Page 27 of Cursed Touch
“Okay, some good, some bad, others both good and family?” Vanessa offered Claudia a cautious smile.
“As you can imagine, talking about any of this in public would make you look crazy, but worse, it will put a target on your back,” Serena stated. “Thisis why I wanted to have the ancestor who took over Ethan’s form to verify you and Carter were indeed mates. Unfortunately, she also confirmed the worst-case scenario—”
“I have a target on my back.”
Serena gave her a grim smile. “The road ahead of you and Carter will be long and bumpy. I can promise we’ll do everything we can to figure out whose attention you’ve grabbed and eliminate the threat.”
“I have a question,” she said, and Serena nodded for her to continue. “What about the people I saw disappear?”
Serena shrugged. “They were probably witches. There’s a spell that can hide us from view.”
Vanessa nodded. “Do I have powers?” she asked and chewed on her lower lip.
“We can’t say for sure, but I don’t think you hold any. I do think if we followed your lineage, we’d find one or two witches.”
Chapter 14
Carter placed the lid onto the empty garbage can and watched Vanessa as she wiped down his island. “You’re taking all of this better than I expected.”
She chuckled and cast him a side glance. “My brain wants to explode with all the information.”
He took the cloth from her hands and rinsed it before washing his hands. “Thanks for your help.”
“Of course,” she said, leaning against the counter.
Carter dried his hands and tossed the towel aside. In a few steps, he stood before her, caging her in as he placed his hands on the counter. “I really didn’t mean to upset you by lying.”
She shook her head. “I get this lie… I never even imagined any of this, and honestly, I’m still having a hard time processing it.”
He nodded. “Sleep on it, and ask me whatever you want after.”
Her gaze lowered to his mouth, and the constant hum he felt in her presence intensified. They had not discussed a second date or the announcement they were soul mates, but he could not go another minute without kissing her.
“I’m going to kiss you,” he whispered as he lowered his head to hers.
Her breath fanned his lips. “Okay…”
Carter stilled as he captured her mouth. Her lips were soft and pliant under his. The faint taste of the pinot noir she’d drank earlier lingered on their soft curves. Vanessa’s hands moved to his hips, and her silky tongue darted along his lower lip.
Unable to ignore the need demanding to be filled, he lost all control. His mouth crushed hers, and their tongues swept every available corner. Vanessa’s nails dug into his sides as he shoved a hand into her hair, tipping her head for better access as his other one pressed against the thrumming at her neck.
The woman drove him mad. He never wanted another like he did Vanessa. Her body, mind, and soul called to him without knowing all of her. He had witnessed his siblings fall one by one, and he hadn’t understood their short courting, but as his body raged against him, he finally grasped the overwhelming need they must have felt.
Carter could now better understand his primal instinct to mark Vanessa as his, but the way his brain and heart screamedminewithout knowing the woman inside and out was ridiculous.
Pleasure and pain radiated as his dick pressed against his zipper. He pulled her closer to him. Her softness pressing against his hard lines was not enough. He wanted all of her. Her little moans drove him on, making him want to hear her cry out in ecstasy.
His name on her lips…
Carter bent and grabbed her from the backs of her thighs and set her on the counter. Her center pressed against him, and her legs wrapped around him as he pulled them flush. Pausing for a breath, he noted she was as lost in the desire suffocating them as he was.
Vanessa’s hands slid up his chest and around his neck. Her fingers dove into his hair and tugged on the strands. He had never been into rough sex, but in that moment, he knew that if things continued, he would fuck her senseless.
Releasing her lips, he kissed across her face and down her neck. Carter sucked in deep breaths through his nose, hoping he could control the raw, animalistic need driving him. He had never been reckless or hurt a woman in his life, and he did not plan to start now.
“Carter,” Vanessa whimpered as she ground against him.
He hissed at the electricity running along his body. Squeezing his eyes tight, he sucked on a little dip at her collar bone as he realized what he needed to do.
