Read Online Taming the Darkness: Love & Monsters, Book 2 by Devin Harnois - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Devin Harnois
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rate and breathing slowed, she realized what he was saying, over and over. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
She didn’t know what to say or do, other than to lift his face and kiss him.
Chapter Six
Alston hadn’t been happy about the smashed AV, but they were able to recover it and determined they could repair it. It took a bit of convincing, but he agreed Victor and Claire could take out another one tonight, they just couldn’t go out as far and they had to bring this one back in working condition.
While Victor ate breakfast, Berkstrom caught him up on the gossip. The brass had been getting an earful about the other alts and how slow their progress was. Some of their partners still weren’t willing to be in the same room with them, and one that had dared had gotten his arm ripped open. He’d recover, but the partnership was over. Victor and Claire were the only ones that had gone out, and it wasn’t enough to convince the brass that alts were useful. Doctor Lathell and the rest of his faction kept insisting the alts were too dangerous and it might not be long before the brass agreed.
“They’re sending Patterson and his partner out tonight, to prove you aren’t a fluke,” Berkstom said.
“Well, he hasn’t killed anybody, so he’s got one up on me.” Victor gulped down another mouthful of bacon. Over the smell of his breakfast and despite taking a shower when he got back, Victor still smelled Claire all over him. Just like he wanted, he’d woken with the smell of her on his skin. He kept thinking about that morning, replaying it over and over. It was so unbelievable he could almost convince himself it was a dream. Only two nights before he’d been worried she might never touch him again, and then she’d done more than touch him. Much more.
Before he’d been altered, what they’d done in the back of the AV would have been no more than a pleasant interlude. Back when he was human, a woman’s touch was something nice to enjoy when he was off duty or off shift, and for a few months he’d had a steady girlfriend. But Claire’s touch had meant so much more. The trust she’d shown him was more trust than he had in himself. She should have been afraid and disgusted, but she’d treated him like a man.
It terrified him because it meant he had something to lose.
Night approached, and for once he didn’t dread it. Yes, it meant that the monster would be in control, but it also meant he would see Claire again. Both sides of him wanted that, and as the sun crept closer to the horizon, he started pacing his cell. A knock on the outer door made his head snap up. His nostrils flared and he caught a faint scent of Claire. Berkstrom opened the door and she stepped in. The sight of her made him feel lighter and warmer and he smiled. “Come to see the other side?” he asked. Twice now she’d seen the change that came over him at sunrise, but she hadn’t seen those moments when the monster took control.
“Yes, up close.” She reached for the inner door.
His smile fell. “You can’t come in here, not when it happens.” Panic rose up and he backed toward the far wall.
“You’re not going to hurt me.” She walked into the cell and he couldn’t smell a weapon on her, not even a knife.
“You don’t know that. I don’t know that. When the monster takes over, it’s bad, Claire. You gotta get out.” Only a few minutes left, it was stirring inside him as the sun slipped low.
“I trust you.” She closed the door behind her and stood next to the chair she’d sat in that first day.
Victor growled as he bumped up against the wall. “Trust is gonna get you killed.” His heart pounded. Yes, she’d been next to him as he fought, the thing inside him calling out for blood. But in those first few minutes after full dark, he was gone as the monster rushed to the surface.
A hint of fear leaked into her scent. “You won’t kill me.”
“I won’t want to, but it won’t be me. There’s a nasty
She didn’t know what to say or do, other than to lift his face and kiss him.
Chapter Six
Alston hadn’t been happy about the smashed AV, but they were able to recover it and determined they could repair it. It took a bit of convincing, but he agreed Victor and Claire could take out another one tonight, they just couldn’t go out as far and they had to bring this one back in working condition.
While Victor ate breakfast, Berkstrom caught him up on the gossip. The brass had been getting an earful about the other alts and how slow their progress was. Some of their partners still weren’t willing to be in the same room with them, and one that had dared had gotten his arm ripped open. He’d recover, but the partnership was over. Victor and Claire were the only ones that had gone out, and it wasn’t enough to convince the brass that alts were useful. Doctor Lathell and the rest of his faction kept insisting the alts were too dangerous and it might not be long before the brass agreed.
“They’re sending Patterson and his partner out tonight, to prove you aren’t a fluke,” Berkstom said.
“Well, he hasn’t killed anybody, so he’s got one up on me.” Victor gulped down another mouthful of bacon. Over the smell of his breakfast and despite taking a shower when he got back, Victor still smelled Claire all over him. Just like he wanted, he’d woken with the smell of her on his skin. He kept thinking about that morning, replaying it over and over. It was so unbelievable he could almost convince himself it was a dream. Only two nights before he’d been worried she might never touch him again, and then she’d done more than touch him. Much more.
Before he’d been altered, what they’d done in the back of the AV would have been no more than a pleasant interlude. Back when he was human, a woman’s touch was something nice to enjoy when he was off duty or off shift, and for a few months he’d had a steady girlfriend. But Claire’s touch had meant so much more. The trust she’d shown him was more trust than he had in himself. She should have been afraid and disgusted, but she’d treated him like a man.
It terrified him because it meant he had something to lose.
Night approached, and for once he didn’t dread it. Yes, it meant that the monster would be in control, but it also meant he would see Claire again. Both sides of him wanted that, and as the sun crept closer to the horizon, he started pacing his cell. A knock on the outer door made his head snap up. His nostrils flared and he caught a faint scent of Claire. Berkstrom opened the door and she stepped in. The sight of her made him feel lighter and warmer and he smiled. “Come to see the other side?” he asked. Twice now she’d seen the change that came over him at sunrise, but she hadn’t seen those moments when the monster took control.
“Yes, up close.” She reached for the inner door.
His smile fell. “You can’t come in here, not when it happens.” Panic rose up and he backed toward the far wall.
“You’re not going to hurt me.” She walked into the cell and he couldn’t smell a weapon on her, not even a knife.
“You don’t know that. I don’t know that. When the monster takes over, it’s bad, Claire. You gotta get out.” Only a few minutes left, it was stirring inside him as the sun slipped low.
“I trust you.” She closed the door behind her and stood next to the chair she’d sat in that first day.
Victor growled as he bumped up against the wall. “Trust is gonna get you killed.” His heart pounded. Yes, she’d been next to him as he fought, the thing inside him calling out for blood. But in those first few minutes after full dark, he was gone as the monster rushed to the surface.
A hint of fear leaked into her scent. “You won’t kill me.”
“I won’t want to, but it won’t be me. There’s a nasty
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