The Curse ✔️

Chapter 33: Perverse Incentives

Keeping my mind on the demons and the threats from the netherworld was a difficult thing to pull with Leon's lips on my neck and the tips of his fingers tracing the curve of my waist.

The lust charm pumped through me, unmistakeably sharp, like needles pricking at my skin, disabling me from focusing on anything else.

I sniffed that goddess damned rose like a maniac, craving clarity and release.

"Calm down." Leon mumbled in my ear.

We swayed to the music, lost somewhere on the dancefloor. My heart skipped a beat each time his hips bumped into me and his pants scratched my naked thigh.

"I'm fine." I grunted and brushed the hair off my neck, wondering how the fuck was I supposed to leave this place and hunt down a damn demon.

Leon's hands slid down my waist, sometimes daring even lower, depending on the beat, and my legs moved somewhat off-kilter, surprised by each of his particularly lewd touches.

"I like this dress on you." His breath tickled my ear, and when he finished the sentence, his grip on my waist tightened, as if trying to prevent me from running away.

"I like it on me, too." I gasped back once his thumbs grazed my ribs.

With a whiff of the rose, I reminded myself we were here to do a job. The magic cleared my head, and I glanced around the room. Through the crowd, I caught sight of Thar, still in the same corner.

He had to think I was here to get drunk and make mistakes. If he thought I'd left with Leon, he wouldn't try to find me. Anything else, and he'd realise we were attempting to break more rules than existed in this school. They haven't even got a section on what we were about to do.

Even though I hated doing this to Thar, I knew I had to.

And yet-

"Are you wearing it for him?" Leon asked, surprising me one more time.

Our eyes met. Lights exchanged across his face, colouring his eyes a different shade of the rainbow with each beat. Since I met Leon, I haven't wanted to slap him this hard, just to wipe that confident smirk off his face.

He was messing with me, and I hated it every step of the way, because I was slowly, but surely losing ground in this relationship. And I was fucking scared of falling into this particular hole.

"What if I say yes?" I asked right back.

A small shrug, "It's kinda desperate."

My smile dropped, and I threw my hands around his neck, pushing my nose into the rose.

"It's just for distraction." I muttered, bitterness lacing my words. "Focus on the plan, we're not here to talk."

Leon snickered in my ear, his grip on my waist loosening, "Ten more minutes, Jade."

The last fifty had my mind dizzy with questions and my panties wet.

They really should have put someone with more self-control in this role.

"Lorenia's gone." I murmured and reached for the phone in my purse.

Morta texted: your dad coming to the party, stand by.

Lorenia left, I texted back.

"Dean wants to talk to us." Leon pushed me backwards with his entire weight.

Together, we stumbled awkwardly to the tarot reading table. I leaned against the silk tablecloth and pulled my hair up. Sweat gathered on the nape of my neck.