Engines and werewolves

Chapter 5

The tension burst. Victoria was swallowed in a wave of wonderful bliss. Her body convulsed with the pleasure. She arched her back and screamed his name again and again.

"Lukeman! Lukeman!"

The bliss faded away. Her strength gave out. She collapsed onto the silk covers. He thrust longer into her until he, too, achieved the heaven he'd given her. He stiffened for a few moments, and then fell onto the bed close beside her.

His muscled arms slipped around her and pulled her close to him. Victoria welcomed the snuggle. She was exhausted and the sweat on her body chilled her. His warmth was comforting, and before she could stop herself she had drifted off to sleep.

Victoria don't know for how long she was asleep. An hour, maybe two. What woke her was not the time, however, but a noise beside her.

Victoria's eyes fluttered open. Lukeman was atop the bed on his hands and knees beside her. His hands dug into the silk sheets and strange, growling noises emitted from his throat. Victoria tilted her head back and her eyes widened.

Lukeman was transformed into some sort of beast. His face was elongated by a snout and his short hair was now a long mane down his back. The dark eyes were now a haunting yellow, and his stretched mouth was parted to show rows of sharp teeth. His muscled body was covered in a fine sheen of thick silver-brown fur.

Victoria gasped and started back. He whipped his head towards her. Those terrifying eyes fell on her, and the impulse to flee was too much.

Victoria toppled out of bed. One of the smaller sheets came with her. She hugged the cloth to herself and backed away from the bed toward the chamber door. The monster crawled on all fours off the bed and onto the floor. Its clawed hands followed her path, and those terrible yellow eyes never left her. Her back hit the wall. She slid down the wood paneling as the beast continued its terrible stalking towards her.

Victoria's hands stumbled over the frame of the door and the handle. She grabbed the knob and gave it a turn. The latch slid out and the door opened. The beast paused and growled. Victoria spun around and stumbled into a long, dark hallway. In front of her was a hallway that ran the length of the rear of the house. To her right was another carpeted route that led to the front.

Victoria hesitated only a second before she clutched the sheet to herself and rushed down the hall. The beast growled and lunged forward. She looked over her shoulder and watched the monster leapt into the hall. The creature slid into the wall opposite the room, but pushed off with its four legs and rushed down the hall after her.

Victoria's inattention meant her quick feet stepped on the sheet. She stumbled and fell forward onto the floor. The sound of the beast's four paws forced her to roll over onto her rear. She gasped.

The creature stood over her. Its elongated face was only inches from her own. Those golden yellow eyes stared into mine. Her blood ran cold and her body shivered. She dared not breath, much less move.

The creature curled its lips back in a snarl. Victoria shut her eyes and turned her face away. Her body shook. The thing's warm breath wafted over her.

"Sir!"

Victoria's eyes flew open and she looked over her shoulder in the direction of the voice. A man of fifty in a black servant's suit stood at the end of the hall. His pale face was accentuated by his wide, dark eyes. One of his hands was stretched out towards them.

The beast's warm breath pulled away from her. Victoria dared a glance back at it. The creature stood on two legs and its body changed. The fur sank back into pale skin and the grotesque face flattened into the handsome features that belonged to Lukeman. He stood n***d before her. her eyes inadvertently swept downward to the area below his waist. His swollen manhood was stiff and upright. Victoria blushed and looked away.

The suited man hurried down the hall and removed his long jacket. He swept the coat over Lukeman's shoulders and covered all the important bits. Victoria dared a glance back at them and cringed when she saw they both stared at her. The older gentleman's eyes were narrowed, but Lukeman's were heavily lidded. He knelt beside her and held out his hand. Victoria skirted away from him. A pained look swept across his face and he dropped his hand.

When he spoke his voice was a soft whisper. "I'm sorry. I never meant for you to know that part of her."

Victoria swallowed the lump in her throat and studied him. "W-what are you?"

He stood and clutched the coat to him with one hand. "Return to the room with her and all will be explained." Victoria shook her head. A teasing smile slipped onto his lips. "The floor can't be that comfortable."

"But it's closer to the stairs," she pointed out.

He chuckled. "If I had wanted to kill you, don't you believe I would have done so out in the garden? Or in my room?"

Victoria furrowed her brow. He had her there.

"Sir, is this really wise?" the older gentleman whispered.

Lukeman didn't look away from her as he spoke. "She knows enough that the rest of the truth won't hurt us any more." He knelt in front of her and stretched out his hand to her. His eyes caught hers in their beautiful gaze. "Please. I swear I won't hurt you."

Victoria hesitated for a moment before she reached out and set her fingers atop his. He pulled her to her feet and led her back down the hall. They passed by the servant, and the man's narrowed eyes studied her sharply.

