3. The Prince and the Beast

THE PRINCE AND THE BEAST

I n the two decades that I've been condemned inside these stone walls, I've stared out of this window to the point of being pathetic. The chill in the air is cold enough that my breath is creating a fog, destroying my view. I scowl as my palm wipes away the offending haze. I don't know why I waste my time bothering with it. With imagining what used to be and what could have been.

My fisted, calloused hand rests on top of the frame and I lean my forearms against the cold glass, finally resting my head and closing my eyes in an attempt to reclaim my memory. This is the only window in the tallest tower that has a view of the village.

It's been so long, I barely remember the paths in the village, and they may have possibly changed. To plan the best route to take, I need to remember as much as I possibly can. Although the dark mist that plagues my existence makes it difficult, I can, at times, see the properties in the distance. I've looked out with longing these past years when the loneliness has overridden the anger of betrayal. Wanting to venture past the woods and set foot on the land that used to be welcoming and eager for my presence.

Today, there is no use in looking. Not a damn thing is visible from the tower. Not that I would be able to see her . There's no way I could possibly discern the tiny moving specks of humanity from this distance. It doesn't matter; determination sets deep in my soul. I'll leave tonight, regardless, plan or no plan. I must have her tonight. My need to see her tempting curves, hear her panting, and feel her tremble in my arms again consumes my very being. I'm obsessed with the way her lips parted in ecstasy at my touch. I dream of the tender and soft moans that escaped those lush lips. But all of it is just a memory or a dream—nothing more.

My fist pounds against the frame in anger. The crack of the wood splintering beneath the blow fuels my rage. The rumble in my chest makes me aware that the beast is in agreement.

We must find her.

I'm determined to have her in my grasp. Luring my little beauty back to the castle may be difficult. I'll have to hide in the shadows and mist to avoid being seen. My hope is to find her asleep and use the magic of the roses to lead her to the castle in her dreams.

The magic is never on my side, but it craves her too. It desires her here. It must help me.

Tonight I will venture out into the dark and find her. I'll let the beast take control of this hunt since his mark will easily lead him to her. A low growl rumbles in my chest and I narrow my eyes. He will have control .

I don't care for the lack of control, but it is the fastest way. There are only so many hours of darkness. I only hope his desire to have her is greater than his need for revenge against the village. I strum my fingers against the splintered frame, then let the fleshy tips run along the rough, cracked wood.

I'm not certain I'll be able to contain him if he decides to take advantage of his freedom. If he seeks out my former ally who betrayed us. After all, his attempt to kill me would have also killed the beast. A deep sorrow rocks through my body. It was the last time I spoke to another person. It's been years since the day that treachery destroyed the final remnants of good in me. The witch truly won that day. I no longer only looked like a beast; I became one.

Years have passed, years without hearing the voice of another being. I've questioned my sanity daily. Wondering if the words I think in my demented head even exist. If I'd even be able to communicate once this spell is broken. I'm only given reprieve when trespassers find themselves at the mercy of my grip. Claws digging into their flesh, spilling the warm blood onto the ground. I can smell their fear in memory.

Sometimes I'd slow my movements just to hear them plead with me for mercy. So I could hear the long lost sound of another. No, stop, please, don't. I'm familiar with those words. I've yet to keep anyone alive long enough to hear more than a few stumbled words from my prey. The beast doesn't wait. He doesn't care to hear their words like I do. I scoff at my inability to tame him, to keep him leashed. He's so overpowering when others are present that I can hardly control my movements, let alone the ability to speak. Only growls and snarls find their way past my lips. If ever I could chain the beast back long enough to hear more from those who trespass, it would most decidedly be a one-sided conversation.

When I open my eyes, my scowl deepens as I glare at the bit of village that's visible. I struggle to remember where I used to venture. Who it was that I used to seek out. A snarl rips from my chest. Fuck them! Traitors! I protected them! I gave my life for them! And they not only turned their backs on me, but they fought me. Led by my former confidant and only friend. Power hungry just like the witch. That fucking mistress of the dark. Wanting me for lust and power. A deep, low growl rumbles through me. The beast loathes her existence as well. Our hate is equal and in unison.

It's been that long since I've had a woman. I scoff at myself. I had more than plenty before the witch cursed me with her jealousy. I take quick strides across the hall toward the bedroom and find myself staring into a mirror. It's cracked in three large, jagged pieces, but it maintains its place on the wall. I run the tip of my finger along the fissure. In one piece I'm able to see myself, the prince I once was. The wavy, dark brown hair is long enough to spear my fingers through. My blue eyes travel the mirror to another piece and golden eyes stare back. The face of a twisted snarl revealing fangs too large for its mouth and fur in place of hair glares back at me. The beast.

Rage consumes me and the desire to pound my fist through the mirror overwhelms my body. I crack my neck on both sides in an attempt to dull the anger. It would be no use to let my emotions run free. The magic only let me damage the mirror once. All I'll be left with are bloodied knuckles and the vision of the beast in my head.

I'm surprised by my restraint today—it must be that my mind is preoccupied with the thought of her. Of finding her. Keeping her. I grin wickedly as my blood heats and my body tenses. I will be keeping my beauty.

