by Eve Langlais
More than a few times he’d given in to his beast, that monster that lived inside him. The elation proved to be addictive, as was the power and sense of invincibility. But it came at a cost to his humanity.
“I am working on solutions that curtail some of the treatment’s more volatile aspects. We’re very close to a cure for leukemia.”
“Which you’ll sell to a drug company for a tidy amount.”
“We are no worse than others.”
“Does that really help you sleep at night?” was Luke’s sarcastic retort.
“I sleep like a man who is next to God.”
The worst part? Chimera truly believed it.
“You say you’re like other companies.” Luke barked a laugh. “Do other companies keep people chained in their basement?”
“We let you walk above ground once upon a time. You could do so again.”
“If I behave and swallow the company bullshit. Fuck you.” He closed his eyes, as if pretending to sleep would send Chimera away. The man wouldn’t be in a hurry to go. He probably sat in a comfortable chair in his office, watching on one of his many screens. He watched everything. No one so much as farted without him knowing how long and how smelly.
Chimera wasn’t done taunting. “A shame you’re so stubborn. A free man would be able to pursue the lovely Margaret.”
“Not interested.”
“Your noticeable erections were due to what, then?”
“Urge to pee.”
“You were voided during the night when we knocked you out.” A reminder that burned. To be so helpless someone shoved a catheter in him and drained him. Then again that was preferable to wearing a bag and having Flo change him.
“Then maybe it was the breeze from the vents blowing the right way,” Luke suggested.
“Good to hear you’re not interested after all. Then you’ll have no issue with me offering her to another.”
Anger burned quick and hit within. “She’s not a whore to be passed around.”
“No, but she does have excellent birthing hips. Did you know that a uterus is still the one thing we cannot recreate?”
The nonchalance of the statement sent a chill. “You are one sick fuck.”
“Not sick anymore. I’ve never felt better as a matter of fact.”
Give the bastard one thing, he didn’t do to others what he wasn’t willing to do on himself. Chimera was his own first patient. What kind of psycho experimented on himself?
One with nothing to lose. Wasn’t that why Luke had said yes?
“Blah. Blah. Are you done patting yourself on the back? Because I really don’t care. Not about you, your precious treatments, or that nurse,” Luke snarled, doing his best to not rise to Chimera’s bait.
“You care. Which is why your request to remove Nurse Henley is so amusing. She stays.”
“I won’t eat for her.”
“That is your choice. But each day you refuse, we will slip fertility drugs into her food and drink. When she reaches an optimum point…” Chimera didn’t finish his sentence.
He didn’t have to.
“I will tell her about your sick fucking operation.”
“Then she’ll die.”
The remark, a chilling one, put an end to the conversation, leaving Luke with a choice when she returned.
Continue on his path to die and make her a victim.
Eat but ignore her charms.
Or the third option, the strange one that appealed to the more primal side of him?
Take the woman and run.
Far. Far. Away.
Chapter Seven
During her break, Margaret headed back to her room, noticing Becky’s door was only partially closed.
She gave it a light knock.
No reply.
Perhaps she was in the shower. Margaret entered her own room and dropped the plate with the fruit and cold cuts she’d grabbed for lunch on the desk. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with the overcast and rainy day outside. Nor was she in the mood to deal with people. Especially the guards who, with the absence of Becky, were chatting her up more than usual.
She’d had enough with pushy men today. Luke had pushed her to the limits of her patience that morning. Acting like a spoiled child. Complaining about his treatment.
Can I really blame him? The man is tied to a bed.
For his safety and that of others.
He didn’t seem that dangerous.
Until he smiled. Even a sarcastic smirk had the power to steal her breath.
She wondered if she’d gone too far again with him. Dr. Chimera seemed to approve of her firm approach. Still there was firm, and then there was taking advantage.
Abusing his nipple wasn’t in any nursing procedural manual. Anywhere else she’d be fired.
In her defense, she didn’t do it hard, despite his surprised yell, and it was for the greater good.
The man had to eat.
Apparently, he’d been refusing. Given what she knew about his diet, she’d studied him more closely this time. Seen a gauntness to his features, an unnatural leanness to his physique.
He appeared to be starving. How long since he’d eaten?
Why did he refuse? A hunger strike, he stated. A form of blackmail to force removal of the restraints. It obviously wasn’t working and made her wonder why they didn’t keep him hooked to a nutrient and hydration line. He might not thrive with them, but they’d keep his body fed.
Perhaps by forcing him to eat by mouth, they hoped to stimulate his will to live. Because he did have a rather pessimistic outlook.
How long had he been a patient?
She wished she could access the entire file. Dr. Chimera said he’d been injured in a war, which made him a soldier. A man scarred not only by bullets but possibly his experience. Knowing his history might help her understand the man in the present.
I don’t need to understand him to do my job.
She wasn’t here to make friends with him or to help his mental state. That wasn’t her specialty. Caring for him, that was the only thing she had to do.
It would help, though, if every time she looked at him, she didn’t remember the dream. If she didn’t flush with heat—and desire.
