Death by the River (A St. Benedict Novel Book 1) Read online

  “Anything, baby?”

  “Did you ever think about what will happen after graduation? I know you’re hoping to go to Tulane, but I was thinking … it might be nice if we went to the same college.”

  Where had that come from?

  “You don’t have the GPA or connections to get into Tulane.”

  She set the bottle in the sand. “I know, but have you ever thought about LSU? They have a great football team, and you could get picked up there and eventually go pro like you always talked about.”

  Beau considered her face in the faint light. How dare she try and change his plans? What made her think she had the right to even discuss his future? He settled the storm raging inside him, not wanting to frighten her away.

  “What brought this on? You never talked about us going to college together.”

  “I was just thinking. That’s all.”

  Beau leaned into her, studying her face. Dawn never came up with ideas on her own. That’s what he liked about her—her gullibility. But who would put such a ludicrous thought into her head?

  Then it struck him. The only person who fed her sense of inferiority was the same one who had driven her to sleep with him the first night they’d met—Leslie.

  “Is this about Leslie and Derek? I’ve heard they’re planning on going to LSU together. Is that what you want for us?”

  “Haven’t you ever thought about us after we graduate?” She tugged at the collar of his T-shirt. “Might be hard with me at LSU and you at Tulane. We won’t be able to see each other every day.”

  Beau decided to turn the conversation to his advantage.

  He kissed her lips. “I’d love that idea, baby, but I was afraid you wouldn’t want to have me around all the time.”

  “I would, Beau. Every day. You know I love you.”

  A nudge of victory careened through his bones. “Then prove to me how much you love me, Dawn. Knock back more of the vodka so I can do all the wonderful things I’ve been dreaming about.”

  She eagerly chugged down two more big sips, and he turned his head away, smirking.

  Dawn coughed, coming up for air. “If I drink much more, I’ll be too drunk to enjoy anything.”

  “You’re not a lightweight.” He pushed the bottle back toward her. “I’ve seen you drink lots more than this.”

  She smacked her lips together. “You have?”

  A mischievous smile spread across his lips. “Baby, would I lie to you?”

  It didn’t take long for the vodka to hit her. She had a hard time staying upright, and her words slurred.

  Beau kissed her neck and waited until she drifted off to sleep against him. Then he gently rested her head on the sand.

  Satisfied that she was out, he stood and wiped the sand from his jeans. He arched over Dawn, shaking his head.

  “You sleep it off. I got somewhere else I got to be.”

  Back at the party, Beau mingled. There were a lot of faces he didn’t recognize and figured quite a few St. Paul’s students must have heard about the party. He didn’t care who showed up on the river, as long as they knew he was the king.

  He made his way to the tubs filled with beer and drinks and spotted Taylor. She was with another girl Beau recognized—Zoe Harvey. The cute girl with the creamy mahogany skin and wonderful ass was one of Dawn’s friends and a real blabbermouth. Whatever Beau wanted to do with Taylor, he’d have to get her away from Zoe; otherwise, his every movement would get back to Dawn.

  He put on a smile and strolled up to them. “Hey, ladies.”

  “Beau.” Zoe’s hazel eyes glanced around him. “Where’s Dawn?”

  “She’s not feeling well, so I took her back to my car to lie down for a while.”

  Zoe’s small red mouth turned downward. “That’s odd. She was fine on the ride over here. Maybe I should go and check on her.”

  Beau clasped her arm, giving it an encouraging squeeze. “Let her sleep, Zoe. I think the vodka just made her sick. She said she didn’t eat anything today.”

  Zoe pulled against his grip. Her eyes shot to his, a glimmer of displeasure burned in them and then fizzled out.

  “Yeah, she skipped lunch today. She was too busy in the gym getting all the banners ready for the game.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine in another hour or so.” Beau let her go and shifted his focus to his new objective—Taylor. “There’s a guy from St. Paul’s asking about you, Zoe.”

  Zoe’s brassy smirk challenged him.

