Chapter 10
It felt strange putting on an evening gown, especially in the middle of the day, and Beth had to remind herself it was already late at night in Russia.
And she'd never put on makeup and done her hair just to eat dinner before, but when they arrived in St. Petersburg and Khan landed his shuttle in a beautiful garden on Kamenny Island, Beth saw how elegant the other women looked and she was grateful Khan had warned her to dress up.
"Can you even walk in those shoes?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her strappy gold heels as he helped her down from the shuttle.
She laughed, her ankles wobbling a little, and put a hand on his shoulder for support. "I can walk, but I won't be running anywhere soon."
"Good," he said, kissing her hand and tucking it into his arm. "I don't want you running away from me again."
Beth looked sideways at him and decided he was only half joking. She watched him as they started to walk along the side of a canal that was canopied by ancient oak trees and lit by old-style gas lamps. He was very handsome in a navy suit and dark gray overcoat with a high collar turned up against the wind. His hair blew down over his forehead and covered one of his eyes and Beth decided that it suited him.
She pulled the neck of her long black cape tight to her throat. Khan noticed. "Are you warm enough?" he asked, wrapping an an arm around her and drawing her close.
"Yes," she said, smiling up at him and as she realized how well they fit together when he held her like that. She couldn't help but wonder how well they fit together in other ways.
"You look beautiful," he told her when he saw her staring. They turned towards a large Gothic mansion on the bank of the canal. "This is the Hotel Dacha," he said, slowing down so she could look at it properly. "Dacha is a kind of Russian country house. This is one that I actually visited during my time, as part of a delegation to meet with the deposed Russian President. It has been converted since then and of course the tower is new." He pointed to a sleek, narrow skyscraper rising up behind the original building. "But from here it looks almost exactly as I remember it."
"You met with the Russian President?" Beth asked, impressed. "What was he like?"
"He tried to poison me," Khan said wryly, guiding her up the steps. "And it was all downhill from there."
Beth was surprised by the anger she felt that someone had tried to hurt Khan, even so long ago. She was still thinking about it when he removed his coat and handed it to her. "Could you please check this and wait for me? I should say hello to the manager."
She nodded and found the coat check, and gave his coat and her cloak to the young woman behind the counter.
"That's some dress!" the woman marveled in a heavy Russian accent when she saw what Beth was wearing underneath. "What is it made of?"
Beth looked down at the shimmering gown she'd found in her closet. It was low cut and figure-hugging and looked almost like molten gold poured over her body. She self-consciously adjusted one of the spaghetti straps. "I'm not sure, it was a gift," she said. At least she couldn't imagine buying it for herself. "Where can I wait for someone?" she asked.
"Most people meet in the lounge," the woman told her, pointing over Beth's shoulder.
Khan scanned the lobby, looking for Beth. He expected to see her standing off to the side, maybe in the shadowy alcove, but when he didn't see her he went to check the crowded lounge.
The first thing he noticed was a statuesque blonde in a ravishing gold dress talking to a man at the bar. Khan let his eyes linger for a moment to appreciate the way the filmy material clung to her buttocks and thighs, and then the woman turned and his eyes traveled up to her full breasts, accentuated by her low-cut top and a gold locket nestled in creamy cleavage. He instantly recognized the cleavage and then the locket and realized he was staring at his own wife.
He had never seen Beth look so glamorous, and she had never worn anything so provocative in public before. She sometimes liked to wear erotic lingerie to bed, and it always aroused Khan to have her be so nearly-naked. This dress... the way it left just enough to the imagination... the way it seemed to move like liquid over her skin, constantly caressing her breasts and hips... it brought out the same arousal in him, and an overwhelming jealousy that every other man in the bar was able to look at her.
"Starting without me?" he asked Beth as he moved in behind her, placing his hand on the back of her neck. She turned to look up at him, but he glowered at the man she was talking to, who evaluated Khan with equal enmity. "Won't you introduce us?"
She blushed. "Khan, Uri was just asking me if I wanted a drink. It is Uri, isn't it?" she said unsurely, and the man smiled, tilting his head.
