Cursed

by Nancy Corrigan

  She pursed her lips. “Are you going to pretend to be the faithful mated male who is seduced?”

  The female at his back nipped his neck. “I like playing games. So does Gina.” The demoness he held at arm’s length nodded. “I can be your whore, Ian. Your mate doesn’t need to know. It’ll be our little secret.”

  The woman behind him popped the button of his jeans and reached for his semierect cock. The first stroke stirred it to life. He cursed and let go of Gina, then grabbed the other demoness’s hand, yanking it away from his damn dick that had a mind of its own.

  “Don’t fucking touch me.”

  Gina moved in, locking her arms around his neck and kissing his upper chest. The demoness at his back matched her, licking and nipping at his skin. He grabbed Gina’s hips, ready to toss her off.

  “Ian?”

  Tegan’s voice carried over the moans and screams in the room. He shoved the women latched on to him away and pivoted on his heel.

  His mate stood near a hallway. The look of hurt on her face gave way to anger. She turned and fled down the corridor behind her.

  “Tegan, wait.”

  She was gone, and if he didn’t soothe her, she’d abandon him once and for all.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Tegan fled down the corridor, escaping deeper into the Haven. There were alternate exits. She needed one. If she didn’t get out, she’d either succumb to the tears blurring her vision or the anger squeezing her chest. Neither could happen. Both strong emotions weakened and confused her. Worse was knowing that acting on either might damn her, her relationship with Ian, and the world. A Huntsman possessed too much power to blindly lash out.

  Too bad she couldn’t see past this moment.

  Nothing made sense. Not what she walked in on. Not the feelings twisting her up. Not the Triad’s challenge. And especially not the doubt over the past. Old mistakes blended with new hurts until until she didn’t know where one ended and the next began.

  Space. She needed space.

  She kicked the door open, leading to the next section of the Haven, the private booths. The sounds of sex were muffled in the space.

  A male incubus stepped out of the private booth in front of her. He grinned. “Did you lose your lover? Or are you looking for a new one?”

  Tegan let her alternate form peek out and bared a mouthful of sharp teeth at him.

  He raised his hands and stepped out of her way. “Come back if you change your mind, little Hunter.”

  She snapped her teeth together and barely resisted snarling at him. She hated them. They were no more than a race of prostitutes. And she mated one. Foolishly.

  No, dammit! She was letting her hurts direct her mind. Time alone was what she needed. If not, she’d do or say something she’d regret.

  Tegan entered the hallway to the next set of rooms. Plusher carpet covered the floor and decorative paintings hung on the wall. The booths in this section of the Haven served the elite of the Underworld. More demons lingered in the passageway. The males and females alike turned at her entry. Elite or not, they still needed to feed and had to lure partners into their beds. She kept her gaze locked on the exit at the other end and strode forward.

  Halfway into the hall, she stumbled and braced a hand against the wall. The evidence of her mate bond, the silky second skin Ian had wrapped around her heart and soul, tingled. Warmth infused her. He was close. Her body reacted to his nearness, readying her for his intimate touch. She gave up on saving face in front of the demons.

  She ran.

  A whiff of cinnamon filled her lungs. The pounding of feet carried over the cries from the Haven’s patrons. She increased her pace and stretched a hand for the door at the end. Her fingers fell short. Ian snaked an arm around her middle and yanked her against him.

  “Going somewhere, my mate?”

  The demons watching them gasped. She ignored their shock. Like Lucas, all hoped to entice the Hunters into mating them. Once free to roam the mortal world, they could grow impossibly strong on a near-endless supply of lovers.

  Humans wouldn’t know what they were fucking. In Hell, their partners were fully aware of what their lovers were. Many resented it, even if the experience was memorable. Others, though, craved what only a sex demon could give—ecstasy beyond anything they’d experienced. Groupies, they were called. Or addicts. Tegan had been one of them.