  “Sure there is.”

  Beau pointed to a bonfire on the far side of the beach. He selected a random guy with thick shoulders, buzzed dark hair, and nursing a beer.

  “His name is Mike, and he thinks you’re cute.”

  She squinted as she followed his finger. “Mike?”

  Beau pushed her ahead. “Go talk to him, if you don’t believe me.”

  Zoe gave him one last cautious side-glance and then walked away.

  Beau turned all of his attention to Taylor, ready to make his move. “I thought she’d never leave.”

  Taylor tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “So where is Dawn, really?”

  For a cheerleader, she wasn’t a total ditz, but he doubted she was as sharp as Leslie. “She’s passed out a little farther up the beach.” Beau moved in closer. “We just had a big fight.”

  Curiosity twinkled in her eyes. “About what?”

  From the way she rocked her hips, hinting at her haughty ego, to the aggressive manner in which she flirted, Beau sensed she was ready for more.

  “You.” He lowered his smoky voice, hoping she would move closer. “She’s jealous because she knows I like you.”

  She dragged the tip of her tongue over her unadorned lips, wetting them. “But you’re Dawn’s boyfriend and she’s the captain of my cheerleading squad. If she wanted to get even with me—”

  “She won’t know.” He took the opportunity to get real close and put his lips next to her right ear. “I’ve been wanting to end it for some time now. With you at my side, I could walk away from Dawn for good.”

  The aroma of salty sweat mixed with her heavy floral shampoo disappointed him. Why did no other girl smell like Leslie? It just proved how special she was, and how worthy of his adoration.

  He stood back, waiting to soak in her reaction.

  There was no blush of embarrassment, no openmouthed surprise. What greeted him was a cold, calculating stare of a huntress closing in on her kill.

  Desire like the flames from the nearby bonfires danced in her eyes. He had her.

  “Is there some place we can talk?” she whispered.

  Beau glimpsed the revelers around them. Some sat around the bonfires chatting, others played in the water at the river’s edge. A few brave souls danced and swayed to techno-pop music, while the hardcore party-goers sat on picnic benches playing drinking games. No one would notice if they slipped away.

  “Come with me.”

  He took Taylor’s hand and guided her along the beach, leading her to the rusted iron gate of The Abbey.

  Chapter Ten

  Moonlight danced across the top of the high grass and crept up the cracked wall in the cells. Beau was glad he had forgotten to bring a flashlight. Mother Nature had set the mood for his tryst with Taylor.

  He’d enjoyed flings behind Dawn’s back, but none had been with her circle of friends. This could be an exciting challenge.

  “What is this place?”

  The ethereal light shimmered in her hair. She glanced at him with a slight crease in her brow. He ignored her concern and pictured how her hair would feel in his hands.

  “This is the remains of the seminary school used by some monks. They abandoned it years ago. Just behind The Abbey is the priests’ cells. I’ve got a place in there.”

  Right before they reached the fountain with the angel on top, Taylor yanked on his hand, stopping him.

  “Are you kidding me? Priests’ cells?”

  He hadn’t expected someone from Los
Angeles to be as skittish as a high-strung racehorse. He thought West Coast people were mellow.

  He put his arm around her. “It’s real cozy and very quiet.”

  Her hands twisted and she eased away. “Sounds creepy.”

  Instead of getting angry, he remained the picture of calm, honing in on a possible way to make her trust him.

  “I know it sounds creepy, but it’s not. I’ve a cot and music, candles and even an ice chest. For me, it’s a place to get away—a sanctuary. I only bring special people here.” He gauged her reaction and decided to give her something to win her over completely—honesty.

  Well, she would think it was honest.

  “I just want to be alone with you without all the noise and interruptions of the others around. You ever just want to get away from all the bullshit? The constant pressure to be one way, act a certain way. Please your parents, your teachers, your coach—all of it. I get so sick of fighting to be the person they want me to be. So, I created this place where I can be me. Can you understand that?”

