Unbearable Page 6

  His eyes connect back with mine, true concern overflowing in them. He clearly loves his brother.

  I give a nod, doing my best to mask the feelings barraging my heart. “What's his name?”

  “Marcus,” Darien replies, staring straight into my eyes.

  Confirmation. They are brothers as I thought. My body lurches forward as the realization hits that the crown prince of Everwood fucked me, not once, but twice. Air hitches in my throat and the room spins.

  “I...I hope you find him, Prince Darien,” I manage to choke out and throw down a curtsy before dashing up the stairs to my room.

  Slamming the door behind me, I slide down the back of it into a puddle on the floor. I crawl the length of the cold wood, trying to force myself back up. But the heaviness of my heart keeps me weighted to the ground. Marcus risked exposing himself to save me. Someone saw him pull me out of the river.

  But he's not hurt. Yet.

  He lives alone in that cabin and seems unharmed, aside that he craves sex like air and water. And now I see why, banishing himself from human connection for nearly two years. I come into his life and stoke his smoldering sexual embers, letting him use me. But I use him too. We feed off each other in a primal need to satiate our inner demons.

  Yet, in the end, it all comes back down to his saving me. And now I need to save him.

  Pushing myself off the floor, I indulge in a fragrant bath to pass the hours before redressing. Hiking my skirts with cinchers, I pull on my thigh high leather boots for warmth. Easier to run when I'm not tripping over my clothing. I tuck my bosom tight in place as I lace up my red and black leather overcoat. Tugging up my hood, I crack open my door.

  Snow's laughter rings through the hollows of the house. Darien's still downstairs. Which means I must sneak out or he'll follow me back to Marcus.

  Opening the shuttered windows, I grip the climbing vines that cling to the stone walls of the house. I inhale a deep breath and work my way down the snaking mass of leaves and tightly roped vines, making myself a temporary ladder. Jumping the last three feet, I take off in a sprint as the sun makes its final descent to the horizon.

  Still an hour from nightfall, I jog through the woods, hoping to make it to the cottage in time to see my bear. I find it odd that a bear would not be hibernating yet, this far into the winter season. It's as if he guards Marcus' house during the day while he's away, doing whatever it is he does when he won't let me see him. The way the bear walked me home after my first night with Marcus, and today with Darien, it's like he's guarding me too.

  The cottage comes into view through the lines of trees deep into the woods. One would pass right by it if you didn't know it was there. The logs that shape it into a home blend well within the tree line. Many times I've walked this path over the years, never knowing it was there.

  Something lurks in the corner of my eye. Heated breath crawls up the back of my neck and I still, letting the shadows cover me. The thundering of my heart deafens my ears.

  “Red.” Hestor's gravelly voice scratches at my right ear.

  “Hestor,” I say, forcing my quickening breath to slow.

  “Out for a stroll?” He circles around me, stopping as we come face to face.

  I throw my hands on my hips. “I always do. You should know this. You stalk me.”

  He lets out a laugh and runs a grimy nail along his beard. “Let's give up this game, Red. You have what I want. If you give it to me, I won't kill your sister.”

  His words sink my heart to my stomach. “What is it you want?”

  His dirt laden nails trace the outline of my breasts. “You.”

  “Never,” I hiss and bat his hand from my chest.

  “Then your sister dies tonight!” He slams his walking stick into the ground and a puff of smoke swallows him.

  “Wait!” I cry out and spin in a circle looking for him.

  He reappears in front of me. “Have a change of heart?”

  Heavy breaths huff from my nostrils as I stare at him, hatred seething through my veins. Nails press crescents into the fleshy palm of my hands. My lips open to respond, but a black paw swipes me backward and lunges for Hestor.

  I scramble to get to my feet as the snow bank swallows me. Its icy grip numbs my limbs. I stare into the blue eyes of my bear before he slices at Hestor again with a mighty paw.

  Those eyes penetrate my soul as the realization hits me. They belong to Marcus. With trembling lips I force his name over my tongue.

  “Marcus,” I whisper.

