Cursed Hearts (A Crossroads Novel)

by Light

  Aria didn’t know what to do with herself. Christian was taking her into his mouth and filling her with an insatiable heat. He was driving her wild, making her body tingle and burn. His tongue started flicking against her even faster and she cried out, fingers grasping at his hair. Just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he pulled away, leaving her mourning the loss of contact. He locked eyes with her as he crawled back up the length of her body, trailing his wet tongue and hot lips enticingly over her skin. By the time they were eye to eye again, she couldn’t breathe.

  Christian cradled the side of her face in his palm as he kissed over her neck. He was sliding himself back and forth between her legs, easing her into the idea of what was about to happen. Aria tensed as he tilted his hips back to press against her. He could feel her trepidation.

  “Wait,” she panted.

  Christian thrust forward, penetrating her in one, smooth motion. Her whole body went rigid and she cried out in pain. He held her tight in his arms as she got used to the sensation of having him inside of her. She was trembling beneath him, her eyes squeezed tight in the most beautiful display of agony. She was shattering in his arms, and he’d never seen anything more amazing. Christian started moving inside of her slowly, kissing over her lips to muffle her quiet cries. He pulled her knees up around his body, delighting in her gasp as he slid in deep.

  “Aria,” he whispered, pressing his forehead gently to hers. She enveloped him like hot velvet, so tight, and wet, and smooth it felt like his first time. He bucked into her sharply – quick bursts of movement followed by long, slow drags. She was moaning and making desperate, sexy fucking sounds. “Do you like that?” he asked, pressing himself flush to her body and moving his hips back and forth, fast and hard.

  “S-Slower,” she pleaded.

  Christian slowed his pace, grunting softly as he tried to hold back. The languid motion of his hips was unbearable. He needed more, he needed so much more.

  “You’re so tight,” he panted, feeling her clenching involuntarily around his shaft. His hips were rocking into her with abandon, making her claw into his chest and back. Her nails felt so good he was fucking into her even harder until his body was glistening with a light layer of sweat.

  “Please,” Ariahna breathed, “it hurts.”

  Christian clamped his hand down over one of hers, threading their fingers together tightly. He was so close his body was spasming with a frenzied need. “Ahh,” he breathed, clenching his eyes shut as white dots exploded behind his eyelids. He was shooting out inside of her, thrusting roughly for each bursting wave of pleasure that washed over him. Christian nuzzled his face into her neck, trying to relearn how to breathe. He pulled out, kissing along her jaw to ease her discomfort.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  Now was when Christian would normally collect his clothes off of the floor and leave. Instead, he rolled over onto his back and pulled her protectively against his body. He was moving his fingers gently through her hair, kissing and soothing her. “You are so amazing,” he said.

  Ariahna curled up against his side, resting her head on his shoulder. Her hand fell to his chest, touching him softly and trying to fight back the desire still burning strong inside of her. She was sore, and hurting, and aroused. As much as she didn’t think she could take any more of that, she didn’t want it to end.

  Christian flicked his hand lazily in the air, cleaning the both of them up. Her sheets were a bit messy, but at least she wouldn’t have to wake up to dried blood on her legs. Somehow he knew that would freak her out.

  A still silence blanketed them as they laid together in the soft darkness. Except for the gentle beating of their hearts, the world had become quiet again. Christian wouldn’t have thought it was possible, but just lying there with Ariahna almost felt better than sex. He felt loved for the first time in his life. And that, more than anything, scared him.

  She stirred beside him, touching him restlessly. He was ready to black out, but Ariahna had other plans. He made a soft groaning sound as she slid down the length of his body, trailing kisses over his skin. He was too groggy to even realize what she was doing until she took him into her mouth. The soft heat of her wet tongue left him gasping.

