Beloved Monster (11 page)

“You are not a monster!”

He kissed her hand again, then laid it against his scarred cheek. “But I am. It is the reason you both keep me locked away from prying eyes and censure. I would be hated and hunted for the aberration I am. Just like the vampires from the penny dreadfuls. How apt as I seem to resemble them in look, since they also rose from the dead. Apparently at some point in my past, I read one or two.” He rubbed her open palm against his skin. “Yes, such warmth, even more than I felt from the sun. I will carry the memory of your soft touch with me always, and I wish you to grant me another memory for me to hold dear. I do not remember my first kiss, if I even had one. I want yours to be the reminiscence I have. I would consider it a gift and treasure it. Will you allow me to kiss you?”

Luke waited for her rejection, for what sane woman would allow such a forward request from a creature such as him?

“Yes.”

He brought her to her feet. They stood close, her lilac scent enveloped him. Without thinking he cupped her face, but then dropped his left hand in horror. To his surprise, Glenna clasped his wretched, gloved left and placed it back on her cheek. “I don’t mind. It is part of you.” She gave him such a radiant smile, his heart thumped wildly in his chest. “Kiss me, Luke.”

He had no right. No past, no future, only here in this instant with her. She lied to him, and no doubt still was, though he did believe she spoke at least some truth to him. He wanted this memory. All he wanted was to feel--alive. For a brief moment, someone showed him affection and gave freely of their warmth. Made him believe he mattered. For isn’t it all the essence of life? Warmth. Touch. Feelings.

After a slight hesitation, he leaned in and captured her lips. Not a gentle kiss, for he wanted to taste all of her. Glenna immediately opened and their tongues clashed, seeking and finding passion. Luke angled her head for a deeper possession. The heat between them scorched and he reveled in the fiery glow. It grew more desperate and savage for them both, and she threw her arms around his neck. He trailed his hands down her body, cupped her rear, bringing her in tight against him. Sweet curves, soft skin, how he would remember this. He was hard and aching. Desire heated his blood, giving him the first real, deep, consoling warmth he’d known since his reanimation.

Alive.

He was alive.

Glenna had been kissed four times in her life. The first came at the age of ten, a good-humored buss from a male playmate. The second, more serious in nature, came from the same said male chum. They were sixteen years of age, and the kiss reflected their inexperience in its tentativeness and sloppy execution on both their parts. The third came from Viscount Ravenswood two years ago, and it had been an eye-opener. Desire had sparked to life within her. A kiss powerful enough to fuel her intense, sensual dreams for the months that followed.

But
this.
Oh, this. Devastating. Thorough and deep. Passionate and emotional. Scorching to the point of combustion. Nothing like the one he’d given her as Ravenswood. Entirely different. Perhaps it was not as confident, but more of everything else. He brought her in firm against the solidness of him. Glenna could feel his arousal. Though his skin was cool, his mouth was a fiery furnace, the flames on full roil. Every nerve ending sparked with energy as she shamelessly ground herself against him and kissed him back with an aching desperation.

Luke slid his right hand upward, slowly exploring and brushing past her breast, which elicited a low moan from her. He cupped her jaw, angling her head again for another probing exploration. Both were breathing hard, and Glenna moved restlessly against him, wanting more.

By degrees, Luke ended the kiss, lowering the intensity until he stepped back. His multi-colored eyes glowed with a colossal heat, causing her entire body to react. Her nipples hardened, her stomach dropped, and moisture gathered between her thighs. A hot wave enveloped her, and her cheeks flushed. She wanted to throw herself back into his arms. Beg for him to ease the ache within.

“Thank you. I will cherish your gift,” he murmured, his voice husky.

Shamelessly, she looked him over. His magnificent chest rose and fell with each ragged breath, his hands clenched into fists, and his arousal plain to see. She lingered, fascinated, committing him to memory.

A low, gruff groan left his throat. “Glenna…don’t.”

Finally, she tore her gaze from his impressive erection and looked him in the eye, hiding nothing. Let him see what he reawakened in her. “Don’t what?”