  He spins around and lets out a roaring bray. Hestor approaches him from behind in the distraction and it's my fault.

  “Marcus!” I scream, but it's too late.

  Hestor drives a blow to his head with his walking stick and a purple flash of light strikes him. Blood dribbles from his face, pooling in the white snow where he lies unmoving.

  “Marcus!” I scream louder against the tears careening over my cheeks.

  The horizon swallows the sun and darkness falls upon us. A purple shimmer rolls around the body of the bear. As it dissipates, Marcus lays naked, covered in a crimson sheen. Hestor's wicked laughter pierces my eardrums and I glare at him. Dropping to my knees, I cradle Marcus' head in my hands.

  His eyes flutter through their swollen bruises. “Rose,” he chokes out, blood drooling over his lips.

  “Shhh,” I whisper. “I'm here, my love.”

  “If you don't want Snow to share the same fate as your lover, I suggest you take my offer,” Hestor growls.

  I unsheathe the dagger from my between my breasts, and drag it through the blood along Marcus' cheek.

  “Why do you even bother, Red. A simple man-made dagger cannot harm me. Don't anger me further.” He leans on his stick harboring a smug grin.

  “Oh, I know, Hestor. Which is why this is no man-made dagger.” I bolt up from the ground in a spin, launching the dagger straight at his heart.

  The dagger lodges into his chest and he stares at me with hollow, black eyes.

  “It was given to me by an angel. My mother. The first one you took from me. It's dipped in the blood of every one of your henchmen and victims. I've waited a long time for this moment. And Marcus is the last person you'll ever take away from me. Go to hell!” I spin around and slam the heel of my boot against the hilt of the dagger, piercing his ribcage and embedding the poisoned dagger into his heart.

  The force drops me to my knees and I crawl my way back to Marcus' body and curl around him. Through the glassy sheen of my tears, I stare at Hestor as his body trembles and shatters into a million pieces of purple light before disappearing.

  Marcus falls limp under me. The last of his labored breaths leaves his body and he stills. Tears fall from my eyes and drop against his skin, meshing with the blood streaking his face. My chest convulses, pouring forth a storm of tears beyond my control.

  With everything in me, I beg the powers that be to give him breath once more, to bring him back to me. Yet, their silence mocks me and only the sounds of my choking sobs answers me. From my left, clomping hoofs ring in my ear. I ignore them as I cling to Marcus' body, willing him back to life.

  Then my name rides the chilling breeze attacking my body.

  “Rose!” Snow cries out.

  Her arms wrap around me and the sobs rip through me even harder.

  “Marcus!” Darien yells out behind her, dropping to his knees. “What happened, Rose?”

  “Hestor,” I force the name from my lips and curl my nails into Marcus' skin, clinging to him for dear life.

  “Where's Hestor now?” Darien asks.

  “I killed him,” I whisper and place soft kisses over Marcus' face, brushing back a lock of long hair falling into his closed eyes.

  “Is he...Is he dead?” Darien chokes out.

  I nod and force back the scream clawing its way up the back of my throat. “Please, help me get him inside the cottage.”

  Darien, Snow, and I hoist Marcus' large body up onto the back of Darien's horse. I
lead them through the barren forest through winding trees until we reach the cottage. Blackness creeps in, blanketing us in darkness under the new moon. It mirrors the color of my heart.

  Darien carries his brother's lifeless body into the cabin and lays him on the bed. He swipes at a tear slipping over his cheek and clears his throat. “I will stay with him until morning, then I'll bring his body back to the castle for a proper burial.”

  Snow places a hand on Darien's shoulder and he curls her to his chest, burying his grieving face into her neck. She slides a hand into his hair and lets him release the heartache of his brother's death. The sight guts me even more and I climb onto the bed, nestling my body around Marcus. I can't believe he's gone.

  “Please let me stay with him one last night, I beg of you,” I choke out, stroking the back of his head.

  Darien pulls up from Snow's embrace and stares at me. “Do you love him?”

  I swallow hard over the ball of emotions wedged in my throat. “Yes.”

  Snow's eyes widen. “So that's where you've been going these past few nights. You spent them with him?”

