AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But you and I could never work. He ruined me.”
“Because you still love him?”
I shook my head. “What Collin and I had wasn’t love. And it wasn’t real, even if he thinks differently. What we had was based on lies and schemes, hormones and magic. He used me.” I lowered my hand while still holding his and stared at our joined hands. “Even when we started a relationship, he never once confessed that he had broken the curse on purpose.” I paused. “Still, I know his feelings for me were real, or as real as Collin is capable of having.”
“How can you be so certain?”
I looked into David’s eyes. “Because when we touch our marks together, we not only feel the manitou, we feel each other.” I sighed. “We feel every emotion.”
“You can read each other’s minds?”
“No, we can just tell how the other person feels without knowing why. I knew he wanted me before we slept together, but he also felt tremendous guilt.” I took a quick breath. “I thought it was because he felt bad about dragging me into this curse mess accidentally. But it turned out not to be accidental at all, of course.” My stomach tightened and I felt nauseated. “I…I was the one who pushed him to sleep with me.” I felt so ashamed to admit to it.
“Hey,” his free hand cupped my cheek, his thumb stroking my cheekbone. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’ve slept with other women, some I regret. We’re adults. We have a past.”
“I wish that’s all this was.” My eyes filled with tears.
A soft smile lifted his lips. “It can’t be that bad.”
“It is.” A tear fell down my cheek. “It’s worse.”
“What is it?” He didn’t look worried, only patient.
“Once…” This was so embarrassing, but I had to be honest. After all the deceptions and lies with Collin, I needed David to know everything. “Our marks…the more we use them, the more they seem to attract each other.” I took a deep breath. “One time when we were having sex, we touched marks.”
“And what was the significance of that?”
My chin trembled. “Our souls were bound.”
He was perfectly still for several seconds. “And what does that mean exactly?”
I blinked and more tears fell down my cheeks. “I’m not sure. I didn’t know it would happen, but it was my fault. I…I’m sorry.”
He tilted my face upward. “Why are you sorry?”
“I can’t be…that person for you.”
“What person? I’m still not sure what’s happening here, Ellie. Unless I’m greatly mistaken, you’re attracted to me and want something more. So do I. What’s the problem?”
“I don’t know if I can love you. I don’t know if I can love anyone. The night before the ceremony, Collin told me that one day I’d hate him. Stupid me, I thought he meant because of his past and the mess with Marino. I told him he was wrong, of course. We touched marks again, and he told me that he had ruined me for any other man. That no other relationship would ever compare to what he and I had.”
Anger darkened David’s face. He climbed off the bed and grabbed the bedpost with one hand as he looked out the window. “What a goddamned egotistical motherfucking wanker.”
My chest tightened at his outburst. I’d never seen him so angry.
He turned to face me. “Don’t tell me you believe that bollocks.”
“I…”
“We both know he still wants you back. That was his way of ensuring he could always get you back. And look, Ellie.” He shook his head as his voice softened. “It’s working.”
I didn’t know what to say.
He sat on the bed next to me, his anger fading. “If you were ruined for all other men, would you still feel something for me?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered.
His hand slowly slipped behind the nape of my neck, pulling my face closer to his. My insides tingled with anticipation. “You’re breathing more rapidly, Ellie. Does that mean you feel something?”