A sudden knock quickly broke the erotic mood. Luke turned away as Reed opened the door and strolled in, oblivious of the passion that still lingered in the air. “Time is growing short. If we are to have tea, we should do so now,” he stated.

“Luke? You will join us?” she asked, her voice shakier than she would have liked. He nodded, keeping his back to them. “Stay in the parlor and relax. I will let you know when it is ready. Reed, may I have your assistance?”

He cocked an eyebrow, and Glenna pointed to the dining room. “Oh, yes. Of course.” Reed followed her out into the hall before closing the parlor door. Luke was recovering at a quick pace, and Reed should be told the particulars right away. The kiss? That was her memory to keep and none of Reed’s business. Absently, her fingers brushed past her still throbbing lips. The aftereffect reverberated through her entire body. By the time they reached the kitchen, Reed said, “Shouldn’t one of us stay with him? What if he wanders off?”

“He will not get far on his leg. He is limping quite noticeably. Besides, you can go upstairs immediately. First, I have to tell you what he had to say… And he said it well. His speech has returned.”

* * * *

Luke was grateful for the time alone in the parlor. For a brief moment he again considered fleeing, but realized he had nowhere to go. He could barely walk about this room, let alone run away. And he had no funds to aid him on the journey. He must devise a workable plan. Besides, what he required more than escape was answers. He aimed to acquire them. Also, he needed to regain control of his emotions and bodily reactions. God, he was aroused, and to the point of agonizing pain. Instinctively, he knew of a way to relieve himself of such a state, hardly a polite thing to do while standing in the middle of someone’s parlor. Though, it was bloody tempting. There was no denying that while he held Glenna in his arms, while he kissed her, he managed to forget the stressful anxiety of the past several days, the strange circumstances of his arrival, and what he was. Instead, he felt human, alive, surging with emotion.

Reed came to fetch him, and he followed the man into the dining room. Luke sat at the table with these two cousins, tea, sandwiches, and biscuits lay out before them along with a china tea service, matching plates, and napkins. All proper and formal for an afternoon tea, Luke guessed. Glenna poured, and he nodded his thanks. Then he focused his attention on Reed. “How did you bring me here?”

“In a wagon, covered with a tarp,” Reed replied in a sharp tone as he stirred a spoonful of sugar in his cup.

Luke sneered. He found he did not care for sarcasm, not when it involved matters of crucial importance. “You are well aware what I mean. Where did you obtain my body? From whom? We know the purpose, a mad experiment.”

Reed sipped his tea. “Not so mad. Here you sit. Seems it was quite the success. You are speaking rather well.”

“Not a success to me,” Luke retorted angrily. “Answer, as I am losing what little patience I have.”

“You lingered in a comatose state for a few days, then you…passed away. I bought you from the doctor who had seen to your care. With no identification, a lot of unknown and destitute people wind up this way. A bad business, but a business nonetheless. I kept you on ice until I had the right environment to conduct my test. A lightning storm.”

“Take me to this doctor,” Luke demanded.

Reed reached for a wedge of egg sandwich and shook his head. “I think not. How would he react to seeing you up and about? However, I will write the doctor and ascertain where he found you. I will also make inquires and see if anyone has been reported missing from the surrounding area. You must stay here, hidden, and recover fully before we decide what is to be done next. Surely you see the wisdom in this.”

Luke pounded the table with his gloved fist; the china cups rattled on the saucers. Glenna visibly winced and glanced down. Reed, however, continued to nibble absently on his sandwich as if he did not have a care in the world. Luke was sorry to make her start, but he was rapidly losing his temper and his patience with both these cousins. “I am to trust you? Hardly seems wise considering you have both lied to me from the beginning.”

“What small lies we told, we did to protect you and ourselves. We had no idea what you would be. Perhaps a murderous, hulking thing with no morals or sense of right or wrong. Someone not in control of his emotions, which by looking into your face it seems you are not. Until we know more of your life state and your amazing and swift recuperation, you cannot go anywhere.” Reed lowered his cup. “I will need to do blood tests. You have recovered from your injuries far quicker than any mortal human. That in itself is alarming. This bears further study. Until then, and until we have all the answers to
all
our questions, you must remain here.”