"Da, solnyshka moyo." (Yes, my sunshine.)
Her blush deepened, perhaps guessing his term of endearment. "Uri, this is Khan, my... husband."
Khan didn't like her hesitation, or the way it made Uri laugh. "Are you quite sure?" Uri asked.
"If you want a drink, I'll get it for you," Khan told her. He gave Uri a thin smile. "And one for your friend as well. Perhaps a Kastratsiya?" (Castration)
Uri's smirk faltered and Khan moved to step in front of him. "Enough of this, Beth, come with me."
He led her into the dining room and took her to his usual table in a private corner. A waiter rushed to help her with her chair but Khan stared him down. "Do you enjoy making me jealous?" he asked her as she sat, thinking more of her growing bond with Matthew than the waiter or the man in the bar.
"I don't know," she replied. "Do I?"
"You used to know better."
Beth narrowed her eyes at him and Khan realized he was being unfair. "The food is Brazilian," he said to change the subject. "Shall I order for us?"
She nodded and Khan ordered in fluent Portuguese without even glancing at the menu.
"And a bottle of vodka," Beth added when he was done. The waiter smiled and nodded. "For the table," she said to Khan.
"You don't drink," he told her.
"I'd like to try it," she said. "I never used to drink because I always had to be on alert and stay in control, but with you I think I can relax a bit?"
Khan nodded, taking it as a compliment, and progress. "You can."
When the vodka arrived in an ice bucket he poured some into a small chilled glass and watched her taste it, pull a face and then finish the whole thing. He poured another but she let it sit on the table.
"What else should I know about you?" she asked him.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. Do you come here often?"
"Several times before," Khan said.
"But you've never brought me?"
"No, I'm usually meeting someone."
"Meeting who?" Beth asked.
"Do you remember Arma?"
"Yes, of course," Beth said, smiling. Khan searched her eyes for any trace of suspicion. Earlier he had been dreading her jealousy but now he wished for it.
"I keep a room here for her, and whenever she comes to Earth we'll meet for dinner. We're just friends," Khan added, trying to sow a seed of doubt.
But Beth just nodded and sipped her drink. "I know," she said. "I like Arma. She saved my life."
"And you hers. Did someone tell you that, or do you remember it?"
"I think I remember it. We were on Centula." Beth closed her eyes for a second and then looked at Khan. "It's mainly you I'm having trouble remembering."
Khan cursed under his breath. It was lucky Spock was leaving Earth in a few hours; if he ever saw that half breed again... he looked up and realized Beth was checking her communicator.
"Is something wrong?" he asked, wondering if her mother was trying to reach her about the twins.
"No," she said quickly, stuffing it back into her purse. "Tell me something else," she said. "What's something I don't like about you? No, that's unfair, first tell me something I do like about you."
Khan wasn't sure how to answer that question. "There are a lot of things you like about me. And love about me," he said pointedly. "That I'm so protective of you and the twins, and so focused on your happiness and safety. I would do anything for you, Beth, you just have to ask."
She nodded, taking a deep drink as she absorbed his words. "What about something I don't..."
But Khan wasn't done. "You like that I pay attention, and that I know you so well. I know what you want and I know how to give it to you." He hesitated, watching as she continued to sip her drink, her cheeks turning red. Maybe it was just the alcohol, but it was the same kind of flush she got when she was aroused. Khan put a hand on the back of her chair and pulled it closer, lowering his voice. "You love how I pleasure you, Beth, and I love to do it. I love the way you feel, the way you taste, the way you sound when you're excited."
He loved the way her eyes widened as she looked up at him. He half expected her to tell him to stop, but she surprised him. "What do I like?" she asked instead. "How do I like to be touched?"
Khan smiled, feeling himself get hard as he thought of all the things that turned Beth on. "You like to kiss," he said and he leaned over to kiss her briefly on the mouth. "Almost nothing gets you wetter than a slow, deep kiss, and nothing makes you cum faster than me sucking on your nipples while I stroke you."
