Beast, page 7
“Nothing, Boss. Just allowing you the chance to talk to your current business partner.”
“I know what you’re trying to do and that’s not a possibility. She’s too young.” And she reminds me too much of Anna.
“She’s nearly twenty. Britt was just two years older and the last girl you had was younger. What other excuse do you have?”
“She’ll be leaving soon.”
“Possibly.”
“No. She will be leaving soon. Don’t undermine what has to happen, Lou. It’s for her own safety.”
“Point made. I’ll leave it alone. But for tonight… you’re having dinner with your business partner. If more happens, then so be it.” I decide arguing with Lou is never going to get anywhere. When he has something up his sleeve, he will work tirelessly to make it happen, devoting all of his time to it ensuring its success. So, I can only imagine what kind of surprises we’ll have in store for us tonight.
I’m about to leave the kitchen when I hear her clear her throat behind me. I’m not prepared for the vision I see when I turn around. She’s breathtaking.
She moves around me to greet Lou. “My lord, you’re stunning. Give me your hand, I want to see a 360.” She spins around, holding his hand until he bends her backward in a move that has her laughter echoing through the room. My skin chills at the sound and I find myself wanting it to continue before it even stops. “You, my dear, have the power to rip apart the hearts of many men. Your beauty and grace are untouched, and you should be cherished.” Lou manages to say what I don’t.
“Why, thank you.” She bows her head, his words making her shy.
“Beast. Don’t you think she’s beautiful?” I glare at Lou and his horrible attempt at nonchalantly setting us up. Yes, she’s fuckin’ beautiful. She’s a sight for sore eyes and for the first time since I realized who she was, I see her as IsaBelle and not a resemblance of my memories.
My fingers crave the touch of her exposed back and fuck if I don’t want to follow Lou’s lead and lay her back on my arm, but I’d kiss her. Her long dark hair is draped over her left shoulder, and that red dress leaves so much skin bared I’m itching to feel how soft she is.
For the first time in a long time, I feel flushed from being attracted to a woman. I’m awkward again and I don’t like it, so I do what any respectable man should do and leave the room without responding. It’s never good to let a woman have control over you.
I sit at the end of the table like I do all the time and rub my temples, pretending that I don’t hear Lou’s whispers. “You’ll be fine. The guys decided to have dinner at the clubhouse tonight, so it’s just you and Beast.”
“Please stay with us. I don’t think he wants me here and I really don’t want to waste this dress on a man scowling at me from across the table.”
“Trust me. He wants you here, or you wouldn’t be here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Now go take a seat and enjoy your dinner. The chef has made an amazing meal for two.”
Her first few steps are rushed, like she was shoved into the room. The rest are slow and unsure, but each of them resulting in a click of her heels on the tiled floor.
Lou swoops in and pulls out her chair just before she has a chance to, and I watch in wonder if Lou should take my seat instead. He seems enamored by IsaBelle… not that I’m not, he’s just putting it out there for everyone to see.
She sits with her head lowered and her hands in her lap, fidgeting until Lou comes back into the room. He makes her comfortable.
I don’t.
When the chef comes into the room with our plates, Lou announces he’s leaving and hits play on the music, sending a soft melody through the speakers. I watch her fidget again… almost like she’s self-conscious or anxious. I can’t decide.
“Do I make you nervous?” I reach for her glass and pour some wine while I wait for her response.
“Sometimes.”
“Don’t be nervous. You have nothing to worry about when you’re with me.” She turns her head to meet my gaze and then takes the glass from my hand. “And by the way, you look breathtaking tonight.” Her smile ignites my insides and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m looking forward to spending time with a girl outside of just a usual hook up. Our talk this morning was easier than it should’ve been, and I know that has everything to do with the way she handled it.
“Thank you. You look handsome yourself.”
I inwardly flinch at her compliment. “I’m a rough guy with scars to prove my struggles; I’ve never been called handsome in my life.”
“Have you ever considered that your scars add to your beauty?” She finally takes a bite of her food, letting me know she’s relaxing more as we talk.
“I haven’t.”
“Well, they do. You must have the girls lining up at your door.”
“They even break into my house every once in a while,” I tease around a bite of steak.
“Very funny.” I earn a laugh from her and my god, it’s even more attractive than hearing her find humor in someone else.
“I love your laugh.” It slips out before I can stop it.
“And I love your smile… does that make us even?” She closes her eyes after her first taste of lobster. “Mmmm. This is so good.” I thought the sound of her happiness did things to me… but her moan nearly sends me to the floor. I can’t take my eyes off of her and find myself wondering what she’s thinking and what makes her tick.
She shovels bite after bite into her mouth like she hasn’t had a meal in days, but I know she had breakfast this morning. When she finally slows down after over half of her plate is gone, I refill her glass and sit back to take her in. I can’t help but wonder what her life has been like without a family. Where has she been all of these years? I know Tate is working on those details, but maybe she’ll share some of them with me.
“Where did you grow up? You said you were in foster care?”
