“These are all the previous owners.”
“Do you really think we should be looking at this stuff?” she asked.
“Why not? We’re curious and it’s not like we’re going to hurt anyone with this information. I don’t see the big deal.”
She took a deep breath. “You’re right. We’re only seeing if the whole cursed houses thing is real. We’re fine. Totally fine.” She sat down beside him, piercing a meatball with her fork and pressing it to her mouth. Taking a bite, she watched as Rix did the same, flicking over a piece of paper as he did.
“Well, we knew they were married. It doesn’t come as a big shock at all.”
“What about the next couple?”
“I don’t know if this is going to shock you or not, the previous couple were two men and one woman.”
“Well, there you go. There’s no way that is…” She didn’t finish as Rix looked at the details with raised brows. “They’re still together, aren’t they?”
He nodded. “Ace, Brett, and Meredith. Yep, they’re together and happy.”
“It doesn’t mean anything. I mean, it’s just pure luck.” She shoved some pasta into her mouth. This wasn’t exactly a good way to be spending the evening. They were trying to prove the cursed houses didn’t exist, and so far, they weren’t having any luck.
“The previous owners before that, Wynter and Zane, now known as Mr. and Mrs. Webster.”
“They are?”
“Yep, and Cassie and Slade Coal. All happily married, with families.” He slammed the file closed after moving past them to find more information.
Neither of them ate as they looked at each other.
Glancing past his shoulder, she felt her heart start to race. “I think I need to go and walk Elizabeth’s dogs.” She pushed her chair back, her appetite gone.
“You’re running.”
“I’m not running. I’m being cautious. This is not possible, Rix. You can’t tell me you believe this stuff.”
“I don’t know what I believe,” he said. “We wanted the information and now we’ve got it.”
“We’re not going to fall for the same path. Two houses, cursed or not, do not have the power to bring people together. It’s stupid. Completely stupid. I don’t even care. It’s insane.” She shook her head. “I need to go and walk. To clear my head.”
She left her home and went straight to Elizabeth’s house.
“Are you okay, dear? It looks to me like it could rain.”
“I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.”
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
She forced a smile to her lips but didn’t say anything. There was no way she was going to fall for Rix.
With the dogs out for a walk, she tried not to think about what Rix had discovered. It was so crazy. Finding the park with ease, she released the dogs and watched them run like their lives depended on it. It didn’t take long for the rain to start pelting down, and she knew it was just her luck to get caught in it.
The rain stopped landing on her as an umbrella was perched above her head.
Glancing behind her, she saw Rix standing there. “You followed me.”
“I did. You think I was going to let you leave when you were clearly scared?”
“I’m not scared.” She rubbed her arms, wishing she’d gotten a jacket.
“You don’t need to lie to me.”
“Rix, I’m not going to let a bunch of past couples bother me. We wanted to know the information and now we do. People who lived in those houses before us simply had a lot in common and attraction.”
He banded an arm around her waist and pulled her back against him. “You think we don’t have attraction?”
Her pussy grew slick and she closed her eyes as he nibbled her neck. He touched a part of her that always aroused her.
“You’re not playing fair.”
“I never play fair, you should know that.”
“It’s one of the reasons why we’re never going to work.” She tried to pull out of his arms, but he didn’t let her.
“I’m not going to let you go. You’re upset.”
“I’m not upset.”
“Then what are you?”
“I don’t know. I’m confused right now. I don’t want to even think about everything that’s going on. You’re the president of an MC. You’ve said yourself that you’re not sticking around forever. I’m an accountant and I have no intention of leaving. We’re never going to mesh.”
“You keep protesting.”
“Maybe we’re not supposed to be together. Perhaps when you sell the house, it might be my true love.”
His grip around her waist tightened. “I don’t like thinking of you with anyone else.”
She spun in his arms. “I know, but do you love me? Do you feel like you can’t live without me?” She searched his eyes.
He didn’t say a word.
Pain sliced through her, but she ignored it.
“See, you and I, we’re not in love with each other. We never will be.” She whistled to the dogs and they came to her.
She wanted to break down and cry. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
As she walked the dogs back, Rix followed behind her. Elizabeth looked between them, likely worried, but didn’t voice any concern.
Rix took hold of her hand and even as she tried to leave to go to her own home, he wouldn’t let her.
Once inside his home, he locked the door. She couldn’t stand to not have the door locked. Rix had started to do it for her. He lifted her up in his arms.
“Stop it. I can walk.”
He carried her up to his room.
Slowly, he removed each item of her clothing until she stood before him naked. She watched him as he did the same. He put his hands at the base of her back, bringing them skin to skin. He kissed her lips. “I don’t know a lot, Anna-Beth, but I know this.” His lips trailed down, going to her neck, then to her chest. “I love it when I’m with you. You make me forget everything, and all I can think about is making you happy.” At her tits, he flicked each hard nipple before he moved her back so she lay on his bed.
She spread her legs and his cock teased her entrance.
“I don’t want to think of any other man ever knowing how good you are, how amazing you are. You drive me wild and as far as I’m concerned, you belong to me.” He slammed to the hilt inside her. “My name is the only one I want to fall from your lips. All I care about hearing is mine. I can’t stand the thought of anyone being in my place and while ever there is breath in my body, you will be mine in every single way.”
Chapter Eight
Rix held Anna-Beth’s hair out of the way as she threw up for the third day in a row.
“You have to leave.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“It must be something I ate last night.”
“You mean the chocolate and peanut butter toasty with cheese you insisted on making yourself last night?”
“Ugh, I’m going to be sick.”
He rubbed her back as she threw up again. This wasn’t good. He had a feeling he knew what it was though.