Chapter 61
Monroe walked forward, rope in hand. "Do you trust me?"
A small shudder ran through me as I looked up at him. "It's red."
"Do you trust me?" His eyes were blazing as he twisted the rope around his fingers.
"Monroe, you know I trust you." It was his instincts I was wary of. I stood frozen by the bed. "Do you always keep rope in your dresser?"
Monroe glanced downward. "I bought it the other day." So, this was premeditated. Hmm… His eyes met mine again. "You wanna try it out?"
I really shouldn't have read that silly Fifty Shades book. I wanted to, oh, but that color... Monroe had proven that he could control himself with much more red than this. My thoughts trailed back to being tied up and helpless with the Daemonfeuer. No, this form of helplessness would be different. It would be like it was in the woods in Kentucky; that delicious vulnerability and Monroe taking control. I rather liked that feeling. My teeth bit into my lower lip.
Monroe pointed at his nose. "So, am I to take that as a yes?"
My eyes fixed on his. The red in his eyes was brighter, mischievous… incredibly seductive. Oh, you sexy, sly wolf.
I nodded silently.
His grin reemerged. "Good."
"Have you done this before?" I asked pensively.
Monroe shook his head. "No. Umm, have you?"
"First time."
Jack had asked to tie me up a few times. I'd merely laughed at the request. Tonight I wasn't laughing. Was it wrong that I trusted a wolf over him? No, this was different. Besides, we were two BDSM virgins. First time for everything. With Monroe I was constantly adding more firsts to my list.
I peered over the edge of the bed as Monroe moved to the far corner and threaded the rope around one of the bed legs. He held up the two ends in my direction.
"So, in boy scouts I was always fond of the French bowline knot. You enjoy French, right, Renée?" Even his smirk was devilish.
"French is enjoyable, yes."
"Let's see what kind of merit badge I can earn tonight." He gave a throaty chuckle. Boy Scouts would've been even more popular had there been bondage merit badges. Imagine practicing for that one.
Monroe sized up the rope, looking it over like he was figuring things out. I curiously watched the clock gears in his brain turn at every point. "Come here," he said and switched his gaze from the rope to me. "Lie down."
I hesitated. This was really going to happen. My breath caught in my throat as I swallowed it down. I moved across the bed.
He eyed me again. "Is there anything that you're wearing that you'd miss if it were… ripped?"
My eyes widened. A flush of heat ran through me at the thought. "I... Uhh… I could just take my clothes off."
"No," he replied quickly. "I mean, unless it's something you don't want torn, that is."
I looked down. I was in a blue cardigan sweater and jeans. Surely he couldn't rip through the jeans. Well, perhaps he could. The bra and panties weren't anything I couldn't replace. I had my overnight bag with a change of clothes.
"It's fine. They're… rippable." Wow, had I really said that? Was that even a word? My mind was flooding over with more pressing thoughts other than to be grammatically correct at this point.
He grinned again… sinister. His stare bore into me. I was like a moth to the flames in his eyes; they drew me in, lulling me out of any trepidation I might have.
"Lie down then." His voice was an octave lower, a hint, commanding, yet soft.
I did as he asked while my recklessness brimmed under the surface of my skin. Monroe reached for my left wrist, raising it over my head. I tilted back as his gaze met mine. Burning red coals replaced his eyes. I didn't recognize this shade at all. It was beyond lust.
He wrapped the little, red rope a few times around my wrist. My pulse accelerated as he maneuvered the knot in place. A small growl escaped him while he tugged on the end, seeming satisfied it was secure. Monroe reached for my other wrist, mirroring the same process. My breathing matched my heart rate as I tried to calm myself.
A quick tug on the second rope and another devilish grin passed his lips. "How does that feel? Not too tight?"
"No, it's fine." My voice warbled. The ropes were tight, but not uncomfortable. I moved my fingers over the knots. This wasn't so bad. I could reach them and Houdini myself out if I needed to. It wasn't as helpless of a situation as I'd envisioned. My breath relaxed.
