#Hutao02 The Curse Beneath the Stars

Sophia Bennett stood in her hotel room, the dim golden light casting shadows on her face, her emerald green eyes shimmering with resolve yet tangled with turmoil. After the frenzied moment in the Bodleian Library’s secret chamber, where the star curse had swept her and Julian Blackwood into a tempest of desire, she couldn’t stop thinking about him—his scorching kiss, possessive touch, and storm-gray eyes, as if he were her fated destiny. “Sophia, you’ve lost your mind!” she muttered, covering her face, trying to dispel the lingering heat burning within her. But she knew there was no turning back. The curse, Ordo Stellae, and Julian had drawn her into a dangerous game, and she was determined to face it, despite her wavering heart.

She opened her laptop, reviewing notes from the Bodleian. Julian had revealed that Ordo Stellae protected the star curse, an ancient power linking humans to the cosmos, but he hadn’t told her everything. “The missing… they were called away,” he’d said, voice low and enigmatic. Sophia frowned, typing a quick email to her anonymous source: “How is Julian Blackwood tied to the curse? I need more.” She took a deep breath, muttering, “You’re a journalist, Sophia. Find the truth, don’t let… him unravel you.”

The next morning, Julian texted: “Meet me at Christie’s auction house, 7 PM. Don’t be late.” Sophia furrowed her brow, wondering why an auction house was linked to Ordo Stellae, but she didn’t hesitate. She chose a fitted black dress, accentuating her curves, and stood before the mirror, muttering, “Sophia, don’t let him control you. You’re stronger than that!” But the thought of his eyes made her heart race, a mix of fear and longing.

At Christie’s, the opulent space glittered with crystal chandeliers and ancient paintings. Sophia entered, eyes scanning the crowd, halting when she saw Julian. In a black suit, he exuded a dark monarch’s aura, his gray eyes locking onto her, sending a shiver through her. “You’re punctual,” he said, voice low, poetic, stepping close. “Good. Tonight, you’ll glimpse Ordo Stellae.”

He led her through a hidden corridor to an underground archive, where ancient shelves and artifacts glowed with starlight. “This is where Ordo Stellae keeps the curse’s secrets,” he said, retrieving a shimmering starstone. “It connects to those called away. I… am bound to it.” Sophia froze, stepping closer. “Bound? What do you mean? Are you a victim or the mastermind?” Her voice was sharp, but his eyes darkened, heavy with pain.

“My family created the curse, Sophia,” he whispered, voice a low incantation. “I must protect it, even at the cost of myself.” Before she could press further, the starstone flared, and an invisible force enveloped them, igniting a burning desire in Sophia, like a flame she couldn’t extinguish.

Under the shimmering glow of the starstone in the secret archive, Julian Blackwood pressed Sophia Bennett against an ancient bookshelf, his gray eyes a cosmic storm, blazing with fierce desire amplified by the curse. “Sophia,” he growled, voice husky, poetic as an ancient hymn, “you’ve touched the stars’ secrets, and now, you’re my light.” Sophia trembled, her back against the cold wood, heart pounding as if it would shatter. “J-Julian… what are you doing? This… isn’t me!” she cried, voice panicked, but her body betrayed her, burning like a furnace, her core drenched, aching for his touch with a painful intensity.

He smirked, lips crashing onto hers, a ferocious kiss, as if to devour her soul. His tongue plunged in, tangling with hers, sucking hard, draining her breath, drawing loud moans that echoed in the confined space. Her hands clutched his suit, nails tearing fabric, leaving red scratches on his shoulders. “Mmm… Julian… stop… stop…” she panted, but her breasts pressed against his chest, nipples hardening through her black dress, prompting a primal growl, raw and beastly.

He pulled back, eyes ablaze, Adam’s apple bobbing. “Stop? Sophia, the curse has entwined us, and I cannot resist,” he whispered, voice florid, ripping her dress’s zipper, letting it pool at her feet, revealing a black lace bra cradling her full, heaving breasts. He swallowed hard, his erection straining painfully against his trousers, brushing her thigh, massive and searing. “You shine like a constellation, Sophia,” he murmured, hands kneading her breasts, thumbs pinching her nipples through the lace until they stood erect, pink as radiant gems. Sophia arched, a jolt of electricity surging through her, her panties soaked, fluids glistening under the starlight. “A… ah… you… it’s too much…” she gasped, nails digging deeper, leaving red welts.

He grinned lasciviously, yanking her bra down, exposing her petite, pink nipples, beckoning him. He latched onto one, sucking hard, tongue swirling, nibbling lightly, while his other hand squeezed her breast, kneading until Sophia screamed, body melting in ecstasy, tears of pleasure streaming. “A… a… Julian… I’m… gonna die… it’s too good…” She clutched his head, fingers tangling in his thick black hair, pulling him closer, tears rolling down her cheeks.

He looked up, lips glistening, a wicked smirk spreading. “Die? I’ll make you belong to me alone, as the heavens decree,” he growled, tearing her panties, revealing her pink, sopping core, pulsing like a blooming flower, begging to be filled. He knelt, kissing her inner thighs, tongue tracing soft skin, leaving wet trails. He latched onto her core, sucking fiercely, tongue plunging deep, lapping from inside out, as if savoring a divine delicacy. Sophia arched, screaming, legs quaking violently, fluids gushing, soaking the wooden floor, pooling beneath her. “A… a… Julian… I… too good… I’m done…” She gripped his head, body taut, hitting her first climax, mind spinning like a galaxy.

