Taken by the Beast (8 page)

“Don’t know,” he said, leaning against the wall and folding his arms across his chest.

“You are certainly not going to stand there and watch me!”

He only stared; the only change in his expression was that damned grin that crept along his mouth. She leaned back against the sink and mimicked his posture.

“Water’s getting cold, Kayla. Are you going in or should I take you back to the bed and bind you while I have a nice, long, hot bath?”

She glared at him, but had no doubt if she waited a moment too long, he’d drag her back and she’d miss the opportunity to wash. “Asshole!” she said, reaching for the zipper of her hoodie.

But before she even pulled it off her head, he was on her. Grabbing her by the waist, he turned her and leaned her slightly forward. He then swatted her hard on her ass. “Watch. Your. Mouth,” he said.

“Ow, ow, ow!” she cried, covering her bottom as soon as he released her. “You…” She wanted to call him a son of a bitch, but instead stood there, rubbing her butt, which stung with the fresh blows.

His grin widened into a smile. “Clever girl.”

She fisted her hands and stomped her foot, then stripped off her clothes and stepped into the tub. It felt good, the hot water. Her shower at the hotel had been too short and not at all satisfying, but this was good. Even if he was going to stand there ogling her. Fine. She eyed his erection, which was huge. She grinned. If he wanted a show, she’d give him one. Then he could go fuck himself.

She slid beneath the surface of the water and emerged a few moments later, long blond hair clinging to her shoulders and back.

“Can you pass me the shampoo?” she asked, her voice saccharine.

“Of course,” he said, taking the bottle and squeezing some onto the palm of his hand. He sat on the edge of the tub, sliding one leg in behind her so she found herself leaning forward to accommodate it. She hadn’t been expecting that. He closed his hand over the top of her head, depositing the shampoo. Then, while she stared straight ahead, he massaged it in, washing her hair with a gentleness that surprised her. No, that wasn’t it exactly. It wasn’t a surprise that he could be gentle. In fact, she had to admit he was perhaps the most gentle man she’d ever been around. He punished, but he also cherished.

“Lean your head back,” he said, his voice soft.

She did and he washed the shampoo out of her hair, then repeated the whole process.

* * *

What the fuck was he doing? Her hair felt so soft as he massaged the contours of her head, remembering when he’d done this last, more than eight years ago. She remained still, staring straight ahead. Her nipples, although submerged, had hardened, and when she would lift her body to tilt her head back, her breasts would lift out of the water, silky and wet. He wanted nothing other than to lick one, then the other, before taking each into his mouth and sucking, drawing the hard point out until he held the very tip between his teeth. He’d then slide his tongue down over her chest, kissing the flat of her stomach, tickling the crease around the strip of hair she left there. He’d spread her wide and just look at her for a while, all pink and wet, before tasting her, dipping his tongue inside her, then taking her clit into his mouth and sucking hard until she bucked beneath him.

He slid into the tub behind her and she adjusted her position to accommodate him. Taking the soap in one hand, he began at her shoulders, creating a lather as he washed her. She shifted to sit on her knees, allowing him to lift first one, then the other arm out of the water. When his hands came around her front, he let the soap slip into the tub and cupped her breasts. She leaned back into him and moaned when he rolled her nipples. He noticed how she’d spread her legs just a little and once he was finished with her breasts, his hands naturally traveled downward. She only exhaled and leaned her head back when he closed his hand over her pussy.

He ached to be inside her and the small voice that told him
no
was no match for the need that had been building inside him for too long. He lifted and turned her so she faced him, her knees on either side of his thighs. Her eyes were wide, her pupils dilated as she stared at him. He saw a mix of lust tinged with something else, something that made the animal inside him want. It was fear, just a hint of it.

She put her hands to his chest, but didn’t resist when he lifted her, positioning her just over his cock. His hands closed around her hips and guided her down onto himself. He watched her mouth open and her eyes close when he filled her and ground her hips onto his lap, burying his cock deep inside her. He lifted her slowly, the sensation of her tight pussy sliding along his cock feeling so good, so warm, so right. He pulled her down hard and repeated when she gasped, tightening her hold on his shoulders.