  I nod and choke back another onslaught of tears. “He saved me. First from a watery grave at the bottom of the frozen river. Then, from myself, releasing in me what I had buried so deep. Fear of love. And I never even got to kiss him.”

  Thoughts swarm my head of the night I begged him to kiss me, now with knowledge of the reasons why he wouldn't. He told me he was protecting me. I didn't know it was from himself. But even in his bear form, he never hurt me. He didn't have it in him. My heart hollows at the thought that I'll never have that last piece of him. His kiss. Though his mouth tasted my flesh, his lips have never known mine.

  Darien tosses me a nod. “If it's all right with you Snow, may I spend the night in a spare room of yours?”

  A smile smoothes Snow's lips. “Of course, Prince Darien. My home is yours.”

  “Thank you, m'lady. And please, Snow, call me Darien.” He curls his hand around hers and a blush reddens her cheeks.

  My heart warms as I watch them. Perhaps they may have a future together. Snow deserves it. At least one of us may end up happy.

  “I'll come for his body in the morning,” Darien says as he turns to me.

  I nod as they shut the door behind them.

  Even in death, his face remains handsome and I cup his cheek with my hand. “I love you, Marcus.” I lean in, press my lips to his, and steal my kiss from him. My first and my last.

  Chapter Eight

  Something shakes against my body. My eyes flutter awake and I glance around the pitch black room. Cold air attacks my bare skin and a shudder claims me as I shake it off. But something near me provides warmth against my chilled flesh. As my eyes adjust to the darkness, her features come into focus.

  Rose.

  I suck in a gasping breath, and the cold air saws at my lungs as if it's my first breath. My heart gives one heavy thump before launching into quick erratic beats through my chest. I'm alive.

  As I work my way through panting breaths, my heart slows and I look around the room. The tiny cottage that's been my home for two years. I glance down at the woman who's been my life for two days. Her hands are curled into my chest as if cleaving herself to me. Eyes closed, she slumbers, but the sullen look on her face tells me it's not a peaceful one.

  Easing from her grasp, I slide myself off the bed and stumble my way to the fireplace. I pat my body down and relish in the flesh and blood, enjoy the sting in my lungs full of winter's breath, and the pain throbbing through my head from Hestor's blow. It all means I'm alive. Somehow, I survived.

  Gray light filters in from the small window across the room. I dart over to it, pressing my hands flat against the cold glass. Though the pane is covered with snow, the light making its way in comes from the dawn of sunrise, not of moonlight. The sun paints the sky a brilliant pink and orange. Glancing down to my hands, I flip them back and forth repeatedly, before I gaze back into the light of day. The light of day. I am not a bear. I am man. And it is day. I no longer suffer from the curse, which can only mean one thing. Hestor is dead.

  I turn back to Rose and glance over her face. My sleeping angel. She who freed me from this prison and has given me back my life. And I will give back hers as well.

  In a fury, I get a fire blazing in the hearth and warmth swallows the cold from the tiny room. I stare at myself in the mirror as I wash the dried blood from my face and neck. Bruises already grace the side of my face, but I wear them gladly if it means I still have breath in my lungs.

  Rose stirs on the bed as the warmth hits her, pulling her from her ragged sleep. I play through various scenarios in my mind, and none of them end without scaring her half to death. Leaning against the wall arms folded, I stare down at her on the bed. My lips sweep into a smile.

  She rolls over and pats the empty bed next to her. Eyes wide, she leaps up, tangling in the blankets tucked around her, and falls to the floor.

  I drop to my knees at her side. “Rose,” I whisper.

  “Marcus?” she stares at me.

  “It's me,” I say with a smile.

  She screams, just shy of shattering my eardrums. Leaping to her feet, Rose scrambles to the edge of the room, pressing her back against the far wall. Her heaving chest overwhelms her tiny frame and she drops to her knees, clamoring for breath.

  “I'm sorry,” I say as soft as I can. “I didn't mean to scare you. I know it must be a shock.”

