Dark Obsession
Dark Obsession - Chapter Four
Part
4
Ben
opened his eyes to find sun streaming through his window. Birds
were chirping and the scent of freshly made coffee tickled his
nose. He sighed contentedly and got out of bed. He faced the
mirror, proud of his body, unashamedly appreciative of his
nakedness. Is this what you see when you look at him,
Maxie?
face="Times New Roman">He
threw on a faded pair of jeans but left off the shirt. It was
cold, but he didn't care. Making his way to the kitchen, he
paused momentarily outside their door, the whisper of movement
from within the only telltale sign that Alec and Max were awake.
face="Times New Roman">"Everything's
gonna be okay, Maxie. We'll find out who's doing this," Alec's
gentle words faded and were replaced by soft, sexy mewling in
the form of Max's reply. Ben growled quietly and stepped away
from the door. His stride purposeful, he walked into the kitchen
and took a seat at the table opposite Zack.
face="Times New Roman">Zack
tilted his head to one side and appraised his brother.
"Where were you last night?" he inquired
casually.
face="Times New Roman">Ben
looked up, masking his annoyance, and grinned at Zack.
"Went out for a little fun. How 'bout you?" He bit
into a bread roll, hiding his smirk. Gonna tell me 'bout your
little trip to the morgue there, bro?
face="Times New Roman">"I've
been meaning to talk to you about that. Ben, there've been some
murders. We think someone is trying to draw us out."
face="Times New Roman">Ben
stared at Zack with a curious expression on his face. "Draw
us out? What are you talking about?"
face="Times New Roman">"We
think it's Manticore. The victims all had barcodes, Ben. But we
don't know which ones. We had a lead last night, but the body
disappeared. And our contact...well, she's dead too."
face="Times New Roman">Ben's
face went blank. Zack mistook it for fear. Ben could use the
Manticore soldier mask as well as the rest of them. It was a
defense mechanism they all employed.
face="Times New Roman">"So
you think they're trying to scare us into doing something
stupid? Let down our guard so they can catch us?" he said
quietly, staring intently at a spot over Zack's shoulder.
face="Times New Roman">"Yeah,
pretty much," he replied.
face="Times New Roman">"Fuck
me." Ben was crowing to himself. And we think Ordinaries
are stupid. Zack, Zack, Zack! I'm disappointed in you. You're so
much smarter than this...
face="Times New Roman">"Took
the words right out of my mouth," Alec said, entering the
kitchen and breaking off a piece of Ben's roll. "Damn,
that's good stuff. Got any juice?" he dismissed Ben
summarily and went to pull a glass down from the shelf.
face="Times New Roman">Max
stumbled into the room. "Coffee," she hissed, glaring
at her brothers and her lover, all seemingly well awake and
sporting good moods. Ben handed her his mug and she smiled
gratefully. He melted, seeing the softness in her eyes that
wasn't often directed at him.
face="Times New Roman">"You're
welcome, Maxie," he said softly. She didn't acknowledge
him, instead turning to Zack.
face="Times New Roman">"Do
we have any other leads?" she mumbled through a mouthful of
Ben's cereal.
face="Times New Roman">Ben
tuned out his siblings as he sat, anger bubbling under the
surface. When Alec reached for the remainder of his roll, Ben's
hand shot out and gripped his brother's wrist firmly.
face="Times New Roman">"So
I'm good enough to mooch off but not to talk to?" he ground
out. Zack and Max looked at him, alarmed at his outburst. Alec
was still trying to snatch his arm from Ben's grip, failing
miserably.
face="Times New Roman">"Ben,
are you okay?" Max stretched her hand out tentatively and
placed it on Ben's shoulder.
face="Times New Roman">Suddenly
realizing how out of character he must seem, Ben closed his eyes
and swallowed. "Sorry," he directed his apology at
Alec, releasing his hold and dropping his arm to his side.
