I swallow hard, because I'm not sure what to think of this. Victor wants me to kiss him? It's a terrible idea. Not only would it destroy any boundaries we have between us, but I find his tusks and sharp teeth more than a little alarming. What if kissing him is repulsive? It would hurt his feelings and destroy anything we've built up if I'm disgusted by him. "I don't want to do that, Victor."
He laughs, and the sound isn't angry at all, which makes me relax a little. "Why is that, little Bee? Because you're not attracted to me? I know what I look like. I don't expect a human to see what I've got to offer and salivate over it. But you know what I realized? You're not attracted to that fool you call your boyfriend, and you kiss him. So I figure it doesn't matter."
I make a sound of protest. "It's very rude of you to point out that sort of thing, Victor."
"How is it rude? Because it's the truth and you don't want to admit it?"
I hate that he chuckles. I hate that he finds all of this amusing. If Riffin knew I was inside Crulden's—Victor's—cell right now with the power off and he was hovering over me, he'd lose his mind with worry. Actually, I'm not sure if it'd be worry as much as he'd be upset that another male was pissing all over his territory, which just fills me with even more disgust for my situation. "Kissing Riffin is different," I point out. "It's not the same."
"I know it's not the same," Victor continues in that reasonable tone. "It's not the same because when he kisses you, you feel nothing. But when I kiss you, you won't." He leans in, his voice a mere whisper. "We both know I could make you come."
I gasp, the sound breathless and turned on despite myself. I can’t believe he’s bringing this up again. “You hush.”
Victor just leans closer, his voice floating around me in the darkness. "He doesn't care that you're not aroused, little Bee. To him, your mouth is just him claiming you to show off to others. He's not interested in your pleasure. But see, I have a lot of time to think in this cell of mine. I think about you. And I think about how I'd react in that situation. Would I shove my tongue deep into your mouth for my pleasure alone? Would I steal your breath and not care that you were only tolerating my touch? That your cunt remained dry as bone no matter how much I put my mouth on you?" His voice dips. "But see, I like winning."
"Winning?" I echo, practically panting in the darkness.
"Mmmhmm. And if you don't feel pleasure when I touch you, then it's not a prize. See, it's not about me. It's about tasting you. It's about licking that sweet mouth of yours and gauging your response."
My breasts tighten against my clothes, my nipples aching. I say nothing, because I don't trust my voice. Not any longer.
"I'd change what I was doing," he continues silkily, "until I figured out what you liked. And I'd keep doing that, because I want your cunt juicy and wet with need, Bee. I'd need that. I want that scent in my nose so I know that when I kiss you, you're in there with me, and you want my mouth as badly as I want to give it to you." Victor shifts, and I feel one claw skim along the line of my jaw. "And that's the difference between me and that fool you kiss. I'd make you come. I'd make you wet with need. And that scares you, doesn't it?"
I clear my throat and manage a stern, "Of course not."
"Little liar." His thumb strokes my cheek. "But like I said, it doesn't matter. You kiss him and you don't want it. So if you want me to keep cooperating so you can keep this job of yours, you'll kiss me, too."
"That's blackmail," I breathe, both horrified and titillated.
"Don't care. Do we have an agreement?"
Before I can answer, the lights come back on.
8
VICTOR
The lights return, the door lock clicks into place, and my collar hums as it comes online again, shivering at my throat to remind me of its presence.
Bee pulls away, startled and breathless. I can tell by the look on her face that she wasn't expecting my request. She needs time to think about it. That's fine. I've got nothing but time. What's interesting to me is that the more that I pushed for her to kiss me, the more aroused her scent grew. She protests at the thought of being coerced into putting her mouth on mine…but she's still interested. She was more aroused from my suggestion than she's ever been from her so-called boyfriend and his mouth touching hers.
Before I can say anything, the shock-collar lights up, tightening around my throat and sending a harsh surge of energy through my system. I remember to pretend to be affected, and stagger backward, making choking noises as I do.
"Crulden?" Bee gasps, reaching for me. "Victor?"
I don't answer, closing my eyes and pretending to be lost in the pain of the shock-collar. I'm secretly pleased at her distress, though. She's worried about me, though she doesn't need to be. It's still nice to see.
"Female," one of the guards calls through the window. "Come away from him! Come to the door. You're free!"
She makes an exasperated noise in her throat, reaching out and touching my hand. The shock travels through her system and she yelps, quickly drawing back. "You're hurting him! Stop!"
"The power is back on," the guards call, frantic. "You can escape now!"
"I'm not IN any danger," she bellows back, and then mutters under her breath. "Oaf." I hear her steps move away from me, and the door buzzes as she opens it and steps outside. "Are you shocking him? Turn it off!"
"Are you hurt?" they ask, clearly worried for the female who'd been trapped with a monster like me for all of a few moments.
Bee's irritation is clear. "Of course I'm not hurt. He won't hurt me. He's trying very hard and you're not supporting him, you know. Turning on the shock-collar the moment you feel in control is a terrible, cowardly thing to do."
"But—"
"Turn it off right now," Bee demands. Her voice is no longer delicate or sweet. It is furious, and I'm impressed that she's let her facade slip to defend me. "Turn it off right now or we're going to have to talk about how Crulden was the only one that thought about my safety when the power went off. Because I didn't see you two rushing in there. Do I need to point this out to your supervisors? Or are we understanding each other clearly now?"
The collar turns off, the buzzing ceasing. Even though it's not enough to truly affect me, it's annoying and I'm glad it's gone. I rub my throat, opening my eyes to glare at the two useless guards. Bee's hands are on her hips, and she's glaring at them equally.
I find this…charmingly adorable.
After Bee leaves for the day and I'm alone in my cell, the guards flick the lights off. "Night night, Crulden," one calls, and the other laughs.
I don't mind. The darkness doesn't bother me. It lets me think. I have a great many things to think about today.
I sort through my memories—or rather, Crulden's memories. It doesn't bother me that I've been cloned from him. That I've got no memories except his remnants and whatever's been implanted in my mind. The more I sort through his memories and feelings, the less they feel like mine. Those brutal arena fights? The feeling of ripping someone's spine out through their back? Those are someone else's joys. There's an old, ugly memory of a female—something with green skin and big, sad eyes—shrieking in terror as Crulden stalks towards her in the arena, but I don't dig deeper.