There's only been one exception to the beast's fierce need to kill in all these years. I don't even know her name. Not that it matters. I will call her mine. My dick hardens as I envision her lips parted in ecstasy while my fingers played against her soft, pale flesh, spreading the moisture from her hot center to her throbbing clit. I release a low rumble that vibrates through me.

I'll feel her beneath me soon. My scowl slowly morphs into an asymmetrical grin. I'll have her on her knees. Her hazel eyes watering as they stare back at me while I fist her hair and push my length all the way down her throat. I grip my dick tight at the base and stroke up. Using the drips of precum, I lube the head and work firm strokes up and down. I spit on my dick but in my head I imagine demanding her to do it.

"Again!" She flinches at my rough command but immediately obeys, spitting on my cock as I stroke myself. I maintain a steady pace as I see myself slipping into her hot mouth. She moans at the taste. She loves taking my cock however I'll give it to her. She's learned to live for it. A low groan of wanting escapes my lips.

Leaning in to obey my silent command, her lips wrap tightly around the tip of my cock. Her tongue massages the underside of my length as I push my way deeper into her throat. Her cheeks hollow as she sucks me down. Fucking gorgeous. The sound and feel of her moaning around my cock are heaven.

"Hands behind your back." She obeys my command immediately. I grip the base of her skull, fisting her hair and ruthlessly fucking her face. I slam into the back of her throat, making her gag. She takes it all. Those hazel eyes stare up at me as I choke her with my cock as deep as she'll take me, but I give her no mercy. I pause only to pull my dick out of her hot mouth and slap it against her face, leaving behind moisture on her flushed cheeks. She gasps for air but quickly recovers. Her lips open in an attempt to get me back into her mouth. So greedy for my dick. Such a good little submissive. Again and again I slap her face with my dick each time she attempts to take the head into her mouth.

Fuck yes!

I grip her small, fragile neck and pull her delicate body up off her knees, making her whimper, before I slam her lips against mine and force my tongue inside to taste hers. Our teeth clash before I bite her lip, scraping my fang against the lush, tender flesh, breaking it and tasting her blood. She moans at the assault. I can smell her desire.

I easily toss her gorgeous body over the bench and on her stomach, positioning the pale flesh of her ass at the perfect height. Slap! She yelps at the blow. My hand stings and my dick hardens. I give her more of the same. Slap! I smack my palm against her skin and then grab a fistful of her reddened cheeks, loving the feel of it in my grasp. She writhes and moans as I spank her ass. I run my fingers down her cheek to cup her pussy. The tips of my fingers dip inside her heat. Fuck! She's hot and dripping from her yearning need. Enough. I need to be inside her. Fucking her. Giving her what both of us want.

I increase the speed of my own hand stroking my cock. The velvet on steel glides easily as I leak copious amounts of precum. I picture myself fisting those beautiful, reddened ass cheeks as I pound relentlessly into her welcoming warmth. Her hot sheath grips my cock as she gets closer and closer to her climax. Come for me, my beauty.

She mewls under me as I pound into her without mercy. The bench, bolted to the floor, absorbs the blows. I fuck into her harder and faster as her moans of pleasure increase in volume and fill my ears. Love what I do to you. Crave this as much as I crave you.

Desperate for her climax, her head thrashes against the bench, and she gasps for air between her screams. I own her in this moment. She is mine. All she'll ever be is mine. I fist her hair and pull her head back, making her back arch.

She's beautiful and utterly perfect. Her loving this is the sexiest thing I've ever seen. I move my hand to her neck and squeeze around her throat, never losing my pace. She whimpers at the assumed threat. The small move causes her pussy to clamp down on my dick. Instantly, I respond by picking up my pace, releasing her throat only to strum her clit.

"Come for me."

She screams and falls limp against the bench as her climax hits her with a force that jolts her body. I can't help but grin as I ride straight through her orgasm. I can bring her to this point of pleasure. I can give her ecstasy. I wrap her hair around my fist, like I did the first time, and apply a bruising hold on her hip with the other hand. She's had hers, now it's time for mine.

Her slender neck beckons the beast to nip at her, to sink his fangs into her delicate flesh. I never relent the steady pace of my strokes. Her strangled cries of pleasure get louder now that she can no longer bury her head in her arms. The edge of her next climax quickly approaches. With my left hand gripping her hip and my right fisting her hair, I piston into her as fast and hard as I can as I feel the tingle in my spine making me aware of my own impending orgasm. A cold sweat breaks out along my skin, and I welcome it as I breathe heavily. The sound of our flesh meeting as I rut into her with a primal need fuels the need for my own release. I feel myself tighten and I find my release with hers as she screams my name.

My name…

My name…

She screams my name.

I pulse and warm come spills in my hand as I let out a low, torturous groan. My body jerks with pleasure and I lean against the wall to steady myself. I take a moment to catch my breath. In the years I've been trapped here, I've never dreamed of pleasure like that. Not in years.

Next time it will be even better.

The next time I come, it will be inside her.