Bawdy Ballads

Break the Curse

“Oh little lamb,” he groaned heavily. “I mean if I laid you down and told you to stay still so I could please every inch of your body . . . would you play that pleasurable game with me?”

Heat burnt up my body settling into my cheeks as I realized what he was asking. I licked my lips nervously. “I’m not sure I could stay still under that but . . . I think I would like it.”

“You are absolutely perfect,” he sighed. “So, the second . . . if I could find a way to break your curse or at the very least bypass it would you want me to?”

I turned despite the pain that burnt my wrist and looked up into his eyes questioningly. “What do you mean by that? How could you even joke about breaking the curse?”

“Well to be fair if I break yours I need you to break mine,” he replied. “Move as much as you want.” The command released the pain but I couldn’t make myself move away from him.

“You need to explain what you mean,” I said firmly, “but first I need you to put something on. I can’t think when you are naked like this.”

“Ok, I will go grab my clothes . . . if you don’t mind making some food then we can talk, ok?”

I bit my lip with a nod. “You really think we can break the curse?”

“If you’ll trust me, yes, I do,” he said firmly.

I thought over the few interactions I’d had with him. He was always so gentle and considerate. He could have taken full advantage of me knowing my curse but he didn’t.. He asked every time to make sure I agreed. Being cursed himself he had to know the struggles I endured. “I trust you Avery,” I said firmly. My eyes went to his and he smiled a bright grin.

He cupped my cheeks, kissing me in a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back,” he promised. I nodded hating the ache I felt watching him leave. I moved to the kitchen pulling out the roast I intended for dinner and went through the process of seasoning it before putting it into the roaster letting it cook.

I heard the front door click and my eyes went to the doorway as he appeared wearing a pair of black leather leggings and nothing else. “That doesn’t help,” I muttered.

“I covered the major places,” he shrugged. “My shirt got shredded and is covered in blood so short of returning to my house for a full change of clothes this will have to do.”

“Fine,” I sighed, crossing my arms over my stomach.

“The roast smells amazing,” he rumbled. “You always make the most delicious smelling food.”

“What do you mean?”

“I told you I made you my territory three years ago. I patrol around your home to keep you safe and with my sense of smell especially as a wolf your meals drew me in more times than I can count,” he explained.

“Why didn’t you come by then?”

“It wasn’t the right time,” he said, leaning into the doorway casually. “My curse is very specific and I couldn’t come closer until it was right. If I wasn’t so close to shifting that time at the lake things might have gone beyond my abilities to stop them.”

“So how can I help you break your curse?”

“It would have to be after I helped you with yours,” he confided.

He sounded so sure my heart thudded turbulently. “How would you do that?” I asked hesitantly.

“I really need you to trust me,” he said as he pushed off the wall coming toward me. I lifted my chin studying his determined gaze. I reached up cupping his cheek, giving him a nod. He exhaled leaning into my palm. “I command you . . .” he began and my heart plummeted but I didn’t move. I trusted him to command me completely if he wanted to. His lips lifted warmly and his gaze softened almost lovingly. “I command you to never again follow a command.”

An icy wind traveled around my wrist and I gasped as tears blurred my sight. I was free? “Command me again, something, anything,” I demanded frantically.

“As you wish,” he smirked. “Kneel down Scarlett.”

Nothing happened. I didn’t feel any compulsion to obey. “No,” I grinned. “It worked, it really worked. You freed me Avery.” I jumped to him wrapping my arms around his neck. He curled his arms around my waist and my legs circled his hips hugging him completely. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

“Mmmm my pleasure, little lamb,” he purred, scanning my gaze with a heated look. I kissed him without thought. He growled sliding his tongue in around mine dancing it in that same pleasurably way he did that drove me wild with want. His hands slid up my back and I ached for him to touch skin. I wanted him so much more than I could fathom but mostly I just felt so blissfully happy to be free and it was this man that gave it to me. I realized I would give anything to help him be free too from Auntie Yaga’s curse.