She gasped and Khan kissed her again, taking advantage of her open mouth. He was glad it was dark in the restaurant, but as she gave a soft moan and began to return his kiss, he didn't care if anyone saw. "Do you want to know what your favorite thing is?" he finally asked, brushing his lips along her cheekbone as he talked. "It's my favorite as well."
"What?" she whispered, placing her right hand on his thigh.
Khan looked down at her hand and noticed her bracelet - the fertility monitor - and wondered if she even knew what it was anymore. He touched it, running his fingers along its cool surface. "You love me to fuck you, Beth. You love me to really fuck you. You tell me to start off slow... and I do... nice and slow and deep... pulling all the way out each time... you like me to hold you and kiss you, you like to reach your hand down to feel me enter you."
She nodded, breathing hard, licking her lips. Khan smiled, so happy she was at least letting him say the words. "After a while you ask me to go a little faster, you ask me to be a little rougher... but I don't, Beth, do you know why I don't?"
She shook her head and closed her eyes. Khan leaned forwards so he could say the words close to her ear. "Because I like to make you wait. I like to hear you beg for my..."
There was a sudden cough and Beth jumped away from him, removing her hand. Khan glared up at the offender, a young waiter who obviously didn't know better. "Excuse me, senhor, may I serve you?"
One of the more experienced waiters would not have interrupted them and in another lifetime Khan would have crippled a man for less, but he would not show his irritation in front of Beth. He nodded and as the boy served the first course of Vatapá, Khan watched Beth pour herself a third drink.
The last thing he wanted was for her to get drunk. "Is there anything else you want to know?" he asked to distract her.
She speared a fat shrimp with her fork and nibbled on it thoughtfully. "You said you keep a room here for Arma?"
Khan nodded. "Why?"
"Do you think she'd mind if you... showed me?"
He stared, wondering just what she was suggesting. "Are you sure?"
Beth put her fork down and took his right hand. Looking into his face, she pulled up the skirt of her dress and guided his hand between her knees. He needed no more encouragement and slid it higher, feeling the smooth, soft skin of her inner thighs and heat radiating from her sex. And then his fingers brushed against it and he realized she was not wearing any underwear. His jaw clenched as Beth opened her legs a little wider and leaned back in her chair.
Khan's middle finger found her wetness and her swollen clitoris. She looked so tense and serious as he traced slow circles around it. "Relax," he told her, letting his voice turn to silk against her skin, "I am going to make you feel so good."
Beth could barely walk in her high heels as Khan led her to the elevator. It was partly the alcohol spreading its warmth through her muscles, but it was also Khan making a different kind of warmth spread from her lower stomach all the way to her weakening knees. When the elevator started to rise, Beth's knees gave out and he caught her.
"Mmm." She smiled up at him as he held her close, his strong hands gripping her waist through her dress. He looked down at her, his eyes dropping from her face to her breasts, and he suddenly leaned down to kiss them. She laughed as he gently bit her tender flesh and then leaned her back against the glass wall. Without warning he tore the front of her dress open.
"Khan!" she gasped, dropping her purse, shocked by the violence of his action and also the feeling of her breasts being so suddenly exposed in front of him.
"I'm sorry for the dress," he murmured as he cupped and squeezed them with both hands. "But it's even more beautiful now." Glancing at her face for for just a moment, he lowered his mouth to her left nipple.
Beth groaned loudly, her back arching off the wall. "Oh, Khan, that feels so good." And so familiar. There was a sudden pain behind her eyes and Beth felt another memory crowding into the elevator with them. "Not now," she hissed, pushing it away.
Khan looked up at her, his desire fighting with concern. "You want me to stop?"
"No," she panted, looping her fingers through his hair. "Please keep going."
He smiled and obliged, taking her other nipple in his mouth. She didn't know how anything could feel so incredible. He started to kneel in front of her, kissing down her ribs, tearing the dress as he went, exposing her navel, and then her lower abdomen and finally ripping it all the way to the floor so she was completely naked in front of him.
Beth trembled as he stared at her pussy, his hands gripping her hips, holding her against the wall so she couldn't turn away if she wanted to. But she didn't want to. A strange and intense excitement pooled in her stomach as she watched Khan's lip curl, baring his teeth in a kind of snarl.