  Aria sucked on him teasingly, laving her tongue over his sensitive tip. She’d tried to relax, to fall asleep in his arms. The animal inside of her was having none of it. It wanted sex. It wanted completion. She scratched over Christian’s thighs gently as he panted beneath her. He was slowly becoming aroused again, growing hard and heavy in her mouth as she tried her best to please him in a way she’d never learned how.

  “Ah, teeth,” he exclaimed, pressing a hand to her shoulder. Aria relieved the twinge of pain she’d caused by sliding down farther over his flesh. Her tongue traced a thick vein on the underside of his cock and he cursed softly into the sheets. He wasn’t ready to go again so soon, it was too much. Nothing like this had ever happened before. He’d never tried to do it twice in a row, and he’d certainly never had a girl go down on him afterwards – especially not a virgin.

  “Mm, gentle,” he rasped. She was making the bottoms of his feet burn. “…I can’t.” He couldn’t believe he’d just said that. When it came to sex, the words, ‘I can’t’, weren’t in his vocabulary.

  “Don’t underestimate yourself,” she said in a sultry voice. She prowled back up the length of his body to press an affectionate kiss to his lips. His erection brushed against the inside of her thigh and she rocked back on him eagerly. His hands slid up to her hips, guiding her back onto him as their tongues folded wetly into one another’s mouths.

  Aria gasped sharply as he pushed inside, letting him fill her slowly. It was different being on top. The angle felt better, and she could set the pace, but it also meant she had to take more of him than her body felt comfortable with. He was buried in her to the hilt, and all at once it felt excruciating and fantastic, painful and right. Ariahna pressed her body against his chest, rocking back on him leisurely and feeling the sparks of a slow building bliss. Christian’s hand twisted into her hair as he kissed her insistently. His legs were shaking as he moved in time with her thrusts. He leaned up, wrapping her in his arms and trying to roll them over. Aria pressed her palms to his chest, nails biting into skin as she pushed him down onto the mattress.

  Her eyes flashed brightly in the dark.

  She was being dominant, and he loved it.

  “Fuck, me,” Christian said, dragging out the words. Even his voice was shaking. She sat back, riding him smoothly as his hands glided over her perfect, round breasts. That was one thing he’d always liked about her – she had incredible tits. “Are you trying to kill me?” he grinned.

  Ariahna laughed, stilling in her movements before bending down to nip at his neck. She was being playful and free. She’d never felt so untamed. “If I was, would you die happy?” she breathed.

  Christian thought he was going to melt into the sheets. He was right. She was the sweetest little fuck he’d ever had. He doubted anything would ever be able to compare to this moment.

  “Yeah,” he nodded. He watched her arch her spine and flip her hair back. The display left him biting at his bottom lip and bucking up into her. He had her bouncing on top of him as he tried to relieve her of her control. He just wanted to flip her over and pound her into the mattress. Or better yet, bend her over and take her from behind.

  Aria stared down into Christian’s eyes, mesmerizing him with her gaze. She was commanding him and slowing the rhythm of their bodies with a single look. She rocked on top of him in slow, sweeping strokes, feeling her orgasm building inside of her. She was so very close when suddenly Christian came with a broken moan. He was begging her to stop as she continued using him to push herself over the edge. A wave of pleasure spread through her limbs, radiating into her body like heat from a flame. She cried out as an intense pulsing sensation erupted from between her legs. She was bathing in a pool of ecstasy, like light shining down from the sky an
d illuminating the two of them in this moment of perfection.

  “Sweet fucking Jesus,” Christian hissed. His skin was on fire. Aria was still rocking back on him subtly and clenching around him so hard it hurt. His fingers tore at her sheets, feeling every muscle in his body contract. She went limp, collapsing gently against his chest, and he released a weighted breath.

  “Hold me,” she whispered.

  “Okay,” he said, “but just until morning.”