The immorality of lusting after him didn’t stop it. Even now, the reminder had her squirming, pressing her thighs tight together. She distracted herself by finishing her lunch, gathering her laundry, and setting her room to right.
Finally, she could delay no longer. Her next shift was about to begin. Exiting her room, she noted Becky’s door shut and might have passed by but for the thumping sound.
She knocked. The motion inside ceased.
“Becky?” She lightly tapped again. Worried, given how out of character this all seemed.
“Go away,” were the muffled words.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. Just healing.”
“Healing from what?” was Margaret’s startled reply.
The door inched open, just a bit. Enough for her to see Becky’s left eye. “I had a problem with a patient. It’s all cool now.”
“What kind of problem?” She shoved at the door, and while Becky initially resisted, she stepped out of the way and Margaret walked in. Gasped.
“Your poor face.” Face, neck, and who knew how many bruises under her clothes. “What happened?”
“One of the coma patients woke up. He was a little erratic.”
“A little?” was her incredulous reply. “He beat the hell out of you.”
“Not his fault. He had no idea who I was. I’ll be okay.”
“I’m so sorry.” Margaret truly was. Had it been Luke? She almost feared asking. He was the only patient she knew in tethers for not being safe. Was this the incident that precipitated it?
“Don’t be sorry. This is a good thing. Dr. Chimera gave me a promotion. Said I was wasting my time on the wards. I start in his secret lab tomorrow as his personal assistant.”
The acrid jealousy might burn,
but Margaret held it in. She wouldn’t dwell on the unfairness of Becky getting such a promotion while she got stuck with the hot, angry guy. “That sounds amazing.”
“It is.” A faint smile.
The watch on her wrist vibrated with a five-minute warning. “Shoot I have to run. My shift is about to start.”
“Have fun.” Becky waved, and Margaret, anew, had to restrain herself from wincing at the mottled colors marring her friend’s complexion.
She walked quickly to the elevator, a bit miffed at Becky’s good luck, then feeling guilty. The poor girl had gotten beaten, and only a jealous cow would envy her good fortune as a result.
Rather than jump in the next open cab, Margaret paused and grabbed a few things from the buffet line, packing them quickly in a bag before heading to her shift with only a minute to spare.
The guard had changed since the morning. The man with dark skin and a bright smile— “Just call me Travis, ma’am” with a sexy drawl—didn’t take long to check her in. She entered room 602 to find Luke feigning sleep.
She felt certain of it, hence why she ignored him as she bustled around.
Kept banging and moving stuff behind him, where he couldn’t see. Purposely making noise. Humming. Heating the food she’d filched from the cafeteria until the aroma filled the room. She’d seen how bland the meal they’d provided for breakfast was. How did they expect to tempt him?
She’d brought a bowl of soup— thick and savory—along with a banana.
She had plans for that banana if he refused to cooperate. Evil plans that weren’t part of any rulebook, but then again, nothing about this clinic or situation was normal.
Since he’d yet to twitch or say a word, she moved to stand right behind his head, silently staring at him.
Waiting.
Waiting…
He opened his eyes and met her gaze. Sighed.
“You’re a pain in my ass, Flo.”
“Not yet, but I’m sure I could manage to find a thermometer.”
His lips twitched. “You’re not supposed to threaten me with rectal probes.”
“You’re not supposed to pretend I’m not here.”
“Thought I’d spare you a repeat of this morning.”
“And here I thought we were having fun,” she said as she clicked the button to bring him to a seated position.
“Do you always hurt the people you play with?”
“Only the cute ones.”
He blinked in surprise.
Margaret moved, forcing him to find her. He unerringly tracked her with his gaze.
“Buttering me up won’t make me eat,” he stated.
“Then don’t eat. I, on the other hand, didn’t finish my lunch, so if you don’t mind…” She grabbed the banana and chose to perch herself on the edge of his bed. She made sure her butt wiggled against his legs.
“Can’t find a chair?”
“I guess I could use the stool, but this is comfier.” She peeled the banana, revealing the pale-yellow fruit. Then she ate it.
She didn’t do anything obscene with the banana. Just parted her lips, tore off a chunk, and chewed with happy noises.
He watched her. His gaze fixated on her lips.
Halfway through, she offered it to him. “Want some?” Rather than wait or a reply, she pressed it against his lips.
For a moment, he held firm, and then he parted them. Bit a good inch off. Chewed. She brought it back to her mouth for a small nibble.
His lips parted. She fed him again.
And again, back and forth, their eyes trained on each other, and while nothing untoward happened, she understood she’d crossed some ethical line.
Worst part? She didn’t care. Something about Luke demanded more of her.
When the banana was finished, she tossed the peel and returned with the chunky loaded potato soup.
It smelled divine, the bacon and cheese flavoring the air. His nose twitched, but it was his rumbling stomach that betrayed him. She grinned as she sat down, balancing the bowl on her lap. She dipped the spoon and blew on it. Touched it to her lip to test the temperature. Blew on it again.
