Chapter 24
Bellis checked the perimeter around his home and had found a small herd of bighorn sheep gathered at his creek. Thank fuck! The scent of Sam on him was undeniable, and he knew he’d have some serious explaining to do if he didn’t get cleaned up, so he stripped from his clothes and stepped into the creek a few yards up from the sheep. It must not have been far enough, because they startled and blasted up the mountain. Always up. He shook his head but couldn’t fault them. His scent had always been more animalistic than man, and any sheep worth his horns would bolt at the scent of a big cat in the vicinity.
It didn’t take him long to get cleaned up and back to the house, and all the while disappointment blossomed in his chest. He’d wanted to hear Sam cry out his name when he’d taken her, but she hadn’t. It was becoming something of a test to get her to call him by something other than Demon or Skin Walker.
Lost in thought, Bellis’ feet faltered when he got near the sliding glass doors that revealed his office. Sam was inside, pacing with arms crossed, her thumbnail pinched between her teeth, brow tugged down like she was deep in concentration. The ends of her dark hair were wet, like she’d opted for a quick shower too, and she was wearing one of his t-shirts. It hung down to her knees and she looked vulnerable and…something else. Watching her, he felt his heart squeeze at the sight of her in his home. She fit here because she thought she was a monster, like him. He’d built this place to hide from the world, and he’d never had hope of finding a woman who would endure this type of existence with him. Sam would. He knew it to his bones. She’d spent her life in hell, and this would be heaven to a creature who felt she didn’t belong anywhere. It’s how he felt. She could belong here.
Letting himself in through the glass doors, the scent of their sex and Sam’s apprehension filled the air. Closing the door behind him, he approached cautiously. “It’s alright, Sam.” He felt compelled to say something to soothe her unease. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
“Is that what you think?” she snapped savagely, as she stopped pacing to face him. “That you’re saving me?” she sneered. “Is that what you think I want? What I need?” A short snort left her as she dipped her chin and deepened her scowl. “I’m not looking for a Prince to save me. I just need his fucking sword! I’m not the beauty.” She lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes to cruel slits. “I’m the fucking beast!”
Bellis stepped closer. “Bullshit! You’re good. I know it! I can see it. I can feel it! I can smell it, Princess! You can’t hide from me, and I know what you’re doing.”
Sam’s lips twisted into a brutal smile. “You know nothing, and the only thing you can smell is sex…and regret! And you waxing poetic is making me want to throw up and throw hands in equal measure. Just stop, Demon! We fucked. That’s all it was. There was no emotion in the act, and there won’t be any now.”
Her words felt like a kick to the nuts and kept Bellis immobile as a flash of some emotion washed over Sam’s features. She spun so quickly that he didn’t have time to place it. Bellis watched her walk away from him as a hollowness centered in his chest where it felt like she had ripped his heart free and was taking it with her. Sex. Is that all it truly was to her? It wasn’t what he’d wanted, well it had been, but not like that. He’d wanted more, and what had just happened between them was meaningless if her heart wasn’t involved. Sure, it’d been aggressive, but he had been there, he’d been in it one hundred percent.
“Stop trying to hurt me, Princess, it won’t happen. And stop feeling sorry for yourself. For once, why don’t you rise up out of the ashes and…”
“God!” Her head fell back and she swallowed hard as she stared at the ceiling a moment before lowering her head. “You still don’t get it. I’m not the phoenix, Bellis. I’m the fucking fire. I destroy. It’s what I do. It’s all I do. I want to leave!” she barked.
When Bellis’ lips thinned into a determined line and he didn’t move, Sam narrowed her eyes into cruel slits. “I want. To Leave!” she growled a second time, and when Bellis remained in place she did something the Walker never expected. She launched herself at him full force.
Caught off guard, Bellis quickly reached up to grab one of Sam’s fists, too late to catch the other. It connected with his jaw, and stirred his inner beasts. Damn creatures took it as foreplay and were excited. Bellis, on the other hand, knew what it truly was. Sam fought him with everything she had. She’d attempted to scare him off, to deceive him, she’d even gone so far as to deny the undeniable attraction that existed between them, but this…it was her last resort. With nothing else to use to chase him away or scare him off, she was attacking outright.
