by K. A Knight
It’s us against the world.
Brawler and Beast forever, even if the beast is more like the Disney version now.
We spread out, staying within view of each other while trying to cover as much ground as we can. Our lights pierce the night, our yells echoed by the howls of creatures in the distance, but they don’t scare me as much as losing Jago does.
Not again.
I start to panic, thinking of all the things that could happen to him. I need to stay smart and in control, because one wrong move out here means death, but I can’t. Not with terror filling me.
Then I see a light shining across the sand. I quickly turn to it and gun the engine. The others follow, and we race towards the light that, as we get closer, we realise is the same as ours—a bike light.
It’s Jago’s headlight, and it’s on the ground. Fuck!
I stop my bike. In my haste, it falls over as I sprint across the sand, covering the remaining distance between us. He’s on his back, crushed under the weight of the bike. Clay moves past me, yanking the bike up with a snarl, while Archel and Evan pull him free and Evan starts to check him over. He’s got cuts and scrapes, but he’s also hit his head again and the wound has reopened. Evan’s hand hesitates over it, combing the hair aside to see the bleeding injury is deeper than before.
“Fuck, he hit it again.” He begins to work to stop the bleeding, and I slide under his head like a cushion just as he instructs. Tears fill my eyes as I stroke his tranquil face.
“Jago,” I whisper as everyone waits with bated breath for him to wake up.
“His pulse is slow, but he’s okay. I don’t know about the head wound.”
“Jago,” I say louder, leaning over him as I press my hand against his chest to feel his beating heart. “Jago!”
He groans and his lashes flutter, but his eyes remain closed, his legs twisting. “That’s it, baby, it’s me, wake up,” I plead, curling my hands into his chest as I lean over further. Clay and Archel watch our backs, while Evan waits to evaluate the damage.
“Jago, please!” I yell, and he groans louder, his eyes nearly opening. “Please, please, I can’t lose you. Not again.”
“You could bever lose me, Brawler,” he murmurs with his eyes closed. I freeze, my heart slamming in my chest as I stare down at him.
“What…what did you call me?” I whisper.
“Brawler, of course.” He groans as his eyes blink open before he’s staring up at me. The fire in them is back. “Why, what else would I call you?”
“Beast?” I whisper, staring into those fiery eyes.
He frowns, then winces. “Fuck, my head hurts.”
“That’s what happens when you fall from a bike, dumbass,” Archel calls. “We need to get moving. All this commotion is attracting predators, so is the scent of his blood.”
“Can he move?” l ask Evan.
“I—shit, maybe,” he mutters. “We have no choice, he can’t ride though.”
“I’ll hold him against me on the bike,” Clay volunteers while I just stare into Jago’s confused gaze as he looks up at me. His hand drifts across my jaw and captures a tear rolling down my chin.
“What’s wrong, Brawler?” he demands, his voice thick with pain and confusion, but also anger on my behalf.
“It’s you, it’s really you… You’re back.”
“Back? What did I miss?” he mutters in confusion, and I just laugh as I lean in and kiss him swiftly.
“Well shit, I kinda liked the new smiley Jago. He didn’t try to kill me as much,” Archel jokes. “Okay, big guy, time to go.”
“Go where?” he asks, letting them help him up with his arms over their shoulders.
“Anywhere, just as long as you’re there.” I rush to my feet before him, unable to take my eyes off those fiery orbs as he smiles widely.
“Always, Brawler.”
Between us, we manage to get Jago back. Clay and Archel help walk him to the house, where Abel waits. As soon as we are there, they carefully sit him down as Evan goes about cleaning and dressing the wound and asking questions. He tests Jago’s eyesight, memory, and much more. I stand at the back with my arms crossed, trying to refrain from rushing over there. I want to shake sense into him for leaving, but if he didn’t, I wouldn’t have my Jago back—and he is back. Before Evan asks if he knows us, I see the answer in his eyes.