He opened his mouth.
She ate the first bite.
His eyes widened in surprise then crinkled in amusement. “You don’t play fair.”
“I didn’t realize fairness was involved in sharing my lunch. If you’re hungry, I can heat the nutritious meal in the fridge.”
A grimace pulled his features. “That’s just cruel.”
She laughed. “You’re right. It is. Here.” She filled another spoonful, blew on it, touched it with her upper lip to test the temperature before feeding it to him. He sucked it off the spoon.
The next bite, he shook his head. “Your turn.”
She quickly spilled it into her mouth and licked the spoon. His breath might have hitched.
Back and forth they made quick work of it, and before she knew it, the bowl was in the sink and she was washing her hands under cold water and wishing she could have a shower. A cold one.
Because, dammit, she’d only meant to cajole him into eating, not turn the event into some kind of foreplay.
Or was she imagining it, the heat simmering between them? She could easily check. A peek over her shoulder and she’d spot the bulge, if it was there, in the sheet.
Instead, she kept her gaze trained on him the entire time.
With his lunch done, she then found him a drink, the electrolyte beverage in the fridge sipped to the very bottom by her suddenly behaving patient.
She turned to taking his vitals and couldn’t help asking questions. “How long have you been a patient of Chimaeram?”
“What year is it?”
“Don’t you know?”
He shrugged. “Time moves oddly when you don’t have anything to measure it by.”
“Twenty twenty-five.”
“Wow. Shit.” His brow knit. “I’ve been here longer than I thought.”
“Which is?”
“Not something you should know. How long have you been here?”
“About a month.”
“I don’t suppose your contract is up soon?”
“Not for another five months. With an option to renew if it works out.”
“You should break the contract.”
Pausing to listen to his heart, she glanced at him. “Why would I break it?”
“Because.”
“Because is not an answer.”
“I can’t tell you why,” he said, blowing out a frustrated breath.
“But on the basis of your word, I’m supposed to just obey.” She laughed as she put away the stethoscope. “Yeah, you’ll have to do better than that.”
“This isn’t about obeying; it’s about keeping you safe.”
“From who? You? Would you really hurt me?” She held his gaze.
“No.” Spoken through gritted teeth. “But they will.”
“Who is this they?” She lifted the bottom of the blanket and ran her finger over the sole of his bare foot, watching his toes curl.
“Chimera, Sphinx, all of them. They see you as a tool they can use.”
“Of course, they’re using me.” She rolled her eyes. “They hired me. As a nurse.” She pointed to her cap.
“You’re in danger. And I lied before. You should worry about me. I’m dangerous, Flo.”
“There are guards all around. I hardly think I need to worry.”
He growled, the sound low and frustrated. Also, more rumbly and primal than she was used to hearing. “You’re not listening.”
“I am listening to your paranoid delusions. I’m just not taking them seriously. The clinic is here to heal you. Not hurt you or me. Or anyone else. Why just yesterday one of the coma patients woke up.
“Anyone die?”
She blinked at his sarcasm. “No.” The one syllable emerged slowly.
“But?” he prodded.
“Poor Becky, another nurse, got hurt pretty bad.”
�
��Another monster for the menagerie. Great.” Said in a dull monotone.
“You’re not a monster.”
“That’s because you haven’t seen all of me yet, Flo.”
“I’ve seen you naked,” she said, and for a minute flashed back to that moment in the dream. Flushed, and suddenly aroused, she glanced at her wristwatch. “Look at the time. Gotta go. See you in a bit.”
She moved quickly for the door, but still managed to hear him say, “I saw you naked, too.”
The words haunted her until the start of her next shift.
Chapter Eight
It didn’t take long after she left for Chimera to speak. “Well, well, would you look at that. He finally deigns to eat.”
“I like potato soup.”
“I would have said you enjoyed more the nurse serving it up. I must say I had an urge to have her feed me herself.”
Luke recognized the sudden anger as jealousy-based. What he didn’t understand was, why? The woman should have meant nothing. He cared about no one, not even himself, and yet he’d given in to Chimera’s threat.
“The deal was I eat, you leave her alone.”
“Was it? I don’t recall. And we really are in need of some healthy wombs. Did you know there’s a market for genetically perfected children?”
A low growl rumbled from his chest, and Luke strained at the straps. “Damn you, you promised.”
“I did.” Chimera’s voice lowered. “And I always keep my promises. You should know that by now.”
Luke did know.
After he’d signed the contract it didn’t take long for Chimera to have Luke moved to his brand-new lab in the mountains. The view was pretty, but Luke hadn’t come for the scenery.
Hope brought him. Actually, a helicopter did, but hope got his ass on that chopper.
The room assigned to Luke was small, only big enough for a bit of equipment and a bed. But if what the doctor promised came to pass, he wouldn’t be stuck in it for long.
“Why put your clinic in such a remote location?” he’d asked as Chimera bustled around, taking his vitals.
“How could I not? Look outside. See the beauty. Feel the tranquility.”