Monroe moved to the opposite side of the bed. "I need to get rid of that slack," he said and then took both my ankles in his hands, giving my body a quick jerk down.
My wrists drew taut against the bonds and a wave of unease came over me. Now I couldn't even move my arms, much less reach the knots. That blatant vulnerability and recklessness washed over me in waves, removing all my calm in its deluge. My breath tried to keep up with my heart, which was beating up in my ears.
"Okay, how does that feel?"
I craned my neck toward him. "Umm… Immovable?"
Another devilish grin curved up under his beard. "Even better."
All at once he straddled me, adding to my immobility. A raging ocean of arousal flooded my body.
"That intoxicating bouquet of yours is returning." Monroe's nose twitched. "It's pouring off you like a sexy perfume."
My cheeks flushed hot. God, it was so not fair that he could tell so easily. Monroe hovered over me. My stomach clenched as he studied my reaction.
"Now…" he said, staring longingly at my wrists, "What am I going to do with you?"
My fear crept up at his words. The cage door swung open as Mr. Wolf emerged from his bonds and seemed pleased as punch over mine.
"What do you want to do?" I brazenly replied. My recklessness wanted to emerge, too.
"Oh, I have plans for you tonight," replied Monroe, err, Mr. Wolf. I'm sure my Grimm ancestors were turning over in their graves at this sight. "Glockenspiel." He said the safe word slowly. "Use it if you need to… but only if you absolutely need to."
I nodded as best I could.
Monroe anchored his hips, but moved the rest of his body toward me, pressing his lips firmly against mine. I leaned forward into the kiss, ignoring my predicament. Kisses trailed down my lips to my chin and then dipped down my neck. He nibbled lightly at first, but then he found the sweet spot as he nipped a bit harder. His hands were free to roam over my breasts, which combined with the nipping, jolted a shock all through me.
"Holy hell," I gasped out.
Monroe paused briefly, rising up to smirk. "This is gonna be more fun than I anticipated."
The brevity was just long enough for me to breathe out, then all at once he was back to my neck and those hands were canvassing my body. I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. The pleasure was overwhelming. And I still had all my clothes on. Oh, God.
The assault on my neck ceased and I struggled to catch my breath. So did Monroe. His woge was rising under the surface of his skin, itching to burst forth. He was holding back, but a low growl emanated from him regardless of his control. His thighs closed tight around mine and the bulge in his jeans pressed up against me. I pursed my lips as his gaze was still held on my wrists. How much red was visible?
He lifted up the top button of my cardigan. "You're wearing entirely too much." With a single pull, the button popped off like a cork from a bottle of champagne on New Year's Eve. I stifled a gasp as I watched intently.
Another button flew across the room.
Then a third…
He stopped there, folding back the material. His fingers lightly traced over my collarbone down to the edge of my bra.
"So soft, so perfect." It was more of a growl than words. His head lowered as his tongue ran across my flesh and under the edge of lace on my bra. I let out a soft moan.
He traced his tongue upward, hot breaths encircling my ear. "Mine?"
"Always," I replied breathlessly.
"Mine?" he repeated the question more forcefully.
I paused, then stuttered out, "Y-Yours."
"Again," he growled.
"Yours."
"Good girl."
I bit my lip at his words. Holy Fuck. For someone who hadn't done this before, he was hitting all the points. Mr. Wolf rose from my ear and dragged his fingers along my wrists, which were getting a bit numb in this position. His fingers ran down both arms, landing back on my fourth button. It soared over my head.
"Two buttons to go," Mr. Wolf teased as he held the fifth in his… Oh, God. His hands had morphed. Fur and claws replaced his human ones. The reckless part of me hoped the rest would follow suit.
His claws sliced clear through the last two buttons, and with that my cardigan was opened. I shivered with anticipation as his piercing red eyes traveled over my body.
Both clawed hands delicately ran over the slope of my abdomen, leaving light scratches. His tongue swept over where his fingers had been, and I squirmed at the sensations. His hands reached up toward my arms. Loud rips of fabric hit my ears as my top was torn from my body. Wow, he hadn't been kidding. He dusted off the remaining bits from my skin.
