Cursed (Cursed Superheroes #1)(7)

That’s not that strange. Girls ask guys to dance all the time.

But guys don’t usually dance solo by themselves for forty-eight hours straight, do they? You know you’re different, Remi. Always have been.

“I feel sort of bad for the poor bastard. He didn’t even know what was coming,” Cameron remarks, studying my reaction closely.

“I’m sorry, but I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I play dumb, but I’m nervous and fidgety.

With his eyes fixed on me, he points over his shoulder at Ian jumping up and down in the middle of a group of people. “You don’t, huh?”

I shake my head, but my pulse soars. “Nope.”

“Hmmm…” He thrums his finger against his bottom lip. “Then how about I show you?”

Before I can tell him that I don’t want him to show me anything, he dips his head, puts his lips up to my ear, and whispers, “Dance with me, Remi.” He shifts back and offers me his hand.

I don’t want to dance with him, but I find myself letting him lead me to the dance floor. I feel like I’m floating, my feet not even touching the ground. In the back of my mind, I know this isn’t right, that I should slip my fingers from his, but it’s like I’ve lost control over my body.

“Wait, I can’t dance. I’m in my bikini,” I argue lamely as we reach the middle of the dance floor.

Underneath the light, I can see that he’s around my age and that he’s gorgeous, with blond hair, gauges in his ears, silver metal in his lip, and a tiny scar on his jawline.

“You look hot,” he assures me, then places his hands on my waist.

I want to be repulsed, but my body reacts, melting into him. I set my hands on his shoulders as he pulls me against him. His body heat engulfs me as we start to move slowly, even though the song playing has a fast, upbeat tempo.

“We’re moving too slow for this song,” I mutter, but then rest my head on his shoulder.

He chuckles. “All right, how’s this?” Within a snap of the finger, the song switches to “Wires” by Athlete. “Better?” he asks.

I nod my head up and down, surrendering to him even more, somehow knowing I’d do anything he asked me to do. The feeling is terrifying, like standing at the edge of a cliff, waiting to be pushed. “What did you do to me?” I whisper, terrified out of my mind.

He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, his breath hot against my skin as he whispers, “Showing you what it feels like.”

“Ian deserved what I did to him.”

“I know he did.”

“Then why are you punishing me? Is it…” I bite on my bottom lip. No. Don’t say his name.

“No, it’s not because of him.” He says it as if he knows exactly who I’m thinking about. “What happened to Max wasn’t your fault. And I’m not punishing you,” he attempts to reassure me, but then sighs tiredly. “Remi, I’m here to help you understand and prepare you for what’s about to happen.”

My mind spins in confusion. None of what he’s saying makes sense. “What’s about to happen? And how do you know my name?”

His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes as he brushes his knuckles across my cheek. “I’m so sorry, beautiful. I wish I could change what’s about to go down, but a curse is a curse, and even I can’t change it.” His hand travels down my neck, my side, finally resting at my waist. Then he jerks me against him so tightly I can barely breathe. “Just know that it will get better. At first, it might not seem like it, but I promise you it will. But you have to be strong, okay? Don’t give up. Be strong. Don’t let them break you.”

Then he shoves me back. My fingers leave his as I float deeper into the crowd, and he steps back, getting swallowed up by the people around us.

Catching my balance, I frantically look for him. But I can’t see him anywhere. I push my way through the sweaty bodies with a desperate need to find him.

“Remi, what are you doing?” Jane’s voice cuts through my panic. “Why do you look so freaked out?”

The haziness evaporates from my mind.

“Where’d you go?” She’s wearing her one piece covered by a pair of pink board shorts with little hearts on them and her floral dress is clutched in her hands. “I thought you were going to wait for me outside of the pool house?”

“I was, but I...” My gaze darts around the area. “Got distracted.”

“Oh.” She twists a strand of her hair around her finger while chewing on her bottom lip. “If you want to go hang out with Steph and Kara, that’s okay. They’re probably having more fun anyway.”

Even though it’s complicated as shit, I concentrate on her and give her a playfully stern look. “No way. The hot tub is way more fun than watching guys hit on Kara and Steph.”

“Okay.” She perks up. “So who was that guy you were dancing with?”

I’m so distracted scanning the peoples’ faces around me, I barely hear her. “You mean Ian?”

She shakes her head. “No, that guy with the blonde hair. The one you were dancing with when I came out of the pool house. He doesn’t go to our school, does he? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before.”

“Um…” Unsure how to explain to her what just happened—and not really wanting to, because it’ll probably make me look insane—I lie, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” It’s the second time I’ve ever lied to her and I feel like shit. Not knowing what else to do, I change the subject. “Hey, did I tell you that my parents are letting me have my birthday party at the cabin?”