Chapter Nineteen
Beckett
Scarlett has a bad dream and wakes up attacking me.
I was asleep, sound asleep, and I am startled awake by claws on my face.
She is a strong little thing. Before I manage to wake her up, she clocks me in the eye and rips out several chunks of my skin.
My face feels like someone raked it with razors.
These have been some of the most harrowing days of my life.
I almost lost her. I put everyone in jeopardy by refusing to murder potentially millions of people; however, I almost lost the one person who is beginning to matter to me.
Losing Scarlett would also mean that the only other person I’ve fallen in love with in my life, little Rayne, would be raised without a mother, and somehow that seems more tragic.
“I’m sorry,” she says, crying.
I stare into those deep blue eyes, all glossy with tears, and my heart breaks again. “No, I'm sorry.” I kiss her forehead. “I’m the reason you were kidnapped.” She looks at me with unblinking eyes.
I have decided that there will be no secrets between us. I am going to tell her what we are up against. This is the only way I can make sure she remains safe. If she understands why we are in this position, I will have much more committed compliance.
“I've created a drug that boosts immunity and cell performance to the point that it can fight off most, if not all, invasive mutations, including cancer. With a little more development and specialization, this drug will be able to cure most diseases.” I pause for a moment, not wanting to overwhelm her.
“That’s amazing, Beckett,” she says sweetly.
“It is amazing, and I'm very proud of the science behind it.
It has been my life's ambition to create such a cure, and I am beyond thrilled that I had a breakthrough.
That being said, I am a part of an old institution.
My father was one of the founding members of the Christopher Street Society, which is a secret club of elite men.
Women are not allowed to join the ranks of this club; that is how outdated and misogynistic the CSS is.
I remain a member because I was born a member.
The only way to leave the membership is in a casket.
I'm very grateful, for now, that you and I had a daughter.
There's no fear of her having to join the society like I did when I was only five years old. I had to take a blood oath and watch as my own father cut my palm.” I turn my hand over to show her the faint white line that remains on my hand from the day I took my oath.
“My father made sure to cut deep. I wasn't allowed to get stitches, so the hand was bound and kept immobile to remind me, a mere kindergartner, of the oath and commitment I had made for life.”
“I’m so sorry,” she breathes.
“Rayne will never experience something as traumatic as that. I plan to keep her away from all of this, and I wanted you away from it as well. Unfortunately, you are already involved. You see, my father warned me not to bring a woman or a man into my life—especially not a husband or a wife. He always regretted that he married my mother. She was a young socialite, and CSS allowed it because they thought that a wife and child might be good for his reputation as he was starting to be known as a sociopath. But he was a ruthless monster, and neither his wife nor his child were able to change that.”
“There’s no way to move away, off of their radar?” She is so sweetly naive.
“There’s nowhere in the world they won't find us. So when one of the more senior members asked me to create a weaponized version of my drug, I finally put my foot down for the first time. CSS has never asked me to do anything but heal horrible people; this goes above and beyond that. This would be mass murder, and I said no. Taking you was their attempt to persuade me to change my mind.”
“That’s horrible,” she says softly and touches the marks on my skin. “And I’m horrible too. I’m so sorry I did this to you.”
“It’s not your fault; you were having a bad dream and thought I was your kidnapper.”
“Will you make love to me?” she asks, looking nervous, as if I’d ever say ‘no.’
“Are you sure you feel up to it?” She’s been through so much.
“I don't feel anything. That's the problem. I think if you make love to me I might start to have feelings again.” She is searching so hard to find her peace through this nightmare.
I roll over and bring her into my arms.
“Your mind is guarding you from memories and fears, but I’m protecting you too, and I want nothing more than your happiness.
I have to have my snarky dancer throwing barbs at me.
Rayne needs her sweet mother back.” I kiss her lips.
“Lord knows Mia is missing her best friend, who is more like a sister to her than I am a brother. We need you, Scarlett, so if having sex with me will bring you back, I’m here.
I’m always here.” I want her to feel safe and needed.
“For five years,” she says with such a sad expression.
“For as long as you’re here.” That contract we forced her to sign was Griffin’s suggestion to cover my ass. Now I wish I’d left it hanging.
I slide the strap of her gown down her shoulder, and her little tit pops out, peaked and perky.
I have to taste it. I slip the little nipple into my mouth and nibble at her sensitive skin.
I don't want to draw out her milk, so I just tease it in order to arouse her.
I tug down the other strap and do the same to her other nipple as her legs bracket mine.
“Fuck me,” she rasps, almost desperate.
“I will, but first,” I dip my finger into her. “I want to play, get you all hot and riled up.”
I kiss my way down her body to her belly button, where I swirl my tongue around it. She tastes like jasmine soap and clean skin. As I kiss my way down further between her legs, I pull off her panties and find her wet and ready. She shivers as soon as my tongue enters her body.
I suck at her clit and chew the skin around her labia, igniting her with prickles and tiny blasts of pain. I find a little agony always reminds me that I am alive.
She gasps and moans as her hands fly into my hair, pulling the follicles from the root. “Fuck me,” she demands, and I realize that she is beyond foreplay and really wants to feel me in order to feel alive.
“Yes, ma’am,” I tease, but she isn’t playing with me. She is clinging to life.
“Now, please.”
I dip out of my sleep pants and am hard as a rock and ready to enter her, but before I do, I place myself between her legs, nudging the tip of my cock at her swollen center.
I am not teasing her; I am savoring the moment before I enter her.
I don't want to just rut her like an animal.
She needs to know that I am there, that I am with her, and that I want her to feel connected.
I bring her face to mine, I look into those deep blue eyes, and I kiss her soft sweet lips.
“You’re mine,” I say. “And unless you beg me, I’m not going to let you go.
Ever. We can make love, fuck, or play every night for the rest of our lives, and if you want more babies, we’ll have them.
I am investing in you, Scarlett Myers. I’m letting my guard down and I’m allowing you in.
Do you understand?” I kiss her again as tears roll down her cheeks, and I slowly enter her body.
“Why?” Her arms band around my back.
“Because you deserve to be loved, and so I’m going to try and love you. I’m an empty vessel, but you fill me. So let’s hope I can do this.” I move gently inside of her.
“Then fuck this pussy like you own it,” she says with the tiniest smile, and finally, I see the light flicker inside of her again.
After being given the thumbs up, I curl my arms around her, kiss her chin, and push deeper inside. She feels incredible squeezing my cock with that exquisite pussy. She has the most muscular body that just grabs my cock and holds onto it.
It doesn't take long before I am thrusting and pumping. I want to fuck her into next week. Everything in my whole world is going to be Scarlett.
“Yes,” she cries out as I flip her on top of me.
“Ride me, tiny dancer. Take what you need.”
I hold her hands, and she angles and moves until she finds her G-spot. It is a place I know well on her body, but I want her in control. I think she feels powerless and she wants to be fucked so that she can be jostled awake, but I do one better. I give her the power.
She smiles at me, and I see her bright, gleaming eyes spark to life.
“Fuck me, Scarlett. Make me cum,” I demand in the throes of ecstasy, and she doesn’t disappoint.
She rocks herself on top of me, rolling back and forth and making me go in deeper and deeper and deeper until she falls on top of me and kisses my lips.
Her mouth begs mine to open, and our tongues tangle with one another.
My hand grazes over her ass as she continues to drive herself onto me until I can feel her body tensing as she is close to climax.
I dip my finger in between her ass crack and play with her back hole, and she gasps as her body clenches mine and shivers out an orgasm.
“There you are,” I shout, and she smiles, grinding on me until I come so hard I see stars.