"You look like you've never seen it before," she joked nervously, her voice shaking. He looked up at her face, his eyes so full of lust he seemed barely human. "Now what?" she whispered.
"Now I eat you," he said, and Beth could believe he meant it literally.
He leaned forward, a deep rumbling growl coming from the back of his throat as he put his mouth over her sex, his tongue sliding between her slippery outer lips. It knew exactly where to go. "Oh, god," Beth breathed, feeling her muscles go limp as he sucked her aching clitoris between his teeth.
She barely noticed when the elevator doors slid open. Her head rolled to the side. "Khan," she said weakly, looking through the open doors. "Khan, stop."
He pulled back a fraction of an inch. "You love it when I do this," he said, not even opening his eyes before resuming.
"No, we're here," Beth said, reluctantly pulling Khan back by his hair. "I think this is the room."
Khan let her push him away and step over him, wobbling on her ridiculous shoes like a newborn deer. He imagined a dozen ways to trip her or knock her over. He wanted nothing more than to pin her to the ground and push his straining cock inside her. Instead, he stood and retrieved her purse and followed her into the suite. In keeping with the original building, the decor was opulent, with marble floors and golden chandeliers and mirrors lining every wall. Khan followed Beth, stalking her as she wandered around the room, touching the gilded surfaces.
"Did you ever come up here with Arma?" she asked, looking at him sideways.
Finally, a hint of jealousy. Khan smiled, ignoring her question. "Take off your dress," he ordered. "I want to see you."
She looked back over her shoulder and he could see her considering her options. He hoped that by this point, refusing him was not one of them.
"Will you take off something as well?" she asked.
He smiled and put her purse down on a table. He slid his jacket down his arms and draped it over the back of a chair. "I was warm anyway."
Beth laughed nervously and her fingers tugged at the straps of her dress and it suddenly fell to the floor. She was naked, and the curve of her back rounding out at her buttocks and hips was unbelievably beautiful to Khan. She was more tanned than he remembered - she must have spent time sunbathing nude on the riverbank while he was gone.
Keeping a careful eye on him, she resumed her tour of the suite, her heels clicking slowly on the marble floors as she walked. She found the door to the bedroom and Khan was behind her before the door had finished sliding open. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand on her breast, the other between her legs. She stumbled forward and he pressed her against a wall, letting his erection settle between her buttocks.
"I want to make love to you," he said, squeezing her softness and warmth in his hands. "I want to be with you, Beth. Will you let me be with you?"
Her breaths were fast and shallow and nervous. Khan knew all she needed was an orgasm to help her relax. He turned her around but kept his hand between her legs, stroking her wetness and looking into her eyes, the hazel-green eyes that he loved so much. "Will you let me take care of you?"
She took a deep breath and nodded and Khan smiled with satisfaction and relief. Putting a hand on the back of her head, he pulled her into a kiss.
As the minutes swam around them, he felt her nerves fall away like the dress, until her soul was as naked before him as her body. She moaned into his mouth, sucking on his bottom lip, raising her hands to the sides of his head and circling her thumbs around the shells of his ears.
That motion of her thumbs unsettled Khan for some reason and he felt himself hesitate, coming out of the trance she'd put him in. Her thumbs felt good, stimulating little-used nerve endings, but there was also something... off... about it. It was familiar, and not in a pleasant way.
He pulled back, looking at Beth. "You never did that before."
Her eyes didn't want to open, her head craned forward, still seeking his lips.
"Beth, look at me," he said, not knowing why he felt so anxious.
She did, blinking slowly, giving him a sexy smile. "Hmm?"
"What you were doing just now, why did you do that?"
"I was just kissing you," she said, peering at him with some confusion. "I love kissing you."
"No, you were doing this with your hands," and he showed her, holding her head gently, circling his thumbs around her ears.
"It feels nice," she said, leaning in to kiss him again. She suddenly stopped. "Ow," she said, pulling his hands off her ears, though there was no way he'd hurt her. "Where's the bathroom?" she asked.
