Mated To The Dark One

corching a trail down my body. The silk nightgown clung to my frame like a whispered sin, revealing more than it should. I blinked and he was

broad shoulders, the sculpted arms that wound around me before I could utter a sound, an

s tongue. His hands followed, tracing the curve of my body through the thin silk each movement deliberate, precise, as if he already knew every rise and hollow. His scent, his touch,

d into his hair dark, impossibly soft curls that felt like a dream. The pleasure was

between pleasure and madness. Then just as suddenly he pulled back, lifting his head to look at me. I still couldn't see his

Criv

shattered

laughter. My heart still thundered with the echoes of that dream, my skin ting

naked. Thank the heavens I was clothed. Which meant... I

ouch. My gaze searched for the source of the voice that had dragged me back to reality: Professor Evaris

ike gravel and frost, foot ta

say? "Your lectures are so boring I started hal

, Miss Crivelli. I want

at dawn, only to rush to lectures still wearing the same uniform that stank of exhaustion and de

disrespected my class with your

t, b

oice cracked

bribe him with brownies again assuming I could afford the

than the last. I barely made it to the hallway before collapsing against the w

red me from u

bustling with students. I was still slumpe

hrough the air. I glanced up in time to see Lavinia Ruggi

issa asked, eyes wide wi

aid with a dramatic roll of her

. This wasn't talking behind my back they

larissa giggle

Poor thing works her body all night and just can't stay awake for school." The emphasis dripped with insinuation, fol

n touch Miss Bad Luck? I'd love

to my feet. "Why don't y

er eyes raking ov

ll curse you and infect

led. "Cra

icked heels stomping onto her com

sping with delight. "The i

lked away, distancing my

s broke but I hadn't always been cursed. That part started with a rumor... one tha

or, and I got evicted. The "curse" label stuck, and apparently, I was undateable too. The men treated me like a black widow in a miniskirt. The only relationshi

home if you could call my crumbling apartment that. Just enough time t

oment I walked in. "I was supposed to close tonight, but I can't. You'

onight, and I am not turning them into s

hined. "I have a date. Y

i before I could stop her. "Do

sped, but it

eys into my hand. "Be a good frien

kill

When I finally locked up, I looked like the walking dead-

ent... money

as tucking the bills into my wallet

fr

llet!" I screamed, bo

n a dark alley, barely keeping up. He turned a corner into an ev

top

, brea

r man cloaked in darkness. The second man lifted the thief off the ground by

ispered, my v

nse of utter stupidity moved my

most v

e'd been mauled by an animal. Beside him, my

my throat, more manic tha