The Kyriakis Curse (14 page)

“I can see no better time to talk than now. You’re about to take Sarah to our house on Circe. You’ll be spending a considerable amount of time with her. Although I know she’ll go into heat shortly, I ask, as favor to me, that you do not touch her.”

Constantine frowned. Where the hell had this come from? “Why not? She’ll need me.”

His father ignored his question. “There are ways she can get through this without sex.”

Paris handed Constantine a small green vial. “Here. Take this potion. It helps your sister when she goes through her cycles. It should relieve Sarah through the night when her desire grows too strong for her to bear.”

Constantine took the tiny bottle reluctantly, stuffing it in the front pocket of his leather jacket. “And what about me, my aches? How am I going to handle the situation when her scent becomes irresistible? Already she’s beginning to emit pheromones that have me going out of my mind.”

“The potion will tame the scent a bit.”

“Only a bit.”

“You’ll have to be strong, my cub.”

“Why? Especially when there’s no need. I can help her, and she can help me.”

Paris snarled, his irritation clear. Good, now Paris felt as Constantine did.

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“Must you challenge my every request? For once, is it not possible for you to do as I ask without giving me grief?”

“That was an unfair statement, and you know it, Papa.”

Paris sighed, raking his fingers through his hair in apparent frustration. “Fine. Just stay away from her in the biblical sense, okay? Sarah is not the one for you.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“You know me well enough to have learned I don’t kid about such matters.”

Constantine raised a brow. “Your snobbery is showing, Papa. I know how you feel

about half-breeds, but Sarah is different. I can’t just ignore what’s happened between us, and how she makes me feel.”

“Well, do it. I repeat, she’s not for you. I’ll be joining you in a few days, and I expect my orders to be obeyed.”

Not trusting himself to speak, Constantine had stormed off and joined Sarah in the car to their private airport. The flight had been terse and silent. Once they had reached the mainland on Crete, they’d taken a helicopter and had landed on Circe. Constantine had reiterated his vow that he’d have Sarah -- no matter what his father had said. He’d dug into his pocket and pulled out the green vial, eyeing it with annoyance. Making sure he’d been unobserved, and with a harsh expletive, he’d thrown it on the ground and crushed it beneath his heel.

He now studied Sarah as she bent over to pick up another shell. How could he resist

the pretty picture she made? Constantine went outside and gathered a few wild hibiscus that grew alongside the house before heading toward the beach.

As though sensing his presence, Sarah raised her head, a slight smile tilting her full lips.

“Good afternoon, Sarah.” He handed her the flowers. “For a beautiful woman.”

She took them with trembling fingers. There was still a reserve in her eyes where he was concerned, but soon it would be gone when Sarah was officially his. “Thank you.

They’re gorgeous.”

“But not more than you. Would you care to walk with me?”

“Sure, I’d like that.”

They strolled in silence as Constantine tried to broach the subject of tonight. “Happy birthday, Sarah. I know you said you didn’t want me to mention it, but I couldn’t go the length of the day without at least acknowledging it,” he finally said as a lead-in to what he really wanted to discuss.

“Thanks. You know, it’s kind of funny, but I nearly forgot about it.”

“You’re rather young for that. When you become my age, then birthdays seem less

important, but this birthday--”

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Sarah turned to him, holding up her hand. “Look, I appreciate the well wishes, but I’ve never been particularly fond of my birthday and really don’t like celebrating it. My foster family used to make this big to-do, which always embarrassed the hell out of me, but I went along with it. I pretended I enjoyed the parties and festivities because they meant well and I didn’t want to hurt their feelings, but on the inside, I cringed each time. When I was finally on my own, birthdays weren’t on my list of priorities.”

“But we should celebrate your thirtieth. For a half-breed, it’s your official step into womanhood.”

“Oh? And how old is your sister?”

“What does she have to do with anything?”