“Why wouldn’t I?” he snaps and looks at me. “Brawler, what’s going on? Everything is fuzzy. I remember the cave… Shit, how did I get out of there? Did I escape?”
“You didn’t,” I croak out hoarsely and shake off the memories of almost losing him—again. “We rescued you. You had been…tortured. You had a head injury, and it gave you amnesia. You couldn’t remember anything or anyone, even yourself…or me.”
His expression drops as he stares at me. “I forgot you?”
“And yourself,” I add.
“I don’t give a fuck about that.” He surges to his feet and wobbles. Evan tries to restrain him, but Jago throws off his hands and hurries to me on unsteady feet. He cups my face reassuringly, like always, and I lean into his touch. I feel tears in my eyes as he searches my gaze. “Brawler, I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” I whisper.
He rests his forehead on mine. “I don’t care, I don’t even know how I could forget you. You are so ingrained in me, into every thought, action, and every inch of my body.”
“Deep down, I think you remembered some of me,” I reassure him.
“You tried to protect her,” Clay offers.
“You got pissed when she wasn’t next to you,” Archel adds.
“You couldn’t pull yourself away from her, and even without your memories, you wanted to fall in love with her again…but you said your heart was already there,” Evan finishes.
“You were still you, just different.”
“I didn’t sing, did I?” he jokes, and I smack his chest.
“Never joke again. Fuck, you smiled and joked way too often to be you.” I almost cry with happiness then as he laughs and kisses me softly.
“Then I’ll be stern and angry at all times. You will never lose me, Brawler. With or without my memories, I knew you were mine. This heart is yours, always has been and always will be,” he vows, making me nod as the tears fall. He stumbles again, and Evan and Clay catch him before he takes us both down.
“Okay, big guy, enough love confessions for now. Let’s get you better so you can go back to kicking Archel’s ass,” Evan teases as he guides him into a chair.
Abel comes in and looks at Jago, sighing in relief. “Good, you found him.”
“Not just him, but his memories.” I grin, wiping my face. “Abel, I would like you to meet Jago, the real Jago…my beast.”
He’s confused, but it looks like that blow to the head helped restart his brain. Will he remember forgetting? Who knows, his brain is hard and complicated, and he has a thick skull, thank God.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Abel sticks his hand out. “I am Abel, a friend.”
“And my mother’s lover,” I add, and Jago frowns. “It’s a long story. Let Evan check you over and get some fluid and food in you, and then I’ll tell you everything.”
“Would you like some of the healing tea, Doctor?” Abel asks Evan.
“Yes, thank you.” Evvie almost preens at being called ‘Doctor.’
Abel instantly hops to it, moving with purpose to swiftly brew and hand Evan anything he might need as he inspects Jago’s wound and continues his tests. Jago keeps his eyes on me the entire time, so I smile reassuringly, and only then does he relax a little. Did I really look that bad?
“You ripped open your head wound. I’m going to need to stitch and dress it, it will hurt,” Evan warns before talking him through it as he lays out what he needs, while Abel passes over the drink.
“Down the hatch,” he instructs, and when I nod, Jago drains the drink with pursed lips, then hands the mug back, being polite as Evan moves his
hair, clipping it back so he can see the wound.
“Pip, get your fine ass over here and make sure he doesn’t kill me.”
Grinning, I move closer and straddle Jago’s lap, keeping him pinned as Evan starts to sew. He knows if he moves too fast with Beast, his first reaction to pain is to fight. Jago grunts, holding me tighter as his lips twist in pain. I stroke his shoulders and face, humming to him as Evan finishes up and then dresses the lesion before stepping back.
“There, all done,” I coo, tipping his head up and kissing him gently. “Now you need to eat and drink something, okay? Then we’ll rest.”
“I want to know everything that happened.”
“Tomorrow, once you’ve slept,” I promise.
He concedes for once, and after getting him settled, Abel and I quickly hand out drinks and cook some warm food for everyone.
All the while, my brain whirls and turns, always landing on the same thought.
I’m happy he’s back.
