Cursed Read online

  But here in the microbe cooled apartment of the alien resort, body heat didn’t seem to count at all. It never accumulated like it did back home, no matter how tightly she wrapped the covers around herself. In fact, Charlotte thought she could feel it being sucked out of her by the fabric that was supposed to be keeping her warm. It was miserable.

  Should take a hot shower, she told herself, remembering the puff of steam that had escaped the bathroom when Stavros came out. It would help bring up my core temperature.

  But she couldn’t bear the thought of getting undressed and stepping into water, no matter how hot it was. And then, even if she could muster the courage to do that, there would be that inevitable moment when she had to step out of the heat and into the bitter, biting cold again. No—it was unthinkable.

  “Just…unthinkable,” Charlie whispered and yawned. Despite the extreme cold or maybe because of it, she was finally feeling sleepy. Closing her eyes, she let herself drift off, still shivering as sleep finally claimed her.

  * * * * *

  Stavros tossed and turned on the bare bed for hours, angry with Charlotte and angry with himself. How dare she accuse him of pouting, of all things? And how dare she act as if what she had done during their evening class was of no consequence? “It’s no big deal,” she had said. Stav had wanted to tell her that it most certainly was a big deal. She had touched him in places that no female ought to touch a Cursed One. She had dishonored them both and she had the temerity to act as though it meant nothing.

  Maybe you should tell her that then, instead of freezing her out, whispered a practical little voice in his brain. How can she know what is taboo on your home world when she comes from a completely different planet?

  I tried to tell her—tried to let her know she shouldn’t touch my mark, he argued back. But she just went ahead anyway. She—

  A high, frightened scream interrupted his thoughts. At once, every bit of anger he’d been feeling towards Charlotte was wiped away by an overwhelming wave of concern and protectiveness that crashed over him.

  “Charlotte?” He was off the bed and into the small living area in an instant. He found her huddled into a tiny ball on the couch, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Tears were leaking down her cheeks and her lush mouth was drawn into a trembling line of terror.

  “Charlotte?” Stavros said again. “Charlie?” He put a hand on her arm and she jerked upright at once, her eyes suddenly wide open.

  “Don’t let it, Missy,” she gasped, her voice choked with fright. “Don’t let that two headed thing get me! Please! I know we shouldn’t of watched that movie—Mamma said not to. I’m sorry but please don’t let it get me!”

  Stav didn’t know who Missy was but it didn’t matter. Clearly Charlotte was having a nightmare—possibly brought on by the sight of the Joined One that had frightened her so much earlier.

  “Charlie,” he said sharply, when she tried to get off the couch. “Stop it and come here—you’re all right. Everything is all right.”

  “Wh-who…wh-what?” Her teeth were chattering and as he took her in his arms, Stav realized her skin was cold as ice. A stab of shame hit him right in the gut.

  It’s my fault she’s cold and frightened and alone out here. We were supposed to keep each other warm but I turned my back on her. All because I was angry at her for committing an impropriety she didn’t even know about or understand.

  “Come on,” he said, gathering her into his arms along with the blankets and sheets which were twisted around her. “Let’s go get you warm.”

  But it was easier said than done. Though he held her close to his body in the center of the bed, her shivering wouldn’t stop and her chilly skin didn’t seem to thaw.

  She’s chilled to the bone, he realized at last. Those Goddess-damned Hossans weren’t kidding when they said she could freeze to death if we didn’t stick together—she’s nearly frozen now!

  Deciding that holding her wasn’t enough, he gathered her up again and took her into the fresher. There was a bathing tub with a shower attachment at the top. Stavros was tempted to put her in the shower but he didn’t think it would do any good. She needed to be submerged in the warm water to bring her body back to anything resembling a normal temperate. He turned on the tub and then sat and held her cradled against him as it filled.

  Charlotte had become very sluggish now which worried him. And when he was able to provoke a response from her, she was delirious—either out of her head with cold or still gripped in the nightmare that she seemed unable to wake from.

  She cried—the tears wetting her cheeks—and called for “Missy” over and over. Stav wondered who Missy was—an old lover? But it sounded like a female name. Was it someone who had once been dear to her then? Someone she had lost or left behind on Earth?

  He wished he knew.

  When the tub was filled with water, he placed her gently into it, fur gown and all. He didn’t want to upset her by trying to pull the too-tight gown off—what would she think if she came to her senses and found him stripping her naked? Nothing good, Stavros was sure.

  He tried not to look at her body as she floated in the tub, the white fur gown now completely translucent. But the outlines of her full breasts and hips and the innocent slit of her pussy drew his eyes even though he didn’t want them too.

  You don’t deserve to look at her, he told himself angrily. Not after the way you let her nearly freeze to death! You’re supposed to be protecting her—not abandoning her to the elements!

  Still, the tight pink tips of her nipples, pushing against the see-through fabric made his fangs ache and his cock feel hot and heavy in the white sleep trousers he wore.

  He tried to distract himself by running more water and holding her head gently above the lapping waves.

  “Charlotte,” he murmured. “I’m sorry…so sorry. Please come back to me…”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The nightmare of the two-headed monster had finally turned into something more pleasant. She was rocking on a warm sea, floating above the waves as her hair swayed in the currents and a strong hand supported her.

  Charlie thought about telling the owner of the hand that she was fine—that she was an excellent swimmer and didn’t need help. But she found she liked the feeling of being held and supported. It was…nice and so unexpected. She’d never had anyone she could depend on for support—not since Missy left. And she had the feeling that whoever was supporting her really cared—at least, if the gentleness of their touch was any indication.

  The warm waves lapping in her ears obscured most other sounds. But after a little while, she became aware of a low, masculine voice murmuring something.

  “Charlotte,” the voice said. “I’m so sorry—please come back to me. Please, Charlotte…”

  Charlotte? Nobody calls me that, she wanted to tell him. Everybody calls me Charlie except…

  Except Stavros—the big Kindred who was her partner on this mission.

  Charlie’s eyes flew open and she saw him kneeling over her, a look of concern and remorse on his face.

  “Stavros? What’s going on?”

  She struggled to rise but she was being weighted down by something wet and heavy. Looking down the length of her own body, she realized it was the furry nightgown which was now both completely waterlogged and totally see-through.

  “Oh, my God!” Feeling incredibly vulnerable, she tried to cover herself with her hands. “Why do you have me naked in the bath?”

  “It was the only way to raise your core temperature,” he said quickly. “And you are not naked—you still have your sleeping gown on.”

  “Which is now completely see-through,” she pointed out. “I might as well be naked.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to be in a minute,” he rumbled grimly. “At least until we can get you something else to wear. You can’t keep that damn thing on with the temperature so low in here—you’ll freeze to death. And you’ve already attempted that once tonight.”

&nbs