“I guess in my roundabout way I’m trying to figure out if she’s stepped into

womanhood, as you so delicately put it. I guess I wouldn’t be able to tell with my untrained eyes since your kind stops aging after a certain point.”

“She’s nearly a hundred.”

“So she’s already had her jaunt into womanhood.”

“Yes, although it’s quite different for half-breeds and full-bloods. Persephone had her first cycle around the age of twenty. It varies, really. Some bitches can go into heat as early as their teens, but because half-breeds have so many human characteristics, it takes them until around thirty to have their first heat cycle.”

“I see. Sort of.” She shrugged. “Why do I get the feeling there’s a reason you’re telling me this?”

“Because there is. But that aside, perhaps you’d like me to take you to the mainland for some shopping. I was thinking Crete. What do you say, mana mou?”

“I really wish you’d stop calling me that, and you’re side-stepping the question.”

He sighed. She was much too sharp for him to argue with. “In addition to your

birthday, there’s a full moon tonight. But I think you’re already aware of that.”

She looked away from him, staring into the blue-green sea. “Yes, I know. I’ll change tonight, won’t I?”

“Yes, but I’ll be here with you. The time has come for you to embrace your shifter

side.”

For a moment, Constantine didn’t think she would acknowledge his words, but Sarah

finally nodded. “I’ve given this some thought over the past couple of days. It’s inevitable, right?”

“You don’t have to make it sound as if you’re going to face uncertain doom.”

“How would you feel knowing that lurking within you is some wild beast you can’t

control? I’m sure it’s easy for you because you’ve lived with this all your life.”

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He took her hand in his and forced her to face him. “It isn’t like that. What you are is not a freak of nature, and you’re not a beast.”

“I’m not an idiot. As the sun moves further down the horizon, I feel the changes within my body. I know the moon will soon be out, and then what? I’ll become the very monster I’ve been running from all these years.”

Constantine gripped her shoulders, his heart going out to her. What he really wanted to do was drag her down into the soft, wet sand and make love to her until nothing existed for Sarah except him, her, and the roar of the crashing waves.

“It doesn’t have to be that way. You have me,” he whispered, trying to drive his

meaning home. She must have sensed the wild and raging lust coursing through his system, because she pulled out of his grip and took a few steps back.

“This is something I’ll just have to deal with on my own. I’ve been doing it all this time before, so why should tonight be any different?”

Constantine’s patience finally snapped. This zany woman just didn’t get it. “Sarah,

would you stop being so goddamn obstinate and accept help when it’s being offered? Not only are you going to shift tonight, you’re going to experience your first heat cycle when the moon is at its highest. When that happens, you’re going to need more than just yourself to get over this. You’ll need me and my cock to help you through the night.”

Sarah’s face went ashen. “No!”

He was by her side within two strides even though she attempted to retreat from him.

Constantine hauled her into his arms and covered her mouth in a hungry, burning kiss. His tongue pushed between her firmly shut lips, sampling the delectable flavor he knew

belonged to him and him alone. He wouldn’t let her deny him of what they both wanted.

He captured her chin to still her head. “Oh, no, you don’t. You can try and fool

yourself, but you can’t fool me.”

Sarah groaned. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Because you feel it, too. From the moment our eyes locked, you knew it would come

to this. You knew you were mine.”

“No! I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”

Constantine gritted his teeth at her stubbornness. “Maybe that was so before, but not anymore. I’ve tried to be patient with you these past few days, to give you a chance to accustom yourself to my presence. From here on out, I’m the only man in your life.”

“No,” Sarah uttered again, albeit unconvincingly this time. She was irritating him no end with her refusal to surrender to the undeniable passion simmering between them, the passion that threatened to explode. He covered her luscious mouth once more, fiercer and more hungry than his earlier embrace.

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His kiss gave her no room to resist; rather, it required her absolute compliance. His cock twitched against her thigh, and he ground and molded his body to her now-submissive form. Constantine didn’t believe for a moment that she didn’t want this.

