I shake my head. I’m not entirely sure what to make of him pounding against his chest, but it’s quite obvious he’s very serious about what he’s saying.
I need him, I know I need him, but I’m not willing to deceive or take advantage of him by leading him on for it. It's best he knows now, I will only be his friend. I can’t and won’t be more than that. If he can’t accept that, or expects more of me, then I’ll just have to make another run for it.
“No,” I say as harshly as I can and glare at him. I go one step further and place both hands on my hips. I’m making a stand.
He suddenly leaps on top of the table and I squeal, almost falling backward. He reaches for me, trying to grab me. I scramble away just in time. I turn and make a run for it, but it’s not a straight shot for the door. I have to swerve between the tables. Unfortunately, he ends up chasing me right into another corner. He’s too damn good at it.
“Please,” I beg him, holding out my hands in self-defense.
His eyes are glowing again like they’re about to explode. He ignores my hands, walking into them, pushing them back as he pushes against me. He’s so damn big, this close I have to tip my head back to look up at him.
I’m afraid I’ve made him mad. My heart is pounding in my chest. I can’t catch my breath.
“Please don’t hurt me.”
I probably shouldn’t have said that. I can still feel a faint throb in my hand and now, somehow, he looks even more pissed. He growls. It’s such an animalistic sound, something that you would expect from a beast.
And isn’t that what he is? He’s a Beast.
I tense as his head dips down. I’m expecting a lash of pain, not for him to kiss me.
Our mouths collide and it feels like every nerve in my body is brought screaming to life with electricity. The little jolts I experienced when he kissed my knuckles have nothing on this. The feel of his lips against my lips is all consuming. It’s completely overwhelming. I have to reach out and grab onto him before I fall to my knees.
Holding on to his shirt, I can feel something in his chest rumbling as if he’s purring. He just holds me there, lips pressing firmly into mine as if that’s all he wants to do to me.
I revel in it, I can’t help it. Sparks flash behind my eyes. When did I close them? Warm currents of energy are flowing through my body, gathering in the junction between my legs. I don’t know why it’s happening. I have no explanation for it. I’ve been kissed before, but it never felt like this.
Nothing has ever felt this amazing.
He pulls away suddenly leaving me shaking and gasping.
It stops. Everything that happened while he kissed me just fades away. I gape at him in shock. I don’t know what to say.
A smug smile forms on his lips. “Mine,” he rumbles.
For that briefest of moments, I actually felt as if I was
his
.
***
“You’re a Beast!” I hiss at him. “Unhand me!”
I’m shaken up. I literally cannot stop trembling. And I’m so angry but I don’t know if I’m angry because he kissed me or because he
stopped
kissing me. It felt as if all that buildup of energy was leading to something…
His head dips forward, smug smile still in place. I stiffen, afraid he’s going to kiss me again.
I swear he chuckles as he stops and brushes his lips across my forehead instead. His lips leave behind a trail of hot, sizzling energy.
“Argh! Don’t do that!” I cry out and shove at his chest. It’s not that it doesn’t feel good, what he’s doing, it’s that he’s doing it without asking. I’ve got to draw the line somewhere or this is going to get out of hand, fast.
He takes a step back and holds his hand out to me.
“You want me to go somewhere with you?” I ask, incredulous, as I look at his hand. “After what you just did to me?”
He nods his head at me and his hand remains.
“I’m not going to bed with you if that’s where you’re wanting to take me…”
His eyes flash. I feel hot just looking at them. I probably shouldn’t have given him that idea. If he really wanted to take me to his bed, all he would have to do is throw me over his shoulder again and carry me. Then, to keep me from fighting too much, all he would have to do is kiss me…
What is wrong with me?
Beast shakes his head, but his eyes are still roaming over me. So hot. So red. I’m burning.
I shiver and wrap my arms around myself, “Lead the way.”
He stares at me.
I sigh. I know what he wants and I don’t like it. I don’t want to touch him again or for him to touch me. But I like it less standing here while he stares at me. I don’t like what’s it’s doing to me. I don’t like the way I’m thinking…
“Fine,” I say begrudgingly and place my hand, the one that is still throbbing, in his hand. I feel the jolt again when our skin connects, but I swear this time it’s stronger and the sharp jolt heads straight for my belly.
