Cursed: Broken: A MM Modern Retelling of Beauty & The Beast (Book 1) by X. Aratare

Author:X. Aratare [Aratare, X.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Raythe Reign
Published: 2016-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

EYES LIKE STARS

Nick had been so tired that he’d barely remembered stripping, brushing his teeth and collapsing on the mattress. The cleaning and ironing had taken more out of him than he’d realized. Just as he’d fallen into sleep he had an uncomfortable thought that Bane would be amused that he was achy after the first day of hard work.

A good night’s sleep is all I need. I’ll be fine tomorrow. Unless I dream of Bane and tigers again.

And he did.

But it was different than before, because he wasn’t an unwilling participant, but eager to curl against Bane’s side. And no longer was the dream drenched with the exotic spice of India. The dream took place on Moon Shadow’s back porch. It was night and the moon was full and heavy in the sky.

Nick was sitting on the couch with his legs tucked beneath him and his head resting on one of Bane’s massive shoulders. The billionaire was practically purring. The steady beat of his heart was in Nick’s ears. One of Bane’s muscular arms was curled around him and he lightly trailed one hand up and down Nick’s spine. Unlike in every real life encounter they’d had, there was no tension or anger between them. He felt peace and comfort. He felt like they belonged to one another. Something in Nick’s chest seized. Belonging was something he’d never really had.

Nick put his nose against the collar of Bane’s shirt and drew in deep breaths. Bane’s unique scent of sandalwood and cinnamon filled Nick’s nostrils. He found that he couldn’t get enough of that smell. Bane let out a rumbly laugh.

“You like my scent, Nick?” The man’s Siberian blue eyes were not sharp or cold, but filled with warmth and softness as he gazed down at Nick

“I do,” Nick found himself saying. “It comforts me.”

One of Bane’s large yet elegant hands caressed Nick’s cheek. “I am glad. Because you are safe with me.”

“Safe?” That was not a word he would have used about Bane when he was awake. He had always felt anything but safe with him, and yet, right at that moment, he could almost believe it.

“I will protect you from anyone and anything,” Bane promised, his eyes unblinking as he said it. “Even myself. Especially myself. For you are my mate.”

“Mate? That sounds a lot like love, Bane, and you do not believe in that,” Nick pointed out. A trickle of desire wound through him at the word “mate”. It was a primal word. It meant belonging, too.

Bane just smiled.

Out of the corner of Nick’s eye, he saw something white moving through the tangle of rose bushes. His head lifted up and he was alert, his breath catching in his throat, and his heart beginning to race. Bane though continued to just hold him. Completely unconcerned.

“What’s that?” Nick breathed.

“It’s the beast,” Bane answered.

“Beast?!” Nick sat up fully, but Bane pulled him close again.

There was a parting in the rose bushes and Nick saw the head of a massive white Bengal tiger looking at them.

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