Before I could mourn the loss of my cardigan, a claw moved under my bra strap.
"I like the pink lace," he said. "Too bad it's not going to survive."
He adeptly sliced through it. The remaining pieces hung at my side. Who needed scissors when I had Edward Wesen-hands right here? He moved to the other strap, sliding the material deliberately between his fingers so I could watch. The claw cut through it like butter as it fell apart.
"Seems you're liking this, huh?" he said as he looked down.
The bra did little to disguise my erect nipples poking through the fabric. He teasingly tugged at both sides and I waited for him to pull it down… But he didn't. Instead, Mr. Wolf used the side of his claw to circle my breasts. My back arched up reactively. His response was sinister as he continued his torture.
"I think this needs to go," said Mr. Wolf. His trademark grin peeked out under his beard.
A claw hooked in between my breasts, slicing though the center of my bra. I pulled against my bonds in reaction, to which Mr. Wolf gave a short chuckle. The bra was brushed aside, my breasts fully exposed. I held my breath.
Mr. Wolf licked his lips. "Mm-hmm."
The claws had retracted and his fingers lightly flicked over both nipples. I squirmed from the sensitivity, but I was helpless to his touch.
"Having a problem there are we?" he taunted. His words added to my torture. "Tell me you like it."
My eyes widened at him. God, I did like it, but saying it aloud?
"Your tongue isn't tied, just your hands." He continued, teasing my nipples. "Say it," he coaxed.
"I like it." My cheeks burned with the words.
"Good."
His fingers ceased and he leaned down, taking my nipple into his mouth, tongue circling slowly. My head rolled back in ecstasy. He moved to the other one, repeating the process with his tongue, my nipples standing to attention with each lick. My moans were getting louder along with his growls. Pools were forming between my legs. Oh, God I needed him to go down there soon.
Mr. Wolf kissed up my collar bone and he was back on my neck, the nipping almost painful, but the pleasure overshadowed all that.
"Mine," he murmured into my neck, this time it was a statement not a question. His mouth took hold of my lips before I could agree.
I moaned into his mouth, arching my hips up to meet his bulge. Perhaps he'd take the hint. His teeth were sharper, jagged against my mouth. Had he? Was he? Oh, please…
Mr. Wolf lifted his head with fur, large ears, big eyes and all. Oh my! I gasped my breath in at the sight of his woge.
His chest rose and fell as he allowed himself to come out of his humanity. Even in this form, his trademark grin was apparent. My teeth sank hard into my lip as I took in the Wolf. At that moment I was trembling as fear and lust swirled inside me. It was the type of mixture my recklessness relished in, sending an aching need below my waist. Oh, I'd missed him so.
Without a word he moved off me and reached down toward my jeans, biting the button off. Denim shredded under his claws. The Wolf nuzzled his nose between my legs and my back bowed up. Just a thin line of pink fabric kept us apart.
"God, you smell good." That foreign voice came from him amidst the growls. "Good enough to…" he didn't finish the sentence. Instead he pressed my hips down from where they'd risen off the bed. He slipped a claw under the edge of my panties.
"Take them off," I urged as I practically panted out the words.
"Slowly," he replied. "I'll get there soon." He let the lace go.
Oh, it was too much. I wanted him inside me, to take over, to take me however he wanted. I twisted against my bonds. How desperately I wanted to run my hands through his fur. Feel that coarseness against my skin.
His nose brushed up against me again, and I let out a gasp. Clawed hands reached for my panties, ripping them off effortlessly. He tossed them on the floor in an exaggerated manner. The wolf sat back up and he retracted. Monroe closed his eyes tightly, holding in his breath. He sat poised, motionless. When he opened his eyes, he came back to life. Deep breaths pressed out of him.
"Okay, so this is harder than I thought it would be." Harder than what? I didn't want to know.
"Do you want to stop?" I asked in a shaky voice. My recklessness scowled at my question.
"No," his reply was direct as his eyes glared down at me like I'd insulted him. "We aren't stopping."