He didn’t stop, tongue delving deeper, sucking harder, making Sophia scream again, body convulsing, fluids streaming, soaking his chin. “A… you… I… I can’t take it…” she choked, body arching, hitting her second climax, tears streaming, body nearly spent. He stood, unbuckling his belt with lightning speed, revealing a massive, rock-hard penis, tip red and glistening, aimed at her like a declaration of ownership. Sophia flushed, looking away, heart racing. “You… too fast…” she stammered, but he pulled her close, letting her feel his steel-hard length.

“Feel it, Sophia? This is our fate,” he growled, kissing her, tongue entwining fiercely yet lovingly. His hand slid down, three fingers plunging into her soaked core, thrusting fast, thumb rubbing her sensitive bud, drawing relentless moans, fluids streaming, soaking his hand. “A… you… I… I need you… now…” she whispered, eyes glazed with desire, body trembling, pleading to be filled.

He smirked, lifting her onto an ancient wooden table, spreading her legs, her wet, pink core pulsing invitingly. “You’re mine, Sophia, as stars belong to the sky,” he growled, his tip brushing her entrance, making her moan and arch. He pushed slowly, filling her inch by inch, until she screamed, “A… you… so deep… I’m… gonna die…” Her body shook violently, fluids gushing, soaking the table, the sound of flesh slapping echoing. He moved, thrusting slow but deep, each stroke hitting her core, making her moan incessantly, body arching, breasts bouncing, buttocks quivering with each impact. “A… a… Julian… faster… I… can’t take it…” she screamed, tears of pleasure streaming, nails clawing the wood.

He growled, accelerating, hands squeezing her breasts, pinching her nipples, making her arch, hitting her third climax, fluids flooding, drenching them both. “Sophia, are you lost in it?” he rasped, eyes blazing. “So good… I’m dying… I love you…” she choked, voice breaking, body taut.

But a noise from the corridor broke the spell, the starstone’s energy fading, pulling them from their trance. Sophia jolted, pushing him away, panting. “No… we can’t… the curse… it’s controlling us!” She pulled her dress to cover her chest, face flushed, heart pounding. Julian stood, erection throbbing, eyes a mix of frustration and adoration. “Sophia, you won’t escape me, curse or fate,” he whispered, voice commanding.

Sophia hurriedly adjusted her dress, face burning, struggling to regain composure. “Julian, that… it was the curse, wasn’t it?” she asked, voice trembling, eyes wary. He stepped closer, gray eyes still scorching. “The curse amplifies desire, Sophia, but the emotions are real,” he said, brushing her cheek. She stepped back, heart racing. “Don’t… we need to talk about the curse, not… this!”

Julian chuckled, softening. “Stubborn, but I like it. This starstone is key to breaking the curse, but it’s dangerous. If you stay, you’ll be drawn deeper.” He turned to a shelf, retrieving an ancient manuscript, voice low. “My family created the curse to guard an ancient secret, but it’s taken too much. I don’t want you to be next.”

Sophia shook her head, eyes resolute. “I’m not leaving. If you’re bound, I’ll help you break free.” He gazed at her, eyes twinkling, as if seeing a new star. “You’ll regret it, but I won’t stop you,” he said, leading her out, the starlight still glowing on the walls.

In a taxi back to her hotel, Sophia’s mind churned. The archive’s sensations—Julian’s kiss, his touch—burned within her. “Sophia, you’re insane! He’s dangerous, and you nearly…” she muttered, cheeks flushed. But she couldn’t turn back. The curse, Ordo Stellae, and Julian had drawn her into a fated game, and she was determined to face it.

The next day, she received an email from her anonymous source: “Beware Cassandra Vale, an Ordo Stellae member. She wants the curse preserved and won’t let you break it.” Sophia frowned, noting Cassandra Vale, sensing growing danger. She texted Julian: “We need to meet. I know about Cassandra Vale.” He replied instantly: “You’re quick. Tonight, The Starlit Crown pub. Don’t let anyone follow you.”

At the pub, the dim space flickered with candles and ancient wood. Julian sat in a corner, gray eyes scanning her as she entered. “Cassandra is my rival in Ordo Stellae,” he said, voice low. “She believes the curse must endure, no matter the cost in lives. If you continue, she’ll target you.” Sophia straightened, eyes resolute. “I’m not afraid. We’ll break the curse, Julian, no matter who we face.”

He looked at her, eyes shimmering, as if seeing a celestial warrior. “You make me believe in fate, Sophia,” he whispered, his hand brushing hers, making her heart race. But before she could respond, a figure appeared at the pub’s door—Cassandra Vale, her cold eyes sweeping over them. Sophia sensed danger but gripped Julian’s hand, eyes steadfast. “We’ll win, Julian,” she said, voice certain.

The chapter ends with Sophia and Julian leaving the pub, London’s stars twinkling above, as if witnessing their destiny. Sophia knew she’d entered a perilous battle, but with Julian beside her, she was ready to face it, even if the curse tried to pull her into darkness.