“Yes. I lived in Missouri after our mom died. I was seven and Anna was fourteen. We had different dads but neither of them wanted anything to do with us. Anna ran away after about a year. She planned to come back for me, but as you know, that never happened.” She eats more of her steak before she continues. “I skipped around a few foster homes until I was sixteen, then I ran from the system too, and I’ve been on my own since.”
“Why did you skip around?”
“There was always something that ruined my chances of finding a forever home. Sometimes I didn’t fit in with the other foster kids, a few times I got a creepy read from one of the guys that lived there, I stabbed a guy trying to slip into my bed at night… things like that.” I swallow hard around her last statement, my mind taking it in all the directions I hope like hell are furthest from the truth.
“Did anyone hurt you?”
She shrugs and tosses back the last of her glass of wine. “You know I’ve never had wine before. It’s actually pretty good.” I don’t tell her it’s a top shelf wine that costs thousands of dollars or that the grapes were grown on her land.
I wait impatiently for her answer, and I even internally acknowledge the fact that my heart is racing with the anticipation. “I refuse to let the past ruin this dinner.” Her answer doesn’t settle well with me, and I inwardly have to hold back a thousand questions about who I need to find and kill until I finally decide to leave it for another time and even feel the excitement of hunting down a few more bastards and giving them exactly what they deserve.
“What else haven’t you done?”
She sits back in her chair and smiles while she thinks. “Hmmm. I’ve never had anyone ask me to dance.”
“I only know two types of dancing, and neither are done on the dance floor.” I’ve never even considered real dancing and I can say I’ve never been in a position where I felt like it was time to dance. It’s just not who I am.
“Two types?” She has no clue where my mind is, reminding me that she’s naïve and much younger than I am… or she’s just playing me.
“I can show you one of them.” I honestly hope she takes the bait and asks me to take her. It’s much more my style than this fancy dinner will ever be. Lou is the one who schedules these fucking things.
“Are you asking me to dance?”
“Are you saying yes?” She nods and I try to beat down the excitement that rushes through my veins at the thought of having her on the back of my bike while we move through the trees together. It’s my second favorite dance.
Chapter Twelve
IsaBelle
“You might want to put something else on.” I look down at my dress, confused by what he’s planning for us.
“Ok. What should I wear?”
“Anything casual… just not a dress. Maybe something a little warmer.” We both push our chairs away from the table at the same time, neither of us able to hide how eager we are.
He walks with me up the stairs and toward my room, only he goes to open the door on the opposite side of the hall from mine. It’s not lost on me that he put me near his room when this house is giant enough for us to be on separate ends and never run into each other. The realization of that makes my stomach flutter with excitement.
I ransack my duffel, once again leaving most of my clothes scattered on the bed. “Jesus. I really need to unpack this damn bag.” I finally find the hoodie I was looking for and pair it with jeans. Casual and something a little warmer. Perfect.
His door is open when I step out into the hallway, and I freeze at the sight of him without a shirt on. Scars paint stripes down his back and tattoos beg to tell a story that I want to know, but don’t dare ask about.
He looks over his shoulder, catching me mid-stare and sending my nerves into a frenzy once again. He has a way of doing that to me.
I don’t back away from his intensity, and instead take a step closer. Leaning my shoulder against the doorway, I watch while he slowly puts a shirt on. I can tell he’s hesitant about how to act now, but I refuse to allow us to be awkward anymore. We’ve had too many easy conversations and that’s rare in my life… and from what it seems, it’s rare in his too.
“I’m ready for my dance, if you think you can handle it.” He graces me with a sexy smirk and walks past me with a purpose.
“Keep up.” He starts walking fast, taking the steps with a quickness but a carefree demeanor the entire way. He keeps making sure I’m right behind him and I almost feel like a kid trying to keep up. He’s not running, but I’m on the verge of it trying to stay with him. Instinct threatens to slow me down because I’ve always known disappointment when it comes to guys. I’ve learned to just test the water and take everything slow but tonight I can feel myself teetering on the edge of enjoying the spontaneity and his company.
We make it to the garage, and he slows as we approach his bike. “I’ve never been on a motorcycle before.”
“Then you haven’t experienced the best part of life yet. Freedom.” He hands me a helmet before he swings a leg over his bike and then holds out his hand for me to take. “Let’s dance.” My insides go crazy, and there’s no hiding the huge smile on my face. I love how crazy this night is becoming. We started the evening at a fancy dinner and here we are dressed completely different about to ride who knows where.
“I’d love to.” I let him guide me close to the bike and then do my best to climb on without wrestling us both to the ground. He shifts on the seat until we’re both in place.
“Give me your hands.” He reaches for them at his sides, and then slides them around his waist, pulling me until my chest is flush with his back. “You’ll have to hold on. Stay loose and follow my lead. If I tap you like this…” he double taps my arm before he continues, “hang on tight.”
“Seems simple enough. Just hold on for dear life.” He laughs at my overly dramatic joke before setting my insides on fire. The rumble of the engine ricochets against the walls and sends chills over my body and the vibration, oh the vibration… causes me to squirm into a different position.