I gave a half-nod. Monroe lifted his fingers to his plaid shirt, and in a swoop of his wrist, he had it unbuttoned and off. The black undershirt was peeled away, then the jeans and boxers followed suit. I took him in, all naked and still a bit breathless as his chest swelled in and out. Oh, this wasn't right. I wanted to touch him. Run my hands over his body.
Monroe raised my legs up at the knee. He kissed up my ankle all the way up my inner thigh. My skin prickled up under his mouth. That wonderful, sexy mouth.
"God, you're so wet," he said before he'd even reached his lips up that far. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Maybe," I said coyly.
"You aren't fooling anyone." His finger darted between my thighs and my back arched under his touch. "Now answer truthfully."
"Yes," I uttered softly.
"Can't hear you, Renée." He parted my legs further and his thumb stroked up and down.
"You… can… hear me… just fine." My reply staggered out a bit brashly.
His thumb vanished. "You really wanna rethink that response."
Oh, God. Torturous…
I let out a groan. "Yes," I said a bit louder.
"Yes, what?"
Really? He was going to make me say it again?
"Yes… I'm enjoying it."
"Tell how much you like it."
"I-I like it a lot." My sex was pulsing, I was lucky I could say that much.
"That's not using your vocabulary," he replied with a smirk.
"Immensely," I groaned. "I like it immensely."
"Good." His thumb returned and a moan escaped my lips. His rewards were superb. My eyes slid closed, melting into the sensation of his fingers moving from slow strokes to faster ones. My hips met each stroke. Oh, I did more than like it. I loved it, loved him, loved…
"And this?" The breath of his voice tickled my eager flesh, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"I…" My words were cut off by my teeth closing over my lip and ending in a loud, hard moan as his breath was replaced by his lips and tongue. He held my hips down in his iron grasp.
My arms struggled against the ropes, I wanted… needed my fingers in his hair. Grasping and pushing his head down into me. Monroe's hands held my hips firmly as I struggled to thrust upward to meet his mouth.
My struggles were met with a few clicks of his tongue as he paused.
"Stay still," he breathed between my legs. Exquisite warmth danced over me, and I wanted to beg for more, but I knew better than that. "If you stay still, I'll continue."
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
Yes, what? Yes, Sir? Yes, Master? What the fuck?
"Yes… Mr. Monroe?"
He let out a chuckle. "Good enough."
I stilled my body and his grip relaxed. He moved my legs, widening them apart. He kissed up my thigh and then his tongue dipped back in, all warm and wet. Twirling, swirling, until I was dizzy. Staying still was his new torture. My hands fisted, tensing against the ropes as he continued circling his tongue.
"Don't stop," I gasped out. My orgasm was building… his tongue lapped rhythmically and my eyes rolled back. "Faster," I muttered. Suddenly a sharp pinch dug into my sex, and I bucked against him.
"Oh, GOD!" I cried in pain! I jerked my head up to a catch the glint in his eyes. Had he really nipped… down there? Holy fuck!
Mr. Wolf sneered smugly. "Penalties for rushing me."
"Careful, Monroe," I managed to say.
"I think your recklessness can handle it," he replied. My recklessness could, but I didn't want to lose anything down there. A long lick where he'd bitten had me moaning again, but he left me wanting more. I let out a frustrated groan. He'd stolen my orgasm. Torturous!
I'll let you come soon," he said, as if reading my thoughts, "if you're good." Oh, he knew exactly how close I was. "You know, they say patience is virtue."
The things we were doing tonight were far from virtuous. But I wasn't going to say that aloud. I didn't want any more penalties.
Mr. Wolf kissed upward across my stomach, pausing long enough to tease the skin of my navel with the tip of his nose followed by his tongue. I shifted back and forth trying not to giggle. His hand caressed my cheek and his thumb trailed over my bottom lip. I closed my lips around his thumb before he could get his hand away and sucked it into my mouth.
"I need you," I mumbled around his thumb as my tongue encircled it.
"You'll have me soon enough." His low growl was encouraging and I returned his earlier favor and bit gently. He clicked his tongue again and slid his thumb out slowly as I gave it a few small licks before it was gone.
