Feral Craving

by D. C. Stone

  He lifted his hands, palms out. “It’s not that, Angel. Lord knows as you can see, it’s not that.” Her hand snapped out, settled over his groin, and he stiffened, immediately reaching down to grasp her hand. “I can’t be what you need, Mackenzie,” he bit out. Bari took a step back, but Mackenzie moved forward.

  He frowned.

  He stepped back once more, his back slapping against the door, but she advanced on him. He jumped as her palm landed on his chest, searing him.

  “Stop, Angel.” Jesus … he was twenty-eight years old, had fought in numerous wars, killed more people than he could count and yet, she, this female opened up more things inside of him, seemed to get right underneath his skin.

  She did stop—of course she had to. There was nowhere else for her to go, unless of course, she crawled up his body and wrapped her limbs around him. He held back a moan as that visual popped into his head. Her naked, full breasts rubbing against his chest, her legs wrapped around his waist as she bounced up and down on his cock. Shit…

  “Get out of here, Angel.”

  Her fingers threaded through the hair at his nape and pulled. He fought for all of two seconds before he went to her. She took what she wanted, ravished his lips, and curled her tongue along his. Her body emitted heat, scorching lava, a want his body didn’t deny.

  Fuck … everything inside of him screamed no. She needed love, someone gentle, someone who gave his all to her. Holy hell, he already hated that he had taken her on at the lake; she really didn’t know what she had gotten herself tangled up in with him. He couldn’t give her cuddling, sweet words, or anything like that. She was playing a game right now, and he couldn’t do it. He pulled his mouth from hers and turned his head, his hands coming down to settle her hips.

  “Christ, Mac.”

  Her scent assailed him, her arousal shooting straight to his cock. It pulsed beneath his jeans. She was so intoxicating…

  “Stop, Angel.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re playing with fire. Because I could hurt you!” Her eyes went dark, smoky, and lustful. Holy hell, it was so tempting to take. He almost did—almost—but before she could respond, he untangled her limbs from his body and set her feet on the floor, picking up her shirt and putting her to rights himself. Damn, he wished for control because covering her sweet body was a damn crying shame. God, he wanted her … bad. The beast inside of him clawed painfully, demanding he take Mackenzie. It scared the absolute shit out of him. She was in danger, and that was all he knew.

  With a grunt of pain, Bari opened the door, taking his grip on her shoulders and setting her outside. The claws grew sharper, and his teeth gnashed together.

  “Go to your room, Angel.” The words choked out between clenched teeth. He immediately shut the door. A red haze took over his vision, and he tossed the dead bolt, not trusting himself to stay inside.

  Coward.

  Yeah, but something was forcing itself out, and he swore he’d protect her. Until he understood just what the fuck it was, he had to stay away from Mackenzie. He would have to deal.

  ****

  “It’s coming.”

  Tyler nodded at Tony and turned to study Bari coming down the hall. An air of menace, pain, radiated from the changing Eurydice.

  “Yes, Tony. I think it’s time.”

  Tony pushed off from the couch. “I’ll go get Mike.”

  He didn’t acknowledge Tony, but continued to study Bari and hoped like hell his change would bring the male out on the right side.

  Too much evil, too much hesitation and Bari would be lost to them all forever.

  Chapter Thirty

  They appeared down in the darkest streets of New York City, and immediately a barrage of activity slammed into Bari. The hustle and bustle of the night did nothing to bring peace inside of him or calm his mood, and he felt like things were about to get worse. He seethed with an anger at both what was going on inside of him as well as the way he had deliberately treated Mackenzie earlier. Refusing her affection after she gave him so much was like a knife to the gut, slashing the long length up his torso until it stabbed at his heart. Fuck! He cursed the light overhead, the glare of the city. He preferred the dark, wondered if he should leave, and wanted to run away. The dark, so much like his mood, and whatever was inside of him craved red. Anything red, they didn’t give a shit, he just wanted something red.