  The two of them ended up spooning beneath the sheets. And as the silence embraced them, they fell into a blissful, dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 26

  There are moments in life when you feel like you’re staring at a mistake you haven’t made yet, regretting already a decision you know is going to change the outcome of everything. That was exactly how Christian felt. He was standing between Ariahna’s bed and her door, watching her as she slept. He knew he shouldn’t leave. Deep down, he didn’t want to. His chest was heavy with an emotion he couldn’t place, and it was that which was making him so angry. He was frustrated, torn between what he knew he was going to do, and what he really wanted. He finally slipped out of her room, startling at the unexpected sight of Rome.

  “God, what are you, her stalker?” Christian said.

  Rome frowned as a sharp pain cut through his chest. She’d slept with him. She’d slept with Christian, and now he was sneaking out on her.

  “You’re such a piece of shit,” he breathed. “Do you even register the fact that other people have feelings too, or is all you care about yourself?”

  “She had a good time. Not that it’s any of your business. But man, you should have seen her. She was moaning and screaming my name, and letting me fuck her like a little bitch.”

  Rome was seething.

  “You make it really difficult for someone to want to help you.”

  “You can keep your fucking help. I don’t need you.”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Rome said. “You are completely on your own. I don’t care if you come to me bleeding from the ears and crying because it hurts so bad you feel like your head is going to explode. You are going to learn that your actions have consequences. People aren’t pawns. They aren’t there for you to use and discard as you see fit… She trusted you.”

  “She knew what she was getting into. She’s a big girl who can make her own decisions. It’s not my fault that she decided to play with fire.”

  “Is that what you think you are?” Rome asked. “Fire? Take off that mask and you are nothing more than a scared little boy crying out for attention.”

  “I think you’re confusing me with someone else,” Christian smiled. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t that Kaleb’s jacket you’re wearing? Do you really think you’re fooling anyone with that act of yours? Just fuck him already and get it over with. See, the difference between you and me is, I do what I want, when I want, and I don’t care who gets hurt along the way. That’s how life works. No one is going to look after you. No one is going to keep you safe. Everyone is out to get everyone else, and if you don’t look out for yourself, then you’re fucked, because no one else is going to.”

  “No,” Rome said slowly, “that’s not how life works. And the difference between you and me is that in the end, I’m going to have all the things you realized too late in life that you wanted. And you, you’re going to be completely alone, and you’ll have no one to thank but yourself.”

  “You’re just bitter because I got to her first. Thanks for that glass of wine, by the way. You practically threw her right into my arms. I guess that means I actually have you to thank, doesn’t it?” Christian smirked. “Funny how that works. What’s the saying? Nice guys always finish—”

  “—last, but not least. My mother used to tell me that. For what it’s worth, Christian, I actually feel sorry for you. Whether we share the same parents or not, someone should have been there for you.”

  “Fuck you,” Christian breathed. “Fuck you and your righteous bullshit. You and your mother can go to fucking hell for all I care. Listen to me carefully, we are not brothers, and we never will be.”

  Rome took a deep breath as he watched Christian walk away. He’d been intending to skip town, but now, somehow things just felt different. Ariahna was going to need him, and Kaleb was right. He couldn’t run away from his problems. If he did, he’d only be leaving everyone else to deal with the aftermath. Besides, he had a feeling there wasn’t a sign out of town that read: Now leaving Redwood Bay. Congratulations, your death curse is behind you.

  Rome slid a note under Aria’s door and knocked gently, rousing her.

  She made a sleepy sound, cuddling further under the comforter. “Who is it?” she mumbled. Her eyes slid unwillingly open, blinking into the soft dimness of her room. Early morning light was just starting to shine through the window, cascading into the room like a waterfall. Aria sat up slowly, recalling the somewhat hazy events of the previous night. She slipped out of bed, clutching a thin sheet around her body, and padded over to the door. When she cracked it open, there was nobody there. Ariahna closed her door again, frowning curiously at a small slip of paper near her feet. Had Christian left that? she wondered. She retrieved it from the floor, flipping it open to read the single sentence inside.

