Beautiful No More Read online

  He smiled softly at her, understanding. “I mask my emotions from my brothers out of the need to be the strong one for them, and out of guilt. Why do you hide yours, Cat?”

  “Hmm, well, that’s a good question. I guess, when I was first taken, showing my emotions often got me beaten or worse. Denied food, or water, when I was little. Then, later, it was to not let my captors know they had beaten me, taken my soul.”

  “Did they, Cat? Take your soul?” he asked curious as to how she had survived it all.

  “When I was on the streets in Amsterdam, for two years Andreas, I was a runner. I ran errands for some of the girls in the red light district. It was a way to survive. I had heard stories of children in foster care, and so chose my own path.”

  “But you were only nine?” he questioned revealing he knew the timeline of her existence.

  Her eyes had that faraway look in them. She was remembering. “Yes, but even at nine, I was old. My mother died of a drug overdose, and her parents were dead. I came to live with my great grandmother then. She was a strong woman, a survivor of the Holocaust. She taught me much, all that I needed to know to survive. My grandfather was her liberator. A Russian soldier who had come into her camp after the fall of Berlin.”

  “Wow, Cat. I had no idea.” This was not in any of the documents he had received from Connor.

  “Yes, well, she sent me to school to learn the basics, but I learned more from her in those six years than I had from anyone else.” His hands on her legs felt right. She wondered briefly why she was telling him so much. But, she wanted him to know her. The real her. “From her, I learned to survive in a cruel world. She told me of her experiences and how she survived. She had two daughters, one who died young, and then my grandmother. Her name was Nelda, and she became a doctor. She was very proud of that. Her daughter, a doctor. Nelda had two children, one of whom was my mother. My grandmother was killed picking up her other daughter, who was sixteen, at a party she was not supposed to be at. My mother was only 14 and missed her sister and mother terribly. She began to be reckless, and my great grandmother, Katarina Rose, for whom I was named, could not console her. She did drugs, and found herself pregnant. I was three and my mother died at her own hand. My father, a soldier she had met on leave, never knew of my existence. An American. That is why I was allowed to stay in this country. An accident of birth.”

  “You were dealt a lot. My own childhood was remarkable. I wished you could have had some of that.”

  She sighed. “It made me strong though. Prepared me for what came afterwards. But, I can see how close you are with your brothers. I don’t envy it because I can’t miss what I have never known. But it is nice to see,” she spoke the words softly, no trace of bitterness in her tone.

  “You are a remarkable woman, Cat. You really are.” He scooted up the sofa to be closer to her, but she swung her legs onto the floor.

  “Ech, enough reminiscence tonight, Andreas. Come, let’s shake off this grogginess and go for a swim, shall we?” she suggested.

  Andreas agreed because he liked the idea of spending more time with her, and being close to her while she was in a bathing suit wasn’t something he wanted to turn down either. “I’ll go get my suit. It’s upstairs.”

  “No need.” He saw the mischief in her eyes. “You have boxers? Yes?” she pulled his hand towards the patio doors, not waiting for an answer.

  “Yes,” he murmured as the coolness of the night refreshed him.

  Chapter 19

  Giving In

  Cat let go of his hand and he continued to follow her. She walked towards the pool, and as she did so she pulled her light blouse over her head, and then turned to face him.

  She wore a simple white demi bra underneath. The moonlight glowed upon her pale skin, and he sucked in his breath at the sight of her. She was not embarrassed in the least. But she was waiting for him to make the next move, and he obliged by pulling out of his shirt dropping it on the concrete beside her’s.

  She smiled and quickly scanned his torso, the muscles rippling of their own accord. She kicked off her sandals and then reached for the fastener of her linen capris. Unhooking them allowed them to slip off of her slender hips and she stepped out of them.

  Andreas sucked in his breath. Her body was perfect. Skin almost translucent in the moonlight. He kicked off his shoes, and then made quick work of his socks and his pants and soon they were in a pile by his feet.