Once we’ve eaten, I force Jago to rest, but the only way he will is if I lie down with him, and of course my other men think that’s an invitation, so we all pile into the room he was staying in. I curl up into Jago’s side, while Archel is wrapped around my legs from behind. Evan is between them, and Clay is draped along the bottom, his head and legs hanging off in a very uncomfortable angle, not that he seems to mind.
“Now that he has his memories back, can we tell him all the embarrassing shit he did?” Archel teases into the dark.
Jago’s chest moves with a deep sigh before he pulls me closer. “Any more embarrassing than you doing and enjoying sand facemasks with Brawler?”
“Princess!” Archel whines. “That was one time, and you told me you wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“Oops.” I giggle, snuggling closer to Jago, content to just be with them. The hole in my heart is filled once more, and I feel completely full and loved.
It goes quiet for a moment as I stroke my beast’s chest, mulling over everything that has happened, how we handled him losing his memories, and how we adapted. As usual, my thoughts come out like word vomit. “It’s like our love is a condom, it stretches, changes, and adapts. Altering to fit us all and keep us safe.”
“What a weird metaphor, but I guess so,” Evan replies, smiling against my skin, unbothered by my random outburst.
“I mean we were going to do whatever it took,” I finish lamely.
“Yeah, you were even willing to give Jago up,” Clay scoffs.
“Give me up?” he repeats, and I wince.
“I offered to let you find another life, since you couldn’t remember this one. I didn’t want you to feel trapped,” I mutter.
“You were going to let me go?” Jago demands, glaring down at me. I smile sweetly, innocently, even though he knows better than to trust it.
“You’re so pretty,” I tell him, making him roll his eyes.
“She was,” Archel inserts, so I kick him, making him grunt.
“Shut the fuck up. I wouldn’t have really let him go. I would have stalked him like a weirdo until he loved me and fucked my brains out again—oops.” I roll my lips inwards to keep myself from talking.
They all groan, then laugh, and I flip to see Jago’s fiery eyes on me. He strokes my side like he can’t bear not to touch me. My heart flips from that look, and my whole body heats up. It’s possessive, caring, and so fucking hungry, I actually swallow my next words. We just stare at each other in the dark.
“All right. Up we go, boys. These two clearly want to fuck,” Archel announces and kicks Evan off the bed.
“I’m hungry anyway. Evan can make me a sandwich,” Clay decides as he climbs from the bed, kisses my cheek, and leaves the room. Evan follows, rubbing his ass and grumbling at them both. Archel chuckles and kisses my cheek, breaking the staring contest. “Good humping, Princess.”
Jago snarls, and before he can punch him, Archel is out of the door with the others, closing it behind him.
“I missed you so much,” I whisper.
“It feels like I’ve had no time apart from you, but I’m sorry I hurt you, Brawler.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, it was an accident. It happened, and we will grow stronger because of it. Now we know we can survive absolutely anything,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss him softly. I keep it chaste, despite Archel’s comments—he’s hurt, after all, and he needs to rest.
“He is right though—I need to feel you and wipe that sad, hurt look from your eyes. I want to replace it with so much pleasure, you scream for them all to hear and I will never forget again. How could I?”
“That sounds like a plan.” I gasp as I rub against him. Jago and I were together without the memories. It was beautiful, and I had resigned myself to always knowing what he did not, but with my beast here, holding me so tightly and promising me the world…I need him again. I need to feel that fire in his eyes washing across my skin until I can’t breathe or think.
Just feel.
He lowers his head, giving me no chance to escape as he captures my lips. He claims them once more before he quickly flips us, pinning me to the bed as he decimates my mouth. His tongue tangles with mine, controlling the pace.
He’s reclaiming me, and I’m okay with that. I’ll do the same to him. I pull back and gasp for air. He kisses across my cheek to my ear, growling out, “Never try to let me go again,” before kissing down my throat. My eyes slip close, and my head drops back to the pillow. I’m drugged by him. By his warmth, the strength of his body, and the conviction in his words. By the assurance in his kisses. I need everything he’s promising.
Need him.
My beast.
His mouth descends across my shoulder, leaving no inch of skin unkissed as he gently nudges my top down. His lips wrap around my nipple, sucking as his fingers pluck my free nipple before he lets go and gives the other the same treatment. His rough touch makes me whimper and tug on his hair as I drag him closer. My legs are wrapped around his waist, and I grind into him. He kisses down my belly to my pussy before parting my lips and covering my clit with his mouth.
I cry out as I lift my hips into his mouth. Lust surges through me so fiercely, I claw at him, needing him inside of me, needing to feel my beast. When he lets go, he licks down my pussy and spears his tongue inside of me, tasting my cream. He fucks me with it as I whimper and roll in the sheets. It’s too much, and when his fingers join in, I can’t take anymore. I come all over them.
He surges above me, grabs one leg, and presses my foot against his chest as he lines his cock up with my hole and slams all the way in. I scream, my orgasm still rolling through me as he starts to move. He fucks me softly at first, keeping his eyes locked on mine. He watches me, assuring himself I’m here, just as I’m doing with him. I clutch his shoulders and hold on.
He fucks me hard and fast. Each thrust pushes me higher on the bed, the angle hitting me so deep that it nearly hurts, but I crave his brand of painful love. It’s feral and raw like my beast.
“I missed your fire so much. Never leave me again,” I rasp, my eyes sliding shut. He snarls and leans down, biting my neck hard.
“Eyes on me, Brawler,” he orders with a snarl as he pulls away. I force them open, my gaze clashing with his. Our eyes remain locked together as the pleasure builds with each stroke of his huge cock. “You are mine. This mouth.” He leans down and kisses me, biting my lip until it bleeds. “These breasts.” He twists one of my nipples so hard, I clench around him. His hand drags down my stomach and pinches my clit. “This pussy, and even that tight little ass. All of you is mine, don’t you ever forget that.”
His name leaves my lips on a moan as I listen to his possessive, dirty words. I plant my other foot on the bed beside his, lifting myself to meet his hard thrusts. I take everything he has and more. He snarls and clenches his teeth as he powers into me, and the wet noise of our bodies joining makes me all that hotter for him.
I can’t take any more, and I come all across his dick
as he growls and fights my tight channel. Pulling out, he flips me and drags my ass back into the air, and in one smooth thrust, he buries himself back inside of me. I scream and clutch at the bedding as he rams into me, forcing his cock deeper, harder, faster. His grip on my hips is bruising, just the way I like it.
I close my eyes, pressing my face to the bed as I pant, sweat coating my skin. “I can’t come again, I can’t—”
“You can and you fucking will,” he snarls. His palm lands on my ass cheek in punishment over and over in time with his thrusts. The burn of it elicits a whimper from my lips as I push back to meet him.
“Can’t!” I cry out, even as the pleasure builds again. It’s so strong this time, I feel like I might pass out, and when his slap lands on my pussy, catching my clit, I scream.
I come again like he promised, pulling him with me as he snarls and fights, filling me with his cum. I nearly pass out, and when I come to, he’s pulling his softening cock from my sore pussy. He places a gentle kiss on my back, and I almost weep, before he cleans me up and tucks me into bed with him. I’m barely able to keep my eyes open, he fucked me that good.
“Love you,” I whisper into his chest, feeling his heart race in time with mine.
“I love you forever, Brawler,” he vows, kissing me tenderly.
I fall asleep in my beast’s arms with his kiss on my lips and his hands on my heart, knowing that whatever tomorrow brings, we can handle it.
Together.
Over breakfast, we take turns filling Jago in on everything he has missed. By the time we are done, he looks like his head is about to explode. Beast Jr. has been exploring while we talk, but when he hears us moving around, he rushes back in just in time to see Evan forcing Jago to rest again. I help Jago to the sofa in the living room, and for the first time, I tell them all to stay as I place the next tape in the player.