  She hugged herself and slowly nodded. The aggressive tigress retreated and the quiet girl fighting to fit in came to light.

  “I understand a lot better than you think.” Her smile was tentative but genuine. “I didn’t want to move here. I was happy in LA. My dad made us move.”

  He inched closer, encouraging her to open up to him. “My dad wants me to take over the family business. No matter how much I hate it.”

  She unwound her arms and walked to the fountain. “Yeah, well, your dad is successful. Whereas mine …”

  He detected a slight sniffle as she kept her face hidden in the angel’s long shadow.

  He went up to her as she gazed into the black water. Beau placed his hand on her shoulder. “What is it?”

  She faced him and the faint light revealed her trembling lips. “I can’t say anything. My dad works for your dad.”

  He lifted her chin, antsy to discover her secret. Anything could be twisted and used against her, guaranteeing her complacency.

  “They’re not us. What they do has nothing to do with you and me.” He gently kissed her lips. “Whatever it is, it will never affect us.”

  Her eyes searched his. “My dad couldn’t get a job in LA. He’s had problems before … with alcohol. He’s sober now, but his reputation was ruined. That’s why we came here. He needed a fresh start. But I sure didn’t.”

  He put his arm around her and crushed her to his chest, feeling empowered. “Your secret is safe with me.” He nodded to the crack in the wall just ahead. “Let’s go inside.”

  She slid her arms around his neck. “What does a guy like you see in Dawn Moore? I would never have pegged you for the mousy kind.” She bit his lip. “I’ll bet you like a woman who knows her own mind.”

  Unlike other girls who had fallen into his arms because of his name, looks, or money, Taylor offered a different kind of challenge—a mental one. She made the game of seduction a whole lot of fun and gave him a taste of things to come with Leslie.

  Done with waiting, he picked her up and her squeals carried across The Abbey grounds. Hiking her over his shoulder, he pressed on for the crack in the cell walls.

  He remembered the first time he’d stumbled on the opening. Crammed with cobwebs and dead leaves, the numerous cracks in the walls had given him pause about the integrity of the site, but the dilapidated condition had a plus side—no one would ever venture there. It would be his place, untouched by others.

  The first girls he had brought there balked at the conditions; after a few days of cleaning, and some homey touches, they seemed more intrigued than put off.

  At the narrow opening, he put Taylor down. “Stay here and I will get some light, so you can see where you’re going.”

  She stubbornly crossed her arms and turned her lips downward. “You want me to stay out here alone?”

  He kissed her, biting her bottom lip. “There’s nothing out here that can hurt you. The only person to fear is me.”

  Taylor relaxed, and her arms fell to her sides. “I don’t scare easily.”

  Oh, yeah. He liked her. “I’m counting on it.”

  Beau ducked inside the wall, pulling a slow-moving Taylor behind him. The blackness of the cells took a moment to adjust too, then ribbons of moonlight seeped in through cracks in the wall, allowing just enough light to help him make his way.

  He crept along, keeping a firm hold on her hand until a remnant of light caught on the metal frame of his cot.

  He let her go. “Wait here.”

  In the room, he shuffled across the floor to where he’d left the candles on top of his ice chest. Feeling around the uneven surface, he found the box of matches.

  The brilliant flare of light took a second to get used to.

  He lifted one of the candles and checked the contents of his cell. Everything was where he’d left it.

  “Are you sure this is okay?” She came inside, inspecting the room.

  He went to his cot and reached underneath where he kept his CD player and a flashlight. “Everything’s fine.”

  She caressed the cracks along the doorway. “How’d you find this place?”

  “One of the first parties I attended at the river was when I made the varsity football team as a backup quarterback. I got bored when everyone got drunk and went exploring. When I found the opening in the wall, I decided to check it out and discovered this.” He flipped on the flashlight and pointed it around the room. “Cool, huh?”

  She nodded, not appearing as enthused about the locale as he was. “It has potential.”

  Done with waiting for her, he put down the flashlight. “I promise you will grow to love it. I’m going to give you the night of your life in this very room.”