“Oh, god…” she cried, whimpering into his neck when he began to fuck her.

With one hand he pulled her head back and looked at her before closing his mouth over hers. He took everything with his kiss, sucking on her tongue, stealing her breath. She made a sound and the muscles of her pussy simultaneously contracted around his cock. He kept her close to him, his mouth locked on hers as she came and as much as he knew he should pull out of her, let her be, an animal instinct overruled and when his cock pulsed with release, his hand in her hair tightened and pulled her head back, shifting their position so he dominated, plunging one last time deep inside her pussy and filling her, possessing her.

Chapter Eight

What the hell had he done? Elijah stood in the kitchen cleaning the rabbit, taking out his anger on the poor dead thing. He’d just fucked Kayla and worse than that, he hadn’t used a condom.

Crap!

He heard her tentative steps and stiffened. He should not have done that; what the hell was he thinking? She’d just been so warm and wet and naked. Fuck!

“What should I do to help?” she asked quietly.

He finished with the rabbit, set it in a roasting pan and washed his hands. He slid the pan into the oven before turning to her. She stood wearing one of his t-shirts, which was more like a nightie about six sizes too big, along with a pair of his socks.

And all he could think was he’d like to strip her naked, bend her over the back of the couch, and fuck her again.

“You can set the table. Plates are there, utensils in that drawer. I’m afraid it’s just going to be the rabbit and canned green beans tonight, but I’ll head into town tomorrow to get supplies.”

“And clothes for me?”

“Yes.”

“It’ll be an hour or so before it’s ready. I’m going to chop more wood in the meantime.”

She eyed the already ridiculously high stack next to the fireplace.

“There are some books over there; you can help yourself,” he added.

“Thanks,” she said, trying to meet his eyes.

He walked out the door.

* * *

There was an elephant in the room and nobody was going to mention it.

Kayla set the table, chose a book, and curled up on the couch. She stared at the first page, not reading a thing. What the hell had just happened? She’d let him fuck her. Without protection. Should she have resisted? She shook her head. She hadn’t. Hadn’t even wanted to.

She’d just finished her period a few days ago so she wasn’t overly worried about getting pregnant, but there were other things to think about.

“Relax,” she told herself. It was one time, one stupid time.

Fuck. She’d feel much better about it if they’d used a condom. She set the book down and went into the bathroom. He’d been so big that she’d bled a little and wanted to make sure the bleeding had stopped, which it had.

She went back into the living room as Elijah returned carrying a stack of firewood. He placed it on the already tall pile, obviously feeling awkward about what had just happened.

“Elijah,” she said, determined to just face this, talk about it and move on.

He looked at her.

“We’re not going to be all weird now, are we? I mean, you spank me. That’s not weird for some reason. It’s not like you…” What the hell was she trying to say?

“Did I hurt you?” he asked.

She shook her head.

“We should have used a condom. Are you on birth control? Is there any way you can get pregnant?”

“I just finished my period, so I don’t think so.”

He seemed physically relieved by that. “Good. It won’t happen again, Kayla. I’m sorry.”

She only looked at him, realizing that wasn’t the reaction she’d been looking for.

“Let’s eat; the rabbit’s probably ready,” he said.

They sat at the table and he served their meal. The rabbit was remarkably tasty. The beans were soggy and a side of roasted potatoes would have hit the spot, but this was better than she’d expected.

“I have a question that I can’t figure out. Why me, Elijah? I don’t understand. Why did you decide to kill to protect
me
? I mean, why do you care?” she asked, taking another bite.

He carved out more meat for himself, seeming ravenous, taking his time to answer.

“I don’t know,” he began. “Ever since that day I met you, do you remember when that man bumped into you and dropped your things?”

“I remember.”

“I’ve just felt the need to take care of you, I guess.”

“And that’s it? You just saw me one day when some asshole knocked my things out of my hands and you decided that you’d kill to take care of me?” She put her fork down and sipped her water. “That sounds a little strange, to be honest.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe it’s a wolf thing.”

