Eternal Choice: (The Cursed Series, Book 2)

by Kara Leigh Miller

  “Even knowing I can never change?”

  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 said, only mildly annoyed.

  “What’s with all the questions, Chloe?”

  I shrugged, which was awkward considering my position.

  “If you want me to claim you, all you have to do is ask.” 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. He’d told me once that he craved me, and I finally understood what he meant, because despite having him right here with me, I couldn’t get enough.

  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 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.

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for what that entails,” I said.

  He eased back just enough to peer down at me, his gaze sympathetic. 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 to sound raspy.

  “And whenever you’re ready, I’ll claim you, but not a moment sooner. Promise.”

  I shifted beneath him to get more comfortable. “For what it’s worth, there’s never going to be anyone for me but you, either. I’m just not ready to go all the way.”

  He smiled. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me. When or if you’re ever ready, I know you’ll tell me.”

  I wished I was ready, because in the dark of the room, wrapped up in our little bubble, things were so clear to me—Trent was my future. Regardless of what happened with the Rose Coven or the curse or my family, Trent was the one thing that I could always count on. He was my constant, and he held all of me. Body, heart, and soul.

  And I was his. Forever.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO:

  Date Night

  “CHLOE! COME DOWNSTAIRS,” TRENT CALLED.

  Why was he calling me to come downstairs? We’d spent all day down there hanging out with Jax and the twins. Trent was supposed to be coming up to bed.

  With a sigh, I kicked the blankets off and headed to the living room. Dozens of candles were spread across every surface, the flames flickering and casting hypnotic shadows across the walls.

  I slowly entered the room, my gaze wandering in every possible direction. A tray of cheese, pepperoni, crackers, and fresh fruits sat atop the coffee table.

  “What’s this?” I asked, mesmerized.

  “Date night,” he said proudly.

  “Date night?”

  He nodded. “I got rid of everyone for the evening so we could have some privacy.” Trent held his hand out to me, and I took it. He guided me toward the couch. “Sorry I can’t take you out on a real date, but it’s not safe.”

  “It’s okay.” I smiled. “This is perfect.”

  And so incredibly thoughtful. My heart swelled. I could imagine a lifetime of this with him—date nights, movie nights curled up on the couch together, laughter, whispered declarations of love.

  He grinned, sat, and then pulled me down next to him. “So, what do you want to do? We can play video games or watch a movie.”

  “Let’s just talk.” I tucked my feet under me and snuggled up next to him.

  Wrapping his arm around me, he pulled me into his side and kissed the top of my head. “Okay, what do you want to talk about?”

  “Everything.”

  I really didn’t know much about him, and I wanted to know everything. I needed to know everything so I could decide if my future with him would be on death’s deadline.

  “Jax told me he went to culinary school. Did you ever go to college?” I asked.

  “I did.” He nodded.

  I waited for him to say more, but he was silent. “What did you go for?” I asked, hoping he’d start to give me better answers than one or two words.

  “Everything.” He propped his feet on the corner of the coffee table, away from all the food. “I’d been a vampire for a couple of decades by that point, and the boredom was setting in. I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I went to college and took every class they’d let me take.”

  “That sounds… fun.” I scrunched up my face.

  Trent chuckled. “I figured why not learn everything I could, y’know? It wasn’t like I was on a time limit.” He tightened his arm around me.

  “What was your favorite class?” I asked, eager to get a glimpse at this part of Trent’s life.

  “Child psychology.”

  I sat, momentarily speechless. I’d fully expected him to say history or something equally as boring.

  “What about you?” he asked, his voice low and calm. “Got any plans for college?”

  “Not really.” I sighed. “I mean, when Mom was alive, we talked a lot about me going to college. She had her heart set on me going to a college on the east coast so I could experience all four seasons the way they should be.” I smiled at the memory, at how her face would light up when we’d talk about my future.

  “And now?” he asked gently.

  “I have no idea. When I first moved to Keene Valley, I was adamant about going back to Florida as soon as I was old enough, maybe going to college there, but now…” I fidgeted with the front of his shirt. “Even when Mom and I talked about it, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I still don’t.”

  Maybe if I knew what the future held for me and Trent, I’d be able to make a decision about college. I shoved that thought away as soon as it entered my mind. I could go to college regardless of what happened with Trent. He’d support me in whatever I decided to do.

  “You still have time to figure it out,” he said.

  “If you hadn’t become a vampire, what do you think your life would have been like?” I asked, desperate to steer the conversation away from the future.

  “I guess I would have taken over the family business.”

  I twisted to look up at him. “You have a family business?”

  “We used to. Sean was building a very lucrative handcrafted furniture business. He made ornate furnishings from wood he chopped himself.”

  “Wait, so…” I sat up and glanced around. “All the woodwork in here and the furniture in my room? He made that?”

  Trent nodded. “It’s pretty great, right?”

  “Great? It’s amazing! Why did he ever stop?”