  Cat took a moment to admire his body, and then turned. Her bare feet slapping the concrete she dove smoothly into the cool water.

  Watching her for a moment, he admired her form once more. She was incredible. When her head surfaced above the water, she beckoned to him, and he did not hesitate a second longer. He took two quick strides and dove in after her, surfacing next to her in an instant. She was inches away, and as soon as he flicked back his hair from his face, she wrapped her arms around him. The coolness of the water was no longer on his mind. Just her. He pulled her close, and by instinct she wrapped her legs around him. He felt her heat, and he resisted the pull to do more. Her pace.

  She tilted her head giving him permission, and he went in for the next kiss he had been contemplating all day. It was a dueling of passions, but spoke of more. Of longing, passion, and desire. Both of them allowed it to take them in its grip, and this time there were no interruptions. It made it better than the first, better than the second, and neither of them wanted it to end.

  “Andreas, I want you to make love to me,” she whispered against his neck when it finally ended. Her back was against the side of the pool and she had no idea how she had gotten there. But she was in his arms, and it just felt so right. “I know we said we would wait. Explore this later. But I want you. Now.” He hadn’t expected those words from her lips, but his need to know her was just as great. The proof was his erection firmly pressed up between them.

  “Are you sure, Cat?” he wanted to make this about her. Her choice, although his heart beat a wild tattoo.

  “Yes, I am,” she whispered nuzzling the side of his face with her own.

  He began to walk towards the steps, still carrying her. He let out a small growl of triumph. “If you want me to stop, at any time, just say the word. I will.”

  “Okay,” she panted against his neck, as he nipped her ear lobe. She tilted her head back for more. Wading across the pool with her in his arms, he mounted the steps in the shallow end.

  He kept kissing her, as she shuddered, but it was not from the cold.

  “I’ll warm you soon,” he promised. “There is a bed in the pool house. Is that okay?” His instinct had been to take her to his room, but that could also mean they might get stopped by any number of persons.

  He felt her nod and so he headed in the direction of the small bungalow that sat on one side of the pool. It took him just a moment more to reach it, and without setting her down, he turned the handle and the door sprung open.

  Inside was a large room, with a bathroom attached for guests to use. There was also a small table, two chairs in one corner, and large bed center stage. He walked towards it and dropped her down on the edge. Turning to the bathroom before she could protest, he retrieved two towels. He handed her one and used the other to quickly pat himself dry as she took most of the moisture out of her hair. But neither of them looked away. Their eyes still locked on one another.

  Andreas took the towel from her and pulled her up to him. He gently patted her down to remove the rivulets of water still coursing down her body. When he was finished, her mouth was open and she was panting. Taking her into his arms, he kissed her senseless, while he unclasped her bra and pulled it away from them. Stepping back, he feasted on her high, firm breasts. He couldn’t wait to taste, and touch them, but he needed her naked. Now. He looked down, and then watched as she hooked two fingers, one on each side of her thong and pulled it down over her hips, kicking it to the side. He pulled down the boxers he wore, and his manhood already hard sprung free. Her eyes went wide at th
e sight of him, but he saw no fear. Reaching for her, he stroked her neck, and allowed his hand to touch the tops of her soft globes, and then he cupped her breasts, first one and then the other. When her eyes closed, he took it further, squeezing one, and then placing his mouth on the other. He took one nipple into his mouth, and gently tugged on it with his teeth. Her cry was soft, but needy. He felt her legs begin to buckle. He released it, but took in her other nipple giving it the same attention. She moaned again, louder. It was all he needed to hear to make him continue. He drew her closer with one arm and then let his other drop to stroke her thigh and he felt her tremble. Her legs were weakening. He heard her gasps, and her little moans encouraged him to do more. He wanted more.

