Page 42 of Beast

Gaston’s eyes light up when he sees me, gaze dropping appreciatively down my body and back up. “Fuck, you look delicious.” He sets a bag on the counter.

Heat floods me as I clear my throat. “I made tacos,” I point out, waving at them.

He stalks toward me, not once taking his eyes off me. “They smell good, but I’m hungry for something else.” Once he’s before me, he grabs me hard and presses his lips to mine, thrusting his tongue into my mouth.

I melt for him, clawing my fingers through his dark hair. “Gaston,” I breathe his name as he peppers kisses down my neck.

“Yes, baby girl?”

“The food will get cold,” I gasp, arching into him. “It took me quite a long time to prepare.”

I’m surprised when he listens to me, straightening up. “Of course, sorry, you’re just so irresistible.”

He forces himself away from me and turns to sit at the table in his normal chair. There’s a shift in the atmosphere tonight. It’s different perhaps because we fucked last night, but Gaston can’t take his eyes off me.

“Are you going to eat?” I ask, my cheeks blazing with heat.

He tilts his head. “Of course, I’m just admiring a piece of art.”

God damn it. This man could charm anyone and when he’s looking at me like that, it makes me wants to strip all my clothes off and ride him right here at the dinner table.

No, I need to get a handle on my urges around him.

Clenching my thighs together, I tear my eyes from his and serve myself some food.

Gaston follows suit and does the same. Even as I focus on my taco, I can feel his eyes on me. Finally, he takes a bite of the barbacoa tacos and groans. “Mmm, absolutely delicious.”

They are good.

My cooking has really improved and I’m proud of myself, especially as it’s really hard to focus on tasks without my meds. We eat in silence for a short while before Gaston breaks it. “I know this whole situation for you has been difficult,” he says gently. “But I hope in time you’ll come to appreciate the opportunities being here affords you.”

Opportunities? What opportunities could he possibly be talking about? I’m his prisoner.

“I don’t understand.” I glance into his gray eyes. “What kind of opportunities could I have here?”

Gaston takes a sip of wine. “You’re free from that disgusting prison and no longer forced to degrade yourself for Navarro’s profit. As you can tell, I will care for you and lavish you with anything your heart desires.”

Materialistic pig.

I clench my jaw, a flare of anger rising within me. “So I’ve traded one cage for a better one,” I snap. “Some opportunity.”

“Blake...” Gaston begins, his voice edged with warning.

I hold up my hand. “No, I know. You saved me from a much worse fate,” I concede begrudgingly. “At least here I’m not being sold off to someone more savage and despicable or used by anyone and everyone who walks through the door.” A pang of guilt pierces my heart as I think of Kali, Luna and Alice, wondering if they’ve already been sold into worse fates or if they’re still prisoners of the Navarro Cartel.

Gaston nods. “In time, you’ll come to appreciate all I can provide for you.”

It’s true that I could have landed in a worse situation, I’ve got no doubt about that. My appetite is gone while an uncomfortable silence settles between us.

“On that note, Blake,” Gaston says, breaking the silence. “Why didn’t you tell me you suffer from ADHD?”

My eyes widen and my head snaps up to meet his assessing gaze. How does he know about my diagnosis? I never mentioned it to him.

“I...” I falter, grasping for words. “How do you know about that?”

He draws in a deep breath. “I suspected it was something like that from the way you’re always pacing around the apartment, how you struggle to sit still for any length of time,” he explains, taking a sip of wine. “And the way you flit from one thing to another, unable to focus. I could’ve gotten you your meds if you’d told me.” He nods toward a bag on the counter. “They’re in there.”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment. Clearly Gaston is more observant than I give him credit for and my symptoms are more noticeable than I realize.

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