Lukeman guided her back to his room where he released her hand. The cold room was dark and filled with shadows. He gestured to the chair in front of the fireplace. "Please have a seat."

Victoria hesitantly seated herself while he stood in front of the fireplace. In a minute he'd stoked a fire within its hearth and the room was filled with a warm light. Lukeman readjusted the coat and turned to her. The light from the fire cast long shadows over his front, but Victoria could clearly see his yellow-tinged eyes.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you I'm not human, at least not completely so," he commented.

Victoria shifted in her chair and swept her eyes over him. "I did get that impression."

He chuckled. The sound was without humor. "I'm sorry for that. I hadn't meant to lose herself, but with you laying by my side and after such a-well, an exercise, I couldn't control herself." Victoria blushed at the remembrance of their liaison. Lukeman half-turned away from her and set a hand on the mantel. A small hand mirror lay on the mantel close to his hand. His bright eyes gazed into the crackling fire. "I suppose after seeing me in that form you would believe I'm a werewolf."

Victoria's eyes widened. "A. . .a werewolf?" she choked out.

He looked to her and gave a nod. "Yes. A creature of myth and legend made flesh and blood." He slid his hand off the mantel and gazed at his palm and spread fingers. "A beast, some would say a monster, resides inside me. Most of the time I'm able to control myself, but as you saw, that isn't always the case."

Victoria shifted and tried to steady her shaking hands by clutching the arms of the chair. "Is. . .is that why you stay here?"

He dropped his hand and returned his intense gaze to her. A sensual heat arose in her, but Victoria tamped down the urge to kiss him. She noticed his nostrils flared and he stiffened. He reached up and grasped the mantel. His voice was thick with need. "You are very susceptible to my scent."

Victoria shook her head to clear the haze of l**t. A deep, long breath finished the job. "I don't know what you-" He slipped over to her and placed his hands over hers.

Those beautiful yellow eyes pierced her with their deep, lustful gaze. He leaned towards her so their lips nearly touched. His voice was low and sensual. "I can smell your need for her," he whispered. He tilted his head to the side and our lips ghosted against one another. Victoria closed her eyes and shuddered. "You desire me as much as I desire you."

Victoria leaned forward to kiss him, but he pulled away and retreated to the fireplace. His burning eyes never left her. His hand returned to the mantel and his fingers turned white from the hard hold. "I should never have allowed you in here."

Victoria swallowed her unfulfilled l**t. "Then why did you?"

A sly smile slipped onto his lips. "Because your scent intrigued me." His eyes swept over her. "You intrigued me."

Victoria blushed and looked at her lap. "This is. . .this is all so unbelievable."

He chuckled. "You won't believe me, nor your own eyes?"

Victoria pursed her lips. "No. I mean, yes. Well, sort of." Victoria closed her eyes and shook her head. "This is insane." She stood and met his gaze. "I came here to help my father. Do I still have your word you'll help him?"

Lukeman bowed his head. "You have my undying word."

"All right, then I guess I'll be going."

Victoria turned and strode over to the balcony, but his voice called her back. "What of your word?"

Victoria froze. She didn't turn around. Her voice was tense. "What word?"

"That you would remain here with me," he reminded her.

Victoria swallowed and half-turned to face him. "You can't be serious."

He nodded. His eyes never left hers. "I am."

Victoria set her hand on the knob of one of the French doors and frowned. "You can't expect me to stay here with a stranger. What about my father and friends? What about my life?"

Lukeman's smile returned. "You never cease to amaze me. Even when you list off what's most important to you, you place yourself below everyone else."

Victoria shrugged. "That's what's most important to me, now if you'll excuse me." She turned her back on him.

He stretched out his hand. "Wait. A moment more of your time."

Victoria glanced over her shoulder in time to see him remove the hand mirror from the mantel. He held out the glass to her. "Please take this. As a remembrance of me."

Victoria arched an eyebrow. Her eyes flickered between the gift and the man who held it. "You'll help my father, won't you?"

He nodded. "I will see that justice is done. This gift, this mirror, is my apology to you."

She arched an eyebrow. "You. . .you'd really let me go knowing what I know about you?"

Lukeman bowed his head. "With a heavy heart, but my grief would be somewhat alleviated if you accepted my gift."

Victoria shook her head. "I couldn't. And I might drop it down the vines."

His shoulders fell, but he nodded. "I understand, but wouldn't you rather go through the front door?"

Victoria opened the French door and stepped onto the balcony. "Thanks, but this way's a little more familiar. Anyway, I really appreciate your help with my father. Goodbye."

Victoria turned and hurried to the vine. The thick tendrils waited for her, and she climbed down them as quickly as she could. She dropped the last three feet to the ground and looked around. The fog was somewhat lifted, and she could see the stone path we'd followed from the gate.