  And what was she now? She loved an incubus. Was that worse than an addict or better? A scream of frustration built. Instead of giving into it, Tegan shoved against Ian’s arms, desperation fueling her. Time. She needed time. And space. Was that so much to ask? “Let me go.”

  “Never.” He stepped closer, pushing the thick evidence of his arousal into her back.

  She closed her eyes and did her best to ignore the achiness low in her belly that begged for him to fill her even as her mind and heart and emotions duked it out. Tegan licked her lips. Cinnamon. His taste flooded her senses, and she hadn’t even kissed him. “Do not make me repeat myself.”

  “Didn’t you feel what Arawn did to me?” Ian pressed his nose to her neck and inhaled. His shaky exhale heated her skin. “He took my Hunter’s mark and killed me, angel. Considering you are the reason for it, aren’t you even going to ask how I am?”

  She swallowed hard. What she’d done was necessary. Arawn had needed to know of Lucas’s threat to his holdings. The reminder helped ease the churning in her gut. “First time’s always the hardest. You get used to it. I know I did.”

  He tightened his grip on her waist. “Do not remind me of all the times you’ve suffered.” Ian spun her and pierced her with his tortured gaze. “I hate knowing that I never knew about it and couldn’t have helped you even if I had.”

  She fell into his mesmerizing eyes. Part of his draw came from his incubus side, luring his feeding source closer. Part came from the hold he had over her heart. Combined, she could only stare transfixed into his dual-ringed eyes.

  He cupped her face between his hands. “Or that I went about my life thinking you were a figment of my imagination.”

  The reminder of how he’d spent his time in another woman’s arms returned. It didn’t matter if he and Cynthia had sex or not. He’d touched her the same way he had Tegan. Except she had no doubt Cynthia had orgasmed for Ian. Had come all over his tongue and fingers. Rubbed her slick cleft all over his face.

  Tegan groaned. Why was she even thinking about the past? But she knew the answer. The past haunted her, both Ian’s and her own. Every time she thought she’d made progress in moving forward, something happened to make her doubts surface.

  And if she didn’t get away and give herself a chance to evaluate everything from a safe distance, she risked making things worse. Just like Arawn’s rage had compounded things. If he had taken the time to calm down, she and Ian wouldn’t be standing here, and she wouldn’t be on the verge of anger and tears.

  “I am sorry Arawn lashed out at you and took the mark of the Hunt back.” She shoved Ian’s hands away. “But he did you a favor. Now you have nobody to answer to.”

  “I do.” He reached for her. “You.”

  She stepped back. He let his hand drop.

  “Really?” The anger flared despite the rationale she’d been feeding herself about giving them both space and time.

  “Yes. Really.”

  “And do you think I wouldn’t have a problem with you sandwiched between two she-demons?” Tegan motioned toward the erection straining against the confines of his jeans. “If not, go back to them. Sure looks like your dick enjoyed their attention.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. Longing to do as she suggested? She curled her fingers and fought the hurt, the confusion, the fear…everything. She was a hot mess.

  Ian twisted the handle of the nearest door and glanced inside the empty room. Without looking at her, he snagged her wrist and tumbled her into his arms. She gasped but didn’t get the chance to resist. He lifted her, an arm around her middle, and carried her in
side. The slamming of the door rang out. He covered her mouth with his a second later and kissed her hard.

  She bit at his lips, shoved at his chest, and squirmed to break his hold. On a moan, he lifted her higher, never breaking their lip lock. He twined his tongue with hers, leading her into a kiss she didn’t want to fight. When Ian kissed her, she didn’t feel confused. She felt good…right. This was where she needed to be—in her mate’s arms.

  Tegan met his demands, kissed him harder, and punished herself for the feelings bouncing around her heart. Shame came next. Here she was warring with her emotions and not even considering Ian’s. Or the fact he’d been ripped from the Hunt or killed by her own father.

  But Ian was safe despite all that. And he was here in her arms, not with a sex demon. The anger and jealousy and her doubts and everything that made her question, well, everything, subsided for the moment—not gone, only pushed back.

