Beauty's Beast

by Ann Cory

  “Can I read it?”

  “Not a chance. It’s private.”

  “You women and your journals.”

  When they were back on the road, the tension eased from her shoulders a little. It felt right to have him next to her. Even as they rode in silence, it was enough to have him there.

  “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”

  “Shoot.”

  “When you said you were a scientific experiment gone wrong, what part went wrong? That you became a beast, or that you were supposed to become something else? Unless you don’t want to talk about it.”

  “It’s fine. I don’t want to keep anymore secrets from you.”

  She smiled inwardly.

  “Initially I agreed to be part of an experiment for what I thought was stem cell research. My brother could’ve benefited, and I wanted to learn more. So there I was, hooked up to machines and the nurse gave me a sedative. Because I’m immune to most sedatives, it didn’t work at first. I told them I’d need more, and they complied. After a few minutes, I closed my eyes and waited to drift off, but didn’t notice any changes other than some pressure on my eyelids and mouth. I guess they figured I was out, because I heard the doctor order a series of injections that I’d never heard before.”

  He paused and shifted in his seat.

  “I tried to move my lips, even open my eyes, but I couldn’t,” he explained. “They’d taped them both closed. My body was paralyzed but I was awake and at their mercy. I heard more people enter the room and they were talking about creating a killing machine they could control. To kill people who stood in their way and questioned their tactics. They intended to have me tear these people to pieces, and well, to get rid of all traces of their existence.”

  She shuddered. “Oh god.”

  “They shot me full of drugs,” he continued, his voice shaky. “Hell, I don’t even know what any of it was. I stopped counting how many times they stuck me with a needle after I got to fifty. I did everything I could to force myself to speak or move, but nothing worked.”

  “That must have been terrifying.”

  “I’m sorry I ever volunteered. I had good intentions and they didn’t. They used me.”

  Mercedes wiped away a tear. It hurt her to know he’d been through such a horrific ordeal. Against his will. She took a deep breath and asked the one question she almost hated to ask. “Did you ever kill anyone?”

  “No.”

  She sighed with relief.

  “That’s the thing,” he said. “They would order me to do something and I didn’t go through with it. They had chains and leashes around me to keep me from taking off, but they couldn’t stop my mind from working. When I didn’t comply with their demands, they pumped me full of more crap. All they really succeeded in doing was making me stronger, and building my immunity. I don’t remember how it happened, but I escaped. I’ve been on the run ever since. Five long years of never staying in one place.”

  She looked at him, amazed at his bravery. “What do you think happened? Why do you think they couldn’t make you do their bidding?”

  Nox raised his fist and stuck out his thumb. “For one, I don’t believe they counted on my mind to be stronger than the medication. And for another, I don’t believe they knew what the hell they were doing. More than likely the injections worked on monkeys, but I’m certain Dr. Bodwell himself didn’t count on a strong healthy male who had the ability to keep control of his thoughts.”

  Mercedes lost control of the car. She jammed on the brakes and skidded to a stop at the side of the road.

  She whipped her head Nox’s direction, ignoring the death grip he had on the door handle.

  “What did you say the doctor’s name was?”

  “Bodwell. Doctor Stephen Bodwell.”

  Her lungs tightened. She flung off her seatbelt and pulled her journal out from under the seat. In big bold letters on the very first page was the same name. “Shit.”

  “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you know him.”

  “Oh, I know him all right.” Her pulse raced. “And I know exactly where you want me to take you. His lab in the mountain.”

  Nox knitted his brows. “How do you know him?”

  “I volunteered there, too. I needed money for college tuition and it looked like a quick fix.”

  His jaw clenched. “Was it for the same experiment?”

  “No. It was different.” Mercedes couldn’t believe she remembered any of it. Around Nox her mind seemed to work better. “It had to do with sensory deprivation and studying the body’s reactions and impulses. I don’t know what all they did to me in there, but I’ve never been the same since.”