Luke frowned. “Hidden in a dark cellar like a foraging rat.”

Glenna touched his arm and squeezed gently. Again a rush of comfort rolled through him. “Not for long, but for a time until we have all the answers, as Reed said.”

Her look was quite earnest, how could he not believe her? Luke longed to trust them, Glenna at least. He had to try and make an effort. “Then I request you no longer lock me in like a wild animal. I give my word I will not escape. Sensibly speaking, where would I go? Until I am given truthful answers, and by God, I will have them and in a timely manner, I will stay and remain out of sight from others.”

The cousins exchanged glances, then Reed nodded. “Very well. I will leave you a key. But when you are alone downstairs the door is to remain locked. I have other keys to gain entry if needs must. It is time for us all to show a little trust.”

“I agree to your terms.” Luke glanced at the plate of assorted sliced beefsteak and chopped egg sandwiches.
Not hungry.
But if he wanted to appear somewhat normal, he must make an attempt at it. He reached for one, and Glenna let go of his arm. Chewing thoughtfully, his gaze moved between the two cousins. Still didn’t quite trust them. Glenna more than Reed, but not by much. Caution would be prudent in his dealings with them going forward.

Surely he had a former life. No doubt had a family or those who cared about him. But in his present state, would they welcome him home?

* * * *

Glenna tossed and turned in bed for close to an hour. Guilt kept sleep at bay. This could not go on, the lying and the obfuscation. Things were going to come to a head, yet Reed kept insisting Luke should be kept in the dark to see if he would remember on his own, while hoping above hope he did not recall any of it. Not a practical plan at all.

Well, the past several days were like something out of a Gothic horror. But in all the upheaval and lunacy, she came to the realization she did
not
want Luke to recall his former life. That man
was
a monster, in his personality at the very least, if not by deed. In all truth, she had not thought of Luke as Ravenswood since the first day of his reanimation.

Curling up on her side, Glenna pulled the blankets up under her chin and sighed. The time had come for her to admit she was infatuated with Luke. Fascinated by him. Attracted to him. And how could that be? He’d been dead. Buried. She stood at his grave and cursed him for eternity. Could this be all on her? Was he brought back from the great beyond because of childish utterances born from her smashed and vengeful heart? There goes her vivid imagination again. Logically, she should be running from him in disgust. For when all was said and done, he was a creature from supernatural and unnatural doings. Scientific doings as well.

Regardless of the proceedings, Glenna did not see him as a dangerous creature of horror. To her, he was a man. A man she was growing to care for deeply. Perhaps that was her curse.

A soft knock pulled her from her distressed thoughts. The door opened, and someone with broad shoulders filled the frame. At first she thought it might be Reed, but the shadowy figure was too tall.

“Glenna?”

She sat upright, clenching the bedding in her in fist. “Luke?”

He closed the door, keeping his movements as quiet as possible. “I thought you might still be awake. I have brought you a cup of tea.”

The only illumination in the room came from the banked coals in the hearth. She reached for the offered mug. “How did you know how to make tea?”

“I watched you. I learned.” He placed the chair next to her bed and sat. They both kept their voices low. “I waited until everyone was abed. Do not despair. I will not inundate you with too many questions. I merely wanted…company.”

Good heavens.
Glenna was not used to having a man in her bedroom. His masculine presence enveloped the entire area. She sipped the tea. “It is very good. Wait. How did you add the milk?”

“I found it in the icebox in the kitchen,” he replied. “Yes, it seems I know what an icebox is.”

“Have you been wandering about tonight?” she asked.

“I have. It turns out I need little sleep. A few hours are all I can manage. And yet, I am not fatigued. I needed to exercise my leg; so yes, I have been wandering about. I am extremely careful and will make sure I return to the cellar well before dawn.”

It was hard to see his expression in this low illumination, but sitting in shadow he appeared as normal as any man. As she noticed before, Luke’s profile was breathtakingly perfect. Nothing amiss there. His skin tone and scars lay hidden in darkness. He’d always been a dashing figure. She cleared her throat as she found herself becoming aroused. “I think it best we not inform Reed of your nocturnal activities.”