  Right in this moment, she needed to touch her mate. No matter what he would’ve done or had done, she loved him.

  Did that make her the world’s greatest fool?

  A second time.

  Bjorn had cheated on her. He’d killed innocents. Lied to her, to her siblings, and to her father. Left the babies he’d made with his other lovers to be raised by their mothers. And…and Tegan had cried over him, grieving his death. A fool, such a fool. She never wanted to fall for another man’s lies again, but she didn’t want to ruin what she had with Ian either. She needed to get away and think. Ian’s mouth on hers didn’t allow her a moment to contemplate anything. And…she didn’t care.

  Holding Ian felt good.

  Tegan sifted her fingers through Ian’s hair, relishing the fact that she didn’t have to mourn his death. Enjoying the knowledge he’d chosen to follow her back here. Savoring his passion. Knowing that while he worshipped her, she didn’t have to think about any of the things that confused her. Ian’s focused loving didn’t allow for anything that didn’t center on them.

  He danced his tongue with hers until she gave up on any pretenses and reached for his pants. He broke the kiss by turning his head. His rough exhale against her cheek sent tingles skipping across her skin.

  “I didn’t come to the Haven for sex. I was lured here with the prospect of finding you.” Ian brushed his lips over her jaw. “I was trying to get those demons off me.”

  She brought the memory back. He might’ve been ready to push Gina away or simply about to draw her closer. “Where were you before coming here?”

  He slid his hands to her bottom and massaged. “In the cell where I was confined before. I expected you to come to me, and I was…” He dragged in a rough breath. “I was too weak to reach out to you. I need to feed again.”

  “As Lucas’s child you’re more…” She searched for the right word to describe his power. “You’re more potent. The lust will be harder to control.”

  “I’ll learn.” Ian backed her into the room.

  Tegan fisted his shirt. “From who? Lucas?”

  He flashed her a smile that heated every inch of her body. “From you. You’re the woman I love, the only one who I’ll take pleasure or nourishment from.”

  He turned her in the loose circle of his arms. The sight of the room stopped her heart. Full-length windows lined three of the walls and overlooked the Haven’s main gathering area. The jutting box set the occupants on display for the entire roomful of patrons. It wouldn’t take long for the demons below to catch sight of them.

  “Ian, we can’t stay here.”

  With his hands on her hips, he lifted her and set her next to the leather couch which sat directly in front of the glass. He kissed her neck. “Don’t see why not. I am the Demon King’s son. I should have special privileges, don’t you think?”

  Her breathing quickened. “But I—”

  He slid a hand up her shirt and covered her breast. A tweak of her nipple stopped her words. “I know you hate being interrupted, angel. I wouldn’t normally do that, but I don’t have much time.” He trailed the tip of his tongue along her jaw. “And I know that’s the only thing that’ll earn your trust.”

  There was a hint of worry in his voice that spiked hers. “What happened?”

  “Allie. I saw her. Craig was going to draw her out of his fairy ring. Make her into his puppet. We fought. I killed his sluaghs, but he pushed Trevor into the fairy realm.” He fumbled with her bra. His hands trembled, but he unhooked the clasp. Her breasts tumbled from their tight confines. He caressed them, gently and reverently. Her heart did a little flip in her chest.

  “I’m going in after them,” he declared.

  “You can’t. Only Harley or Calan have a shot of getting them out. I checked with Arawn.”

  “I don’t think they’re the only ones who can. I reached over the ring. I held Allie’s hand and drew her partially out. A sluagh tackled me and broke my hold. Don’t you see? The Huntsmen are all connected to Calan and Harley.”

  “You’re no longer part of our Teulu.”

  “No, I’m not.” He cradled her face in his hands. “But I’m yours. Will you save your mate after I go in?”

  She stared at him for a long moment. Her agreement should’ve been instantaneous, but fear choked her. She’d heard too many stories of the fairy realm. Ian might be a demigod, but his body was human. She didn’t know what would happen to him. She couldn’t risk him.

