Page 75 of Beast

Standing in the hallway contemplating my next move, a preppy looking guy walks by. “Hey, man. Are you looking for the girls from this apartment?”

I grind my teeth. “Yes, I’m looking for Blake.”

“I saw them heading out about thirty minutes ago all dressed up. I think they were heading to the frat party at Alpha Phi Alpha.”

“Thanks,” I reply, clenching my jaw in annoyance. A frat party? She’s supposed to be torn over me, not out living it up with her friends. I’ve tried to be patient, give her space, but clearly it’s not working.

The thought of other men ogling her at some party without me there to protect her drives me insane. I turn on my heel and head for the elevator, my mind racing. And then I head straight toward the frat house. Once there, I storm inside, scanning the crowded rooms for any sign of my Blake. The pulse of shitty pop music pounds in my ears while I push through throngs of drunk college kids.

Where is she?

There—a flash of blonde hair. I catch a glimpse of her in the kitchen, chatting with her friends. She’s wearing a tight black dress that hugs every curve, her hair cascading down her bare shoulders. Damn it, I knew I should’ve kept her on a shorter leash.

I watch Blake from the shadows, keeping my eyes locked on her while she laughs and drinks with her friends. As frustrating as it is to see her out like this, I’ve got to admit she looks stunning. The way that dress clings to her body, accentuating every curve is maddening.

I shouldn’t have let things go this far. I never should have left her alone after bringing her back from Mexico. I thought giving her space would make her miss me.

My hands curl into fists when I see some frat boy sidling up next to her. He’s practically undressing her with his eyes, and now he has the audacity to put his hand on her lower back? Fuck no. That’s crossing the line. She’s mine, and it’s about time I remind her of that fact.

Before I even realize what I’m doing, I’m striding across the room toward them. The crowd seems to part for me while I zero in on my target. Grabbing the kid by the shoulder, I spin him around to face me. He stumbles a bit, eyes widening.

“Get your hands off her,” I snarl through gritted teeth.

The kid looks utterly terrified. He glances at Blake with confusion.

“S-sorry man, I didn’t know she was with someone,” he stammers.

I pin him with the coldest, most threatening glare I can muster. “Now you do. So I suggest you turn around and walk away before this gets ugly.”

The kid practically trips over himself scrambling away from us. Good. Now to deal with Blake.

She whirls around, eyes wide. “Gaston? What the hell are you doing here?”

I give her my most charming smile. “I wanted to see you, of course.” I pull Blake close and grab her hips. “I thought you’d be happy to see me, baby girl.”

She meets my gaze, her cheeks flushed from alcohol. “I thought you were done with me. That you were finally going to leave me alone.”

I tighten my grip on her waist, savoring the feel of her body against mine. “Done with you? Impossible. I’ve missed you every single day since I left.” My hand drifts down to the curve of her backside, and I can’t resist giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’ve been all I can think about.”

Blake’s breath catches, and for a moment, I see a flash of longing in her eyes. “You need to go, Gaston.”

I tsk softly, drawing her back in. “You don’t mean that, mi reina. I think you missed me too.” My fingers trace the delicate line of her jaw, making her shiver. “You missed the fire and the passion.”

She bites her lip, her resolve wavering. I can see the conflict warring within her, the desire battling against the resentment. Slowly, she relaxes into my embrace, her arms sliding around my neck.

“I did,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the music.

A thrill runs through me at her admission. Leaning in, I nuzzle the soft skin of her neck, reveling in her familiar scent. “Then stop fighting this. Stop denying what’s between us.”

I pull Blake closer and sway her to the music. Her nearness intoxicates me, that familiar floral scent flooding my senses. I run my hands up and down the smooth curves of her body, reacquainting myself with the shape of her. She doesn’t resist, instead melting into my embrace. Her fingers curl into my shirt while our hips move in sync, our gazes locked.

“I’ve missed this,” I murmur, my voice low and husky. “Having your body close to mine.”

Blake parts her lips to respond, but I capture them in a searing kiss before she can speak. Her hands fist my shirt while our mouths fuse together. I kiss her hungrily, passionately, all the longing from our time apart pouring out.

My fingers tangle in her golden locks, angling her head to deepen the kiss. A soft moan escapes her, muffled against my lips. When we finally break for air, her eyes are glazed, cheeks flushed.

“Now do you understand, mi amor?” I ask huskily. “You belong with me.”

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