Page 54 of Forever Cursed

“What did you want to show me?” I keep my voice low, hoping to mask the tremble from my nerves.

“If I show it to you, you have to promise me something,” he starts.

I nod, trying not to seem as nervous as I really am.

“Whatever happens next won’t change how we see one another.”

I scan his eyes, unsure what he means. What could he possibly show me that would make me change how I see or feel about him? There’s only one way to find out.

“I promise,” I say as the rain starts to pour harder from the sky.

“Okay,” Rome breathes while nodding.

With a deep inhale, he glances down at my lips, and my stomach tilts. Leaning in, he brushes his mouth against mine, and the faint contact leaves me feeling weightless. He doesn’t make any further movement, like he’s waiting for permission to seal the bond.

I close the distance a millimeter more, feathering our noses.

Our breathing is ragged, hot, and impatient.

I move my hand from his nape to his hair, curling my fingers in the short strands.

He presses his thumb into the small of my back, and as thunder booms in the sky, our lips crash together in a kiss.

His lips are soft, full, and powerful. He kisses me with slow, fierce passion, savoring our touch.

The knot in my stomach loosens, and my body tingles. I stop the whimper that wants to leave my chest. I’ve wanted this for too long, and now that I have it, I don’t want to let it go. I press into him, kissing him back with equal desire. My hand travels around his shoulder blades as he holds me against him.

Sheets of rain come down on us, and I ready myself for him to pull away.

Our lips part, and I begin to pull back.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asks, his voice husky.

“I—”

With a hand on the back of my head, Rome urges me back, taking my lips against his again and parting my mouth with his tongue.

I melt into his arms at the sensation. Never, and I mean never, have I ever been kissed like this. I’ve never felt so adored and wanted in my life. Rome Carter not only likes me, he wants me, and he’s showing me rather than telling.

I welcome his tongue, letting him explore my mouth as I taste him. His body is hot against mine, and I moan as I breathe him in. Rome smirks as I release the sound into his mouth.

Thunder crashes in the sky, and I jolt. Rome tightens his grip around me in response. Breaking the kiss, we share the oxygen between us.

“I can’t let you go,” he rasps.

“I don’t want you to,” I admit.

The storm comes down harder, soaking us entirely. He opens his eyes and catches me watching him.

I don’t want my focus to shift, but it does, and Zack appears unbidden in my mind. In Rome’s arms, my joints lock, and my body stiffens. My eyes dance around his features, and my breathing becomes frantic.

Shit. Holy fuck! What did we just do?

He’s going to be devastated. If he finds out Rome and I kissed, he’ll never look at me the same way again.Fuck!I’m a selfish prick. After all he’s gone through and done. This is the last thing he deserves: his best friend and sister betraying his trust. We’re scum.

“I...” I try to separate from Rome while searching for the right words. “We can’t do this.” I drop my gaze and pull back from him.

“What? Why?”

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