BEAST

  Her face transformed immediately. He’d never seen her with such a look. She took his hands and held them. “I had too much insulin in my system. The doctor has taken me off of it. I’ve lost enough weight to be able to take just one pill once a day.” She smiled softly. “I do have to check my blood sugar levels more often now. The doctor said I’m at high risk because of the baby. But after the pregnancy I might not even need medication at all.”

  “Because of the baby?”

  She nodded with a smile. “Sorry that everyone else knows before you.” Christopher was frozen and she had no idea what his expression was. “When I was brought into the hospital I was out of it. Your Mom was there, my mom and Dad, Kendra and Lance. And the doctors just assumed that they all knew. So…they knew even before I did.” She smiled nervously. “So...I’m two months…I guess our going away celebration was-”

  Christopher’s eyes blinked and his mouth had grown dry and his legs weak. He was a man that had brought other men to their knees with nothing more than a few well placed blows of his fist. He was a man that had endured the physical torture of having his face basically peeled back and his skull rebuilt. He’d seen his brother buried, felt loneliness so vivid that he swore it had a taste.

  And this man went to his knees before the woman he loved, gently pushed up her shirt exposing her brown belly, flat now, yet still a sanctuary for his child. He placed his head against her warm flesh. He wasn’t supposed to smile but he did.

  Ashleigh’s hands moved to his shoulders. And he lifted his head and looked at her.

  “Marry me Ashleigh. Marry me and I’ll never disappoint you. I’ll never give you a moment to worry or to wonder. I’ll devote my life to making you happy; you and our baby.” He looked at her in complete devotion. “We made a little baby…”

  She smiled and giggled. “It wasn’t that hard either, was it?”

  “I don’t know about you but I was working pretty hard.”

  She stared into his bandaged face. “I’m all yours, Christopher Jameson. I’ll be yours for as long as you want me. I want to be your wife more than anything in the world, and the mother to your children.” He stood slowly.

  “Your…Mom is still out there?”

  “Well, she’s probably listening at the door.” He took her hand and led her to the bed.

  “Get back in bed, Sweetheart. I want you to rest.” Ashleigh pouted. Her body was already slick and ready for him.

  “By myself?” She asked.

  “Get some rest,” was his answer as he tucked the covers around her, “because I intend to wear you out as soon as you wake up.” Her lips tugged upward at the corners in pleasure.

  “Okay.”

  His hand lingered on her shoulder. “I wish I could kiss you.” He allowed his hand to stroke her cheek. Her skin was so soft. “I have to call and find out when I can get these bandages removed!” And he needed to call his family…ah; his family. That is what his mother had been alluding to. He had a much bigger family now; including the woman that had given birth to the love of his life—his soon to be mother-in-law, who was out there either listening at the door or cooling her heels waiting for him to come out.

  He stroked the stray strands of Ashleigh’s hair. “I’ll be back in a bit. Get some sleep, okay?”

  Now that Christopher was here, Ashleigh allowed her body to relax and she nodded as her eyes closed.

  ~***~

  When Ashleigh awoke, it was to find herself snuggled against Christopher’s large sleeping form. She burrowed against him deeper being careful not to awaken him and reveling in the ‘Christopher’ smell that she had missed. She had also missed having her favorite ‘pillow’ to snuggle up to.

  Her poor baby must have been exhausted. He was sleeping soundly on his back with his arm around her. She could see the steady rise and fall of his chest and hear his soft snores. As some point he had showered because he was no longer wearing fatigues but had changed into work-out pants and a t-shirt that he had left behind.

  Without moving she studied his bandaged face. She absolutely couldn’t see a thing. He was wrapped like a mummy, not even his hair was visible. She was tempted to tug a bandage aside as she was intensely curious about the changes he had undergone. Two months of reconstructive surgery would have surely changed him completely.

  There was something slightly scary about that. She had more than grown accustomed to his facial features…she had grown to love them. Ashleigh’s eyes scanned the rest of his body. Mmmm. Now this hadn’t changed much. He was a bit leaner but even with clothes she could see the lines of his tight muscles.

  Though she knew that she should allow him to sleep, she couldn’t help but to allow her hands to lightly roam his body. His arm around her suddenly tightened at the same time that his breathing changed.

  “Missed waking up to that…” He murmured.

  “Sorry I woke you. I think you needed the sleep.” He stroked her arm and muffled a yawn before glancing at the clock. It was just after 1 pm. He’d gotten a couple hours of sleep which is all he needed in order to rejuvenate. He looked at Ashleigh and tried not to smile, though it was tough. This little lady had definitely broken down every one of his barriers.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  She snuggled against him. “Mhm. Best sleep I’ve had in weeks.” She touched his chin gently. “When can these come off?”

  “When I talked to the doc before I left he said they had to be removed by a surgeon.”

  She frowned. “Are you in pain?”

  He shrugged. “Tolerable.”

  “Well I have Motrin in the-”

  “Yeah, found them and already took some before lying down. They helped.” He was watching her. “They don’t freak you out, do they, Sweetheart? My bandages?” She said nothing for a few moments.