He could smell her arousal. He’d even go as far as to bet her panties were damp, but he’d hold off testing that theory -- for now. There’d be plenty of time tonight to reacquaint himself with her pussy.

Constantine’s tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, making Sarah moan and

writhe against him. Soon, she was gripping his arms tightly, not to shove him away, but to hold him closer. He loved the way she groaned in his mouth. When her tongue snaked out to greet his, he nearly lost it. Even though this was not the first time he’d kissed and touched her, he still couldn’t believe how much and how quickly she turned him on.

Constantine forced himself to slow down then, satisfied with her response.

Unable to hide the triumph from his voice, he said, “Do you see? We were meant to be together, no matter what you say. Tonight, when you go into heat, you’re going to be burning for something between your legs. I vow that the only man who’s going to ease that ache will be me!”

Then he walked off, gratified that he left her with open-mouthed astonishment written all over her face. Maybe it had been harsh to spell things out that way, but it had had to be done. She belonged to him, and no one would stand in his way of claiming her -- not his father, not even Sarah herself.

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Sarah kept her door locked. Despite what Constantine had said, she was determined

that he wouldn’t have his way in this matter. She didn’t appreciate him arrogantly telling her she belonged to him and that he would make her his.

Normally, Sarah could have laughed it off and told him he was crazy, but she didn’t

think she had the strength. After all, whenever he touched her, she lost control. What was it about him that made her react so shamelessly?

Though he was the first man to do such wonderful things to her body, it hadn’t been

from the lack of opportunities open to her. When Sarah had been in school, she’d had her fair share of offers to initiate her, but being aware of her differences had made her shy away from physical contact. A few shared kisses had been the most she’d ever experienced before Constantine had completely shattered her world.

As much as a part of her wanted to give in to his demands, the realistic side of her screamed “No!” By becoming even more deeply involved with him than she already was, he could very well be the next loved one she lost.

Loved one? Did she love him?

She wasn’t sure, but over the past few days, Sarah had certainly let her guard down

with him more than with anyone from the time her parents were killed. That was what

made this entire situation so scary. She didn’t want to fall in love, because life had long since taught her the harsh lesson that when she got close to people, they were doomed.

Constantine’s sexual prowess wasn’t the only thing that made keeping her distance

difficult, though. Besides being gorgeous, he made her laugh with his amusing anecdotes and stories of his adventures. And then he sometimes had that way of looking at her that nearly made her feel safe, even though she knew she’d never completely be secure.

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She walked to the bay window and sat on the sill, pulling trembling knees against her chest. Resting her head on top of them, she looked out at the sky. The moon was starting to rise. A shiver ran up her spine. Already she could feel her insides moving around. Before she used to think it was some kind of sickness she had to endure, but obviously that was not to be the case. Unlucky her. Sarah didn’t want to change; she’d fight it if she could.

The pounding on the door broke her from her silent reverie. “Sarah, open the door. I know you’re in there!” Constantine sounded angry.

“Please go away. I can cope on my own.” She jumped when a ferocious howl rent the

air outside.

“Open this door at once, Sarah! I’ll have none of your foolishness.”

“Constantine, please! I can’t deal with you tonight.”

“I’ll give you three seconds to open this goddamn door, before I knock it down.”

“You wouldn’t,” she challenged, looking around for a means of escape. If she could just get out the window...

“One!”

Sarah raised the window.

“Two!”

“You’re being ridiculous!” she shouted, throwing a leg over the ledge.

“Three!”

Sarah looked down. It was at least a twenty-foot drop, but she had to do this. Being a half-breed had to count for something, didn’t it? She swung her other leg over just as Constantine kicked the door in. The sound of splintering wood made a thunderous noise behind her as she leapt to the ground, landing on both feet.

Another howl reached her before she took off like a shot. Sarah sprinted for the woods, knowing Constantine was close on her heels. She might be fast, but he was faster.