I do as he says and hold on tight, letting him maneuver us through the darkness under the trees. It isn’t until we’re away from the forest that I catch the mind-blowing view above. The stars are bright tonight, and the moon is near full if not already. We lean together, move in sync and I let him lead me through the most amazing dance I’ll probably ever experience. Just Beast and I under the huge sky with the wind in our faces and nothing holding us back from loving life.
It’s an adventure like I’ve never felt before and it’s easy to see why so many people love to ride. Being this close to a person and trusting them enough to put your life in their care is deep.
He double taps my arm and I hold him tighter, pressing in close as he takes off even faster. I’m floating on a high and the world is literally flying by as we speed down the highway. I never want this dance to end.
He takes us through a fenced in area and the gate automatically opens when we pull up in front of it. He speeds off again once we clear it, never giving me a chance to ask questions.
After we off-road for a few minutes, he parks on a cliff with the ocean below us. I can smell the salt-water long before we stop, but nothing prepares me for the view of the moonlight shining on the water. The place is completely remote and gives off the impression that we’re in our own world. The view is phenomenal and even though I want to stay tucked in behind his back and relish being close to him, I can’t fight the pull of the larger than life experience the night is putting on display.
He doesn’t get off the bike when he turns it off. “It’s beautiful.” Holding my arms out, I take my helmet off and drop my hood to embrace more of the experience. “I love it here. How did you find this place?” I turn back to see him planted in place with both of his boots on the ground, balancing the bike.
“A friend of mine owns it.” He crosses his arms and watches me walk from edge to edge to look down. Rocks form walls along the water, allowing us the height to see farther than we would from the ground level. When I walk out to the edge that hangs over the water, I get an overwhelming sense of freedom. I set my helmet down and just exist in the most serine moment I’ve ever felt.
A few deep breaths later, I walk back to Beast and throw my arms around his neck to thank him for such a special night.
He tenses up as soon as I touch him, but I don’t back out of the embrace. “Thank you for this. I’ve never experienced anything like this night in my life.” He finally wraps his arms around my back and holds me for a few seconds. “I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” I lift my head off of his shoulder to say something else to him, but his powerful stare locks me in place. My face is inches from his, so close I can feel his warm breath on my cheek each time he exhales. He leans his head down until our foreheads touch. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
Before I have a chance to ask what it is that I’m not making easy, he kisses me. The first few seconds are gentle with both of us exploring the other’s energy, but that quickly escalates when it becomes apparent what that energy is.
He lifts me onto his bike, only this time I’m facing him with my legs wrapped around his waist. I’ve got my arms draped around his neck just as tight, with no intentions of allowing either of us to back away from this crazy connection we have yet to embrace.
I loosen my hold when he grips my ass to draw me closer. He has me literally sitting in his palms, ready to do anything he has the guts to go for.
I slide my fingers into his hair and moan when he tightens his grip underneath me. His hold is sending me to the dangerous place of feeling safe… and wanted. I haven’t ever felt both of those at once and it’s a euphoric high that I’ll probably forever chase after I lose it with him.
His muscles ripple under my touch and I want to feel it all with nothing between us. I break our kiss only long enough to pull his shirt over his head. He shifts so that he’s got one hand free, sliding it up my shirt and sending my sensations into overdrive. It’s a matter of seconds before I’m grinding and chasing the high of the moment, becoming impatient and pathetically drawn to a man I wanted to kill just a few days ago.
Chapter Thirteen
Beast
I’m an idiot.
A. fucking. Idiot.
“We can’t do this.” I place my palm on the side of her neck and break our kiss. My thumb drags along her swollen bottom lip and for a second, I contemplate pulling her back in to continue.
But I can’t.
Because I know where this is headed, and I can’t go there. Hell, she doesn’t even know the full truth about me. She may hate my guts when she realizes I haven’t told her everything.
She leans into my palm, tilting her head with her eyes closed, all but begging me to continue. Her grip on my forearm holds me in close, so my hand automatically moves to grip her neck. So fuckin’ sexy. Perfection in the purest form. My dick is throbbing from the scene, and I want nothing more than to unzip my jeans and fuck this girl right here.
“Why are you so sexy?” I whisper against her lips all the while struggling to maintain control.
“Why are you?” Her breathy response goes right through me… straight to my dick. She begins to grind her hips and the friction makes it nearly impossible to stop everything.
I want to fuck her. I want to strip us both down and fuck her until neither of us can walk, but there are too many reasons I shouldn’t.
“Shhh. Stop thinking and just feel me. Let me feel you.” She slides her hand down my stomach until she’s on the verge of brushing over my dick and I lose all control. I dive back into her kiss, and we instantly shift back into desperate souls trying to conquer each other. We’re both groping like we’re trying to take one last breath, heavy panting and moans coming out in unison until she pulls away from the kiss.
“I want you.” Three words, so powerful I know they change my life forever the second they come out of her mouth. Maybe she’s a temptation meant to tease me into thinking there could be light in my life… or maybe she’s just a reminder of how dark my world really is. Either way, I know I’m not supposed to want her, and I know this is wrong, but in a world full of evil and hell, she seems like an angel.
