Page 36 of Beast

Blake pales slightly. “That’s pretty dark.”

I grab her and pull her against me. “I’m dark, beautiful. Can you handle that?”

Her throat bobs as she swallows. “I think so.”

“Good girl,” I purr, kissing her softly. “Now I’m already bored of this event, aren’t you?”

She shakes her head. “I’m not ready to return to my prison yet.”

Prison.

Is that what she views it as?

“If you give me your loyalty and prove I can trust you, it doesn’t have to be a prison, baby girl.”

She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. “But what exactly is the endgame? What happens when you tire of me and go to buy a new girl?”

The mere suggestion drives me insane. And I grab the back of her neck possessively, yanking her toward me. “There won’t be a new girl, because I want your loyalty, your obedience and your submission. But not just physically, I want your mind and soul to submit to me.” My lips linger within an inch of hers. “I want all of you, Blake. To belong only to me. Forever.”

She inhales at my words, eyes widening. I can tell my possessiveness thrills and frightens her. There’s a heavy weight behind my words because never before have I felt this way about anyone.

“I’ll never let anyone touch you or harm you,” I continue. “You’re mine. My treasure, to protect and keep. No one will ever take you from me.”

Blake swallows hard. “Gaston...” she begins softly.

But I silence her with a soft kiss. “Hush now. No more talk of prisons or anything else. Let us enjoy this night together and get another drink.”

Blake nods wordlessly. I offer her my arm and she takes it, letting me guide her toward the bar. There’s an odd shift within me as I know Blake is just as dangerous to me as I am to her. She makes me possessive. A character flaw I’ve never once possessed for another person.

Not to mention, I was so close to violence when Estrada suggested I share her. But what I told him and her is the truth. No one will ever take her from me, and I’ll murder any man who dares try.

16

BLAKE

Thoughts of escape have moved to the back of my mind by the end of the night. Completely eradicated now while we sit in the back of the limo on the way back to the apartment. I softened toward him tonight, witnessing the way he stood up to Pablo for me. It helped that he treated me like a princess the entire night, too.

It’s odd that his hands aren’t on me now. I’m so used to him being close to me, but he’s sitting with a foot between us, gazing out the window.

“Gaston,” I murmur his name, placing a hand on his thigh.

He turns his attention to me, his eyes conflicted. “Yes, nena?” His voice is low and husky, sending a shiver through my spine.

“Thank you for defending me tonight.” I let my hand inch slightly higher up his thigh. “When Pablo asked you to share me.”

His muscles are tense beneath my hand. “Always, baby girl.” Suddenly his eyes darken as they meet mine. “Why are you touching me?”

I bite my inner cheek. “Why not?”

A whisper of a smile graces his lips. “What do you want, beautiful?”

This feels like a crossroads. We’ve had a nice evening together. And the truth is, I want him more than anything. After everything, I want to feel him inside me. I want to be taken and claimed by this powerful, gorgeous man, even if he did buy me. “You,” I breathe.

He kisses me softly. “You’ve had me since the moment I met you.”

I swallow hard. Tonight has changed things between us. I can feel it in the charged air, in the way his eyes blaze into mine. The limo pulls up outside the apartment building, but neither of us make an effort to exit.

“Gaston...” I begin, but he cuts me off with another kiss.

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