"I'm just tired."
face="Times New Roman">Zack's
eyes sparkled and he let out a throaty laugh. "After a
night like yours? I'm not surprised. Takes a lot of energy out
of a guy, doing what you did!"
face="Times New Roman">You
have no idea, Zack. "Yeah. Busy night. Sorry I wasn't
around," he smirked at Alec's knowing grin and Max's
playful scowl. What you don't know won't kill you...
face="Times New Roman">Ben
rose from the table and dropped his dishes in the sink. Max came
up behind him and he stiffened but just as quickly relaxed. Her
scent pervaded his senses and he had to resist the urge to turn
and nuzzle her neck. She wrapped her arms around his waist and
laid her chin on his shoulder.
face="Times New Roman">"I'm
sorry, Ben. I hope you don't feel we've been ignoring you,"
she sighed heavily into his ear and he fought the shiver her
breath on his skin raised from him.
face="Times New Roman">Not
them, Maxie. You. You don't see me, do you? He turned his
head and plastered a smile on his face. "I'm good, Maxie.
Just a little tired."
face="Times New Roman">She
giggled. "Did your date give you any trouble?"
face="Times New Roman">Well
the priest cried like a baby, but the bitch? She didn't say a
word. "Not at all. She was nice and easy."
face="Times New Roman">Alec
came over and Max curled around his side. He slipped an arm
around her shoulder and clapped his brother on the back.
face="Times New Roman">"I
remember when women were that easy," he said with a sly
grin. Max's hand shot out and he grunted in pain as her fist
connected with his ribs. "You see what I have to put up
with now?" he laughed, sweeping Max up into his arms as she
giggled helplessly. "See ya later, bro! Places to go,
people to do!" he called over his shoulder as he left the
room.
face="Times New Roman">Ben's
face fell and was clouded by shadow. Zack saw the look before it
was replaced with the same blank mask from before.
face="Times New Roman">"It
bothers you, doesn't it?" he asked quietly. Ben looked up,
stunned at having been caught. But he relaxed at his brother's
next words. "I want that too, someone to love. Sometimes I
resent how happy they are together. I get it, Ben, I really do.
But one day you'll find happiness too."
face="Times New Roman">Ben
watched Zack's retreating form as he processed his brother's
words. Will I ever find happiness like theirs? How can I,
when Alec has what I want? Has who I want?
| O | O | O |
face="Times New Roman">Ben
settled himself in front of the television just as the news came
on. A photograph of Father Costanza flashed on the screen and
Ben's breath caught. They've found him, oh god. How?!
face="Times New Roman">Ben
thought back to the night before. He'd been so careful. He'd
hidden the body where no one would find it, or so he'd thought. For
chrissakes, why can't the dead stay buried?!
face="Times New Roman">Zack's
quiet words roused him from his thoughts. "Were you going
to tell us about this?" His voice was edgy. Ben's eyes flew
to his brother's and he hesitated to reply. You can't know.
It's not possible. There's no way you could know!
face="Times New Roman">"Don't
you think we'd want to know there was another murder?" Zack
pointed at the television where a reporter was still giving a
detailed report at the crime scene.
face="Times New Roman">Seeing
Ben's face, he mistook the fear he saw there to mean something
else. Zack shook his head. "I'm sorry. I know this must be
a shock to you. We meant to tell you just how bad it was, the
murders; how the victims were killed and mutilated...I'm sorry,
Ben. We shouldn't have kept this from you."
face="Times New Roman">Ben
relaxed slightly. They think I'm too sensitive for all this.
He doesn't know. He's sorry, for crying out loud! Fuck, Zack,
you don't need to protect me anymore. I'm not a child.
face="Times New Roman">Ben
just nodded. He knew that if he opened his mouth, the words he
would utter would give him away.
face="Times New Roman">"I'll
go tell the others," Zack offered, turning to leave.