  “How do you mean?” Anger resounded from his voice.

  “I’d go to work, pay bills, you know, go through the motions of life. And I’d do okay for a while and then I’d wake up one morning lost. My most recent memories would be gone. Blank. My house was foreign to me, filled with things I didn’t recognize. Closets full of clothes and shoes that didn’t look familiar. And I’d wonder about the woman who lived there. Pictures hung on the walls of complete strangers, but I had to have known them because I was in some of them. People claimed to know me and I didn’t know them or their names. After I’d settle into a routine that I could handle, it would happen again and I had to start all over again.”

  “Dammit. How did you get away?”

  “Well, that’s just it. I don’t know how long he kept me there. It could’ve been days, hours, minutes, I don’t know. He said the tests were inconclusive, thanked me for my time, handed me a check, and I left.”

  “I hope he didn’t physically hurt you.”

  “I don’t think so. Other than memory loss and little quirks that often I’m not aware of, I’ve been getting by. Until you. Since we met, I’ve had the strangest impulses. Mostly sexual, but emotional too. I can barely control myself when you’re next to me.”

  She could see him fight a smile.

  “Really? How so?”

  “Around you my senses are on fire. Your scent is strong and it awakens every part of me.”

  That time he didn’t fight the smile. “I shouldn’t be flattered.”

  Mercedes folded her arms. “Let me guess. You are.”

  “A little. I want you to know that I support you acting on those impulses.”

  “I’m sure you do.”

  His impish smile faded. “But after I told you my secret, I’d say that’s totally out of the question.”

  “Why?”

  “Because of what I become.”

  “It isn’t like you asked to become a beast.”

  He smirked. “You're an amazing woman.”

  “You mentioned that already. Keep it up and I might start believing it.” She unfastened her seatbelt and turned her body so she faced him. “So you really want me to act on my impulses?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  She leaned in only to be met with his hand in her face. “Uh, but, not here.”

  He was going to refuse? “Why the hell not?”

  “We’re on the side of the road.”

  “You didn’t care if anyone might have seen us last night.”

  “It was dark. It’s still daylight out.”

  Mercedes shook her head. The guy was unbelievable. “Geez, shy much? We can wait until dark if that makes you feel more secure.”

  “I don’t think I’ve been called shy once in my whole life. And I was more concerned for you.”

  She chuckled and went to turn the ignition. “Fine, fine. We’ll do it your way. In the dark. Later.”

  “Not so fast.”

  “But you said…”

  “I can act on my impulses too.”

  Well she wished he’d hurry up. Her panties were soaked.

  Nox leaned in and trailed his lips along her the rise of her cheek, down her neck, and up to her ear. “I don’t know what kind of magic you work beautiful, but you’ve got my full attention.”

  His lips brushed th
e side of her face and captured hers with a passion she returned. Mouth parted, she invited the deep strokes of his tongue. His fingers stayed busy tracing her thighs and slipping between her legs. He pulled back a second and sucked in his breath.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re so fucking wet.”

  She smiled and parted her legs wider. “I blame you.”

  “Damn beautiful, you turn me on.” His fingers slipped between her legs again. Mercedes quivered at the way he stretched her flesh.

  “Oh, god,” she cried as he penetrated her with four fingers, sending sparks of arousal to all her nerve endings.

  Nox pumped his fingers inside her soaked pussy. The temptress had snared his senses again and made his cock impossibly hard. He suckled the slope of her neck while he switched between fast and slow thrusts, his fingers sticky sweet. She squirmed in the seat, gripping the steering wheel. Her intoxicating scent spiraled up and around him. All spice and wildfire. It stirred a ravenous craving.

  “I’ve got to taste you, beautiful.”

  He bent forward and buried his face between her thighs.

  His tongue captured her clit and toggled it until her legs shook around his head. She brought her hand down and spread her sex wider for him. He didn’t waste time. His hunger point too far gone to turn back now.