More kisses trailed dangerously close between my legs then back up to my breasts. Looking down my body and into his upturned crimson eyes I shivered with each additional kiss until he took a nipple into his mouth. I let out another blissful moan that turned into a yelp as his teeth closed upon it. His eyes met mine as he held on. Oh, he was biting back again. Delicious bursts of pleasure and pain surged through me. Monroe's gaze traveled up to my wrists as he let go. He couldn't control it and he had another woge.
"So… difficult," his voice growled.
"Don't hold it back," I begged. The Wolf looked down at me with desire building in his eyes. "Please," I sighed out.
The Wolf moved down to my legs, jutting them outward. His large tongue made contact once more and I groaned with each flick, arching up, desperate for more. My body was on fire as the Wolf adeptly slid his tongue inside and then dipped back out. Oh, I was so close to climax, but just as I was right on the precipice, he withdrew again. I let out an exasperated sigh.
The Wolf straddled me, his fur rubbed against my smooth legs. He planted his hands on either side of me as he leaned his head downward. His hot breath burned at my skin. The ropes twisted as I pulled against them once more. I needed more touching, licking, stroking… anything. He watched me squirm, seemingly amused.
"Take me," I breathed out the words. "Take me like this."
"Don't be demanding," he said. "You are in no position to demand anything."
Vulnerability hit me with his words. That delightful, delicious vulnerability as he took over. My recklessness shot out. I was his… his to do whatever he wanted with me. His…
"You're in charge." I nodded, gazing into his eyes; the red ignited me like flames.
His mouth met mine; growls tumbled into my parted lips. His Old Spice drifted past my nose, the only reminder that this was still Monroe. The rest of him was gone for now. I tried to move my hips, but he had me trapped. The weight of his body pressed me down hard.
"Please, Mr. Wolf," I murmured between kisses.
His shot up at the words and snarled as he shook his large head.
I locked eyes with him. "Please… Mr. Blutbad," I corrected myself. That Freudian id of his…
"Better," he growled.
His eyes moved back to my wrists again and they narrowed. Fixated on the red, no doubt. He continued to hover over me, grinding his hips against mine. His sex pressed firmly alongside my thigh. I was dizzy with lust, and my teeth bit hard into my lower lip. Too hard. The bittersweet, metallic taste hit my tongue. The Wolf's nose twitched. His eyes immediately focused at my lip. I held my breath as he bent town, lapping at my mouth. I squeezed my eyes shut. Holy crap! My heart raced, pounded while he kissed and licked. His tongue edged down toward my neck, circling my throat. I tilted my head back as my recklessness led me on. I trusted him.
The Wolf's growl reverberated like a rolling thunder against my chest. His mouth replaced his tongue as it took hold. Sharp teeth pierced my flesh as he kissed, pleasure tinged with pain. I let out a moan as I stretched my neck further. But then the pain was taking over…too much. It was hurting. I moved my hands out of instinct, but I couldn't do anything. The combination of sharp pain and a rush of panic hit me. The Wolf wasn't letting up.
"Monroe," I rasped out.
The Wolf clamped down…he wasn't listening. Oh, God. I shut my eyes tighter as the bursts of pain swelled behind them. Claws moved down my legs, forcing them wide open as he slid inside. He thrust his hips quickly while his mouth never wavered from my neck. It was too much, all too much. Fear took over and I bucked against him.
My recklessness surged up while my brain was half-screaming to keep going, half-screaming to say the safe word. This wasn't safe... Oh, but what part of our relationship ever was? Maybe I'd just pass out before…
He thrust in harder and I jerked back to consciousness. The thrusts continued to fill me and I concentrated on the pleasure below my waist. My reckless woge seized hold and the lust returned in full swing. Instead of begging to stop, I moaned instead. Magnificent waves rippled through me as he slid inside all the way to the hilt. His tongue glided over where he'd bitten. As the pain dulled, I let the calm wash over me. He moved in and out, slowing down the rhythm.
"Mine," he growled out near my ear. "Say it," he commanded.
"Yours." I drew out the word as I sunk into bliss. "All yours."
