moaned as she speared her fingers through is hair. Again and again, he continued the same motion as he added a finger, sliding it deep within her. On the third thrust of his finger, he added another one and she screamed, shuddering against the door as her orgasm took over.

  His body wanted this, needed this. Better yet, he was not only going to make himself happy, but also his wolf. Never before had he dealt with a need so powerful. It felt like everything was right in his world as he rose back to his feet, then bent to lift her off the floor into his arms.

  He bent his head to kiss her as he walked them over to his bed. He set her on the mattress, then stood back. She was there, naked, and his for the taking.

  And in that instant, he knew that he loved her. He waited for the fear, for the denial…neither showed up. Instead, he felt solid, as if he was standing on solid ground for the first time in his life.

  His wolf’s needs and his own intertwined.

  “Brody, is there something wrong?”

  He shook his head.

  “Are you sure?”

  He smiled as he tugged off his shirt, then stepped out of his pants. As he neared the bed, she reached out for him, wrapping her hand around his cock. One stroke and he almost came.

  “Whoa, I want to be inside of you before I lose it.”

  She released him, then nibbled on her bottom lip. “So, I doona get to have you in my mouth?”

  Yes. Now please.

  “Next time. As I said, you and I together.”

  She nodded as he joined her on the bed. He wanted more time to play, to touch, to savor…but there was another pressing need.

  He did take a moment, though. He rose to his knees and looked down at her. Good God, she was gorgeous. Dark hair, fair skin, those amazing eyes. His gaze dipped down to her breasts. Her nipples were hard, so he couldn’t resist reaching out and pinching one, then the other. Her legs moved restlessly on the bed. She arched up, and he dipped his head down to give each nipple a lick. She moaned again, and his wolf howled. Anice was a woman who had no problem showing him her pleasure.

  He slipped his hands under her ass and pulled her up. He dipped his head and gave her sex another long lick before lowering her. He had his cock at her entrance and he paused. Again, he looked down at the woman who had entranced him from the moment he had seen her. Her eyes were closed.

  “Anice. Look at me.” Her lids fluttered, then finally opened. “From now and beyond.”

  Then, he entered her in one long, hard thrust. They both sucked in a breath. He hadn’t breached a maidenhead, but…

  “Anice, are you a virgin?”

  “Not anymore,” she said.

  He studied her. “Anice…”

  “Doona get mad. I wanted this.”

  He lowered his forehead to hers as he tried to compose himself. He wanted to lose himself in her, but he knew he had to be careful with her.

  He started to move, slowly at first, not wanting to hurt her. Over and over again, he thrust into her, losing a little more of himself every time he did. Anice was right there with him, moving in rhythm with him. As her moans grew louder, he felt his orgasm shifting closer. Finally, he gave into his wolf and allowed him to take control. He lifted himself to his knees, his fingers digging into her flesh as he thrust once….twice…

  Her muscles clamped down hard on his cock as she came again. It pulled his cock deeper into her warmth as he gave into his own needs. He poured himself into her.

  He collapsed on top of her.

  “Bloody hell, you’re heavy,” she said.

  He forced himself to raise up in order to look down at her. Her face was flushed, her eyes were bright with pleasure, and her hair was a tangle of curls over his pillows.

  Ours.

  He and his wolf said it simultaneously. In that one instant, he knew without a doubt she
was going to be his only mate. There could be other women who might have been a better choice, especially since she wasn’t too keen on him at the moment. Those women would never call to him like Anice did. She was that one special woman, the one he knew would be a true mate in body and spirit.

  “Brody, is something wrong? I’m sorry I didna tell you I was a virgin.”

  He bent his head and brushed his mouth over hers. “Not a problem, love.”

  Then he settled on the bed next to her, pulling her close and hoping that one day they would be able to get past his deception and have a life together.

  If not, he wasn’t sure if he would ever be happy again.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Moments later, Anice was still trying to come to terms with what had transpired. In all her years, she had never felt so complete and at peace with the world. Every now and then, Brody would trail his fingers down her spine. There was a connection, one that she’d felt from the beginning. It went beyond just having things in common or being attracted to him. She had dated men like that before. Never had she wanted to just crawl in the bed and live there. It really had nothing to do with sex. Okay, a bit of it had to do with sex. But she knew there was something different about him…about her when she was with him.

  He rose to his elbow and looked down at her. He was so bloody sexy. When he looked at her, she felt…hot. Always. Even when he was confused like right now. And that meant one thing. She was probably in love with him. Nope, not probably. Definitely in love with him, like an idiot.

  She waited for the age-old panic. God, she loved him. Not the silly infatuation she thought she had experienced before this. Instead, it was falling head over heels in love with this man. This wolf. Whatever he was. She didn’t care. The moment he had thrust into her, she had felt complete, as if everything in her life now made sense. Since she had never had sex before, she wasn’t sure if that happened all the time, but she doubted it. The rightness of the feeling had more to do with the connection she felt with Brody rather than with sex. And that was something that worried her more than anything else.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked in a quiet, serious tone.