A Changed Man (Altered Book 1) (23 page)

Jackie felt gravity leave her. She was wrapped up in warm skin over thick muscle that held her as gently as if she were glass. She let herself get lost in the kiss until she realized he was laying her down on the bed, her bed.

Remington broke the kiss. "I thought we'd go ahead and start tonight with the whole room switch thing, you know, so you could see what you’re getting yourself into." He smiled at her wickedly.

Jackie watched as Remington straightened and started to get undressed. Taking off his shirt, revealing his tanned muscled chest, then sliding his jeans down huge powerful legs. She was heating up just looking at him. "No time like the present."

                        Chapter 16

Tess Morgan was a bundle of nerves the entire day thanks to her first meeting with Rick Davis. She had gotten so upset that she'd forgotten to get his vitals. Now she would have to go back tomorrow and she wasn't looking forward to that. She had made it home around six in the evening. She ate a microwave dinner and was on her third glass of wine. She couldn't seem to get what he told her out of her head. Sure, all the patients say they're not supposed to be there; they were railroaded, innocent, nothing she hadn't heard before. It was the way he said it though, she never had anyone tell her to question everything she knows about her job, to dig.

When she was offered the position six months ago, she was told these were military criminals that had either committed a murder or some other horrendous crime. That instead of going to federal prison for the rest of their lives, they agreed to having experiments performed on them in hopes of some day being able to have some sort of freedom and rejoin the military as a super weapon. Every thing was top secret; she assumed that’s why it paid so well.

Tess figured they were all the same; they all wanted their freedom. She was sitting in her recliner with her legs up watching old “I Love Lucy” reruns when a big black cat jumped into her lap. "Hey Sam." She said and scratched the cat behind his ears. The cat purred loudly. "How was your day huh?" The cat looked at her with emerald green eyes then plopped down on his back. Tess giggled. "Another belly rub?" She said running her fingers through the black silky hair. "You're spoiled rotten you know that?" The cat answered her by purring louder. Tess couldn't understand why what Rick said stuck with her more than anyone else being held there had. Maybe because he said it with such conviction, maybe it was something in those stormy gray eyes. He had said, go over everything and figure out what makes sense and what doesn't. She couldn't shake the feeling he may be telling the truth. If she started questioning though, she could lose her job, her very well paying job. She had never made this kind of money before and all her employers had asked for was her silence. Don’t tell any outsiders where she works; don’t discuss her job with anyone outside of the institution. Easy enough, she had her cat, that was it. The nagging instinct to investigate was going to drive her crazy if she did nothing.

"Tomorrow Sam. I'll look in to it tomorrow."

Slade Thompson had a plan today. He would give Rick Davis one more chance to tell him where Remington Cross was before he subjected him to the same horrors as everyone else in The Den. At least that’s what he was going to tell Rick; let him think he had a chance at freedom if he would just lead them to Remington, but that wasn't going to be the case. Ricks fate was sealed.

Slade moved swiftly through the checkpoints at the main gate, everyone knew his face. He was never stopped for identification unless the guard was new and it never happened twice; if it did, the guard would be quickly replaced and his fate would be at the mercy of Slade’s mood that day. Slade parked his car and went to the main entrance punching the code in to the security pad.

"Good morning Mr. Smith."

"Peter." Slade nodded to the guard as he entered the building. "How were the subjects last night?"

Peter cleared his throat. "Mostly quiet, we had a few acting out as the guards brought them their dinner, but they all calmed down except for a male in corridor B, The Sleeper. We had to turn the gas on in his cell because we can't get too close to him."

"Ah Ronan Quinn. He is a spitfire!" Slade said. "Keep an eye on him and let me know if he causes anymore trouble."

"Yes sir."

Slade made his way down corridor D, heading for the cell occupied by Rick Davis and one of his favorite creations, Dillon Porter. Each corridor had one guard stationed at the head. Slade nodded to the guard to follow him to Ricks cell.

"Open the door." Slade ordered. The guard did as he was told and unlocked the cell door.

"Stay close." Slade told the guard. He opened the heavy wooden door that led to the room on his own; they had no locks and were there strictly for the privacy of the subjects. It was a little something to give them the illusion of safety.

Dillon was propped up in her bed reading a cooking magazine when she heard the cell door being unlocked from behind the wooden one. One of the few things they were allowed from the outside world. No television, only books and magazines that were pre-approved. They would tell the guard in their section what they would like once a week and if approved they were delivered. Some were new, some were so old the pictures were faded; it was the luck of the draw. She was so used to being by herself, Dillon learned every sound out in the hallway. She could hear a lock two doors down from hers being opened followed by muffled voices. She threw her magazine toward the floor hitting Rick in the head with it.

"What the?" Rick quickly sat up looking around and catching Dillon smirking at him.

"Get up, we have company."

"Jesus, next time just say "Rick, wake up." I'm a pretty light sleeper." Rick stood up and put his shirt on.

"I'll try and remember that next time." Dillon giggled.

Rick couldn't help but laugh with her. He hadn't seen this side of her yet and was happy she was smiling, even if it was at his expense. The door opened and the man that called himself Mr. Smith took one step across the threshold. Rick’s smile quickly disappeared. "Oh, what do we owe the displeasure?" He asked taking a step toward the man. Rick watched as Mr. Smith took a step back. He was afraid of him, smart. He watched the man look behind him to make sure the armed guard had his back.

Rick snorted. "Don't worry, your ogre is still back there."

