Read Online Beloved Monster by Karyn Gerrard - Free Book Online Page B

Now.”
    Glenna left the room. The logs in the fireplace snapped and crackled; a few stray sparks danced in the hearth. The vital rage building inside of him again was truly alarming. Mixed with the fury? A sense of apprehension.
    In no time at all, she returned and passed him a mirror. With a deep exhale, he held it up in front of his face. Stitches. Red and swollen skin was clearly visible on his left cheek while the rest of his flesh was a light gray tone. A metal plate was fastened to the side of head. Multi-colored, bloodshot eyes. Ugliness. He had been dead. He still looked dead. Monster.
    Slowly, he looked away; revulsion gripped him at the thing reflected in the glass. In a split second of blinding rage, he threw the mirror across the study, and it smashed into shards against the wall. The agonized moans grew louder as he tried to stand. The only thought on his mind was to flee this living nightmare. Or perhaps he was in hell suffering torments for any supposed sins in his past life. The white hot anger turned to horrified frustration, burning tears ran down his cheeks as he flayed about.
    Why didn’t Glenna run from the room? Isn’t that what people did when faced with a wretched creature? Suddenly, he found himself encircled in reassuring warmth as she laid his head against her shoulder. He could sob uncontrollably for what constituted his life or whatever his life was or would be, but he fought down the urge to wail and curse the heavens. Instead soft moans of despair left his throat. Glenna pulled him closer, stroking his hair, whispering, “hush” in a comforting tone. In no time at all, his moans quieted. Amazing how her touch calmed him and brought him peace. Perhaps Glenna felt pity for him and nothing else. How he wished there could be more between them. So much more.
    Luke lay against her breasts, and his heartbeat increased in time with hers. To his absolute horror, arousal clutched him tight. Even though he’d been dead, the thing between his legs stirred to life with sudden force. Desire. Like the taste of food, he recognized the sensation. He rubbed his scarred cheek against her chest and her nipple hardened. Oh, yes. He remembered desire, and shockingly, she reacted to him. Perhaps all was not lost. How he longed to burrow in deeper between her generous breasts, turn his head slightly and fasten his mouth on the hard nub. Pull down her bodice and suck until she cried out, lay her beneath him, touching, caressing, until he thrust his…
    “What in hell is going on here?”
    * * * *
    Glenna cried out at the sound of Reed’s angry voice and stepped away from Luke. “Reed I can explain….”
    “Cousin, may I speak to you. In private, if you please,” Reed ground out, his expression clearly showing his simmering anger. He held out his arm to indicate she leave first.
    Glenna walked away. Her body still trembled from the nearness of Luke and his vulnerable reaction to seeing himself in the mirror. Her breast tingled with awareness where his head rested, the nipple still hard and sensitive.
    Reed slammed the door to the study and stalked into the laboratory. He spun around and clasped her arm, giving it a shake. “Just what do you think you are doing?” he whispered through his clenched teeth. “Were you acquainted with Ravenswood? Before all this? For you looked entirely too cozy. The both of you. Explain. You are biting your lower lip, which gives away your guilt.”
    Glenna pulled her arm from Reed’s tight grip. “We spoke several times in the village. Polite, indifferent conversations.”
    Reed arched an eyebrow. “And?”
    Oh, blast it all. “I met with him once. Alone.”
    “For an assignation? My God, I never would have believed it of you. Were you intimate with him?” From the shocked and pained expression on his face, it was obvious Reed fought to keep his voice from rising.
    “Not in the way you think. It does not matter. He wanted more, and I said no. He walked away and never