  Gently he eased her back onto the bed, but without breaking the contact he craved on her breast. He licked, and sucked hard, pulling the nipple into his mouth. Bearing his weight on one elbow, he lie beside her, still worshipping her body, but he let his free hand roam straight to her thighs. He hadn’t explored all of her yet. And he needed to. He wanted to know every inch of this woman. Her body was lean, and her hips slight but with a curve. It was enough. Perfect. She was perfect for him.

  “Andreas, don’t make me wait,” she called reaching for him, as his eyes continued to feast on her delectable little body.

  Her words snapped him to attention, but he did not want to rush this. He wanted her to experience real pleasure, for the first time, with a man who would be gentle and touch her body as it was intended to be. He released the hold he had on her breast and began to kiss and nip along her rib cage. His hand found her pussy and he cupped it. He felt her push into his hand and knew she was ready, but he wasn’t, not yet. He stroked her and found her entrance was already wet, but he didn’t enter; he wanted her to know how he felt. “I have never wanted to please a woman more than you, Cat. Ever.”

  “Yes,” she hissed, pushing up on her heels to raise her pelvis high enough to reach his hand. That was all the invitation he needed. He found her sensitive clit, and began to work her. Circling, and pinching, eliciting tiny moans of pleasure. When she began to squirm against him, he stretched his body up to hers to press a kiss to her beautiful mouth. He wanted to swallow those moans and the pleasure he was giving her.

  Once he claimed her lips, she was returning each stroke of his tongue with one of her own. He inserted first one finger and then two. He felt like he was going to explode when her slick sweet pussy began to convulse around him. She was coming undone. He wanted to see it. He broke the kiss just in time to see her grey eyes glow and then melt silver. “Oh, my, yes,” she cried out, as her hips met his thrusting digits stroke for stroke. When her first orgasm subsided, Andreas slowly drew out his fingers, and brought them to his mouth. She still watched him, and her eyes closed momentarily and then opened once more. The sight of this beautiful man touching her warmed her more than words could say.

  “Kiss me again,” she purred, and he complied still taking his time. Soon she was pushing against him once more.

  Although she had just come, she knew there was more to love making, and she wanted it all. Whatever this man was willing to give her. She reached down to grasp his cock in her hand, and he hissed between his teeth breaking the kiss momentarily. Her small fingers on his cock igniting him like an inferno.

  “Cat. Are you still okay?” he asked.

  The ice around her heart was breaking, and she told him her answer by stroking him with her hand. “Yes, I am ready for more.”

  His eyes glowed in the faint light, and she was lost in the blue brilliance of them. His eyes that looked so lonely, so forlorn, looked different now—they looked brilliant, and full of life. She wanted to see that in those eyes more often.

  “Good,” came his gruff reply, and he turned her so her body was beneath him. Removing her hand from his cock, he placed the engorged head at her entrance and rubbed her sensitive clit, once, twice, before pushing into her slightly. She felt her body stretching to accommodate his size, and then he slid inside, possessing her. And that was what it felt like. A possession. It felt amazing. He was a part of her, not a foreign invader, and when he began to pull back, she stopped him. “Just a moment, please,” she begged. “Let me enjoy this feeling.”

  Andreas stilled although his body cried out to do more. To pump into her, and make the friction that would bring him the release he craved. But this was about her. Cat. When she nodded that she was ready, he pulled back and pushed in once more, filling her deeply and completely as her eyes began to roll back.

  “Please look at me. Your eyes, I need to see your beautiful eyes.” She did. Silently he moved once more, and again, and again, until she was making those kitten like sounds that told him she was close. His cock throbbed and pulsed inside her. He could feel his balls tightening, and so thrust and slid against her more rapidly until he could feel the tremors beginning again.

  Another wave was coming. Cat could feel this one building but it was stronger, more powerful than the last time. The connection this man had made with her, made everything feel new. It meant everything to her, that she had given herself to him willingly. “Yes, Andreas. It is happening again,” she squeaked. She had lost control of her vocal chords, and he paid it no mind.

  She saw the veins on his neck bulging, and felt the blood pumping in his veins under her hands that grasped his biceps.

