Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  “That sounds like a bunch of crap,” Rome said.

  “Where have you guys been?” Trevor called, leaning around the open doorway. “The chaperones are freaking out.”

  “We were just talking to…”

  Rome’s face twisted in confusion.

  “Where did he go?”

  Aria shivered violently.

  He was gone. He’d disappeared as mysteriously as he’d materialized. But his cryptic stories and foreboding presence were still lingering like a foul taste at the back of her throat.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said.

  Chapter 9

  The lounge was desolate in the still of the night. Flames flickered in the hearth, casting harsh shadows upon the walls. Ariahna stared out across the empty room, turning back to watch the fire a moment later. She closed her eyes, brushing her fingers over her lips and thinking about their kiss—her first kiss—and all the kissing that had followed it. Her hand fell away as the old man’s voice slithered unpleasantly through her mind.

  Cursed. Could that really be true? The longer she thought about it, the more plausible it became. What else could explain how drawn she was to Rome? They were practically strangers, and from the moment they’d met, she had trusted him without hesitation. And he liked her. Aria had never even thought about romance or relationships before, but with Rome, she could just see it. It felt like no matter what, they were going to end up together – that they were meant to. And that, more than anything, now had her terrified.

  “Hey,” Christian whispered, dragging his fingers over the arm of the loveseat. Ariahna jumped, screaming before she could stop herself. “Sorry,” he smirked. “I didn’t mean to scare you. What are you doing out here?”

  “Christian,” she said, pressing a palm over her heart. “You need to learn to make noise when you walk.”

  He laughed, slipping down into the seat next to her as she folded her legs up near her chest. “That’s no fun,” he grinned. “Seriously though, you look upset. It wouldn’t happen to have anything to do with a certain creepy old man, would it?”

  “How did—?”

  “I heard,” he said softly. “You shouldn’t worry too much about it. He probably just knew who you two were and wanted to mess with you.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” she murmured. Now if she could only believe that. “Why aren’t you asleep?”

  “…Can I tell you a secret?”

  She looked back at him suspiciously.

  “I was making a break for it,” he grinned. “Want to go?”

  “You mean… leave the school?” She shifted anxiously on the cushion. That was probably a bad idea, she thought. They’d only get in trouble. It didn’t stop her from wanting to say yes. “Where would we even go?” she asked. “We’re twenty miles outside of town.”

  “I have a ride,” he shrugged. “Slip on some sneakers and meet me in the parking lot. You won’t be sorry.”

  She watched him jump up from the sofa and disappear down the stairs. Aria sat there for a moment, trying to talk herself out of what would no doubt prove to be a really stupid decision. It wasn’t working. She sighed and shuffled back into her room to get ready.

  The question was, ready for what?

  She dressed quickly, sneaking through the darkened school and out into the chill night air. The moon hung low in the sky, cresting over the treetops and illuminating the slumbering world. A cool breeze ghosted between the cars, pushing dead leaves across the ground.

  Christian was lounging on a stone bench pressed up against the brick building, waiting for Ariahna, and not for a second wondering if she was going to come. He did this sometimes – snuck out at night to clear his head. It was a habit he’d picked up while living with a particularly difficult foster family. It was one of the things that had helped him keep his sanity for as long as he had. He’d never asked someone else to come with him, though. She hadn’t seen him, he realized, and he leaned back, taking a moment to admire her denim-clad ass with a smile. Those stiff school skirts did not do her justice. His eyes ran greedily up her body, eyeing a flash of skin where her tank top ended just above her jeans. He stood and sidled up behind her, slipping his arms around her sides as she startled. “You’re so easy to sneak up on,” he said, molding himself to her back and laughing softly in her ear.

  She shivered, stepping away from his touch and turning to face him. “Maybe you just have too much practice sneaking up on people.”

  Christian shrugged, stepping off the curb and crossing the asphalt. She lagged after him as he weaved through the cars, twirling a set of keys around his index finger.