Bellis released her wrist and braced himself. If this was what he’d have to endure to finally get her to break, he’d do so gladly.
****
She wasn’t sure why she’d even had sex with him. No, that was a lie. She knew exactly why she’d done it. Aside from the fact that Bellis was sexy as all hell, she’d never been with a male where pain wasn’t involved, or where it had been her choice. Well, there’d been that time at the training academy when she’d slept with one of her instructors. Her Kennedy. No. Not hers. He’d never been hers.
She’d gotten attached and gotten too close, and he knew she was holding something back. He’d begged her to tell him, to let him in, and God, she’d nearly done it. She’d wanted more than anything to spill her guts, to share it all and to ask him to protect her, to take her away, to keep her safe, to save her. Yet, some deep-rooted instinct kept her from telling him. She’d offered up more lies even as her heart mourned. She’d been certain she’d just given up her one chance at freedom, at love. He’d smirked and patted her on the head, called her a good girl, told her she passed the test. Turns out, he was assigned by Dr. Chambers. He was working for the Megalya too, sent in to ensure she wouldn’t break, wouldn’t buckle. The Megalya needed to know that she couldn’t be seduced into divulging their secrets. He was just another betrayal in the long list the Megalya had dealt her.
Being with Bellis was different though. Sex had never felt right, never felt like it had with him. Panic was swamping Sam so thickly she thought she was going to drown in it. Where in the fuck is Monroe! She needed to see him, to speak to him, because Bellis was getting too close. He was becoming too much, and she couldn’t risk losing all she’d worked for because her stupid fucking heart had idiotic desires. When he’d left the house, she’d explored a little before snagging one of his shirts from a drawer, washing her suit in the sink, and then taking a nice hot shower. It’d been soothing to not be rushed, not be in shackles, not be hiding. She’d felt comfortable, and that was dangerous for a woman like her to feel.
Now, as Sam swung on him, she was connecting fully, but Bellis wasn’t fighting back. He stood rod straight and just let her pummel him, which said something. She’d been trained in battle, she didn’t hit like no schoolyard boy. No, her punches were solid, thrown with all her weight as she pivoted her hips and pushed off with her legs. Still, Bellis didn’t move, didn’t retaliate. She screamed in utter fury, then turned to make a break for the door, but he caught her around the waist and in two giant steps he had her pinned, her back to his front as she struggled for release, her cheek pressed against the unforgiving wall.
She had to get away from him, but with his big body pinning hers too tightly, there was little chance of that. If she couldn’t get away from him, then she had to get him away from her because right now his shirt she wore had ridden up, and she wasn’t wearing any panties. His erection pressed into her ass, and she could feel herself creaming, her body preparing for him again.
Sam jutted her chin as her check pressed against the cold wood of the wall. “If you’re going to hurt me, do it, or get the fuck off me. I’ve had all the filthy beast I can stand for one day.”
She got the reaction she wanted, and it was instantaneous. Shifting her eyes to look at him, she saw his harden to sharp pinpoints of steel and his lip peeled back as he snarled, his wicked incisors raking her shoulder. She shivered, wanting him to sink his teeth into her. Instead, he jerked back, releasing her so fast that she gasped.
Bellis paced away and then turned back to face her, as if wanting to say something, but he didn’t. Instead, he strode to the door. The relief Sam felt at his rapid departure was short-lived as he stopped in the doorway, his massive shoulders nearly touching both sides of the frame. “Your commitment to Monroe and whatever he’s assigned you to is your burden.” He turned his darkened eyes to her. “Consider what you’ve been forced to become since you made that commitment. It doesn’t have to be this way, Sam.” She didn’t respond, and he growled, “I’m requesting a helo. Get dressed. We’re going back to StoneCrow.”
“Why?” Shock was swift. “Monroe confirmed my claim. You have no cause to keep me. Let me go! I need to get back to Odium. I have work to do.”
“Fatal wanted to keep you. He’s not pleased with Monroe’s deception, or with yours. His Keepers were injured in the attack, and one of his own was taken. There will be a reckoning. Dominant wants you brought in. We’re going to StoneCrow.” His eyes scanned her body with contempt. “Guess you’re going to get more of us filthy beasts than you can stomach.”