The Fae King's Curse (Between Dawn and Dusk #1)

by Jamie Schlosser

A smirk quirks up on Kirian’s face. “You should probably breathe.” Stepping back, I gulp at the air. “I don’t know why I was holding my breath. That was silly.” “It’s because you’re in awe of my magnificence.”

“Well, I’ll be back for Thanksgiving, which is in, like, a hundred days.” “A hundred days?” he thunders out. “That’s a century for me!” “I know, but—” “No. I forbid it.”

“I’ve spent my teenage years mooning over you instead of making friends, being in sports, and going to dances—real dances.” “You moon over me?” A half-smile appears on his face.

Don’t do this to us.” I don’t want to. The last thing I want is for our friendship to end. The truth is, I’d give up a lifetime of “normal” if I could be with him.

“I love you, Kirian. I’m in love with you.” My eyes sting. Damn it. I promised myself I wouldn’t cry. “Every day, when you come back to me, I’m terrified you’re going to tell me you found her—your mate. And it’s going to break my heart, because it’s not me. It’ll happen eventually, and I know when that time comes, I’ll never see you again.

He’ll never see again because he kissed me. “Why?” I demand, panting. “Why would you do that?” Gripping my shoulders, he leans down until we’re nose to nose. “Because I can live without my sight, but I cannot live without you.”

His tongue darts out, parting my lips. Surprised by his pleasant taste, I gasp into his mouth. When he does it a second time, I’m ready for it. My tongue meets his, sliding and stroking. Groaning, he deepens the kiss, slanting his mouth over mine. My hands slide up his chest and I dig my fingernails into his pecs. He growls, the rumbling sound vibrating against my lips. When his hands slide down my body, they stop at my ass. He cups me there, groping the soft flesh. I automatically arch my back and it makes my nipples rub against his stomach. Pleasure zings through my belly.

When I kissed her, I damned myself to this curse forever. It was worth it.

Running my fingers under her denim overall straps, I lower my face next to hers. “Tell me. Which one of us would you choose?” Her breath hitches when my nose grazes her cute rounded ear.

With a light shove to my ass—seriously, he did that on purpose—Kirian shuffles me inside. “Our bedchambers.” Using the word ‘our’ already? How presumptuous.

“That all sounds great, but I have a life somewhere else.” “How can that be true when I’m not there with you?” Kirian comes closer, and I can feel the heat coming off his body. “I’m your life, Quinn.”

“You… really want to be free of me?” he rasps. The pain in his voice is so heavy, it makes my chest hurt. “You don’t want to be stuck with me when you have a soul mate out there somewhere,” I remind him softly, touching his arm. “What happens when you find her?” That’s my real fear. Sure, he says he wants me now, but I’m all he knows.

“I’ll never love another the way I love you.” He drops to a knee. Grasping my hands, he bows his head and presses my knuckles to his brow. “The first day I met you, you did so much more than pull me out of the water. You gave me something to look forward to. You didn’t judge me. You became my sanctuary, my happy place. I crave your company and your attention, and I feel like I might die if I had to go the rest of my life without you.”

“Fuck that, Quinn,” he responds gruffly, lifting his face. “The only person who owns me is you.”

Kirian’s still kneeling in front of me, and the scene is surreal. I’m in a castle with the man of my dreams. He looks good enough to lick and knowing what his lips taste like only makes me want him more. When I remember the way his tongue stroked mine, I get all tingly. My lips buzz with anticipation and I grow hot between my thighs.

I told you that so long ago. How did you remember it?” My voice is quiet when I confess, “Don’t you know I hang on your every word?”

He runs his nose over mine while massaging my hip. His fingers are so long, they wrap around to my backside, digging into the flesh. My eyelids grow heavy, my heart starts pounding, and the throbbing in my center becomes painful. Sniffing the air, Kirian smiles wide. “I know you want me.”

“What are you laughing about?” He scowls. I laugh again. “You’re just really cute when you’re sexually frustrated.”

“You’ve been good to my son. I keep thinking back on all the times he came home happy after using his portal. Sometimes over the course of the year, he’d grow darker. Colder. Grumpier. But most of the time on his birthday, the shadows around him seemed to lift. Now I know that was because of you.” “He’s not the only one who’s benefited from our friendship. I need him just as much as he needs me. Without him, my life would’ve been really lonely.”

Spinning her, I tuck her against my side, keeping our fingers intertwined as we make our way to the middle of the vacant dance floor. I flex my hand over hers, digging into the softness of her waist. I love the way her body feels pressed against mine, and nothing can stop me from touching her like this ever again.

“Frankly, they can all go fuck themselves.” She loves it when I use the humans’ dirty language, and it makes her snicker. The puff of her warm breath against my jaw is almost too much to bear. I’ve gone my entire life—my very long life—without intimacy. Now that I’m getting a taste of it, I want more. So much more.

“Are you jealous, young one?” “Yes,” she says, straightforward and a little sad. “Every day, when you left me, you got to have your own dance. Without me. It shouldn’t bother me, but it does. After hanging out with me, you came here and searched for your mate.” “You’re wrong about two things—first, yes, it should bother you. If you were okay with me being with someone else, I’d be insulted. I’m yours and you’re mine. Period. Second, I didn’t search for anyone.

I know it’s been a long time since you were able to look in a mirror, but, Kirian… you’re so handsome it hurts.” Male pride swells within me. I don’t know if what she says is true, but her opinion is all that matters.

“They are gorgeous,” Quinn agrees, smoothly moving through a twirl. “I mean, all of them could be models. It’s intimidating for someone like me.” “Quinn, your heart is a thousand times more beautiful than they could ever be.”

I halt, messing up the steps of the dance to press her hand to my chest. “I hope to own your beautiful heart, your sweet lips, your perfect face, your soft hair, and your body.” She blushes so violently warmth emanates from her face. “People heard you.” “Good. I’m not giving up until I have every part of you, and after tonight, everyone will know it.”

Stepping close, she grabs the lapels of my jacket to tug me down so she can whisper, “Wanna hear a secret?” Her sweet scent makes me dizzy, and I sway forward until my nose is buried in her hair. “I don’t think I could ever belong with someone else, even if I tried.” Her unwavering feelings for me are a welcome reminder. She’s never been touched by another man, just as I’ve never experienced physical intimacy with another woman. When it comes to Quinn, I’m selfish. I want her all to myself.