The Wolf rocked back and forth as I came close to climax. His pace quickened, but then the teeth returned, harder this time and I gasped loudly, all the while fighting against the ropes so I could reach for him and pull his mouth away.
My muscles tensed under him as my orgasm hit me, colors burst behind my eyes and the room spun as my body shook. Nothing mattered, the pain stopped and just the surge of him inside me was all that remained. He came loudly, letting go of my neck to howl out as we crashed together.
I was losing consciousness again. The colors dissipated as blackness enveloped me. But then pain hit once more as his teeth took hold of my neck. I jolted… Snarls and growls flooded my ears.
"Monroe, stop! Please!" I pressed the words as they came out in rasps. My recklessness urged me to endure, but I couldn't. The pain was all consuming. It had to stop. Too much…
"Glocken…" His clawed hand clasped over my mouth to keep me from finishing. Short breaths escaped my nose and I was faint. Hot liquid poured down my neck. "Glockenspiel!" I found my voice to scream, but his hand firmly covered my mouth, muffling my cries. That word didn't matter anymore.
I moved my legs around, trying to kick him off me, but it didn't deter him. He growled louder under my neck, lapping and biting. With all my might I hit him hard in his lower backbone with my heel.
His teeth let go as he leapt back with a howling groan and reached for his spine. I pressed my legs into the mattress and quickly shimmied up the bed. Within seconds I had the knots loose and my hands free. Monroe didn't move and he wasn't retracting. He stood at the foot of the bed gasping in breaths with his mouth bloody and agape. Red, burning eyes stared me down like he was going to pounce on me again. I reached for my neck, which was stabbing with pain. When I let it go, I glanced down to the blood covering my palm and then to the sheets. There was a whole lot of blood on the sheets. My eyes shot back up at him.
"I'm sorry," he said in a mountainous voice. "It was… overwhelming. Too intense…"
It was all I could do to breathe, and I was so light-headed. My recklessness was retreating, leaving me empty like a shell. I leaned back against the tall headboard, wanting to just let myself go—let the darkness take over—but I was too afraid to shut my eyes, too afraid to look away from him.
Finally he retracted. He put his hands to his mouth, rubbing away the blood. He came toward me and I tensed. He shook his head as he paused, resting at the edge of the bed. Clocks ticking filled the void in the room.
"I'm sorry," he softly said again after what seemed like forever. It was Monroe… his voice returning. With all my might I pulled myself together, moving toward him and reaching for his shoulders with shaking hands. My forehead rested against the back of his hair as I willed myself to relax. Fast breaths were replaced by slower ones. Monroe put a hand over mine.
"It stopped. It's fine." My voice quavered.
"Yeah, barely."
I tensed again. Barely? Fuck…
"I'm sorry I kicked you…there. Are you okay?"
"You're the one bleeding all over the place and you're asking me if I'm okay?" He shook his head as it drooped down. "Oh man…" he sighed.
I rubbed his shoulders, but then I halted when I looked down. I was getting blood all over him.
Quickly I slipped off the bed as my feet worked to support my body. "I'm gonna… I'm, uh, just gonna go get cleaned up," I mumbled out as I wobbled myself to the bathroom.
I locked the door behind me and braced myself against the sink. Raising my head, I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My chest was covered in blood and my neck was bruised under the deep bite. It was still bleeding. This one was worse than the ones in Kentucky. Maybe he was a vampire after all. No, there were more than just two holes in my neck. Quite a few more than just two. I turned on the sink, splashing cool water on my face. Just breathe. Breathe. I pushed the calm forward as I took in more breaths.
Monroe knocked on the door. "Are you okay?" He tried the doorknob. "Renée, why did you lock it?"
"I'll be out soon," I replied, not answering his questions. I glanced down to my wrists, which were bruised and indented from where I'd strained against the ropes. Long claw marks ran down my legs. Great, just great.
I managed to get in the shower. The cool water hit me as I washed off the blood. The bite stung under the water, and the pain shot through my neck. I let out a groan.
"Are you seriously okay?" Monroe called out.