  “It was time for us to move on.” Trent pulled me back to his side, and I cuddled up to him. “But if we hadn’t had to do that, I would’ve learned from him, made a career for myself. I probably would’ve met a local girl, fallen in love, gotten married, and had a herd of kids.” His voice dropped off at that last word.

  My heart ached at the life he could have had. The life he could still have if I’d just change and end the curse. Not that that would make a difference when it came to having children. That was impossible for him, curse or no curse.

  “So, you wanted kids?” I asked. Suddenly, his interest in child psychology made a lot more sense.

  “Yeah, I guess.” His tone had turned to sadness and regret. “What about you? If things were different, where would you be right now?”

  I shrugged. “Probably still in Florida with my mom. We’d spend our weekends at the beach, daydreaming about all the places we wanted to visit.”

  “What places did you dream about visiting?”

  “Egypt. I’d love to see the pyramids.” I slipped my arm across his stomach and settled my head on his chest. “Mom always wanted to go to Australia. She was a bigger animal lover than me, and she wanted to go see all the exotic wildlife. I used to joke that the animals she was so excited to see would probably try to kill her.” I frowned. “Who knew I’d be
the one to kill her.”

  “You killed your mother?”

  I cringed. Apparently, that was another thing I hadn’t told him. I straightened and sat cross-legged.

  “She got into a car accident because I was acting like a spoiled brat. I kept texting her and yelling at her for not getting home soon enough.” I lowered my head, my gaze trained on my hands. “She never saw the truck swerve into her lane. She was okay for a little while, and the doctors were going to send her home. And then she ended up in a coma that she never woke up from.” My voice caught, and I cleared my throat. “I took her off life support.”

  “That’s not your fault, Chloe.” Trent reached for me, but I didn’t move.

  The debilitating grief and guilt was back full force, and I was weighted down with it. “I know,” I whispered. “But if she had been paying attention to the road instead of her phone…” I shook my head.

  “It still could have happened,” he said softly. “Your mom checking her phone had nothing to do with what that other driver did. If anything, blame him.”

  I forced a smile.

  “For what it’s worth, the Grand Canyon isn’t all that great.”

  I laughed at his sudden but much needed change of topic. “You’ve been there?”

  “It’s literally just a big hole in the ground. Not impressive at all.” He gently nudged me.

  And with that, the sorrow over my mom dissipated. It never fully went away, but it was getting easier to handle, and being near Trent helped. I leaned against him, and he wrapped an arm around me.

  Everything about him was safe and comforting, and I never wanted to leave him. Could I really become a vampire, though? The thought of drinking blood grossed me out and made me want to gag.

  Then, of course, there was the issue of letting him claim me as his soulmate. That was a permanent decision, too, but that didn’t require immortality. Would he be happy with just claiming me, though, or would he want more once he knew the truth?

  “What’re you thinking about?” he asked.

  “You.” I kissed his chin. “If you had to make the choice again, would you still become a vampire?”

  “Yes,” he said without hesitation.

  Shock zapped through me like an electrical current. “Yes?”

  “If it meant saving my brother’s life, absolutely.”

  Right. Jax hadn’t really given Trent much of a choice about changing.

  “Okay, what if Jax’s life wasn’t on the line? What if it was just you, and you had the choice? Would you still change?” I asked.

  He sighed heavily. “I like what I am, Chloe. I like the heightened senses and the power that comes with it. I like feeling things so intensely it overwhelms me.” He nudged me so I was no longer leaning against him, and then he took my chin into his hand. “I never would have met you if I wasn’t a vampire, so it’s really hard to say I regret my choice, or that I’d go back and do it differently.” His eyes darkened with intensity.

  Well, he was right about that—we wouldn’t be here right now if he’d remained a human. “So, you have no regrets whatsoever?” I asked.

  “Of course, I have regrets, but not about my choice.” Trent lowered his head, our mouths inches apart. “Does that bother you?” His voice was low and raspy.

  “No,” I whispered.

  And it really didn’t. He was what he was, and I loved him regardless. Sure, it made our relationship nearly impossible, but when I was with him like this, nothing else mattered.

  “Does it bother you that I like being human?” I asked.

  “No.” And then his lips were on mine, his tongue teasing and probing.

  I closed my eyes and threaded my fingers through his hair. He groaned, and my heart responded with a series of flutters and thunderous beats. He kissed me harder, and I eased back, pulling him with me, and soon, we were laying on the couch, a mess of tangled limbs.

  Trent left my mouth and peppered my jaw and neck with tiny, searing kisses before he pulled back enough to look me in the eyes. “Thought you just wanted to talk?” He raised a brow, a teasing smirk lifting his lips.

  “You’re the one who kissed me. This is your fault.”

  He laughed, then in a flash, he was off me and standing. He held his hands out. I took them, and he yanked me to my feet.

  “Let’s make some popcorn and watch a movie. Maybe then you’ll behave and keep your hands to yourself,” he said.

  Laughing, I grabbed a couch pillow and tossed it at him, but he was already across the room and in the kitchen.

  “That’s not fair.” I walked at a normal, human speed.