  Bari glanced over his shoulder as Tyler, Tony, and Mike stepped up behind him. Each of them held a cautious look on his face, watching him as if he were a ticking time bomb about to explode. He felt that way, his skin itching, wanting to be ripped free. The demand for red pulsed like a beacon in his mind, a light guiding the way through dark, an answer to his every question.

  He walked down the alley, the light overhead bothering his eyes, and with a single thought, the glass shattered. It should have surprised him, but it didn’t. He couldn’t see past the red. It gathered deep inside, the need for the kill, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. It should scare the shit out of him, but turning down what was demanded would be much like a drowning man turning away a life raft.

  As he walked, his boots hit the ground, the steps booming off the surrounding brick buildings. The boom, a dreadful sound, reminded him that he seemed to be traveling through life’s containment, passing through a long chamber of choices, searching for completion, a signal, anything to tell him just what in the hell was going on.

  Cutting down another alley, the beast inside lifted its head and roared. At the end of the alley his sharp eyes picked up the fist slashing through the air, pounding relentlessly into a young female. A female lay on the ground, her body limp and bloody, blonde hair soaked with red, her body barely covered by a smattering of clothing. The tight mini dress spoke of her profession, but the beast focused on the uncontrollable violence the male whipped out. The pugnacious urge built inside of him.

  The man, standing at about six foot one, holding a good hundred pounds on the woman, lashed out. He wore a dark suit, his white sleeves rolled up and shirt untucked. A splash of red coated the front of that pristine white. Bari tore his gaze from the male’s shirt to his face, as the gathering of power surged inside of him, calling out for the evil. The assailant held a sadistic look on his face, almost joyful, and a stench of maliciousness coated the air around them. The building pressure inside burst and without breaking his stride, Bari walked up to the male and let his left fist fly. It shot through the air, connected with the male’s jaw. The audible crack sang through the air, cut sharply over the sounds of the city passing by. The goon went sprawling backwards, slamming down on the pavement.

  Bari stalked, loomed over the male and leaned down, now using his left fist to grip the male by his shirt. As if the whole scene from earlier reversed, now it was the male sprawled on the ground, another looming over him. Bari pounded into his face with his right hand over and over again. Sickening sounds came from each of the blows.

  He felt the male’s nose break beneath his blows. He saw blood spurt from his face, heard teeth being knocked out but still didn’t stop. His anger needed to bleed, needed to be released on this man, needed to be used. The beast inside shouted in triumph as he stood over the male, and Bari’s entire body shook with a visible rage.

  The anger built with each heaving breath and as it pitched, he pulled a knife from his belt and plunged it into the male’s chest. The knife went through the skin like smooth metal slicing through butter. As soon as it hit the hilt, he released the male and staggered back, astonished, his hands clutching his chest with what felt like a phantom wound.

  The pain started at the same place he stabbed the male, grew hotter and sharper each passing second. It oozed, spread through his veins, slowly taking control. Sounds muted around him, and his vision flickered back and forth. Black and white, red, his sight mixing in colors until they merged, intermingling. He looked down at his arms and designs appeared, the markings punching out as if they were going to tear from his skin
.

  He stared and an anguished cry poured from his mouth. Blue in color, matching his eyes, raised itself to work in beautiful designs but pulsed in pain. His head snapped back, an urge building deep in his chest. A deep roar built, rose to crescendo before he felt the audible “pop” as his body shifted.

  The demon shouted in triumph, looked through new eyes and pulled his body into a state of euphoria. The man sat inside; painfully aware of everything, of what he had become. Astute images filled his vision, his eyes passing over his brothers to the male and female at his feet. Their souls sat inside their bodies, hovering and lit colors like a beacon to what his demon saw. A pulse, a sign, a bright light pulled at him. The demon sank to his knees as breath died out from the attacker. His lungs gave an inarticulate answer. The demon groaned in pain as the male’s heartbeat ceased, his own fluttering under the same tune. An answering roar, almost sensual, and very deadly as the answering pull drew them in. He caught his bulk when his weight settled on his palms, his body hovering above the male. The demon drew in a breath, focused on the evil. The crackle of energy split, broke free of the body as the male’s soul was swept up and contained, then taken into his body. The pain was so intense, the relief so great that the roar verged on the lines of erotic.

