BEAUTIFUL MONSTER

37 : Twenty Questions

Try not to get offended.

The car slowly rolled to a stop, the tires crunching against the gravel as it rolled over the edge of the pavement. The street was crisply cool and shadowy despite the beams of dull yellow shining from the street lights in a weak attempt to light up the road. The half moon hung in the sky, shyly hiding behind heavy clouds.

The engine was cut, sound ceased.

Ajax sighed heavily as if tormented. "What happened? Bea...?" He reached out a hand to touch my shoulder, trying to grab my attention.

I blinked, turned to slowly look at him before looking away. I swallowed. The gulp was loud in the silence. "It's - it's nothing," the words scraped roughly off my tongue and I cleared my throat once.

"Did he hurt you? What was he saying?" Ajax coated his words with concern but the hot anger was evident in his gaze.

"Ajax, I -- can we talk about this in the morning, please?" I said quietly, averting my gaze to the dashboard. "I have a headache."

"Sure," Ajax said softly, he paused. "Now that Cade's with - with the dick I can see what Alex is up to."

"Yeah, that'll be a good idea," I nodded. "How did you convince Cade to come help him?"

Ajax winced as he remembered. "It wasn't easy, that I'll tell you but he finally gave in when I kept persisting. That's why I took so long, by the way, I feel bad, I should've --"

"It's not your fault, Ajax," I turned to him, placing a hand on his arm. "Don't blame yourself."

It was Ajax's turn to clear his throat and he nodded. "Right. Anyway, I don't think Cade has gone to help him, just to figure out a plan, find out what's going on and see for himself if Orion - I mean, the dick has changed. If he's really good or evil."

"You can say his name, you know," I said wryly. He locked gazes, his hazel coloured eyes had darkened slightly and I watch as his eyes dipped to my lips then back up.

I hadn't realised it but our bodies had slowly been inching closer, attracted to each other like magnets. The air slowly fizzled and I couldn't draw my eyes away from Ajax's plump bottom lip even if I tried to. I felt desire rear up inside of me and all I wanted to do was kiss him senseless, distract myself, get away from all my problems, just focus on Ajax, because Ajax was ...he was...

"I should go," I said in a quiet voice.

"You should," Ajax's hot breath washed over in a soft caress as he murmured.

"My Mum'll be home soon,"

"She would," He reached out a hand, cupping my face, his thumb slowly grazing over my lips.

"She'd kill me if she knew I was out when I'm supposed to be grounded--"

"You talk too much."

His lips pressed against mine softly and then mine were against his, fiercely. I wanted more, needed it. I kissed him back hungrily, wanting to distract myself, take myself away from the pain, the worries, the constant stress... He tried pulling away but I wrapped an arm around his neck, pulling him closer, inhaling his comforting musky scent. I wanted to taste him. I wanted to do more than just kiss him. I wanted to be free.

"Bea," he said throatily, his neck slightly arched as I suckled on his skin, bruising his jaw line with pink love bites. "...Shit," he groaned, losing his original train of thought.

A light came on. We both looked up, it was an upstairs bedroom light. "Alex is awake," Ajax noted and silently we pulled away from each other. I opened the car door.