"I'll be out soon," I replied again. Super hearing. I'd have to keep my pain silent.
I took my time, stuck in my own thoughts. What the hell happened in there? Would he have stopped if I hadn't kicked him? Dear, God. I trusted him, but then again, maybe there were too many temptations at once. And the red… Why couldn't he have bought a white rope like a normal person? I shook my head and let out a laugh. Yeah, like buying rope was just so normal anyway. Well, I'd had my taste of BDSM, and it was safe to say I'd lost my appetite. There was too much of a loss of control. But Monroe still had some control, right? Of course he did. I mean, if he didn't then, well… I drowned out the thoughts as I hummed Nazareth.
"Love hurts, love scars.
Love wounds, and marks.
I really learned a lot,
Really learned a lot.
Love is like a flame,
It burns you when it's hot.
Ooh, ooh,
Love hurts…"
My neck stung again as I lathered up. Nazareth wasn't talking about physical pain, but I sure was.
"Umm, why are you humming that song?" He jiggled the door knob again. "Can you just, umm, let me in for a second?"
"Monroe, I'll be out soon, okay?" I replied weakly.
Okay, so no humming either. I reached for my neck, suppressing my agony as I cleansed it. The wounds would heal. I'd regenerate. The Waldgeist side of me would repair the bite marks on my neck in a few days. But the trust… Maybe my grandmother was right. No. I wasn't going down that path. This wasn't his fault. I'd practically begged for him to continue his woge. I'd wanted him that way. Well, my recklessness wanted it, at least. But I'd pushed too hard… and then I bit my lip. The blood. God, how stupid! I guess the Boy Scout wasn't prepared for that one. Well, he'd earned a merit badge tonight, all right. He didn't kill me. That deserved an award, for sure.
I finished my shower and dabbed at the bite. Blood seeped out, soaking the tissue. I rummaged around the bathroom until I found a bandage. There, at least that would help keep the blood from going everywhere. I dried my hair, taking great care to position it over the bite. He didn't need to see it.
I wrapped my towel around me and unlocked the bathroom door. Monroe wasn't in the bedroom when I entered. The sheets had been removed from the bed, replaced with new ones. A small piece of red rope was hanging out of the wastebasket by the dresser. Probably the best place for it. I located my overnight bag and dressed quickly. If only I had brought a turtleneck. I had one at home I could wear tomorrow.
I lay down on the clean sheets and stared up at the ceiling. Closing my eyes briefly, I breathed in and out with the ticks of the clocks. They beat together perfectly. Monroe had made sure each one was in sync with the others when we'd set them. So meticulous. Their methodical beat was relaxing as my heart slowed to meet their rhythm.
The door creaked slightly, and I rolled over. Monroe stood by the door. He'd already showered and was wearing a denim shirt and jeans along with a fresh application of Old Spice.
"Can I come in?"
"Of course you can." I took my time sitting up. "Don't be silly."
He crossed the room and slowly reached for my face, kissing me hard. I tensed in spite of myself.
"Let me see," he said against my mouth.
"No," I murmured. "You don't need to."
Monroe let my lips go. "I need to see what I did to you," he insisted while still holding on to my shoulders.
I put a hand to my neck. "It'll be gone in a few days, so no sense worrying about it."
Monroe shook his head as his hands dropped to his sides, and he slumped down in front of me. "This was supposed to be sexy and fun, you know?"
"It was." I glanced down at the bed. "Up until…"
"God, Renée…" He took my hands in his, running his thumbs across my bruises. "I'd never hurt you. And I…" I looked up into his tear-filled, brown eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"It was just too much. We overdid it," I replied. "I think we've discovered a hard limit," I added with an awkward chuckle. "Biting is bad."
Monroe let out a breath as he shook his head. "Love hurts, huh?"
"Huh?" I blinked slowly. Love? We were saying love? Oh, not now. Not after this.
"The song you were humming. So, umm…"
Oh, right. Nazareth. Crap…
"It was just a song, Monroe. It was just what came to mind for a moment."
"I'd never hurt you," he repeated. "Not purposely."