  I couldn’t imagine moving that fast. If I did change, would I be able to do that, too? Would it make me dizzy like it did when Trent moved me around?

  By the time I reached the kitchen, Trent had already put a bag of popcorn in the microwave. He pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I’ll be right back.” And then he was gone.

  I hadn’t even seen what direction he’d gone. The microwave beeped. I took out the popcorn and promptly dropped it on the counter.

  “Ouch.” That was hotter than I’d expected.

  I let it sit for a few moments, then carefully gripped the corners and tugged. The bag wouldn’t open. I looked around for a pair of scissors but couldn’t find any, so I grabbed a knife and stabbed the bag, dragging the blade through it to make sure it was fully open.

  My grip slipped, and the tip of the knife slid across my finger. “Ow!” I dropped the bag and the knife.

  A spot of red beaded from the cut. Great. I was bleeding. I snatched a napkin and pressed it to my wound.

  “I smell blood. What happened?” Trent asked from behind me.

  Gasping, I spun around, my heart in my throat. I hated when he snuck up on me like that. “I cut my finger trying to open the popcorn.” I nodded at the mangled bag and the knife. “It’s fine, though. It’s not deep. I just need a band aid.”

  “May I?” He gently took my injured hand, and I held my breath.

  I’d never bled near him before. Would the smell and sight of my blood make him want to feed? Would he succumb to his bloodlust and do something he’d regret, something that would hurt me?

  My hand shook as he removed the napkin and inspected my finger. I stared at his face, watching and waiting for any signs he was going to lose his composure.

  “Looks like you just nicked it,” he said.

  I nodded. Blood oozed out of the cut and pooled on my fingertip. Gaze locked on me, Trent brought my finger to his lips and put it into his mouth. His eyelids closed, his long, dark lashes fluttering against his cheekbones.

  I inhaled sharply, fully expecting utter revulsion and disgust to wash over me. Instead, desire slammed into me. My knees trembled with want. My legs shook with lust. What was happening to me?

  My breaths changed from short gasps of fear to ragged pants of need. I stepped closer to Trent, and he released my finger with a hum of satisfaction. His hungry gaze met mine, and I licked my lips, my eyes lowering to his mouth.

  He’d just tasted my blood. And he wasn’t going crazy trying to get more, or kill me. The cut had completely stopped bleeding, too.

  Then, he cradled my face in his hands and slanted his mouth over mine, his kiss hungrier than his gaze. Every flick of his tongue demanded more. Then, the feelings and memories hit me with the force of a tidal wave.

  Fiery lust that raged hotter with each second that passed. Trent looking down at me as I told him I wasn’t ready for him to claim me. Awe and wonder and physical emotions so raw and deep my simple human mind couldn’t comprehend them. His entire body was on fire, burning with need, with love and devotion and… fear. The need to claim me consumed him.

  Trent abruptly pulled away and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll finish the popcorn. You go find a movie,” he said.

  Stunned and confused, I ambled back to the living room, flopped down on the couch, and picked up the remote. My heart was still racing, and my thoughts were a jumb
led, incoherent mess.

  A moment later, Trent sat beside me, a bowl of popcorn on his lap. He grabbed a handful and tossed it into his mouth. “You’re staring,” he said.

  “I didn’t know you could do that,” I said, my tone full of awe.

  “Do what?”

  “Taste my blood like that and not suck me dry.”

  Laughing, he set the bowl on the coffee table. “For starters, I recently fed, so the need isn’t rampant right now. And I do have the ability to control myself, you know.”

  “I just… I always thought blood was necessary to survive, that you fed because you had to and that was it, but…”

  “But?” He took the remote from me and turned on the TV.

  “But you seemed to get a lot of pleasure from that.”

  “Of course, I did.” He gave me a knowing look.

  “So, that was a pleasure bite?”

  Snippets of what he’d told me before slowly filtered into my mind. The reasons a vampire would bite—to feed, to claim, to change, and for pleasure.

  “Technically, I didn’t bite you.” He smirked. “But yes, my intent was to simply enjoy the moment.”

  I eased back against the cushions and watched as he flipped through the channels until he finally settled on a horror movie. Several minutes into the movie, I asked, “How did my blood taste?”

  “Sweet.”

  I nodded and returned my attention to the movie. Why on earth did I like what happened? Was that type of reaction normal? Better yet, why was I sitting here thinking about him doing it again?

  My nerves hummed with anticipation of something I knew couldn’t happen, but my mind raced with thoughts of how I’d felt and what would happen if he ever actually drank from me. Would his bite to claim me be just as intense and erotic? I shivered at the thought.

  Trent took the blanket from the back of the couch and draped it over us, and I cuddled up to his body, soaking in his comforting strength while forcing myself to focus on anything but him drinking my blood.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE:

  Fatherly Advice

  THE FOLLOWING COUPLE OF DAYS WERE blissful. Trent and I spent entirely too much time locked in my room, cocooned in our own private bubble while Sean continued to try and solve the mystery of why the Rose Coven was after me.