  “You have a car?” she asked skeptically, focusing on the sound of the jingling metal. Her stomach clenched with apprehension. “Are you even old enough to drive?”

  “Dallas has a car, and he taught me everything I know.”

  “Why is that not very reassuring?” she mumbled.

  “You worry too much.” He pressed the button, unlocking the doors to Dallas’s Beamer. He stepped over to the passenger side door, opening it for her with a grin as she slipped inside.

  “So, where are we going exactly?”

  “It’s a secret,” he whispered, climbing into the driver’s seat.

  “I can’t believe Dallas lets you drive his car. He’s usually so…”

  “Yeah, I know. His car is like his baby. I don’t know why he lets me, but I don’t question it,” he said, holding his hands up in the air. He wasn’t sure how Dallas saw him, but to Christian, he was the closest thing to family that he had. Not that he’d ever admit it. “Where do you think we’re going?” he teased, smiling over at her as he pulled out onto the road.

  Aria twisted in her seat, looking back at him thoughtfully. “Nothing’s really open this late, so it has to be somewhere you can go anytime,” she said logically. “Somewhere public… A park, or a house maybe?” she guessed. “Are you a local?”

  “Close, and no,” Christian answered. “I’m not a local.” He let his eyes drift away from the road, looking her over again. “You look good out of your uniform,” he smirked.

  “Thanks,” she said shyly.

  Christian chuckled. “Don’t act so modest.”

  “One of us has to.”

  “Fair enough,” he said. “But in my defense, you haven’t seen me naked. I have good reason to be confident.”

  “…I’ll take your word for it.”

  The rest of the drive was taken listening to loud music, and when they finally arrived at their destination, Ariahna paled.

  Redwood Elementary sat on the very far side of town. At night, it looked like the perfect place for a murder. Other than a few green-tinted security lights, the complex was bathed in darkness. The quiet sounds of swings swaying in the wind and tetherball chains clinking around their poles permeated the air. Sprinklers sputtered off in the distance over a large field, giving the illusion of whispering voices.

  Ariahna closed the passenger door hesitantly, gazing over the roof of the car at Christian. “This is where you wanted to go?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I come down here all the time. It’s quiet.” He grabbed the basketball out of the trunk and dashed towards the covered courts. “Come on,” he yelled, hopping over the small fence.

  Aria was still standing beside the car, gripping the handle like it was a lifeline. To her, this looked like the beginning of a bad horror movie. The sound of Christian’s footfall echoed across the blacktop. She was counting her heartbeats, listening for a scream or some other telltale sign of a lurking predator jumping out of the bushes. A breeze whistled by at her back and she spun in a circle, staring off into the night. She took a few quick steps backwards before turning and running after him.

  “How about a little one on one?” he said.

  He tossed the ball at her and she fumbled to catch it.

  “I don’t really know how to play,” she admitted.

  “I’ll show you what to do.”

  He guided
her over to the free throw line and made her take a few steps in. He squared her shoulders with the basket, pivoting her hips and pulling her back against him. His arms slid around her, showing her how to hold the ball and giving her a few tips on how to shoot.

  “Okay,” he said, “now aim for the backboard, and let the ball roll off your fingers when you throw it.” Christian shook with laughter as the ball hit the bottom of the chain net. He swooped around her and grabbed it, throwing up a quick shot from under the hoop. “That wasn’t bad,” he smiled.

  “You’re laughing,” she said, crossing her arms loosely over her chest.

  “No,” he chuckled. He wasn’t sure if he was amused by her attempt at shooting, or just her. “Try again.”

  “Why, so you can laugh at me some more?”

  “No,” he said evenly. “You did pretty good. You had the aim, just not the power. What you need to do is jump. Just watch.” He backed himself up to the three point line, smiling as he let the ball roll off of his fingertips.

  Aria watched the ball sink through the hoop. She was kind of embarrassed over how impressed she was watching him throw a ball through a metal ring. He made it look like the easiest thing in the world.