  He must have sat like that for hours. His legs refused to move, and his mind remained unable to process. He curled within himself as the designs settled under his skin, and his vision jumped. Bari coughed as he lay on the wet city floor as nude as the day he had been birthed. His clothing scattered in shreds around him. The beast had never asked or required so much nor had the man ever brought death to one without it being an official order. What he just committed was murder, and the shock of it hit him hard. He swallowed, the action forced, and turned toward the woman stirring on the ground.

  Bari’s eyes met hers, watched as they widened, saw the injuries marring her once beautiful face. Her eyes were practically swollen shut, black and blue, deep gashes covering her features. Her gaze lingered on the male before turning back to his. Fear, terror, and gratitude shone through her eyes. She stood on shaky legs and crossed to him. He was still on his knees and didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t form a coherent thought. Instead, he dropped his head between his shoulders. He didn’t know what to think, didn’t want to be judged, and fear rose sharp and fast.

  It must have only been seconds, but seemed like hours before he felt a shaky hand come to rest on his head.

  “Thank you.”

  Bari’s chest heaved with a sob as her gratitude washed over him. She shouldn’t be thanking him. He couldn’t help what he was becoming and didn’t know two shits about what he was. He felt every bit of evil as he thought his father to be, her touch a gentle reminder of what he did.

  As he lifted his face sometime later, the female was nowhere in sight. His brothers, yes his brothers, stood leaning against a wall, watching him. He met each of their eyes, saw the ties of what he had turned into, reflecting. In their eyes he saw no shame, no disgust. Instead there was acceptance, pride, a strong sense of duty in each one of their gazes.

  Bari looked over at the male he killed. Motionless, the body lay like a sack of potatoes. Bari rose and focused on home, needed to get away, didn’t understand any of this, and felt unworthy. His body prickled with a sense of movement. As he appeared back in his yard, he walked up the steps of the deck and passed an appearing Tyler. Bari, ignoring him, pushed past the rest of his team and walked in the house.

  His body was on autopilot and as he passed Mackenzie’s room, he paused, his hand itching to knock on the door. It was an undeniable urge to walk into her room, to climb into bed with her and pull her against him, to feel her warm body. He wanted to take peace in the only place he knew. The urge was so damn strong it physically hurt him to deny it. He almost gave in, almost knocked, but forced himself to pad down the hall and entered his room, company to his own sins and regrets.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  The roar of the bike settled between his legs, a vibration moving along the length of him, making it as if he and the bike were one. Bari needed to be alone, wanted to be in his own place where his mind could have peace, where he was far from Mackenzie. He missed the shit out of that female, but fuck; he wasn’t what she needed. He believed he had already tainted her. He needed to get his head on straight before dealing with her again, needed to get whatever lived inside of him under control. The beast acted almost like his most vicious enemy, yet at the same time was the perfect friend. Bari pulled up to his house, his headlight flashing along the length of it. Bari stepped inside, ignoring the feeling of eyes on his back as Tyler, Mike, and Tony all bore their gazes at him from the couch. Distantly, he heard voices, the television, and shook his head, wondering when in the hell his hard-ass team had fallen for Prison Wives. For fuck’s sake!

  Bari moved up the stairs two at a time and felt Mackenzie’s presence before her voice penetrated the silence. Mackenzie sat on the floor in his room, his open chest sitting at her feet. His eyes roamed over the length of her before resting on her face and the uplifted, questioning eyebrow.

  Instantly his inner demon, the beast, lifted its head and roared, clawed at him internally in response. Bari gritted his teeth and met her eyes, running his fingers through his hair in aggravation. He shut the door with a resounding click.

  “What are you doing, Angel? Shouldn’t you be working?”

  “I’m off today, but see, you wouldn’t know that, would you? I had to take the day off. There was no way I could work today. But it’s good to see you too.”

