why?”
“S-s-since the souls es-escaped. And it won’t stop until I get them back.” As the chill seeped into her body, numbing her enflamed, yet undamaged nerves, she relaxed. “According to my contract, I will suffer the method of my death daily, the time of burning increasing with each day they are loose.”
“You burned alive!” It was less a question and more a shocked statement.
“It’s what they did to witches back in the day,” she said lightly. She shifted in her ice bath, clarity returning quickly now the curse had run its course for the day. It occurred to her at that moment she was naked. Not that Remy seemed to notice. He seemed too intent on her method of death. For some reason it miffed her.
“These souls, they had a hand in your burning?”
“Very much so. Pedro, Emmanuelle, and Alvaro were avid participants.”
“And the woman, Luysa and her son, Francisco?”
A sigh escaped her. How much of the truth should she relay? “Luysa was the one who headed the mob and the decision to burn me as a witch. I was involved with her son, and she couldn’t handle it. Thought I wasn’t good enough for her precious, baby boy.”
“You loved him?”
“I did. And I thought he loved me back.”
“But?”
Her words emerged low and steely. “He arrived in time to save me. To do something. But he never loved me. It was all lies. He watched me burn.” He proved that love didn’t matter. That no matter how well she knew a person, she could never truly trust them. People only ever looked out for themselves.
Remy jumped to his feet and paced the small amount of floor in the bathroom. “Fucking son of a bitch. I am going to rip his arm off and beat him with it. I am going to shove hot coals up his –”
“Why are you so mad?” she asked, distracting him with words as she stood from the tub. With her back to him, she reached for her robe. Her fingers never managed to clasp the fabric, as he spun her around and yanked her close. Damp, chilled flesh met the heat of his chest. It sent a shock through her, a pleasurable one. It was then she noticed that while his skin survived the fire, his shirt hadn’t. His pants, obviously a more flame retardant material, at least still covered him – how unfortunate. I’ll bet he’s a sight to see fully naked.
Where that surprising idea came from, she didn’t know, but once thought, she couldn’t deny a curiosity. Just how well-endowed was he?
“Why am I mad?” He seemed surprised by her question. “I’m pissed because this Francisco fellow is a grade A asshole who let his psycho mother torch you to death.”
“I still don’t get why you care. You didn’t know me back then and I’ve pretty much gotten over it.”
“Liar. What he did haunts you still so much that you won’t let another man get close to you. You fear commitment.”
How did he guess? Or was he fishing? “What are you talking about? I had Felipe over just last night.”
“I know that’s the name of your cat, just like I know you’ve not been with a man since your death.”
“Lucifer,” she growled. Stupid boss, getting involved in her business as usual. “If you give me any frigid or lesbian jokes I’m going to hurt you.”
“No jokes. I’m glad you’ve sworn off men.”
Puzzle, her brow creased. “You are. Why?”
“Because five hundred years of celibacy makes you practically a virgin. Untouched and so tempting. It makes the fact you kissed me and want me special.”
“I don’t want you.”
“Such a fibber.” He pressed her tighter to him, his hands, big and warm, rubbing over the bare skin of her back.
Despite her adamant stance, he was right. She lied. Her burgeoning arousal, evident by the rock hard nipples digging into his chest, all the proof he needed. But she couldn’t let her hormones rule her again. The last time it cost her life.
“I feel nothing for you.”
His hands dipped lower and cupped her ass cheeks, hoisting her body until her face was
“S-s-since the souls es-escaped. And it won’t stop until I get them back.” As the chill seeped into her body, numbing her enflamed, yet undamaged nerves, she relaxed. “According to my contract, I will suffer the method of my death daily, the time of burning increasing with each day they are loose.”
“You burned alive!” It was less a question and more a shocked statement.
“It’s what they did to witches back in the day,” she said lightly. She shifted in her ice bath, clarity returning quickly now the curse had run its course for the day. It occurred to her at that moment she was naked. Not that Remy seemed to notice. He seemed too intent on her method of death. For some reason it miffed her.
“These souls, they had a hand in your burning?”
“Very much so. Pedro, Emmanuelle, and Alvaro were avid participants.”
“And the woman, Luysa and her son, Francisco?”
A sigh escaped her. How much of the truth should she relay? “Luysa was the one who headed the mob and the decision to burn me as a witch. I was involved with her son, and she couldn’t handle it. Thought I wasn’t good enough for her precious, baby boy.”
“You loved him?”
“I did. And I thought he loved me back.”
“But?”
Her words emerged low and steely. “He arrived in time to save me. To do something. But he never loved me. It was all lies. He watched me burn.” He proved that love didn’t matter. That no matter how well she knew a person, she could never truly trust them. People only ever looked out for themselves.
Remy jumped to his feet and paced the small amount of floor in the bathroom. “Fucking son of a bitch. I am going to rip his arm off and beat him with it. I am going to shove hot coals up his –”
“Why are you so mad?” she asked, distracting him with words as she stood from the tub. With her back to him, she reached for her robe. Her fingers never managed to clasp the fabric, as he spun her around and yanked her close. Damp, chilled flesh met the heat of his chest. It sent a shock through her, a pleasurable one. It was then she noticed that while his skin survived the fire, his shirt hadn’t. His pants, obviously a more flame retardant material, at least still covered him – how unfortunate. I’ll bet he’s a sight to see fully naked.
Where that surprising idea came from, she didn’t know, but once thought, she couldn’t deny a curiosity. Just how well-endowed was he?
“Why am I mad?” He seemed surprised by her question. “I’m pissed because this Francisco fellow is a grade A asshole who let his psycho mother torch you to death.”
“I still don’t get why you care. You didn’t know me back then and I’ve pretty much gotten over it.”
“Liar. What he did haunts you still so much that you won’t let another man get close to you. You fear commitment.”
How did he guess? Or was he fishing? “What are you talking about? I had Felipe over just last night.”
“I know that’s the name of your cat, just like I know you’ve not been with a man since your death.”
“Lucifer,” she growled. Stupid boss, getting involved in her business as usual. “If you give me any frigid or lesbian jokes I’m going to hurt you.”
“No jokes. I’m glad you’ve sworn off men.”
Puzzle, her brow creased. “You are. Why?”
“Because five hundred years of celibacy makes you practically a virgin. Untouched and so tempting. It makes the fact you kissed me and want me special.”
“I don’t want you.”
“Such a fibber.” He pressed her tighter to him, his hands, big and warm, rubbing over the bare skin of her back.
Despite her adamant stance, he was right. She lied. Her burgeoning arousal, evident by the rock hard nipples digging into his chest, all the proof he needed. But she couldn’t let her hormones rule her again. The last time it cost her life.
“I feel nothing for you.”
His hands dipped lower and cupped her ass cheeks, hoisting her body until her face was
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