  Do you know what makes you beautiful?

  She stared at the words for several heartbeats before setting the paper aside on her desk. She couldn’t believe she’d actually done it. It had happened – with him. She found herself picking her clothes up off the floor, trying to collect the pieces of clothing like errant thoughts. The garments, and a red stain on her sheets, were the only proof that remained of what they’d shared. Her panties were mysteriously missing, and she blushed at the thought that he could have taken them.

  Aria dropped her clothes on the bed, wondering what the hell she was doing—what the hell she had done. She sat down, gripping the edge of the mattress and grappling with her inner demons. She couldn’t help but wonder, did Christian really care about her? Would he think it had been a mistake? Would he still want to see her? She was getting herself worked up over what-ifs, worrying over questions she couldn’t answer. She glanced over at the note where it sat on her desk, remembering the way he’d stroked her hair and kissed away her pain. And there was no doubt in her mind. Everything was going to be okay.

  Chapter 27

  Life is music. And like a song, each individual is comprised of a complex pattern, an array of moments and thoughts. Music is more than sound. It’s a melody that encompasses our dreams, our hopes, our fears. It can shed light on dreary days, lift our spirits, and ease our minds. Music is passion. It’s emotion. And like life, it’s only beautiful when you let it in – when you let it break down everything you are, and everything you want to be. Only when you let it change you, only when you let it become you, do you understand that everything in this world has a purpose.

  The entirety of the student body filed into the auditorium, taking up seats and filling the room with spirited chatter. The morning felt alive, full of vibrant promise and fortuity. Maybe because the first concert of the year was today, or perhaps because Ariahna was looking at the world with entirely new eyes. She couldn’t wait to see the music group’s performance, to hear everyone singing and to witness their talent. She wanted to be swept away by the music. Normally she hated that she’d never had the courage to step onto that stage, to be a performer instead of just another face in the crowd.

  Today, none of that felt like it mattered.

  She drifted down the center aisle with the flow of students, looking for Christian in the massive array of faces. She spotted him a few rows down, leaning on the armrest of some brunette’s chair with his smile at full force. Aria’s heart dropped. He was flirting with her. He was flirting with another girl, and suddenly her world felt like it was spinning in an entirely different direction. His eyes swept over to her and she flicked her gaze down to her shoes. She’d been staring. Now she was simply trying to
hide the shock and hurt as they danced openly across her face.

  It meant nothing to him.

  Ariahna felt like her legs were going to give out just as her fingers found the soft fabric of the empty seat at her side. She sat down slowly, her mind slipping into a horrible, numb sort of fog. That’s when she remembered the note in her pocket. It crinkled as she fished it out, staring at the words again in bewilderment. It wasn’t Christian’s handwriting, she realized, and she couldn’t help but wonder how she hadn’t noticed that before.

  Do you know what makes you beautiful?

  In this moment, those words felt like nothing more than a cruel joke. The seat beside her squeaked and Aria’s head snapped up to see Scarlet’s smiling face. She was leaning over her shoulder, reading the note.

  “Ooh, who’s that from?” she asked silkily.

  “I don’t know,” Aria replied, crumpling up the note. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not from the person I wanted it to be from.” She paused, willing herself not to look at Christian again. “I think I’m just going to go.”

  “What?” Scarlet said, reaching over and grabbing her hand. “You can’t—the concert’s about to start.”

  As if on cue, the curtains began to part. Rome was sitting center stage, completely alone with nothing but a microphone and an old acoustic in his lap to keep him company. Ariahna couldn’t help but notice how jittery he looked, and as his eyes scanned the crowd, she could hear murmuring and quiet laughter flitting up from the seats. But when she looked back at him, he was smiling. His eyes locked on her for no more than a second before he started playing, his fingers working a melody from the strings. The soft soulfulness of Rome’s voice filtered through the speakers, captivating her and the audience. He was singing a John Mayer song, The Age of Worry.