  His mood turned darker at her words. What happened? He opened his mouth, but she stood and walked over to him, then wrapped her slight arms around his bulk. The warmth of her body invaded him and his entire body went rigid with shock at the response both he and the beast inside had to her. She seemed to tame his beast as if it were a purring kitten. He stood, still as a statue, and fought the urge to drop his head and breathe her in. Instead, he took a deep breath, and prepared to step back. It had been a mistake. Her sweet scent hit his scenes. His body hardened, and his cock jumped. Tilting his head back, he groaned and reached up, setting both of his palms on her shoulders, and forced himself back. The beast raised its head and roared in retribution, wanting to claw its way out. The feel of it all caused panic to rise, sharp and fast.

  “Mac … you need to go.” His voice was rough, shaky.

  She shook her head, rubbing at her temples. “I’m so fucking sick of this, Bari!”

  Bari turned toward her, this stubborn female who refused to leave his side. He clenched his fists at his sides, his body hard and aching. He wanted to lay his spent self between her sweet legs and find the heat he craved. The sight of her sitting on his floor, in his home, seemed as though it was meant to be. She fit the picture perfectly. The thought tossed his mind on a bender of epic portions and instead of listening to reason, he crossed the room in long, quick strides and bent down, one hand wrapping around the nape of her neck. He took a moment to fall inside of her beautiful green gaze before he wrapped his other arm under her legs and lifted. He couldn’t deny himself but he had to, his control so close to breaking. He’d give his own life before he ever—ever—hurt Mackenzie.

  Bari shifted her in his arms and tossed open the door before he none-too-gently set her down, took a step back and gripped the frame.

  “Get out of here, Angel.” He breathed deep, the cords of his neck straining under the onslaught of having her so damn close to him, his control snapping. “Now.”

  Fury welled in her eyes along with anger and pain. “You know, Bari, I understand you are trying to help me. I completely get it. I even understand you are trying to keep Byron and me safe, but I won’t allow either of us to be used. You, Bari, you! You know me better than this. You know us better than this. You walked out of my life, leaving me alone to have your child nine damn years ago without a word. You took something from me, and while you may have left me with the most precious g
ift—our child—you left me empty and hollow. I won’t allow it anymore! It’s … ridiculous!” She held up a picture in her hand. His eyes widened. What had she been doing? How did she find that? “And this! Explain this, Bari. Explain why you have a picture of a dead woman under your bed!”

  His control snapped and while panic assailed him, the very element of needing to protect her punched him in the gut. The beast roared in agony, a turbulence of emotions, let him know who was in charge. A red haze fell over his vision. The air shifted, and Bari was smacked down in a deep hole within himself as if the beast flipped a switch. Bari battled with it, fought and struggled, his body shaking under the force. A deep voice rumbled out, one which sounded nothing like him.

  “Sweetcheeks … you’ve been naughty…”

  “I need to understand.” She took a step toward him. “I deserve to know.” Another step. “We deserve more.”

  Like a beast stalking its prey, Bari intermixed with the demon, the two of them wrapping around each other. His power gathered to a new level. It was a high so out of normal proportions, accompanied by fear of the unknown. Mackenzie walked closer, and he watched her like a lion ready to pounce. There were secrets of his past, his whole life in that box. He may have opened up to her about it, had she asked. Yet now his entire body trembled with a rage so hot, the lack of respect she seemed to have for his privacy so high that the boiling pot of his control started to shake on its burner. Bari snapped his hand out and grabbed her beneath her jaw, lifting her body to his as he stepped forward. They crossed the room, her on her tippy toes, his entire being shaking. She hit a wall and blinked, then cringed as her face filled with wariness. Bari tried to fight, recognized he would never hurt her but not trusting himself with so much of the beast intermingled. A low growl shook his chest, and as he let it slip loose, it grew louder as his fist flew through the air and hit the wall. His head dropped down to rest next to hers. While he had her caged, he felt as if it was he, the beast who was trapped.