It was her turn to study him. There was a piece missing, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

“And I’m serious about the swearing. I’ve let you go on it so far, but the next time, I’ll spank you.”

“I’ll see what I can do about it,” she said, not sure if she meant she’d try to get spanked or try to avoid it. “So we go into town tomorrow?” she asked.

“You do realize it’s not a vacation, right?”

Danger seemed a distant memory; she felt safe here, safe with him.

“And no,
you
will stay here while I go into town. I don’t want to take a chance on people recognizing us, especially if they see us together.”

“How long are we staying here?”

“I don’t know. I’ll find out more tomorrow, hopefully. Are you finished?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m full.”

He eyed her plate. “You need to eat more,” he said. “Are you sure?”

She nodded.

He reached over, forked the pieces she hadn’t eaten, and popped them into his mouth.

“Let’s clean up and get to bed.”

“Are you going to tie me up when you go tomorrow?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“I’d really like it if you wouldn’t. I promise I won’t go anywhere and I’ve been good.”

“For a few hours.”

“And I’ll be good for the next few hours.”

“While you’re sleeping?”

She shrugged a shoulder, smiling. “Sure.”

He smiled back. “We’ll see. You do the dishes.”

“Ugh,” she said, standing to help clear the table.

When she was finished, she noticed he’d taken a pillow and some blankets to the couch.

“You get the bed,” he said. “I’ll take the couch.”

“OK,” she said. “Goodnight, then.” She couldn’t help feeling disappointed as she made her way into the bedroom alone.

* * *

She was running barefoot through the woods, dressed once again in her worn yoga pants and tank top. It was nighttime, but the forest wasn’t quiet. Her feet hurt as they crunched on dead leaves, pine needles, twigs, and rocks. Clouds covered the moon, but when the wind moved them, she could make out the shiny eyes of the dogs behind her. It was like a movie, the men gripping the leashes of the crazed animals, hunting her.

She panted, exhausted, each breath drawing in the scent of death, of fire, of burning flesh. But it wasn’t only that. It was also the scent of blood. She couldn’t make out whether she was running toward or from the women’s screams and she swore she could hear the sound of tearing flesh.

She stumbled then, and fell to her hands and knees. A sharp cut had split the bottom of her foot and the forest floor sucked in the seeping blood. Standing was impossible, but she had to go on.

They came on her then, the dogs, the hunters. One held a rifle aimed at her chest. She anticipated the impact, and when he pulled the trigger she closed her eyes, waiting for it. But it wasn’t she who got shot. It was Elijah. She looked at him as he lay dying. Even in wolf form, his golden eyes were tender, human.

“Take the girl,” one of the men said.

Hands closed over her arms and lifted her, dragging her from him. She looked down, at herself, at her swollen belly and when she turned to him again, he lay still, his eyes closed. The thing inside her moved, shifted, grew. Warmth spilled down her legs and the men released her. She screamed when the first wave came on, pain splitting her in two as the beast inside her tore its way into the world.

* * *

“Kayla! Open your eyes, Kayla. Look at me. You’re safe, it was just a dream.”

Her hands were fisted on his chest, sweat and tears smearing her face and body. She screamed once more and he held her tighter, shaking her once.

“Shhh. You’re having a nightmare. Open your eyes, Kayla.”

He forced her to look at him, holding her, soothing her until she calmed.

“What did you dream?” he asked.

She shook her head. “I don’t remember,” she said.

He knew it was a lie.

“Stay with me,” she said.

He lay her back down and tucked himself around her, holding her fast. He watched her until her breathing was once again even and she slept. He didn’t let go of her, but didn’t close his eyes again that night.

Chapter Nine

He didn’t go into town the next day and he didn’t leave her alone for the next week-and-a-half. Kayla was grateful, finding herself more rattled from the dream than she should be. It was just too real, too terrifying. The thought of Elijah dead scared her like nothing in her life ever had, and she hadn’t even begun to deal with the other part of the nightmare.