Khan pointed to the door. "What's wrong?" But she hurried away without answering. Khan knocked on the door, noticing that it was locked. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she called back. "I'll be out in a minute."
She sounded strong but unsure. Khan walked back to the other room and picked up her purse, rifling through it until he found her communicator. It was secured to her bio-signature, but Khan had given her this communicator and preset the security so he had full access. He had not checked her calls for a long time, but he suddenly needed to know who she'd been talking to.
To his surprise he saw a long list of missed calls from Matthew - seven just that evening. That was a lot, even for a concerned doctor trying to reach his patient. It added to Khan's general feeling of uneasiness and he suddenly realized why the touch of her thumbs on his ears felt so familiar.
It dated back almost ten years (many more if he counted cryosleep), to a beautiful human woman he'd slept with a few times in Jordan. Khan barely remembered her name, but he remembered the fuss she'd made when he'd turned her out of his bed. Matthew had been more than willing to take her into his. That woman had kissed Khan in the same manner, circling her thumbs around his ears, and had no doubt done it to Matthew as well.
Khan stared down at Beth's communicator and pressed Matthew's name to call him. He knew that Matthew would think he was Beth.
Matthew answered quickly, like he'd been expecting her call. "There you are," he said, obviously trying to keep his voice light. "How are you feeling?"
Khan said nothing. He closed his eyes, listening for every intonation and inflection in Matthew's voice.
"Beth?" he asked. "Beth, are you there?"
There was another long moment of silence and Khan could hear Matthew's breathing getting faster, like he was growing anxious. "Did you sleep with him?" he finally asked, and then the words came out in a rush, like they'd been waiting to be said all evening. "Please don't sleep with him, Beth. Don't even be alone with him if you can help it. Khan won't be able to control himself around you. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want..." Matthew lowered his voice. "I don't want him to have you. I don't want anyone else to have you."
Khan meant to snap the communicator closed but he snapped it in half. He didn't care, it was just as well, she would not be using it again.
He banged on the bathroom door, now infuriated by the lock.
"I'll be out..." Beth began but Khan shouldered the door to force it open. She had both hands on the side of the sink, bending over it. His erection throbbed to see her like that, but the next moment she sprang back in shock as he stormed into the small room.
"When?" he demanded, aroused and angry and completely heartbroken. "How long did it take you?"
"I said just a minute," Beth said, but Khan knew that she knew exactly what he was talking about.
"What did you let him do?"
"Let who do?" she asked. She looked confused, but she was a good actress.
Khan held up her communicator and threw it on the floor. It broke into even more pieces. "Matthew. Who do you think?" Maybe the whole mindmeld amnesia was an act - concocted by her and Matthew to keep Khan away from her. When she took Khan to the cave was she just trying to make Matthew jealous? Is that why she'd worn the gold dress? Was she trying to make Matthew fight for her?
She looked down at the pieces of metal and plastic. "Oh," she said.
That single syllable was all the confession Khan needed. Something snapped in his mind and anger filled his broken heart. "Oh?!" he roared, wishing he had something else to throw. He turned and punched the wall, his fist driving through a few tiles and shaking even more loose. "All you can say is Oh?!"
Beth looked at the wall and then back at Khan. "I don't know exactly what happened," she stammered. She was afraid of him. Khan had never thought her fear would please him, but in this moment it did. Immensely.
"But something did happen," he said, approaching her, making her back up. Suddenly nothing felt real, nothing could be trusted. Was Spock also in on it? Was she fucking him as well? Who else?
"I don't think we... went all the way," she said, and her adolescent language both aroused and incensed Khan.
"I'm afraid that isn't good enough," he hissed, pushing her roughly against the wall.
"Please don't hurt me," she whimpered, and her plea made dark fantasies race through Khan's mind. There were so many ways he could hurt her, but he kicked her feet apart and pushed a finger up inside her. He stared into her eyes, seeing her shame as he fingered her. She felt so incredible, so special, and the thought of Matthew or any other man touching her and feeling her silky, sucking warmth drove Khan crazy. He closed his eyes, trying to focus, trying to remember what she should feel like, trying to tell if she'd had a cock inside her in the past week.