  Like a starved animal, he suckled her clit and quenched his thirst from her liquid heat. Her hips grinded against his mouth. Breathy whispers drifted from her perfect lips. He loved her taste. The softness of her pussy. He’d never tire of exploring all her sensuous places.

  An impatient yearning to thrust his cock inside her grew within him, but he staved it off. If he didn’t control his urges, he’d ruin his favorite part—watching her in the throes of an orgasm.

  He returned his focus to her pink slit, entranced by all its secrets and textures. He flicked his tongue against her clit and tasted her with a slow, deliberate lick. She arched her back and mewled like a kitten. Again, he tasted her, savoring her womanly musk and spice flavor on his palate. Her fingers that held her slit open were covered in her juices. He snaked out his tongue and licked at them, and then took them into his mouth while pumping his fingers inside her hot, moist pussy.

  His mind exploded at the sheer wetness of her. Somehow, he’d opened a floodgate and it stroked his ego. To know he could deliver such pleasures with his hands, tongue, lips and mouth. His tongue reunited with her swollen clit and teased it with fast, furious licks. Her fingers pulled and tangled in his hair.

  “No Nox,” she cried. “Put your cock inside me. Fill me. Please, I beg you.”

  He ignored her pleas. All he could think about was bringing her over the edge.

  His fingers pumped a little quicker while his mouth devoured her clit. He licked it, sucked it, toyed with it as her body thrashed wildly.

  The volume of her moans increased and elongated. He felt her legs tense and knew she’d come soon. His fingers delved inside her again, mouth at the ready to welcome her cream.

  “Don’t stop. Don’t. Stop. Yes…” Her winded words faded to a gasp. A final slow suckle of her clit let her break free and she came, coating his tongue and fingers with her pleasure. He watched, mesmerized by the way her body quaked. How she rode each wave like her body was paper in the wind. She sobbed, then moaned, and then filled the air with joyous laughter.

  Nox rose and situated himself in his seat.

  “Come over here. I want to feel you on top of me.”

  Mercedes climbed over and straddled him. To give herself more room she reached down along the side of his seat and pushed the lever so he reclined.

  She moved back over him and shuddered. The rough denim material against her inflamed clit had her ready to claw his shirt away. Instead, she tore at the buttons of her own shirt and smoothed her hands along her breasts. Her gaze traveled along the muscles of his forearms, his broad chest, his mouthwatering physique.

  She made quick work of the buttons and zipper of his jeans. Too much material in the way of what she craved. She slid her hand inside the slit of his boxers and whimpered at the thick flesh against her palm.

  Before he could speak, she captured his mouth with hers. Mercedes slipped her impatient tongue between his lips to savor his spiciness and swallowed down his fervent breath.

  He pulled his lips back and leaned into her ear. “I want to be inside you.”

  That was exactly what she wanted.

  With a nod, she took hold of his cock and pressed it to her sex. In one quick move, she went down on him.

  When she took him all in, she sighed and rocked her hips, slow at first and then faster.

  Pinpricks of desire raced throughout her body, traveling at the speed of light.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  His mouth curved into a seductive smile. “You’re beautiful. Breathtaking.”

  She gazed into his lustful eyes. In their reflection, she felt beautiful.

  Nox rested his work-rough hands at her waist and brought her into him. Deeper and faster. They moved as one. The brink was within her grasp. Close, so very close.

  “Come for me,” he groaned.

  “Soon,” she whimpered.

  He trailed one hand to her clit and pressed his thumb firm against it. With each undulation, he circled the swollen nub. At the slightest stir of an orgasm, Mercedes smiled.

  She needed this. Her sweet moment of escape.

  “Come with me,” she gasped.

  Mercedes struggled to draw him in deeper, angled just so to hit her pleasure point. With a soft mewl she found the magic button that spilled her juices and sent her into a temporary bliss.