Slade stood up straight, stuck his chin out, and started rubbing imaginary wrinkles out of his suit coat. "Mr. Davis, so nice to see you're making yourself at home. It seems you and Miss Porter are getting along wonderfully. No one is dead yet." He smirked.

"She’s a pain in the ass." Rick answered not wanting the bastard to know how much he had grown to care for this kid in the short time he had been here. He knew the fucker would use it against him at some point. "Now what do you want?" Rick heard the bathroom door click shut and he glanced behind him to see Dillon was gone. Shit, He'd have to explain that later.

"I'm here to give you another chance to tell me where Mr. Cross is. You do want your freedom don't you?"

Rick looked at him like he was an idiot. "I told you, I don't know where he his." Even if he knew how to find him, Rick would never betray Remington. They had been best friends since they met at boot camp at age eighteen. Hell, friendship wasn't a strong enough word to describe their bond. They were brothers and Rick would die for his brother.

"Why don't I believe you?" Asked Slade narrowing his beady eyes. "You're going to cooperate one way or another Mr. Davis and since you refuse to tell me where Mr. Cross is, I guess it will be you who takes his place."

"Fuck you." It took everything Rick had not to charge the weasel and pulverize his smirk-y face. He had to remain in control if he had any chance of getting Dillon and himself out of there.

"You military types have such colorful language." Slade could see the hate in Rick’s eyes. Nervous inside, but trying not to show it, he started slowly backing toward the door. "You have until tonight to come to your senses and let me know where your friend is. Think of your freedom Mr. Davis." Rick flipped Slade the bird.

"How colorful." Slade left the cell and closed the door.

Dillon heard the door close and came out of the bathroom. She sat back on her bed, raising her magazine and pretending to read. Rick walked over to the bed and put a finger on the top of Dillon’s magazine lowering it from in front of her face. "I didn't mean it you know."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said trying to avoid eye contact.

"Yes you do." Rick sat down at the foot of her bed.

Dillon was a genius, but having no real family and no friends her social skills could use some work. She took people for what they showed her and he had said he didn't give a shit about her. That cut her more than she realized. She had started to believe what he said about getting her out of here, but now she wasn't so sure. "Whatever. Just leave me alone."

"Dillon, listen to me. We can't let him think we care for each other; he'll use it against us the first chance he gets. I won't have him taking it out on you when he doesn't get what he wants from me. Do you understand?"        Dillon peeked at him over her magazine.

"I told you I would protect you and get you out of here and I meant it. Whatever I say about you around him or the guards is just for show okay?"

Dillon thought about it for a minute. He made sense. They could use the threat of hurting one of them against the other if they thought it would get them what they wanted. She nodded her head. "Okay." She whispered.

"Good girl." Rick got up and walked over to Dillon, leaning down he kissed her on the top of her head. "Friends?" He asked holding out his hand.

Dillon never had anyone display such a sentiment toward her. She reached out and took his hand. "Friends."

"So, what happened?" She asked.

"You don't know? You've had your ear against that door since you went in there." Rick answered.

"I was trying to be polite." Dillon smiled.

Rick chuckled then his face got serious. "They’re going to do to me what they did to you if I don't give up Remington."

"So what are you going to do?" She asked worried for him.

"Nothing. I don't know where he is and I wouldn't tell that piece of shit if I did. I need to figure out a way to get us out of here, soon."

Jackie woke up and couldn't move. Remington was wrapped around her body like a vine. She was on her side with him behind her. He was heating her skin with his soft even breaths. She reached behind her back and took hold of him. He stirred, and then let out a low growl. "Good morning." she said feeling him grow in her hand.

"Good morning to you." Remington started to kiss the back of her neck alternating between using his lips and his tongue. "What have you got there?" He said smiling into her shoulder.

Jackie gave him a soft squeeze. "Something hard...and big." she giggled.

"What should we do with it?" He asked hoping like hell she'd give him the answer he was desperate for.

"I have an idea." Jackie began moving her hand up and down, slowly enticing a moan from behind her. Remington continued to kiss down Jackie’s neck and across her shoulder, bringing a hand around to her front and gently squeezed her soft silky breast. Jackie worked her hand faster.

Remington moved his hand between Jackie’s legs and started to rub her sex. She opened for him and he entered her with two thick fingers. Jackie moaned loudly and began to rock against him. "Jesus you feel good, you're so wet."

"Remington, please, I need you." Jackie pleaded.   Remington removed his fingers and took hold of himself. Lifting her leg with his he entered her swiftly. Jackie gasped then moaned loudly.

"Is this what you want?" He whispered in her ear.

"Oh yes, yes, yes." She whispered. Jackie couldn't think straight. As he sped up her breath came in pants and within minutes she was climaxing.

Remington could feel her getting close, she was tightening around him; trying to squeeze out of him what he was fiercely trying to keep in. He wanted to stay in her just a little longer but the wetness and heat of her climax was making it impossible. Remington couldn't fight it any longer; he tightened his arms around her and let himself go.

Coming down from their highs, they were still tightly entwined, neither wanting to be the first to let go. Remington stayed inside of her. Their breaths finally slowing, Jackie turned her self over in Remington’s arms. "That was amazing." Jackie said and nipped his chin.

"Right back at ya Jack." He said laying a soft kiss on her forehead. "So you think you're gonna like it?" He asked.

"Like what?"

"Having me shacked up in here with you every night."

"Hmm." She giggled.

"Hmm?" He parroted back and began to tickle her.