He didn't think so, but he was too worked up to feel relieved. He pushed a second finger inside her, telling himself it was just to make sure, but his cock was as hard as it had ever been. He looked at Beth's face. She was breathing hard, her eyes fluttering as he twisted his fingers inside her. Was she enjoying this on some level? The idea excited Khan but also angered him.
"Turn around," he said, and then instantly moved her into position over the sink before she could react. He hesitated. She had never consented to this before. But he was too far gone. He put a hand on her back and fingered her from behind. Then he pulled his wet finger out and slid it up to her rectum and held it there for a moment. When Beth realized what he was going to do she tried to straighten up, but Khan held her down, slowly pushing his finger inside. "Did you let him fuck you here?" he asked, though it was obvious she hadn't. It was incredibly tight, and hot, and the violation of the act was recklessly arousing. When Khan was sure she wasn't going to fight him he reached down and squeezed his cock through his pants.
He groaned loudly, wanting to fuck her so badly, wanting to prove once and for all that she belonged to him. She was gripping the sides of the sink, her whole body shaking. Khan ran his hand down her back, feeling every vertebrae in her spine. He could have her, just like this, and she wouldn't try to stop him.
"I love you, Beth," he said, starting to unbuckle his pants. She sobbed loudly and he hesitated, looking up. He saw his own reflection in the mirror. He looked hideous, less than human, like an animal. It made him step back and Beth collapsed to the floor.
Khan looked down at her. "I'm..." He wanted to apologize, but he was not sorry. He wanted to punish her, to hurt her as much as she'd hurt him... just not like this.
Beth huddled in a ball and looked up as Khan leaned over her to wash his hands in the sink.
He pulled out his own communicator but before making the call he bent down and put a hand over her mouth.
"Hello, Deanna?" he said, his voice full of calm authority. Beth tried to remove his hand, tried to scream through his fingers, tried to kick and claw at him, but it was all useless. "I don't want to worry you but there's a situation. I don't have time to explain now, I need you to take the children to a safe house. No, not that one. Yes, take them there. No, don't tell my friends, take the tunnels up the mountain and use my jump ship. I'll contact you as soon as I can. Beth? Yes, she's fine. She can't talk right now. It might be nothing, but you know... yes, thank you. Thank you, Deanna, kiss them both for us."
When he hung up he released Beth. She glared up at him, shaking with fear and fury. She only knew of one safe house. "Where did you send my children?"
He stood and looked down on her. "It's best for now if you don't know."
"You have no right to keep them from me!"
"Trust me, you don't want them at home when I get there."
He turned to leave and she grabbed his ankle. "Why, Khan?" she asked, her voice breaking. "What are you going to do?"
He bent down to her level. "I'm going to kill your lover, Beth. The others might not like that so it could get rather messy."
"Don't," Beth said, getting up on her knees. "Please," she begged, pulling on his clothes. "Please don't hurt him."
Khan cupped her cheek, wiping his thumb through her tears. He dragged it across her lips, letting her taste them. "I might not," he said, "except for these. I'm afraid these make it necessary."
"No." Beth tried to stop crying but it was too late. Khan shook her loose and closed the bathroom door behind him. He yanked it into place, jamming it so hard she could not force it open from inside.
"Khan!" she screamed, banging on it. "Khan, please!"
But he was gone. He was going to kill Matthew and he was keeping her on ice until it was done.
Beth looked around for something she could use, either to break out of the room or use as a weapon when Khan returned.
Suddenly she looked down at her wrist, at the gold bracelet, her medical monitor. Matthew had programmed his communicator into it. She pressed the call button, knowing it would alert him. He had said he would come if she called him - she could only hope he would know how to find her. If nothing else, he might be gone by the time Khan arrived in Alaska. She might be able to save one of them.
Yikes! Just a bit of a change! Lots going on here as Khan finally snaps, and just when things were going so well! Let me know your thoughts - can Beth and Khan come back from this? Do you want them to? Some of you don't like Matthew - are you hoping Khan catches up with him?
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