It’s not until after he’s led me down the halls and around all the corners that I realize that my hand is no longer throbbing. I don’t feel even a hint of pain.
He hesitates before a door, shifting from foot to foot as if he’s uneasy about something. I have to wonder what could make him uneasy.
Finally, he grumbles something low, as if he doesn’t want me to hear it.
Ah, he doesn’t want me to learn the voice commands.
The door opens, dropping out of view. I’m so turned around by what’s happened, by all the weird feelings and emotions, I didn’t even realize he was leading me back to the room I slept in last night.
By the hand, Beast leads me forward, then just as I’m in the room, he releases my hand and walks back out.
“You’re leaving me?” I ask.
He nods his head and grumbles.
The door rises from the floor. I feel myself pouting.
For some reason, right now, I don’t like the thought of being separated from him. Watching him disappear from my sight fills me with a strange intense yearning feeling.
I hear him stomping down the hall. With each step he takes, the yearning increases.
What did he do to me? Did he feed me some weird alien aphrodisiac?
After a couple of minutes, I hear the faint sounds of air pressure releasing. He’s exiting the ship. There’s a slight rattle then the sounds of air pressure again.
As time passes, the yearning feeling eases. I can’t help but wonder where he is going and what he is doing. Minutes tick by, he doesn’t come back.
I feel like I can breathe. I flex my fingers. My hand no longer hurts. Did it heal? Maybe I overreacted and he didn’t really hurt me.
With nothing else in the room and nothing else to do, I decide to try the bed out. I stretch myself out on it. It’s so soft. So comfortable. I had forgotten what a bed felt like.
I close my eyes and start to drift off to sleep. I see his face. His eyes are burning into me, searing me. I flush with heat. I can’t sleep. I’m on the most comfortable thing I’ve felt in days, maybe weeks, and I can’t stop tossing and turning.
I can’t get comfortable because I can’t stop thinking of him. I can’t stop wondering
Why did he leave me?
The sound of Beast purring awakens me. My eyes fly open and he’s there, beside me, on the bed. He’s propped himself up on one arm and he’s looming over me.
“You’re back,” I say softly.
He stares at me and nods his head.
I don’t know what to say, all the questions I want to ask require more than yes or no answers.
Where did you go? What did you do? How long were you gone? Why are you next to me, looking at me like that?
He bends forward and I fear he’s going in for the kiss. If he kisses me here, on the bed, I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle it. I fear I won’t be able to resist giving in to him. I roll myself away and end up rolling myself off the bed.
“Ugh,” I grumble as I push myself off the floor and get to my feet.
He reacts fast. I feel him towering above me, invading my personal space.
“Hey, I’m okay.”
His hands touch my shoulders and I jerk away.
“Don’t touch me.”
He frowns at me and pulls back. I shake my head at him. No more touching. I don’t even want him near me until I can figure out why I’m reacting to him like I am.
“Did you drug me?” I ask and cross my arms over my chest.
Beast grumbles, his eyes narrowing and shakes his head.
“Did you put something in the meat?”
He snorts and I narrow my eyes back at him.
“I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on here.”
His eyes fill with understanding. He thumps his fist against his chest and says, “Mine.”
“Stop saying that!”
A look of hurt appears on his face. Dammit, I don’t want to upset him but I don’t know how else to handle this. I can’t just go along with this whole “Mine” thing.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize. “It’s just….” I want to say
ridiculous
but instead I say, “I need some space. Please.”
He takes a step back. It’s a start.
“Thank you.”
He nods his head and takes another step back from me.
He’s giving me what I need, but I don’t feel even the least bit happy. In fact, for some strange reason, I’m a little upset he’s moving away.
It’s like my mind and body aren’t on the same page. If they don’t sync soon, it’s going to drive me crazy.
Maybe I already have a touch of the space madness.
After a couple of tense, silent minutes, I begin to feel like I need to relieve myself. I don’t know how long it’s been since I last used the portable potty, but now it’s catching up to me.
I shift my weight from foot to foot and ask, “Do you happen to have a bathroom here?”
Beast nods and eagerly holds out his hand.
I shake my head at him. I still don’t want him to touch me. “Just show me the way.”
