Cursed Read online

  Stavros turned his head for a moment to look at her.

  “If my mark bothers you, you do not have to touch it,” he said stiffly.

  “Your mark?” Charlie frowned. “Oh—you mean you tattoos?” She nodded at the shifting, swirling black lines that covered his back. They shimmered and changed as she watched, showing that rainbow-on-an-oilslick effect that had so fascinated her the first time she saw them.

  “That is exactly what I mean. If you prefer to keep your distance from it—”

  “No, no—it’s not the tattoo, er, mark,” Charlie said, frowning. “Why would I care about that?”

  Stavros looked away. “As I believe I told you before, on my home planet is considered…distasteful.”

  His obvious apprehension about the markings on his back surprised and touched her unexpectedly. It was hard to believe that someone as big and muscular and handsome as Stavros could have body issues but clearly he did.

  “It’s just your hair,” she explained. “You’ve got it tied up in all these knots and I don’t know if I can get it down without pulling it.”

  “Oh, is that all?” He reached behind his head and his fingers flew nimbly over the black cord that bound the club. After a moment it came loose and his hair fell down over his shoulders in rough auburn waves.

  “Oh…” The breath fell out of Charlie in a long sigh. Thick and shining, his hair had every color of the sunset from deep auburn to burnt umber to golden reddish brown. It came down around his muscular shoulders in a wild mane and stopped just below his shoulder blades.

  I never would have guessed he had this depth of color! It just looks dark reddish brown when he has it up!

  Tentatively, she reached out to stroke it, as though it was the pelt of some wild, gorgeous animal she wanted to tame. Indeed, it seemed to have a life of its own now that Stavros had finally set it free. It crackled against her fingertips and the long strands clung to her hands.

  “Gorgeous,” she murmured as she ran her fingers through it. “Just…gorgeous.”

  Stavros shivered under her light touch. “Charlotte?” He made her name a question. “Aren’t you supposed to be…” He cleared his throat. “Aren’t you supposed to be brushing?”

  His words made Charlie realized that she’d been sitting there running her fingers through his hair without actually brushing it. Indeed, to an outside observer it would probably look like she was getting off on petting his (admittedly gorgeous) hair.

  “Sorry!” she exclaimed. “I just…I’ve never seen hair quite like yours.”

  “It is not the usual shade for a Blood Kindred,” Stavros admitted. “I was tormented in school because of it. All of the other children were blond.”

  “But it’s beautiful!” She took a thick handful and began to brush it with long, controlled strokes, the way Missy had always brushed her hair when she was little.

  Stavros sat quietly at her feet as she worked on him and gradually, some of the tension she’d seen in the set of his broad, bare shoulders began to melt away. In fact, he seemed like he might almost be enjoying himself. Charlie wished she could see his face to know for sure.

  Why should you care if he’s enjoying it or not? whispered a little voice in her brain. Just do your job and play your part. But still, she couldn’t help liking the silky-rough texture of his hair and the warm, spicy scent that rose from it as she brushed.

  At least his hair is all I’m touching, she told herself. With a name like The Sensuous Touch, she’d been afraid this class would be all about weird ways to make each other orgasm. And she was so not up to performing an alien Karma Sutra right now.

  “Very good,” Nar’sa murmured, coming up beside her. “You are doing an excellent job so far.”

  “Thank you but it’s not hard—I mean, I’m just brushing his hair,” Charlie pointed out.

  “But you are brushing gently and with love and patience,” Nar’sa said. “It is a small step but through such steps we come to know the one we call beloved. We come to respect and revere their inner self by worshiping their outer shell.”

  “Um…okay.” Charlie shrugged. “I guess.” It all sounded like new-age mumbo-jumbo to her but she was willing enough to go along with it. After all, brushing hair was easy. She could do it all day.

  “I am glad you understand,” Nar’sa said. “Ta’no and I were afraid it might take a long time for the two of you to get to this point but we are pleasantly surprised. It seems you have truly internalized this lesson, Charlotte.”

  “Sure have.” She was in a rhythm now, gliding the brush through the big Kindred’s thick hair, making the long strands gleam with a healthy shine. In fact, she was barely paying attention to what the councilor was saying at this point. Which was why she nearly missed Nar’sa’s next statement.

  “Which is why it is time to move on to the next part of our class—sensual massage.”

  * * * * *

  It took a moment but then Charlotte said, “What?” and the hairbrush paused in mid-stroke.

  Stavros, who had been enjoying her soft hands on his hair immensely, felt frozen in place. What would they be required to do next? And how would Charlotte react?

  “Do not fear,” Ta’no said. “The class is sensual massage—not sexual massage. You will not be required to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

  “Yeah, right,” Charlotte muttered under her breath. “I’m already uncomfortable.”

  “What are we required to do?” Stav asked, looking up at their councilors.

  “You will not have to do anything—not yet, anyway,” Nar’sa told him. “It is Charlotte who must act.”

  “Why me?” Charlotte protested, sounding almost panicked. “Why am I first again? Isn’t it his turn?”

  “The cleansing pool gave the implement to you, Charlotte,” Nar’sa said gently. “That indicates that you have the most anger and mistrust to work out. It’s not surprising really, considering your history.”

  “Nar’sa!” Ta’no sounded shocked. “How dare you speak of the past? You know very well that we live in the present here and seek towards the future. We never discuss past regrets.”

  “I did not mention any actual events from her past,” his mate protested. “I simply meant—”

  “I know what you meant but one of the Joined Ones would not be so understanding—or so forgiving.” Ta’no went to her and took one of her long fingered, translucent hands in his. “Be cautious, beloved. I would not see you punished.”

  “Wow, they’re really strict about the no-past rule, huh?” Charlotte murmured as the two Hossans nuzzled each other.

  Stav turned his head and gave her a small nod. “Apparently. Charlotte…” He cleared his throat, uncertain how to go on. “I am aware of how you feel about this. The…boundaries you wished to preserve…”

  “I’ll be fine.” She lifted her chin. “Don’t worry about me.”

  “I do not wish you to be uncomfortable,” Stav protested.

  She gave a short, bark of a laugh.

  “Too late for that, big guy. Listen, don’t worry, Whatever it is, I’ll get through it.”

  “We’ll get through it,” Stavros corrected her gently.

  Charlotte didn’t look convinced. “Yeah, sure. Whatever.” She shrugged and then looked at their councilors. “Hey, you two—either let’s get this over with or let us go to our rooms and sleep. It’s been a long-ass day and I’m tired.”

  “Forgive us.” Nar’sa and Ta’no—who had been petting each other’s hair again—pulled reluctantly apart. “We are so very in love it is difficult to—”

  “Yeah, yeah, we know—you go together like peanut butter and jelly and you just can’t get enough of each other,” Charlotte said sarcastically. “But could you tear yourselves away from your perfect relationship for long enough to get on with the lesson, please?”

  “Of course,” Ta’no said stiffly. “It was never our intention to leave you without instruction.”

  “Okay, whatever. Wh