Free Cursed (The Brookehaven Vampires #4) by Joann I. Martin Sowles Page A

actually Felix’s doing. Why would Felix want to set Zane free on us? I seriously doubted he would do such a thing.
    “Please, Laney. We only have a few more days. Let’s forget about everything and everyone else. Let’s just enjoy these days, okay?”
    I nodded with my head against his chest, but I would be questioning Felix about my dad and my grandparents again, and probably the whole angel thing too. But, for the time being, I would just focus on enjoying my boyfriend.
    We started back toward the path that led up to the house. Oliver wrapped his arm around my shoulders again, and he pulled me close. He kissed the top of my head.
    “You know, I love you so much, it actually makes my heart ache,” he told me.
    I smiled, uncontrollably, and squeezed his hand. I knew exactly how he felt.
    Oliver pulled me down to sit beside him as we got close to the path. We sat on the cool sand and watched the sun beginning to set as we held each other.
    “So, how does this whole ‘aging slowly’ thing work?” I asked.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, you look like you’re in your early twenties, but you’re more than ten years older than that… I guess what I’m asking is, am I going to look like I’m nineteen for the next ten years?”
    He chuckled at me. “I don’t know, Laney. Everyone ages differently. You might get to your twenties and stop aging for a while too. It’s what I did.”
    I leaned my head on his shoulder. I felt mentally tired. The day had brought up way too much emotional baggage that I didn’t really want to think about, or even deal with, at all.
    I took a deep breath, inhaling the cool sea air. I just needed to relax and let everything else go. I tried, and I shivered as a chill accompanied the sea breeze. Large, dark gray clouds began rolling in. Rain was coming.
    “Laney,” Oliver said just loud enough so I could hear him over the crashing waves.
    I looked at him with my head still on his shoulder. He seemed to be a little nervous about what he was about to say.
    “What is it?” I asked, lifting my head from his shoulder.
    “Well, don’t take this the wrong way, but there is something that has been bothering me since your birthday.”
    I immediately thought of that stupid angel. “What?”
    “You had no problem bonding with me,” he stated. I felt my cheeks start to warm at his words. Silly, huh? “But, well, on your birthday, when I gave you this…” His eyes fell to where my necklace rested against my chest, over my T-shirt. He fingered the star necklace that he had given me for my birthday. I rarely took it off. “I had dropped the box, and when you turned and saw me kneeling, you weren’t excited, you panicked.” His eyes were on mine again.
    Uhh… Well, this was unexpected. “Um, maybe you didn’t give me time to get excited,” I said, trying to make it playful.
    His eyes shifted away from me. “I just don’t understand why when you thought I might ask you to marry me, you panicked, but bonding with me did not scare you.” His concerned green eyes met mine again. “You understand it can’t be taken back, right? You understand that my life is now yours, right? You understand that—”
    Recovering from major stomach droppage, I cut him off with a kiss that took him by surprise.
    As my lips parted from his, I stared into his eyes. “I fully understand what it means, Oliver. I have known from the moment I met you that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I don’t have any idea why I initially panicked when I saw you kneeling on the floor. I do know, I would not have turned you down, even if it did seem scary at the time. I know what I want in this world, and that’s you. In any way I can have you.”
    All concern left his eyes and a crooked grin appeared. Then his eyes fell on my mouth, and his grin began to fade. I pulled him to me, pressing my lips to his.
    I kept my arms wrapped around his neck as he leaned away from me a little so his eyes could meet