  “Yes, Cat, let go,” he encouraged, his body tensing but hanging on until she could find her own release first. “Let. Go,” he breathed through clenched teeth.

  And she did. The explosion that came had her reeling and falling.

  Seeing her let go was all it took for him. Andreas exploded inside of her, and lost his heart in the process. He lay beside her, and pulled her into the crook of his arm, holding her close.

  “Andreas?” she whispered in the darkness when their heart rhythms returned to normal.

  “Yes,” he asked pressing a kiss to the top of her damp but drying hair.

  “Will you come upstairs and sleep in your room with me tonight?” She wondered if it was asking too much. But she wanted to have him hold her. All night. She wanted that experience too. She knew this man had a power over her she did not understand quite yet. But this night, this day, had been perfect thus far. She was reluctant for it to end.

  “Of course,” he whispered against her ear. “Anything.”

  He got up, and then in a swift move that surprised her, he went into the bathroom. But he came out carrying two robes. He helped her to get hers on, and then he donned his. Together, hand in the hand they left the pool house, and silently climbed the stairs to his room.

  * * *

  Cat was still in the bathroom, and so he stretched out in the bed waiting for her. He was tempted to turn on the TV, but something stalled him. He was reluctant to return to his old routines. So instead he waited. When she came out the bathroom, she was wearing a simple nightgown, white, nothing overtly sexy, but to him it was even sexier. He pulled back the bed covers, and she climbed right in beside him, curling onto her side, she placed her palm on his chest.

  “I can feel your heart,” she spoke the words calmly as she nestled more comfortably with her head in the crook of his arm.

  He pressed his lips against her forehead, and whispered back, “I had forgotten I had one, until I met you.”

  For Cat, those words were just as good as any others.

  * * *

  When Andreas came back from his morning run, Cat was already doing her stretches on the balcony above. He smiled up at her and she gave him a broad, brilliant smile. He stooped to pick up the paper thrown by the delivery boy. The headlines stunned him, but made him glad he hadn’t turned on the news last night. Romeo had struck again. “Two Dead at Trump Towers” was the headline. Below it were the words, “Tampa Madame Instigates Killing Spree.”

  He looked up at her, and she waved to him again, but stopped when she saw the grim expression on his face. Her eyebrows shot up. Her hand went to her mouth. She sens
ed something. This wasn’t going to be easy, telling her about her neighbors. But he knew this man had to be stopped. Soon. Before anyone else was killed. This evil had to end.

  Chapter 20

  Q & A’s

  “What is the matter?” she asked the moment he stepped into the room.

  “Please sit, Cat.” He indicated the bed.

  Too scared to move, she spoke carefully. “What is it?” she repeated.

  Taking her hand in his, “It’s about Romeo.”

  She pulled her hand from his and backed up towards the bed. She stopped when the back of her legs hit the mattress. He struck again. She was sure of it.

  “What happened?” Her voice came out in a terrified whisper. Who had he killed?

  Andreas saw her mind working it out. “He killed two people.”

  Her hands began to tug at her clothes. “Two? When? Last night? Who?”

  “Days ago actually. But they were just discovered yesterday.”

  Her eyes closed tightly for a moment. “My girls?” she asked, her lower lip beginning to tremble.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Cat. But it was your neighbors. The Burbank’s.”

  Immediately Cat’s small fist went up to her mouth to suppress her gasp. The tears came, too, but no sound. They were such wonderful people, loving parents and grandparents. They were expecting their children for Thanksgiving! No! She screamed inside when realization struck. The children had probably discovered them.

  Andreas went to stand beside her and take her into his arms. “They were discovered yesterday afternoon. By their children. Apparently they were not at the airport to pick them up in the morning. When the family made arrangements to go to their home, and security let them in, they were found. I guess the investigators must have worked the crime scene all day yesterday, and it made the evening news pretty late. I checked my phone on the way up. Detective Ortiz left a message. He has questions. The police are on their way.”