Page 62 of Ruthless Beasts

“Rent-free.”

“I might pass out,” Hannah stated.

“I’m sure Max can carry you if you’re feeling weak.”

“I’d rather not,” he huffed.

“Is he married?” Hannah whispered to me, while fanning her face and eyeing my husband. I knew she was teasing.

I wiggled my finger with the ring in front of her. “I think so.”

“Smartasses.” Adam leaned back in his chair. “Move in the day before the gala. That should give you enough time to get your things in order. No need to pack; we’ll send men. It wasnice meeting you, Hannah. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like a word alone with my wife.”

Hannah’s eyes met mine, and I nodded. It had been the first time I’d seen her in a few months, and I understood her nervousness. But if Adam said he was going to move her close, I believed him. He’d always do what was in the best interest of our family. Our? Was that right? Was that what we were?

“It’s fine,” I whispered, tilting my head close to hers. “Mercer knows of the best donut place. Maybe I could convince him to grab us some donuts and we can catch up once you're settled.”

“And Mercer is one of these hot muscles?” She wiggled her head from side to side, reminding me I’d never properly introduced them.

“To the right,” I mumbled as I stood.

She followed my lead, standing and pretending to stretch her arms over her head so she could look over at him. She bobbed her head a few times. “Nice.” Her head turned as she stretched her arms again, looking toward Ace. “Double nice.”

“We’ll walk you to the parking garage,” Mercer offered, already walking toward the door. He held it open, waiting for Hannah to walk through before Drew and Max followed. Ace closed the rear of the group. And right before he shut the door, he gifted me with a wink.

And then we were alone.

I avoided looking at Adam as I strolled around his office, feeling the weight of his eyes burrowing into me. I touched every book on his shelves, though there were none that interested me. I spun the decorative globe, avoiding him as it tilted and turned, coming to a slow stop. Then I passed behind him, gazing at the photos on his shelf.

When the silence grew too heavy, I picked up a picture of three boys. “Is this you with Mercer and Ace?”

He didn’t have to spin around to know what I was referring to. He continued writing something down as he spoke. “We met when we were just into our teen years. Tossed into the same group home. We have shit backgrounds, Bellamy, and I can’t change that. But I promise we’ll be more to our family than we ever had.”

“We’ll,” I whispered under my breath.

“You said they were yours,” he reminded me as he stood.

I had, in a moment of weakness and confusion, worried if I didn’t claim them, then my best friend would. “Hannah is more bold than I am. If she set her eyes on them…”

“Then she would have what’s yours.” He was closer now. I could feel him behind me, looming over my frame. His breath fanning against my neck made me hyper aware of our proximity. He was right, of course. I didn’t want her to have what was mine. And they were mine now, I guess. In some sort of way, even if it was only platonic. Was it platonic? I kissed Mercer moments after Adam’s mouth devoured me, and I liked it. I liked it a lot.

“Yes,” I admitted, then took a step away, glancing at the objects and frames, which had to have some meaning to him to be positioned in his private space.

“You don’t like to share,” he observed, and no shit, I didn’t. I may have entered this marriage unwillingly, but I was in it and I’d grown attached.

“Do you?” I looked over my shoulder at him as I took another step along the shelf.

“I think you know the answer to that, Belle.” He ran his finger over the wood shelf. “I am selfish. I share nothing but what I willingly give.”

“Like me.”

“It’s optional. But even that I don’t give completely. There is a part of you that’s only mine. I’d share you so that you’re alwaysprotected and want for nothing. But there is a part of you that will always belong to me. Admit it.”

I suspected there would be a lot of parts that always belonged to this man, but I wouldn’t admit it. Instead, I continued looking at his books, objects, frames, until one caught my eye. I reached up on my toes, allowing myself to grasp it. I pulled it down, looking at the image of a young Ace and Adam with a woman slightly younger.

“They look a lot alike.” I paused for a moment, taking in the woman who Adam loved. It was the first picture I had seen of her, and a part of me was jealous of what they shared, even knowing they’d never share it again.

“They do,” he confirmed. “Sometimes I forget I have that picture in here. Ace put it there years ago. It was his favorite. When Elizabeth was still alive, life was simple, and I didn’t have such an ugly mug.”

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