  Christian jogged around the court taking a few more shots and warming up. He did a reverse layup and a couple fadeaways. “You ready to surprise yourself?” he grinned, handing her the ball. She looked apprehensive, but determined. He let his hand curl around her hip as he circled her. His fingers slipped between the fabric of her shirt and her jeans, feeling just that little bit of skin. She was soft, and something about that excited him. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized he’d never taken a girl out here before. Stranger still, he had no interest in doing so with anyone else.

  Ariahna shifted as the tips of Christian’s fingers tickled along her skin, dipping dangerously close to the top of her low-rise jeans. The way he was touching her was making it hard for her to concentrate. She swallowed quietly, bending her knees and springing up as she took her shot. The ball hit the backboard and spun around the rim before tumbling through the net. It wasn’t a perfect shot, but she’d made it.

  She beamed back at him happily.

  “Watch out WNBA,” he laughed. He slapped hands with her and then ran after the ball. “So how about that one on one now?”

  Aria shrugged. “Sure,” she said. “I still know you’re going to cream me though.” She shot him a puzzled look as he clamped a hand over his mouth and twisted away from her. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” he chuckled. “Here, you can have the ball first.” He bounced it towards her before pointing out where she needed to stand. “Okay, so it’s simple. Just check the ball, and then keep it away from me and score.” He watched as she stayed facing him, bouncing the ball out in front of her.

  “Turn around,” he instructed.

  “What? Why?”

  Christian swiped the ball away from her.

  “That’s why. Here, try again.”

  She pouted for just a moment before taking the ball and doing as he said. She startled as his hands smoothed over the back of her legs.

  “Keep your knees bent, and use your body to protect the ball.”

  “O-Okay,” she said, feeling him at her back. She was starting to wonder why grown men played this game together. Christian was reaching around to swipe at the ball, but she knew he was going easy on her. Not that she was complaining. She backed him towards the hoop, picking up the ball as she turned around to try and shoot. He stepped in close with his hand in the air, but what was most intimidating was the way he was looking into her eyes. After a moment of being caught in his gaze, she finally jumped up to shoot. The ball hit the rim and she cringed, whimpering when she realized it was flying back at her. His hand shot out and blocked it, but she was still holding her arms over her head defensively.

  She wasn’t sure she wanted to play this game anymore.

  “Are you alright?” he asked, setting the ball down. Christian couldn’t help the smile curling over the corners of his mouth. He walked up and slipped his arms around her waist, effectively shocking her into lowering her arms.

  “Fine,” she said, stepping away from him.

  He wasn’t even fazed by the rebuff.

  “You can’t be afraid of the ball,” he said, picking it up off the ground. He dribbled up beside her, threading the basketball between his legs. She was trying to follow his movements, and when she wasn’t expecting it, he curled the ball under his wrist and faked her out like he was going to smack her in the face with it. Aria flinched, clenching her eyes shut as he swept around her and took a clear shot.

  “That was mean,” she accused, gripping her upper arms and scowling at the blacktop. She really didn’t like that he’d purposefully scared her like that, and she hated how foolish she felt now.

  “I know,” he said slowly, feeling just a twinge of guilt. “You should have seen the first time someone did that to me. If there had been a snap shot, it would have looked like I was riding a rollercoaster.” He made a comical face to emphasize his point and that earned him a giggle.

  Ariahna took the ball up top, moving carefully around the court so she wouldn’t lose it. She was starting to really feel him behind her. He even had a palm pressed to her lower back.

  “Are you always this handsy?” she squeaked.

  “I could show you handsy,” he said, whispering the words against the back of her neck. He didn’t have to look to know she was blushing. Taking her here was quite possibly the best idea he’d ever had.

  While he was distracted pressing himself against her back, she spun around his side and ran up to the hoop. The net jangled and she threw her hands into the air triumphantly. “That’s right. Who scored? I did,” she said, pointing to herself and dancing to celebrate her victory.

