Unbound: The Cursed Trilogy, Book One by Betty Legend (small books to read .txt) 📕

and right back in his arms, his warm chest beneath my hands.

“I didn’t expect vampires to exist or have magic.”

“There’s only one bloodline of vampires left who have blood magic, but they haven’t been able to create more vampires in years.”

“Who are they?”

“The Artino family.”

The song switches to a fast, upbeat rhythm, and the dancers around us break apart, throw their fists in the air, and jump-dance. Emeric takes my hand and steers me toward a sitting area near the bar. Sitting down first, he pulls me onto his lap, his hand resting on my inner thigh.

“What’s the difference between a blood magic vampire and a non-blood magic vampire?”

“How powerful they are and how long they live.”

“Vampires aren’t immortal?”

“No, babe.” With a shake of his head, he caresses farther up my thigh. “That’s a myth. Everything ages, decays, and dies. Some just take longer.”

“How long do vampires usually live?”

“The weaker ones usually a hundred years. Vampires with blood magic can live up to three hundred years.”

Emeric throws a hand up to signal a waitress in very little black clothing as she walks by.

“Can you get us a couple shots? Fireball or Wild Turkey.”

With an acknowledging nod, she heads off to the bar. Slipping my hand into his t-shirt, I caress over his feathers, loving their softness. Emeric rests his head against the couch back, his eyes closing as he indulges in my touch.

“They used to expand into powerful wings. As my magic began failing me, my wings clung to my back, then completely stopped expanding over time. I lost a part of me and a lot of my power with them.” His tone is anguished, his features tight, the first moment of vulnerability I’ve seen from Emeric, leaving me longing to be closer to him. His dark eyes open and peer straight into mine. “It’s why I was so eager to bond with you, but now that I’ve met you, I want more.” Crimson shimmers in his eyes. “I want you.”

Bringing me closer, he captures my lips with his, the passion and heat that builds between us soaring like a blazing fire reaching for the sky. His hand slips between my legs, massaging my clit through my jeans.

“I’d like you to stay the night with me.”

He moves my leg, so I can straddle him, then tucks his hands under my arms and sits me perfectly over his cock.

“I’m not staying just one night. One night would never be enough.”

Fiery tension sears my lips as he rocks me against his hardening length.

“Now that I’ve tasted what’s mine, I’m not giving you up.”

“Not even to four other dipshits?”

Emeric growls in the back of his throat. “They can have you when I say they can.”

When the waitress returns, Emeric doesn’t take his hand off my ass, just picks up the shot glass from the tray, downs it in one gulp, then sets it back down. I do the same but cringe at the spicy bite of liquor. Emeric rubs his palm up and down my back with concern in his eyes. He cares—there’s no denying what I see in his crimson tinted black eyes.

“You want to dance more or go home and have me in your bed?”

“That’s a tough one.” Smirking, I wink at him. Pulling me to his chest, he bites my bottom lip. Letting it slide out of his teeth leaves the sensation of his fangs on my skin. Goosebumps pebble all over my arms, and he glances down at them.

“You like it kinky, don’t you, baby?”

“Maybe.”

“I know you do, and I’m willing to give it to you any way you want it.” He thrusts his hips up, creating pleasure between my legs.

“One more dance, then we’ll go back to my apartment.”

“I’m good with that.”

Sliding over the semi under his jeans, he grins, lifting the scar toward his dark eyes.

“It gets a hell of a lot bigger.”

“I know, I felt it against my ass cheeks earlier.”

“I can put it in farther next time.”

That tantalizing thought has me biting my lip.

Emeric tilts his head, his wicked smile widening.

“That’s the reaction I was hoping for.”

I pull him from the couch and lead him toward the dance floor. Putting an arm around my shoulder, he playfully nibbles my neck.

“You know we’re going to have a lot of fun together, right?”

“We already are.”

I swing out from under his arm and wrap my arms around his waist. His arms go around mine and right to where I expected—my ass. Damn, he’s cute.

As the music thumps out of the speakers and the dancers sway around us, we stay together, our bodies moving as one.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SELENE

It takes three more songs and sweat dampening our skin before we leave the dance floor. With his arm around my waist, we head to the stairs. As I climb the stairs ahead of him, he palms my ass.

“I do enjoy this view.”

“I’m sure.” I glance over my shoulder, expecting a mischievous smirk on his face, but he’s looking into the crowd below, his mouth pulled tight and his jaw tensing.

“What’s wrong?”

With narrowed lids, the red-orange glow appears in his hands.

“Nothing, babe. Just a good time to be heading out.”

I don’t believe that. My eyes scan the crowd as I climb the stairs. Down below, three sets of red beady eyes glow up at us from creatures that aren’t quite human. The hair on the back of my neck stands, and my own magic tingles in my palms.

“What are they?”

“Demons.”

“Why are they watching us?”

“Remember I told you I wouldn’t sweeten things for you?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re likely here for you.”

My throat instantly goes dry, but my palms dampen with sweat, and my steps quicken across the platform.

“Why would they be after me?”

“Because you alone can break our curse. They don’t want that.”

Magic flares up in my palms, and I struggle to contain it.

“I… I’m being hunted?”

“Don’t think right now. I need you to move.” Emeric’s hand is pushing me forward, out of the club. With rushed steps, we get to the bikes. My