  A long sigh escaped his lips. He dropped his hand and turned away. “So be it.”

  No! She grabbed his arm. The mate mark on her hand tingled. “I will go in, not you.”

  “Like hell you will. You might regret mating me, but I don’t.” Ian yanked her against him. She fisted his shirt. He leaned over her, forcing her to arch into him. “You see, angel. I love you. Always will. Whether you feel the same is up to you. And I won’t fucking risk my mate’s life, for mine or anyone else’s.”

  “I do love you.” Her words came out as a whisper. Despite her confusing emotions and thoughts, she knew that one thing. She loved her mate.

  He closed his eyes. His nostrils flared on a deep breath. Finally, he met her gaze. “But you don’t trust me not to fall for some damn illusions the fairy realm will deliver, is that it?”

  Was it? She wasn’t so sure. She simply knew that if either of them was going into the fairy realm, it’d be her. She was the Hunter, not him any longer, and she would protect him from all things. Never again did she want to feel the rush of fear that had gripped her when Arawn had lashed out at Ian.

  “You’re not going, so it doesn’t matter.” She raised her chin.

  “Why?”

  Tegan scrambled for a safe reason that wouldn’t hurt his pride. None came to her. “Because.”

  “Fine, be stubborn, but how about answering this question. Will you ever trust me?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “When’s that, angel? After a millennium? Or won’t we make it that long?” Ian stepped closer, forcing her to move with him. Her back hit the couch. “Arawn said he had a way to break our bond. Why don’t you take it? Rid yourself of your mistake. Then you won’t have to worry about me cheating on you.”

  “I don’t want to break our bond.” She glared at him. “Did you hear me when I said I love you? I just need time to work through my issues.”

  “Time you don’t have.”

  She agreed. Her chance to meet the Triad’s challenge was slipping away. She curled her hand. He glanced at where her balled fist rested against his chest. With a curse, he snagged her wrist and peeled her fingers back. Her heart stuttered. The mark had grown even longer in the hours since she’d spoken with Rhys.

  “Fuck.” He gave her a little shake. “You’re failing. Dammit, I don’t want to lose you. That’s what’ll happen, isn’t it? You’ll go back to that hell you escaped.”

  “I won’t fail.”

  He kissed her hard. Desperation fueled him. She felt it in every thrust of his tongue and heard it in his moans. Arms wrapped tight around his chest, she matched
his passion. He finally pulled away and captured her with his gaze. Determination simmered in his multihued eyes.

  “I’ll save you. I’m your key. I won’t fail you. You hear me? No matter what, I’ll be the man you need. Just, just…” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Just don’t abandon us. We’re in this together.”

  She curled her fingers around the back of his neck and cradled him close. Needs flared deep within. She didn’t fight them. “Take me. Right here, right now. I need your cock, your love, your soul.”

  He slid his hands to her ass. “You have it. Everything. All of me.”

  His words turned her heart over. She nipped his jaw. “Good, now show me.”

  His breath escaped in a rush. He fumbled with her jeans. The button gave way, and the zipper opened. Cool air bathed her bottom. She closed her eyes and waited for the glorious moment when their bodies became one. It didn’t happen. He dragged his knuckles over her drenched center instead. The caress teased her.

  She wiggled, trying to stimulate herself more. “Touch me. I need to feel you stroke me. I ache.”

  “We don’t want that.”

  With a steady push, he slipped his fingers inside her. In and out, he moved them. He added a twist and spread his fingers, loosening her muscles and prepping her for his possession.

  “You’re wet.” He licked the rim of her ear. “So damn wet for me.”

  “I crave you, my mate. Please make love to me. Don’t make me wait.”

  He turned her face for his kiss. She twined her tongue with his. All the while he worked her with his fingers. Her muscles tightened. Heaviness settled low. An orgasm built with each thrust and twirl.

  She turned her head before her release took hold, and his parted lips skimmed over her cheek. “Please. I want you to feed from me.”

  “Not now. That’s not all you are to me.”