  Her already wide eyes double in size. “A shock? You're a fucking ghost, Marcus. I watched Hestor strike you down. You took your last breath in my arms. I curled around your cold dead body all night.”

  I inch my way to her across the room. “I know.” Holding my hands out to her, I soften my face, pleading for her to connect with my eyes. If she'll just look into them, as she has over the last several nights, she'll reach my soul. For that's where I keep her heart, and she'll know I'm real. “I don't know what happened. Perhaps when you vanquished Hestor, it not only broke his curse but brought me back to life?”

  She shakes her head, clinging to the wall behind her with trembling limbs. “But what took so long? You were dead, Marcus. Dead. I laid next to you dead! What kind of crazy person does that?” Her chest convulses as tears streak her cheeks.

  I reach her and slide my hand over her cheek. “One that, when they find their other half, can't live without him.”

  We lock eyes and she crumbles into my arms like a broken doll. I pull her to me and cling to her. She is my lifeline.

  “Marcus,” she chokes out through a barrage of tears.

  I run my hands through the tangled mass that is her hair. “Right here. I promise you, I will never leave you again. That is, if you'll have me.”

  “Forever,” she whispers, pulling back to stare into my eyes. Though strained and bloodshot, her glassy green eyes swallow me, plunging my heart through my chest.

  I will give this woman forever. My forever.

  “Hestor is gone.” Her lips tremble as the words leave her mouth, as if she's unsure they are truth, until she trails her gaze over the length of my body. “Marcus, it's daylight and you're not a bear. You are finally free. My family is finally free.”

  I fight to find the right words, nothing seems fitting for this moment. “Thank you for saving my life, Rose.”

  “We're even.” She gives me a sly wink. “How about you take me to your bed and show me your appreciation. You died in my arms. I need you to fuck me, show me your body is alive.”

  I shake my head. “No, Rose. Not tonight.”

  Her lips part in shock and sadness clouds her eyes. She starts to speak, but I place a finger over her lips. “I don't want to fuck you. Because tonight, I want to make love to you.”

  Gripping the back of her hair, I tilt her head up and splay my fingers along her cheek as my thumb clutches her jaw line. I crush my mouth to hers. Salt from her tear-slicked lips slides along my tongue and I kiss her harder, tasting the tears she sh
ed for me. She is mine. And tonight I give her all of me.

  Our tongues melt together, pressing until they're one. I hold onto her for dear life, curling my fingers in her hair, fearing to let go. As I ease out of the kiss, she punishes my tongue with her own, reclaiming my lips. A chuckle pops from my throat, followed by a moan as I loosen my grip on her hair and cup the back of her neck, bringing her body closer to me.

  My cock doubles in size as it presses against the folds of her skirt. I drop my hands and grip her by the ass, pulling her thighs up my body until she wraps her legs around my waist. Easing her onto the bed, I unlace her bodice, making it painfully slow as I give her a devilish smile.

  “Marcus, your brother will be back to claim your body in a matter of hours. Just rip the damn thing off already!” She squirms under my hands.

  My ever feisty Red will always be buried there under my Rose. And I'll love both of them until my last breath. Again.

  I dive in and free her from her clothing and she arches in relief. Corsetgasm.

  Her body is perfumed in her lust for me, and I look upon her stunning form in awe as if for the first time. With one hand, I pull her up to me. Pressing my lips between her breasts, her back arches in a beautiful curve over a waterfall of red tendrils. I let my other hand dangle between us, brushing against my cock as I slip a pair of fingers into her. Slickened with arousal, they slide with ease along the length of her.

  My lips find their way to a breast, and I suck it between my teeth and over my tongue. A breathy moan floats from her lips and her hips rock on my fingers, urging me to give her more. Her stomach flinches and undulates as I stroke her sex. Each time she brushes my cock with her skin I fight the urge to burrow deep between those folds.

  She captivates me with every movement of her body. I hold her with just one hand, but it's she who's holding me on a tight invisible leash. Kissing my way off her breast, I ease her upright and closer against my chest. My fingers work her clit, her juice flowing, readying herself for me. Her arms wrap around my neck and we lock eyes.