  “A little.” She admitted softly. “I don’t want you to look different.”

  He pulled himself up on his elbow and watched her. “I’m sorry. I never…dreamed that you wouldn’t want…” Ashleigh quickly kissed his neck which remained uncovered. He sighed.

  “Baby, I love you. I’ll love you no matter what you look like. Okay? I’m just used to you the other way.” Christopher’s hands moved to cup her face.

  “I can’t kiss you. God, I wish I could kiss you.” She lifted her head to kiss his bandage covered lips and he moved back. “You don’t want to do that. My lips are swollen. I look like a freaking trout.”

  “Oh?” Her brow quirked up. “You’re going to have full lips?”

  “By the looks of things I’ll have freaking Mick Jagger lips.”

  “Mmm…” she wiggled her brow and he chuckled.

  “Oh…not supposed to do that either. I can’t move my face at all. I’m not supposed to smile.”

  “Jeez…how long?”

  He shrugged. “Not until the bandages come off.”

  “Oh…Christopher…” She scooted away from him with a frown.

  “What?”

  Ashleigh sat up in bed and looked down at him with a frown. “We can’t have sex.”

  He did the same. “Babe, what are you talking about?”

  “Christopher…” She blushed. “You should see the faces you make when we’re…you know…doing it.”

  “Ahhh…what?”

  “And when you…cum,” She whispered. “your face gets all like…” she made a growling face.

  Christopher couldn’t help it, he laughed.

  “Baby! Don’t laugh. You’re going to hurt your face!”

  He climbed out of bed still chuckling. “We’re going to get to the bottom of this.” He rooted in his wallet until he came up with a card. Ashleigh jumped out of bed and followed him into the living room where he picked up the phone and began dialing. After being transferred a few times he was speaking to Dr. Weitz. He put the phone on speaker.

  “Doctor, I’m here with my girlfriend.”

  “Ahh the lady that you left the hospital to be with. Are you okay, Ma’am?”
br />   Ashleigh nodded. “I’m fine. Thank you. I’m more concerned with Christopher’s face. He said he’s not allowed to move it and…well he’s been laughing and smiling and I even suspect that he’s frowned a few times.” Christopher lifted his brow and looked at her. She pointed at him quickly. “And I bet you just lifted one eyebrow!”

  Dr. Weitz spoke. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. There is an elastic face mask beneath the bandaging holding everything in place. I’m going to give you the name and phone number of a colleague in Ft Campbell.” Ashleigh looked at Christopher quickly. That’s where his Commander was. “I want the stitches removed from your lips Monday and I want the bandages removed 1 week later. That will have allowed 2 weeks for healing. Now, barring any facial trauma, minor facial movements shouldn’t cause any harm.”

  Christopher got the necessary information for the Doctor in Ft Campbell and Dr. Weitz said he’d call him personally to get the appointment made.

  After hanging up Christopher crooked his finger at Ashleigh. “Come here baby.” Now he didn’t have to stop himself from grinning. She squealed and hurried into the bedroom. Christopher stopped her before she could get into bed. He slowly stripped off her clothes and when she was nude he allowed his eyes to scan her body.

  She felt her face warm but it wasn’t the only part of her body beginning to get hot…

  “I can tell you’re pregnant.”

  “What?” She placed her hands over her flat belly.

  He was shaking his head. “No, not there.” He used his fingers to lift her breast. “Your nipples are so big…your aureolas.” His breath shuddered when he exhaled. “God, I wish I could…” He stroked them lightly and she sucked in a deep breath and groaned.

  “Too hard?” He asked.

  “Just so sensitive.”

  Christopher made a sound like a whimpered moan before quickly shedding his own clothes.

  Dayum…she thought as she scanned his nude body. She had been surviving on memories for over two months. She thought she had memorized every inch of him. But the sight of his perfect body took her breath away. Since he couldn’t use his mouth on her, Ashleigh sank to her knees and used hers on him.

  “Ahhh!” He exclaimed when she sucked him, dragging him deep into the hot wet cavern of her mouth. His knees almost gave out. Christopher touched the sides of her face and watched her as she sucked him. As good as her mouth felt, there was one place that he wanted to be even more. He pulled her to her feet and led her to the bed.

  When she made to lie on her back, he had her get on her knees on the end of the bed. He loved the missionary position with her but not while he was covered in bandages. She looked over her shoulder at him anxiously, ready. But she’d teased him and now it was time for him to tease her some.

  He rubbed his finger along her slit and saw her back arch. She groaned and lowered her head. Christopher’s wet fingers parted the swollen folds and it was his turn to groan at the sight of her glistening, pulsing flesh, so ready for him. He placed the head of his penis against her opening. It seemed too small and tight. He pushed in gently, not pausing until he was fully inside of her.

  “Oh god…” She groaned, “so big…”

  He held onto her hips, pushing in and out of her with as much control as he could muster. The sensations were overwhelming. She was so hot and tight, tighter than he remembered. He was careful, not sure how sex would affect the baby.