"No,
it's okay," Ben said quickly. "I can do that." He
hurried out of the room, the faint sound of Zack picking up the
telephone and dialing, barely registering. Ben had stopped
suddenly, entranced. The door was open slightly, enough so that
Ben could see them, see everything.
| O | O | O |
face="Times New Roman">Ben
knew that his feelings for the girl he knew as his sister were
as unwelcome as they were natural. She was perfection. But the insatiable hunger, his lust
for her, was all-consuming and he was confused by the warring
emotions he experienced. She was his brother's girl - not his for
the taking. But the animal need, the desire to dominate and
possess her was overwhelming.
face="Times New Roman">His
gaze fell on his brother, taking in the tender embrace with
which he held Max. This was an illicit view, the scintillating
image of forbidden fruit etched into his mind. The erotic scene
too tempting to abandon his post at the door. And so he watched,
his hand moving down, slipping past his waistband and into his
boxers to stroke himself as he hardened with every
movement the exquisite pair made, the sounds of their mating
shredding the last modicum of his humanity.
face="Times New Roman">Ben
shut his eyes and mentally took on his brother's body. It was his
lips caressing her skin, his hand molding her breasts, his
cock brushing up against her searing wetness. Ben bit back a
groan, her scent teasing him, swirling in his brain, overtaking
all his senses. Max's whimpers of pleasure were his,
for him, for Ben. In his mind, she was calling his name, clutching his back
in her passion.
face="Times New Roman">"Harder!
Oh god, deeper, please..." her moans tapered off to
whispered pleas. You like it rough, Maxie? What about this...
face="Times New Roman">It
was as if Alec had read Ben's mind. No, that's ME. Alec has
no place here, Ben thought suddenly, breathing heavily.
Ben's fantasy played out as Alec bit the inside of Max's breast,
drawing blood. He could smell the coppery pungency, could hear
the muted cry of pain as Alec covered her mouth with his own,
swallowing her gasp. Not giving her time to recover, he plunged
into her, releasing her mouth from his own in time to hear her
scream his name in pleasure.
face="Times New Roman">Ben
blocked out the sound of Max screaming his brother's name.
Instead he focused on himself, on warping her words to scream
for him, for Ben. His own hand tightened as he stroked himself
into madness, finally biting down on the inside of his cheek,
muffling his grunt as he exploded in his pants. Removing
his hand, he pushed his sweat-soaked hair from his eyes, his
body cooling and his heartbeat returning to normal.
face="Times New Roman">Ben
stood watching Alec, thinking of him as a reflection of himself,
the only difference in appearance being their eyes. Alec's shone
and sparkled with happiness and the joy of a man who is content
in knowing he is loved and cherished. Ben's eyes held a chill,
the chill of one who's soul had departed; where the devil
resided, biding his time.
| O | O | O |
face="Times New Roman">"What
the hell is taking you so long!?" Zack yelled from the
other room. Ben jumped, having forgotten why he'd been at their
door in the first place. Feeling the uncomfortable wetness in
his pants, remembering the erotic images in his mind, he hurried
to the bathroom to clean himself up.
face="Times New Roman">"Get
your asses in here, now!" Zack bellowed again. This time it
seemed, Alec and Max had heard him.
face="Times New Roman">"Dammit,
Zack! Chill! You'll give yourself an aneurism! Give us a minute,
will ya?!" Alec yelled from behind the door.
Ben
could hear Max's high-pitched giggle, he heard the loud 'thump'
as something crashed in the next room. He leaned his forehead
against the bathroom door. Living in the same house as his twin,
his mirror image, the man who held Max's heart, was slowly
killing him. He heard their laughter, could imagine what Alec
was doing to get Max to moan like that. Ben needed a
release. He couldn't stay here, not now, not when all he could
think of was her.
face="Times New Roman">Moments
later, he heard Max and Alec rushing down the hall. Opening the
door silently, he followed. It was time.
TBC