He shakes his head and grabs my hand anyway. It feels as if I was just struck by lightning. The breath and all my thoughts go flying out of me.
Before I can protest, he pulls me out the door and down the hallway. I don’t even feel my feet touching the floor before he stops in front of a door that is actually marked with some paint. He grumbles something and the door slides down, but I try to commit the painted symbol to memory.
A gush of warm, moist air washes over me. It’s not just a toilet, I realize as we step inside and the door closes behind me, it’s a fully functional bathing facility.
“You have showers!” I gasp.
There’s not just a row of open showers lining the wall in the back, there’s also a giant pool of water in the middle of the room, steaming and bubbling.
He lets go of my hand and for a moment I forget I really need to pee. I rush forward in my excitement, right up to the edge of the bathing pool and dip my toes in. It’s so warm, so inviting. I shiver and my skin prickles with goosebumps.
I feel him coming up behind me. I pull my foot out and turn, afraid I’ll need to keep him from touching me. Instead, I find him stripping off his shirt. Then, while I’m gaping at the sight of his broad muscled chest, he removes his pants.
He grins. I instantly flush with heat.
“What are you doing?” I stammer and advert my eyes.
It’s too late, though, I’ve already gotten a good look and the sight of him will forever be branded into my memory. He’s just as big as I remember him. Too massive and imposing. The size of him is not only awe inspiring and breathtaking, it’s also a very good reminder I need to be very, very careful about what I’m doing.
It’s very obvious he wants to… mate with me. Even if I did start to give in and find myself wanting his affections, there’s no way we could physically work. I may have zero personal experience when it comes to sexual relations, but I’m not idiot, I know there’s no chance, no physical way that what he’s packing between his legs will fit inside my body.
He’d break me.
I scan the room, searching for the toilet, searching for my out. Just as Beast starts walking towards me, I spot it. In the very back there’s a door with a big green button. I skirt around the pool and break for it.
I run up to the door, jam the green button and the door drops. I jump in the stall, turn around, and catch a glimpse of him as he steps down into the bubbling water. I punch the button and the door slides up again. I take way more time than I need to.
***
Beast’s people and my people must have a lot in common, despite our physical differences. We have space ships and wear clothes. We sleep in rooms with beds and use similar bathing facilities. We like to eat the same things. I just wish I could understand what he speaks.
I wonder if his species is a member of the Transgalatic Alliance? If they are, then he’s obligated to aid me.
While I kill time in the potty, I try to think of all the different species I was forced to memorize during my political science studies.
I’m sitting on the toilet, my face scrunched up in deep thought when he bangs on the door.
Startled, I scream.
The door starts vibrating and screeching.
Is he trying to rip it out?
“Stop! Please!” I wail, completely freaked out.
The screeching stops, but I hear him grumble something completely unintelligible.
I can hear my heart thundering in my ears. I quickly stand and push the red button on the wall. The red switches to green and the door vibrates with an ominous rattle. He hits the door again, I shriek. The door gives one last groan before finding its track and dropping down the slit in the floor, disappearing.
“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!” pops out of my mouth as soon as I see him.
It takes me a moment to realize that not only is he standing there, dripping wet, with his shoulders bulging forward, as if he’s about to break something, but he’s also still utterly naked.
My eyes drop down, I can’t help it. I stare as if hypnotized at what he’s packing. He seems to like my attention. His shoulders straighten, his feet spread, and his manhood rises.
“Oh, my stars!” I gasp out and look away. “Do you not have any towels around here?”
Do you need to borrow some shame?
He speaks something.
I shake my head, keeping my eyes averted. “I’m not looking until you cover that…yourself up.”
He grumbles and then grabs me by the hand. He pulls me out of the stall and I stumble forward.
“Hey!” I look up, afraid I’m going to fall on my face. “What’s going on? What are you doing?”
Beast doesn’t answer me. I wouldn’t be able to understand him if he did anyway, unless of course the answers were
Ameia
or
Mine
.
He leads me to the edge of the bathing pool.
I start to ask, “Do you want me to get in?”
He releases my hand. Before I realize what’s happening or even have a chance to stop him, he grabs the bottom of my shirt and yanks it up, over my head.
I shriek and grab for the shirt.
“What are you doing! Give me that back!”
