Page 77 of Cursed Encounter
And it hits me like a fucking sledgehammer to the chest.
I love her.
I don’t just care for her. I don’t just want to protect her. It’s not simply enough to want to burn the world down to make her happy.
I fucking love her.
“We’re not Bonnie and Clyde,” I say.
“No,” she shoots back, a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. “But we’re not going to end much differently.”
I snake my arms around her waist and hold her close.
“We’re not going out like this,” I vow, even if I’m not certain of how I’m going to keep us alive. “The night isn’t over yet.”
“Correct,” she says with a playful tone as she pulls out of my embrace. “And we have much to do.”
With a light, playful air surrounding her, she hikes up her skirt and practically bounces down the stairs.
I don’t even bother to hide the way my eyes stay glued to her ass.
Damn me and my mouth. If I hadn’t agreed to take her out tonight, we could be naked and I could be buried deep inside her right now.
I give a small sigh as I tell myself there’s a reason I agreed to this.
Seeing her smile as she glances at me over her shoulder is all the reminder I need.
Astra’s happiness might just mean more to me than my own.
I’m royally fucked.
TWENTY-NINE
Astra
Okay, so maybe I tonight I didn’t get to live out Halloween like a kid, going door-to-door and yelling “trick or treat” while I hold open a sack for candy, but so far, it’s been amazing.
Donovan informed me that most everything shuts down after dinner time, but that doesn’t mean the whole city goes quiet. The middle of the city is alive with people and noise. It has an old-time feel to it as kids run around and play silly games. I’m tempted by the bobbing for apples barrels, but I don’t want to get my hair all wet. It took me hours to get it pinned back and rolled up so it will stay under the hat.
Honestly, my heart is about to explode just from the feelings around me. I let them in. I soak them up.
As we walk, I grab a few candy bars that are held out in my direction. It seems like everyone is getting candy today, even the adults. I’m certainly not going to argue. I unwrap a snack-sized chocolate bar and put the whole thing in my mouth. I moan as it melts over my tongue.
“Sorry,” I say to Donovan. “I should have let you have half.”
He stops right there in the middle of the blocked-off street and turns to face me. There are people everywhere, but with our posse of bodyguards, it’s almost like we’re in our own little bubble. I don’t look the least bit surprised when he cups my chin and drags my face closer to his. Nor am I shocked when he licksalong the seam of my lips. And when I open for him, I’m most definitely expecting it when his tongue to slip inside and roll over mine.
He groans lightly as he pulls away. His eyes are clouded with lust, and I might need a new set of undies.
A child’s far-off squeal of joy snaps me back into reality, and I can’t help but let my head fall back as I laugh.
“How about… we get your face painted?” I playfully suggest when I see a teenager dressed up as a fairy working on putting a unicorn on a little girl’s cheek. The kid is trying so hard to sit still, but she’s having a hard time. Her pumpkin costume is absolutely precious. When I glance up at Donovan, he’s glowering down at me.
So far, this has been the best night.
I slip my hand into his and try not to laugh when he stares down at where we are now joined with a look of sheer confusion on his face.
“It’s called holding hands,” I tell him as I lean my head on his shoulder. “I’ve never done it before, and seeing as it might be my last night here on earth,” yes, I’m laying it on thick with the dramatics, “I think you should indulge me.”