  Thinking about that suddenly caused him to feel even more turned on. He had planted his seed in this woman and now it was growing…Christopher reached forward and cupped her full breast in his palm. It overflowed his grip but he held it carefully, feeling it swing as the thrusting of his hips intensified.

  Christopher’s low groans and then the careful way he held her breast was Ashleigh’s undoing. She cried out loudly, her legs shaking and she pushed back against him. Christopher quickly replaced his grip on her hips and he quickened his speed even more. Before he knew it, his own cries of release mingled with hers. He kept pounding, not hard but rapidly, until he had emptied the contents of his testicles into her womb.

  ~***~

  Christopher was anxious to get home. Besides, Ashleigh had no food in her house. He learned that she had pretty much moved into his place, a fact that he planned to make official just as soon as possible. Later they could decide about a bigger place in a nice neighborhood. He smiled at the thought of that. Seven months ago he had been sitting in his lonely home with not even the slightest inclination that he could know so much joy.

  Christopher unlocked the door and Maggie came rushing across the room. He laughed when she walked figure eights around his feet.

  “You missed me, girl?” He picked her up, not sure if she would be alarmed with his bandages. Evidently she recognized him by scent and sound and not by sight. He loved on her for a few minutes while Ashleigh watched. She knew that he was going to be the best Dad.

  “I’m going to feed her.” He announced. “Get changed and we’ll go out for something to eat.”

  “Alright, babe.” She headed for the bedroom and quickly made the bed. She didn’t want him to think she was a slob, even though it wasn’t exactly her fault that the bed had gone unmade. After all, she had been unconscious.

  Then she went through the closet for something nice to wear for her man. She heard him come into the bedroom but he didn’t say anything. She decided on a summer dress and when she turned from the closet it was to the sight of Christopher standing in the doorway holding the trashcan. Bandaged face or not, she could see the questioning look on his face.

  “Ashleigh…there are empty packages of cookies, pizza boxes, donut boxes.” She suddenly moved from one leg to the next. “Ashleigh, have you been purging?”

  “I…”

  “Is that what put you in the hospital? You said your insulin was too high. Is it because you’ve been throwing up your food? Binging and throwing up?”

  Ashleigh had a stricken look on her face.

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “I…” she twisted her fingers. “Yes.”

  “Jesus. Do you understand that you could have killed the baby? You could have killed yourself. What were you thinking?” He turned and stormed out of the room. Ashleigh followed him, his words stung; hurting her down to her soul.

  “Chris, I didn’t know that I was pregnant. I swear. I didn’t know that until I woke up in the hospital—”

  He had dragged the plastic liner out of the trash bin. “But you know that it was dangerous for you to do something like that!”

  God, he was yelling at her. She nodded slowly, her face twisting in sorrow and guilt. He slammed the trash bin to the floor and carried the half filled liner out to the garage through the kitchen door. Ashleigh just stood there feeling sick and unsure.

  When he didn’t return she went out the kitchen door and saw that he was sitting on the back porch stairs. He didn’t look at her as she approached. She sat down next to him and he gave her room, but she took it as if he didn’t want to touch her.

  “Sorry.” She whispered.

  He turned to her. “How long have you been doing this?”

  “Since I was a kid.” She looked at her folded hands. “Off and on. Nobody knows, not even my parents.” She stared at her hands and cleared her throat. “I was the fat kid in the family. My sisters were really pretty. And my mother…well she was always trying to make me look like them. My parents divorced when I was young. It’s very Freudian, but I replaced my Dad with food. Sometimes I would feel sick…like an addict, if I didn’t have something I wanted to eat. I’d dream about food. Then when I ate my head would clear and my heart would stop racing. But then I’d feel guilty.”

  “Is…that why I never met anyone in your family until we had this emergency? Were you ashamed of me?”

  “Oh god, no! Christopher no!” She looked at him openly, alarmed that he could ever think that. “Christopher, I was afraid for them to judge you. I was happy. I just didn’t want them to r
ain on my parade. But baby, you have to believe me when I tell you that I’ve never ever been ashamed of you or the way you look. I’ve been angry at the way people stare, I’ve been curious at your shyness, but never ever ashamed.”

  He studied her eyes and it occurred to her that he didn’t instantly believe her. She slipped her hands into his. “Christopher…”

  “Because your mother knew nothing about me when I showed up today. I don’t think she even knew that I was white.”

  “You’re right. I only told her to expect a man with a cleft palate. I didn’t even think about your color. Plus she doesn’t care about you being white. She’s half white herself. I don’t care either. When it comes to you I don’t care about anything but you!” She searched his face, wishing the bandages were gone so that she could gage his expression. “I used to only…desire black men; dark men. Maybe because I’m light, I don’t know. But I fell in love with you without ever thinking about—Wait, is that why you got the surgery? You thought I was ashamed of you? Christopher, baby, I love you. Completely. I love your looks and everything else about you.”