  She reveled in the freedom of the orgasm as Nox pumped his hips swiftly and howled his own battle cry of satisfaction.

  He rested his hands on either side of her face and brought her to his mouth. The kiss, sensual and hot, made her spasm. She moved her lips along his cheek and left a trail of kisses.

  “I guess we should get back on the road,” she whispered into his ear.

  “Why don’t you just stay here a little longer?”

  “But you need to be somewhere.”

  “Here is good, too.”

  She nestled into his chest and breathed him in.

  “You’ve turned my whole world upside down,” he murmured. “And I don’t regret a second of it. I don’t ever want to let you go.”

  There was that possessiveness again. It excited her in a dangerous way. Made her feel wanted and important. She licked her lips and tried to ignore how much he made her body burn for him.

  “I’d say the feeling’s mutual.”

  He tilted her chin to him with his thumb. “Yeah? You want to be my woman?”

  “More than anything.”

  His eyes trained on her with a protectiveness she longed for.

  “But, in order for us to be together, you have to take care of something.”

  Mercedes unhooked herself from his lap and situated herself back in the driver’s seat.

  “Yes, I do.”

  He put his seat back upright and stroked his finger along her arm. “I look forward to a time when you fall asleep in my arms.”

  “Believe me, I want that too.” She toyed with fray ends of the steering wheel cover. Oh yes, she wanted to know what that was like.

  Mercedes started up the engine and signaled back out onto the road.

  They drove for a while, stopping once for food and drinks to stay awake. If she had her way, she’d distract him long enough to get on a different road and drive for weeks. She tried to coax him into going to sleep, knowing he hadn’t gotten any at the motel, but he refused to close his eyes.

  “Not a chance,” he replied after her third attempt. “Do you know what I’m going to do?”

  “Try to get your freedom back,” she said.

  “Yes. And the way I see it, the only way to do that is to kill Dr. Bodwell. It’s hard to sleep when I’ve got that plan hatching in my head.”

  “Kil
l?” The harsh words from him made her flinch.

  “You think I’m in the wrong, that I’m being unjust? He took away my life, and ruined the lives of others. And who knows what else he’s done. Do you think he should be slapped on the wrist and sent on his way?”

  She regretted saying anything. “Okay, when you put it in those words it changes things.”

  “He’s a monster, but he’s also creating monsters. He’s doing inhumane things to unsuspecting people.” His voice rose and she could see the tips of his ears turn red. “Do you like knowing that you were toyed with, because I sure as hell don’t.”

  Mercedes didn’t know what to think about it. In some ways she likened it to someone coming into her room while she was asleep and stealing something, but what they stole she didn’t know. Sure, it bothered her and made her uneasy, but in the end, she didn’t know what went missing.

  “With the memory loss I forget to stay mad. Does it freak me out to know someone messed with my head? Of course. I hate having to read about my life in a book. I hate looking into a mirror and seeing a stranger. But I don’t know to what extent he messed with me. Hell, I wouldn’t have remembered his name if I hadn’t written it down in my journal.”

  “Is that how you remembered me this morning?” His voice softened. “Did you write about me in your journal?”

  Her face flushed. “Yes I wrote about you, but I remembered you anyway. The journal entry just confirmed that you were real and not a fantasy.”

  “I’d like to read what you wrote sometime.”

  “I told you. It’s private.”

  “We’ll see about that.” He flashed a sexy smirk that made her laugh.

  “You know very well I’m having a difficult enough time keeping my hands to myself. When you’re this close to me in a small space my entire body is on fire.”

  “So, you’re saying that you want me bad.”

  “You’re impossible.”

  She had a feeling he was grinning like a fool, but refused to acknowledge it. Looking at him would only make it worse.

  “Hey, I don’t want to hold you back,” he teased. “I can take the wheel and you can do whatever you’d like to me.”

  “Then we’ll never get there. And you need to save your strength for the big showdown.”