I feel like we’re children and he’s playing a game of keep-away as he holds the shirt up, out of my reach.
“Please,” I plead with tears stinging my eyes.
He frowns at me and shakes his head.
I have half a mind to knee him to get the shirt back. I think he realizes it because he turns slightly away from me. He tosses my shirt away.
“No!” I moan.
He grabs me by the hand and his fingers tighten as if he knows I’m going to fight him. He steps down into the bubbling pool of water and pulls me in with him.
Hidden beneath the bubbling surface of the water are a set of steps. When my feet touch down on the first step, I yank back in protest.
“Let go of me. I can bathe myself.”
Beast sharply shakes his head and pulls me down to the next step.
The last thing I want to do is make him angry. I need his help. I need his protection. I need him to trust me enough so I can explore this ship. But I so don’t want to get in this bath with him. Nothing good can come of this. Nothing good can come of us being so close together, both of us naked.
So far, he’s backed off when I let him know he was going too far but I’m afraid something has changed. Now he seems to be completely ignoring my protests. I don’t know if he’ll stop now. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop him.
I shiver as the warmth of the bath seeps into my flesh. First the water reaches my knees, then my hips, and finally, when my feet touch the bottom, it comes up to my breasts.
I wish the bath was deeper. I wish it would cover me and hide me from him.
I wish it would cover more of him.
He leads me to the center of the pool then turns to face me. By the hand, he keeps me trapped.
I should be enjoying this, my first hot bath in ages. If I was alone, I’d scrub off all the stickiness then cozy up to the ledge and soak for hours. I’d let the water and the steam cleanse all the impurities from my pores until I felt like a princess again.
There’s not enough space between us, only inches. I try to sink down into the water. With his other hand, he grabs me by the shoulder and pulls me back up.
“Why?” I ask.
Beast shakes his head and lets go of my shoulder.
I look up at his face to meet his eyes, but he’s looking at my hair. “I’m not comfortable with this.”
He grabs one of my blonde curls then twists it around his purple finger. He seems fascinated by it.
“I want you to stop touching me.”
He shakes his head.
“I don’t like you touching me.”
I don’t like it because each touch, no matter how faint, is sizzling and electric. My hand is tingling and my shoulder still feels warm.
That gets his attention. His red eyes flick up to meet mine and he arches his brow.
The way he regards me, it reminds me too much of my stepbrother Vrillum. Vrillum has a way of arching his brow and smirking that always makes me feel like I’m beneath him. And I’m the princess, he’s not even a prince.
“I mean it.”
Beast drops my curl and smirks. He turns away, then pulls me with him as he walks to the other end of the pool.
I’d dig in my heels if the bottom of the pool wasn’t so slick. He leads me to a ledge where baskets of bottles and stacks of towels have been placed. He grabs up a clear bottle and sniffs at it.
Turning back to me, he holds out the bottle.
I have to ask, “You want me to smell it?”
He nods his head.
I so don’t understand any of this. He completely ignores my protests when I make it clear that I don’t want to take a bath with him. Ignores me when I tell him I don’t want him to touch me. Yet, he wants me to smell the bottle? How does that make any sense?
“Why do you care what I think? You’ve ignored what I’ve wanted so far.”
He shrugs and turns away. He puts that bottle back then grabs up another one. He goes through all the bottles, sniffing them one by one until he finally settles on one he likes. Grasping a white bottle, he turns back to me.
He releases my hand and squirts some soap from the bottle into his giant palm. I start to back away from him, though, I know I won’t be able to escape. He tosses the bottle away, quickly grabs me, and pulls me back.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he lightly slaps his palm on top of my head.
He wipes his palm off with my hair, then digs his fingers in and begins to massage my scalp.
“Oh, my stars,” I gasp.
It feels amazing. My eyes almost roll back in my head. His strong fingers knead at my scalp, digging and working. I don’t know how I’m still standing on my feet. Tendrils of pleasure flow through me, his ministrations leave me feeling weak in the knees.
He just literally turned me to putty in his hands.
Suds start to drip down from my forehead, threatening to spill into my eyes. His fingers carefully brush the tiny bubbles away, but I still close my eyes. Suddenly I’m spinning. I want to look, want to see what’s happening, but the promising sting of the soap keeps me from chancing it.