  Christian found himself smiling at her, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “You’re cute,” he grinned, closing the space between them.

  Aria backed up against the metal pole as Christian advanced on her. He was giving her that look again—that intense, intimidating look. It was the same way Rome had looked at her right before he’d—

  Oh no, she thought.

  “Christian…”

  “That’s my name,” he smirked. “And you can say it as often, and as loud as you want.” She blinked at him as an attractive blush settled over her cheeks. “You’re even cuter when you’re embarrassed,” he whispered, pressing against her. His hand curled around her jaw, tilting her chin up as he brushed his thumb over her lips. They parted at the touch, and her tongue darted out to moisten them. “Mm,” he breathed. He was having lewd thoughts about that tongue and the places he’d like her to put it. He leaned in until he was only a breath away, whispering against her lips, “Kiss me.”

  A strange sensation trickled down Christian’s spine. It was as if he could feel her body vibrating with nervous energy. He had never felt anything like it. It left him shivering. Her lips touched his and a spark shot through him. If this was what kissing was supposed to feel like, he must have been doing it wrong all this time.

  A cool breeze rushed by, raising goosebumps on Aria’s skin. She was still pressed between the cold metal and the scalding hot contours of Christian’s body. She didn’t know how, or when, his hand had wandered up her shirt, but the strong grip of his palm over her breast was driving her crazy. Heat pooled low in her belly as he grinded her back against the pole. The hard bulge in his pants had her terrified, and so turned on that she was panting hotly into his mouth.

  A sharp whistle pierced the air, followed by the harsh sound of belligerent male laughter. Aria pulled away from Christian’s mouth with a startled breath. She glanced over her shoulder, peering into the darkness. A group of guys was ambling towards them. They were acting rather rowdy and uninhibited as they drifted through the small playground and onto the concrete. As they got closer, the familiar stench of alcohol stung her nose.

  “Son of a bitch,” Christian m
umbled. “Time to go.”

  He reached for her hand and two of the guys ran up on them, shoving him back and nearly knocking him on his ass.

  “Why don’t you come play with us?” one of them said, circling around her and tugging her roughly against his chest. He caressed the side of her face and she cringed. “We can teach you a few tricks,” he slurred.

  “Yeah, we got plenty of balls for you to play with,” the other laughed thickly. He snagged a handful of her hair, ripping her head back as she let out a startled cry. “Aw, I think she’s scared of us.”

  “Hey!” Christian yelled. “Get away from her!” He surged forward, and the guy whirled around, slapping his hands against his chest and grabbing him by the shirt. He tossed him backwards, and Christian went stumbling into a third, towering man. They batted him back and forth like a hacky sack, cackling at the hard-on he had in his pants.

  “Hey man, I don’t think he knows what to do with himself.”

  “Maybe we need to show him how to stick it to her,” the bigger one snickered. He looked over at the guy who’d snatched Aria as he pressed her into him at the waist and swayed around in a drunken circle.

  “I’ve got all the best dance moves, baby,” he breathed.

  Ariahna recoiled, choking on the smell of tequila on his breath. Every muscle in her body was tense as she tried to push him away.

  “My father’s a cop,” she threatened weakly.

  “Kinky, girl,” he laughed, groping at her ass. “Maybe he’ll let us borrow his handcuffs.”

  She slipped one of her arms free from his crushing hug, winding back and striking him across the face with as much force as possible.

  “Fucking bitch!” he howled, clutching his jaw furiously.

  She slipped out of his arms and made a mad dash for the parking lot. The man lunged at her with a yell, and they went tumbling down. Jagged pavement scraped against her skin, and she cried out in the struggle. He held her down, ripping at the button of her jeans as she clawed at his hands. A shrill scream tore from her throat, leaving her lungs burning and heavy. “Stop!” she pleaded. “Stop!” Her knee slammed into his groin, and the frigid touch of his fingers and the weight of his body vanished.