  Taylor faced him, her apprehension all but gone, her lips spread into a wide grin. “I like the sound of that.”

  He flipped her around, curled into her back, and wrapped her in his arms. He kissed her neck as he ran his hands up and down her chest. He liked the feel of her. She had curves and sweet-smelling skin.

  His kisses became more urgent, and then he bit her neck, hoping she liked it.

  Taylor sighed, sounding bored. “Is that the best you can do?” She turned around. “I thought you were into playing hard to get.”

  Beau pinned her arms behind her. “I always play hard.”

  She rocked her hips into his crotch. “Then play hard with me.”

  The request did more than excite him; it freed him. The girls he’d known didn’t ask for it rough. They wanted sweet and gentle, the way Dawn always liked it. But this was an invitation to be who he really was; to let the true Beau out and allow him to run wild.

  “Are you sure you want the real me?”

  Taylor tilted her head. “The real you?” Her lips lingered temptingly in front of his. “Yes. I want to see who’s hiding behind that popular, rich boy persona you do so well.”

  He tightened his grip on her wrists, squeezing just enough to hurt. “Then let’s have some fun.”

  She wiggled against him. “Hey, no bruises.” She got her hands free and pushed him away, not hard, but hard enough to make him angry. “We’re gonna do this my way.”

  Like a rubber band pulled to the breaking point, his self-control snapped. Beau gave in to his rage.

  “No, we’re gonna do this my way.” He picked her up and threw her to the ground.

  She hit the floor and immediately looked up at him. Fear—dark, cold, and brutal—widened her eyes. The thrill of seeing her huddled on the floor, no longer the assertive flirty girl, her terror charging the air in the room, made him hard.

  This is my kind of fun.

  He crawled on top of her. “Let me explain something to you. You’re in my world now. I own you, your family, your reputation, all of it. After I’m done with you, we’ll see if you’re still in the mood for games.”

  He tore at her blouse, ripping the silky material to shreds.

  “Get off me!” Taylor tried
to crawl backward to get away from him.

  Beau held her down and struggled to get her bra off when she punched him in the stomach.

  He used the back of his hand to slap her across the face. “Hard enough for ya?”

  The sound of her head smacking against the floor sent a satisfying tingle through him.

  She quieted down, rolling her head around, groaning.

  He got her bra off and used it to tie her hands behind her. Then he dragged her across the floor to the wall.

  She struggled a little when he lifted her onto the cot and secured her hands on the sealed off pipes jutting from the wall above.

  Taylor glanced up at the pipe holding her and fought to free her hands.

  He slapped her again, determined for her to comply. “You had the opportunity to do this the easy way. Now you’ll do it my way.”

  Beau wrestled her jeans and underwear over her ankles. He noted the way her blue eyes bulged as her exasperation turned to abject horror. He even found the blush of her cheeks attractive.

  “Stop it!” She writhed beneath him.

  “Scream all you want; no one will hear you.” He licked her cheek, tasting her sweat and fear. “You’re mine. I’m going to make sure you never forget tonight.”

  Taylor fought against him, kicking at his head. Aroused by her spirit, he snapped up her underwear and shoved it in her mouth so he could have fun without bite marks.

  He backhanded her one more time, and she crumpled against the cot. Beau laughed and patted her cheek, eager to make sure she was awake when he took what he wanted.

  When he spread her legs apart, Taylor stopped fighting him. He didn’t like that. He wanted her to struggle like he’d pictured Leslie would.

  She turned her head and closed her eyes as he put on a condom. Then he slammed into her. He thought she would whimper or at least make a noise, but she didn’t. So he did it hard to make sure it hurt.

  When he was done, Beau untied her hands and took the underwear out of her mouth.

  Tears stained her cheeks, and a trickle of blood ran down her lower lip. Every muscle in her body quivered. Her whimpering echoed around the room, adding to his sense of achievement. He’d shown her his true self, and she’d been too weak to take it.