"I played with fire asking you not to hold back, and well, you didn't hold back. Lesson learned and we move on, right?"
"Yeah." Monroe breathed out with a shake of his head. "Lesson learned."
I edged off the bed. "I'm going to go downstairs for a bit. You wanna join me?"
"Nah, I think I'm just gonna stay up here awhile."
I ran my hand through his wild, curly hair and kissed the top of his head. "Okay. Well, if you change your mind I'll be on the couch."
Monroe nodded. "I'll come down later."
I closed the bedroom door behind me and headed down the stairs.
My thoughts wandered again while I got comfortable on the couch. As I curled my legs under me, I turned on the TV. Pain radiated down my neck. I needed distractions. On the TV screen Michelle Pfeiffer and Jack Nicholson were in a hotel room. Jack Nicholson was chained in handcuffs to a radiator and was trying to explain to Michelle Pfeiffer how dangerous he was at night. I pressed the info button. Wolf. Of course it was. I sighed. Oh, cable. Why do you hate me so much? I shook my head as I watched a few moments.
"Why do you want any of this nightmare?" asked Jack.
"You mean instead of the gaiety of my normal life?" Michelle smirked back up at him as she tried to remove the handcuffs. "I don't know. Because I like you. Because you're a good man, and that's very exotic to me. I never thought I'd meet a good man who looked at me the way you do."
Jack shook his head. "You don't know I'm a good man."
"Yes. I do."
"Then why is this happening?" he asked pensively. "I thought only the evil were cursed," he added in a darkened tone.
"No. Not at all." Michelle laughed. "I could've told you that. The worst things happen to the best people."
Monroe was a good man…. a wonderful man. But the creature inside him wasn't because of a curse. It was just… Well, it was just who he was—a Blutbad. And I wasn't. We were different. Very different. Regardless of everything, I loved him. Maybe I was as crazy as Michelle Pfeiffer was, but my heart knew what it wanted. Lesson learned, move on, and don't get tied up again. At least not with red rope, my recklessness reminded me. Yeah, that was a given. Maybe what Michelle Pfeiffer said was true. Maybe bad things happen to good people. If that were true I was the best person on Earth. I shook my head and went to the kitchen. I needed a drink.
(*)(*)(*)(*)(*)
Two glasses of wine later, I hadn't turned the channel yet. By the time Jack Nicholson was saving Michelle Pfeiffer's life by fighting on the ground with his co-worker James Spader, who had also turned into a werewolf, I'd had enough. My thoughts went back to the night of stargazing. Just like Jack Nicholson, Monroe hadn't hesitated to protect me, either. I'd watched this kind of scene before with both Blutbaden struggling on the grass in the night, growling and snarling. If the movies only knew how close to real life they'd gotten it. I shook my head. It wasn't the first time Monroe had taken a man down on my behalf. He'd fought with my ex in my backyard, and while that one hadn't been much of an even fight as the one with the Blutbad, it'd still proven that he'd do anything for me.
Jack Nicholson threw the werewolfy James Spader into a set of stairs and turned to walk away. Just as James Spader was about to leap back out at him with hedge clippers, which seemed silly for a werewolf to use, Michelle Pfeiffer pulled out a gun and shot him repeatedly in the chest. Werewolf James fell dead in a pond, and Jack turned back around with a few more growls for good measure. Michelle didn't seem to know about Alpha dominance, either. If I'd had a gun that night instead of an umbrella, I might have done the same thing. That realization scared me a little.
A/N: Whew! Okay. So still with me? Good... Maybe Monroe could handle red outside, but clearly the constant red on Renée's wrists and her bloody lip was not a good combo, huh?
Never seen the movie, Wolf? I highly recommend it! (Sorry for spoilers, but it was out in 1994. LOL!)
2 more chapters today.
Edit: For those who have hinted, I've written an addendum to this chapter from Monroe's POV. It's titled "After the Red Ropes Fell: Monroe's Story." It starts after Renée leaves to go downstairs. Kinda gives the reader some more insight into Monroe's thoughts, feelings, etc... Go check it out. (: