Nature of the B*E*A*S*T*

by Rebecca Goings

  With a surge of renewed desire, he thrust his tongue into her mouth, only to groan when she answered him in kind. The taste of her was like sweet, hot candy.

  Jesus, Wade. Stop.

  Tears formed in his eyes as he continued to kiss her, wanting to do nothing more than lift her shirt over her head and taste her until she begged for mercy. But it could never happen. Keira wasn't the woman he wanted to become involved with, no matter how loudly his body screamed to bury itself inside her.

  When her hands left his face to thread through his hair, he moaned into her mouth and released her. He stared at her for a good, long time, taking in her labored breathing, dilated eyes, and swollen lips.

  "This is wrong.” Wade had to blink back his tears.

  "But—"

  "No. Keira, no.” He shied away when she cupped his cheek once more.

  "But, Wade—"

  "Lady, just get the hell away from me!"

  Keira gasped, and instantly Wade could see the tears misting in her eyes. His heart ached as his blood rushed in his ears. Without a word, Keira stepped away from him, rounding the Hummer to the other side, leaving the pungent scent of sorrow and disappointment behind.

  Wade climbed into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut behind him. He'd be damned if he was going to be moved by Keira's sobbing. But it wasn't long before regret hit him like a tidal wave.

  If she didn't believe he was a monster before, she certainly did now. Wade should have been happy for his victory. Instead, it made him hate himself all the more.

  Five

  Keira stared out the passenger window, not paying any attention to the lightening sky. Wade hadn't said a word since yelling at her more than an hour ago, much to her relief. The silence was welcome, even if it was uncomfortable.

  She was angry and disappointed, yet confused at the same time. Why the hell had she let a perfect stranger—one who'd kidnapped her, no less—kiss her into oblivion? It made no sense. It had to be due to her familiar feelings for Wade. But wracking her brain, she couldn't remember his name for the life of her. Perhaps he merely resembled someone she once knew.

  Kissing him, however, had sent a bolt of lightning thundering throughout the four corners of her body. She'd felt his domination of their kiss down to her toes. Keira had her fair share of ardent kisses in the past, but Wade's had been second to none. It had seemed he'd wanted to devour her—and she would have let him.

  Rubbing her eyes, she tried her hardest to forget how her skin had tingled at the pressure of his mouth on hers. If he really could smell everything about her, the last thing she wanted was for him to get another whiff of her desire. She was not about to humiliate herself even further. Wade had made it quite clear he wanted nothing to do with her. She should be grateful for that. This situation could have been much worse, with a kidnapper who forced himself upon her.

  She shivered, but refused to look at him. He was taking her back to Dallas. She'd likely never see him again—unless he somehow succeeded with his revenge...

  At that moment, Keira's stomach roared loudly, making her spread her hand on her belly, as if to calm it.

  Wade didn't even look at her. “You hungry?"

  Her heart leapt into her throat at his words. Dear God, even the sound of his voice was enough to make her hair stand on end.

  "Yeah ... I guess, a little.” Her stomach once again growled.

  "Sounds like more than just a little."

  "I suppose.” Keira chewed the inside of her lip, unsure what else to say to him. He'd told her to get the hell away from him. She knew he'd been deliberately trying to scare her away. Perhaps his harsh words earlier had been nothing more than subterfuge to keep her distance. Wade obviously believed he was capable of horrible things, and maybe he was. Keira didn't know him from Adam. Or did she?

  Stealing a glance at him, she tried hard to think of where she might have seen him before. He looked at her a few moments later and their eyes locked. Keira couldn't bring herself to turn away. Wade's eyes seemed to flash a golden color once again before he continued to watch the road.

  "There's a small town coming up,” he said, pointing out the windshield. “We can grab a bite to eat and maybe get some directions."

  "Directions? Are we lost?"

  "Have you seen any highway markers for the last fifty miles?” he asked, glancing at her.

  "Well ... no..."

  "Neither have I."

  "What highway did you take to get out of Dallas?” she asked.

  "I wasn't paying any goddamn attention to the roads, lady! I just picked one."

  Keira narrowed her eyes and set her jaw. She didn't like his tone one bit. “Don't talk to me that way."

  "What way?” he asked, sounding bewildered.

  "Like ... like I'm a dumbass!"

  A strange noise came from the other side of the Hummer. She saw his hand covering his mouth in a failed attempt to hide his sudden laughter. Keira arched a brow.

  "You think that's funny?"

  "You don't?” Wade's grin was infectious. She turned away to hide her own smile, but apparently not fast enough. He chuckled. “Look, I don't think you're a dumbass.” Keira's smile widened, but she continued to look out the passenger window. “I just have no friggin’ clue where we are."

  Pursing her lips, Keira thought for a moment. “Then I guess that makes you the dumbass."

  Wade graced her with a shocked gasp and it was her turn to chuckle.

  "See if I buy you breakfast,” he grumbled under his breath, making Keira laugh harder at the look of mock anger on his face. He seemed a genuinely nice guy when he wasn't so intense.

  Wade flashed a sexy grin. He intrigued her more than any other man in her life. She wanted to get to the bottom of his anger, find out what made him tick. He'd mentioned he was on the run and had no memory of his former life. Was he all alone? Perhaps his fear of the unknown was what made him want her to keep her distance. But more than likely it was because she was Clive Covington's daughter. If he wanted to kill her father, how could he get close to her?

  And how could Keira possibly want to get to know him better—a man who freely admitted he'd murder her father?

  Despite his big talk, she sincerely doubted he had it in him to kill anyone. He was pissed off and upset, that much was true. But if his friendly banter was a genuine reflection of the man he truly was, Keira had no doubt in her mind that Wade would never actually pull the trigger.

  * * * *

  "Welcome to Cactus.” Keira squinted at the sign she'd just read aloud on the side of the road.

  "Cactus?"

  With a shrug, she said, “Yeah. Must be the name of this town. Never heard of it."

  "Damn. Then we must be way off course.” Wade sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Keira tried her hardest not to stare, but it was nearly impossible. She doubted she'd be able to wrap both hands around one of his biceps. Clearing her throat, she merely nodded, not trusting her own voice.

  Wade gave her a sidelong glance. He had an odd look on his face. Keira squirmed under his gaze.

  "What?” she challenged, rolling down her window. The chilled air of the morning filled the cab, and hopefully, blew away any trace of her scent. Great, now she was paranoid he'd be able to smell her twenty-four-seven. She'd best keep herself showered. A smile barely tugged her lips.

  "Nothing,” Wade answered, shaking his head. She knew he'd smelled her, but kept silent, thank God.

  "What time is it?"

  Wade glanced at the clock in the dash. “Almost seven a.m."

  After a few more moments of silence, Keira pointed down the road. “There's Claire's Diner. They look open."

  "Sweet. I'm starving."

  "Yeah, me too. What are you going to get?” Keira chuckled nervously, hoping she didn't sound like a moron.

  "I don't know,” he answered, pulling into the parking lot. “Maybe a giant stack of flapjacks with blueberries on top."

  She grinned as he found a pla
ce to park. “With the happy face made out of whipped cream?"

  "Naturally,” he said with a wink. Without another word, he jumped from the truck and slammed the door behind him. Keira's heart thumped wildly. If she didn't calm down around him, she'd never be able to survive the trip back to Dallas. Wade was off limits. Best she start remembering that.

  The passenger door opened, making her jump.

  "You coming?” Wade stood there with his hands on his hips, tapping his foot. He looked so ridiculous, she had to bite her lip to keep from smiling.

  "Not yet,” she said under her breath, suddenly mortified she'd made a double entendre. With a flaming face, Keira hopped out of the truck and rushed past Wade into the restaurant, wishing she could disappear into thin air.

  * * * *

  Clive Covington hadn't slept at all. His clothes now hung on him in a wrinkled mess and his eyes were gritty. But he'd be damned if he went to bed now. Not when Keira had gone missing. He'd been informed late last night that the security guard on duty at the Channel Six news had called the authorities. Apparently Keira had taken her friend, Craig Daniels, some dinner at the station, but her car was still in the parking lot.

  Clive had spoken to Craig a few hours ago, but the man had no idea where Keira had gone off to. The last time he'd seen her, she'd been walking out of his office.

  A sharp knock echoed throughout Clive's study right before the door opened, revealing Brett Walker, the senator's bodyguard.

  Brett was a ruthless son of a bitch, one of the nastiest shifters B*E*A*S*T* had ever produced—a cheetah. He could outrun anything on the planet. More than once Clive had felt threatened in his presence, especially when the shifter's eyes flashed at him. But he knew the cheetah wouldn't double cross him. The pay was too friggin’ good.

  "Tell me some good news,” Clive said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

  "I was able to get a digital copy of the security tape from the parking lot."

  Clive regarded Brett's bloody clothing. “How many people did you kill to get it?"

  "You don't want to know,” Brett growled. Crossing the room, he popped the DVD into the player and turned on the TV. For a few minutes, they watched nothing but boring video of people coming and going. It didn't take long, however, before Clive recognized one of the parked cars.

  "Wait a minute,” he said, standing from the chair he'd been sitting in. “That's Sean's Hummer."

  Brett gazed at the screen. “That black one?"

  Clive nodded. “Yeah. Christ."

  A few minutes later, Keira drove into the parking lot. She crawled out of her car, her arms laden with food bags. Once she'd gone into the station, the Hummer pulled up to the front doors.

  "You think Sean took her?” Brett asked, staring at the screen.

  "No. Sean's dead."

  The cheetah glanced at him sharply. “How do you know that?"

  "I got a phone call from none other than Wade McAllister little over a week ago. Said he was going to ... pay me a visit."

  "Wade took Keira? Jesus, Clive, why don't you tell me this shit?” Brett asked in astonished anger. Clive merely waved him away as if he were a pesky fly.

  Once the man stepped out of the Hummer, it was obviously Wade, with his sandy hair and familiar build.

  "Damn.” Covington rubbed his eyes. There on the screen, he grabbed Keira as she walked back to her car, probably injecting her with a tranquilizer. She went limp in his arms.

  "That bastard,” Brett exclaimed.

  The anger inside Clive's chest consumed him. He wanted McAllister's head on a platter—to hell with who he used to be. Nothing short of bloodshed would suffice to bring justice to the goddamned cougar who'd taken his daughter.

  "Make sure this leaks to the press,” Covington whispered, balling his hands into fists. “I want the local populace looking for this asshole and my daughter."

  Brett nodded, swiping the DVD from the player.

  "I need you out there, Brett.” Clive placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. “I need you to bring Wade to me once he's found."

  Brett's eyes flashed, but Clive was far beyond caring.

  "You still want him alive?"

  Clive narrowed his eyes. “Barely."

  Six

  No matter how hard he tried, Wade couldn't sit still. The waitress had already come and gone a few minutes ago to take their order while he glanced at a nearby television on a shelf in the corner. It was currently tuned in to the news—the Channel 6 News, to be exact—and he couldn't keep his stomach from roiling.

  His knee bounced under the table and he ran his fingers through his hair for the thousandth time. Sighing deeply, he looked out the window, then back at Keira, who regarded him with a critical eye.

  "You all right?” she asked.

  "Don't think I'll ever be all right,” he answered under his breath. Her brows knitted together in a look of confusion.

  "You don't have to worry. I'm not going to press charges."

  Wade's eyes clashed with hers. “Why the hell not?"

  "Because ... because you're a nice man.” She chewed on the inside of her lip.

  Wade scoffed at that. “You don't know me at all, lady. I could be the Boston fricken’ Strangler for all you know. You'd have no clue."

  "You're not,” she countered with a slight smile. “The Boston Strangler went on rampage in the early 60's. You don't look quite that old."

  "Perhaps the years have been kind to me."

  Keira opened her mouth to say more, but the waitress returned with their food.

  "Here you go,” she said with a wide grin. “Anything else I can get for you?"

  "Yeah,” Wade said. “You know the way to Dallas?"

  The waitress nodded. “Sure. You take this old road out here east about twenty miles until you hit Highway 83. Head north another ten miles or so until you get to the junction with Interstate 20 in Abilene. That'll take you all the way into Dallas."

  "About how far is the drive?"

  "Two hundred miles, give or take."

  Wade's eyes widened. “Thanks very much.” Damn. He'd driven farther than he'd first thought.

  "Not a problem, sugar.” The waitress gave him a wink and walked away.

  As Wade ate, he glanced at Keira. It was harder to single out her specific scent in a public place, but he smelled it faintly. He'd been able to detect another hint of her desire in the truck, but he hadn't said anything. Nothing good could possibly come from it. What confused the hell out of him was why she was kind to him. Why wasn't she running for her life? With the way she was acting, you'd think she was kidnapped every day. The thought brought a grin to his lips.

  Before he knew it, his plate was empty and he pushed it away, tossing his napkin on the table. The food bore down in his belly like a lead weight. He shouldn't have eaten it all.

  Keira wasn't even half-way done with her biscuits and gravy when Wade's attention was pulled once again to the small TV. The volume was turned down, but if he concentrated hard enough, his keen ears could hear what was being said. Right now, they flashed a grainy surveillance camera image on the screen. Squinting, he thought it seemed familiar.

  "Oh, God."

  Keira looked up from her food and cocked a brow. “What?"

  "We gotta get out of here. You're done."

  "No, I'm not,” she protested, taking another bite.

  "Yes you are. Look.” He pointed as discretely as he could to the television set, which now displayed images of her pretty face.

  "If you've seen this woman, daughter of Texas senator, Clive Covington, call authorities immediately."

  Keira gasped.

  Without another word, Wade stood and pulled two twenties out of his pocket, slapping them on the table. He grabbed Keira's hand and hauled her to her feet. “Let's go."

  She didn't fight him, and he could once again smell her fear. As soon as they'd climbed into the Hummer, Wade turned the key and the engine roared to life. He didn't waste any time
as he sped down the road like a madman.

  * * * *

  "Slow down!” Keira clutched the armrest of her seat as if her life depended on it. Wade was passing cars left and right, doing at least twenty miles over the speed limit.

  "Why should I?” His hands latched on to the steering wheel with an iron grip. “Half the state will be looking for us by now."

  Keira closed her eyes, refusing to look at the road for fear of revisiting her breakfast. “Because you could get pulled over, and be in an even deeper pile of shit!"

  Unbelievably, her words somehow penetrated Wade's fight-or-flight instincts. He slowed the truck to a more reasonable speed.

  "Goddamn,” he muttered. “They contacted the media."

  "You had to know that would happen,” Keira said, tossing him a sidelong glance. “I'm the daughter of a high-profile man. My kidnapping is sure to make front page news on most of the newspapers in Texas."

  "I know that!” Wade snapped. “I just didn't expect it so soon. I was hoping for a little more time of anonymity."

  "Well, we'll lay low. Only stop when we have to. Drive straight through to Dallas. You got any sunglasses in this thing?” Keira began rummaging through the glove box.

  "What are you doing, lady?” Wade gazed at her with disbelief in his eyes.

  "I'm looking for a pair of damn sunglasses, you got a problem with that?” Keira knew she sounded condescending, but she was beyond caring. Wade's prickly demeanor made her want to bear her claws, especially after the adrenaline boost of racing down the highway.

  "You're acting like my partner in crime. Since when did you decide to play Bonnie and Clyde?"

  His words threw her for a loop. He was right. Here she was with her kidnapper, suggesting ways of avoiding the authorities so he wouldn't get caught. Why was she trying to protect him?

  "I ... I don't know."

  "Christ, you kiss a woman once and she wants to have your babies."

  He'd shocked her beyond comprehensible speech. All she could do was sit and stare at him, her mouth wide open. Wade sighed and scowled at the road.