Page 30 of Beautiful Beast

I felt alight with fire yet covered in ice all at the same time.

I spend more time looking around the house, and eventually, I find Erik’s office near the back of the house. The door is cracked open. The office is decorated in warm wood tones and masculine-looking furniture.

Erik looks like a king behind his desk as he types on his laptop.

“Yes?” he asks without looking up.

“I don’t have my phone with me. It wasn’t brought with my things.”

His eyes flick up to mine then back down to his computer. “I wasn’t aware. I can buy you a new one.”

“Really?”

“Why do you sound so surprised?”

“I just thought … maybe you’d want to control me.”

He closes his laptop and sets the full force of his gaze onto me. “I have no desire to stop you from calling anyone. You’re not a prisoner, Anya.”

“I guess my father forgot to put my phone with my luggage.” I know exactly why—he doesn’t want me calling Nadia.

“Interesting. How does one forget that?”

Because my father is an abusive asshole. “I’m not sure,” I say instead.

“It might take me a few days, though, to get you one. I’m busy with work.”

“I could go buy myself one tomorrow. If you just give me some money …” I trail off when I see the look on his face. It’s not an open one.

“Anya, you’re not a prisoner, but I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t trust you to not try and run. You did before you even got married to me. Until I can trust you, I think it would be better if you remain in and around the house. I also have enemies. You’re much safer here than by yourself.”

I feel the vise slipping around me. “You could have a guard go with me.”

“I don’t want other men around you.”

“I thought you said you were a secure man.”

His lips twitch. “That doesn’t mean I’m not a little possessive. I’ll get you a phone; don’t worry. I’m assuming you want to talk to your sister.”

“I do.”

“Then, here. An olive branch.” He hands out his own phone to me. “This is a spare of mine. Not my main phone. There are no numbers plugged into it. You can call your sister on this.”

“Thank you,” I breath out as I rush to grab the phone.

He pulls it back before I can grab it. “I’m trusting that you won’t cause any problems with this?”

“I’m not a child. I know how to behave.”

“Mmm.” He looks me up and down. “Shame. I like a little disobedient attitude every now and again.”

My stomach clenches with an unknown feeling. It’s both fear and … desire? I quickly push it aside.

“I only want to call my sister. That’s it.”

He nods once and hands me the phone. The second it’s in my hands, I walk out of his office so he can’t hear me. I go as far away from his office as I can get in this house.

It takes me a moment to remember Nadia’s number, and then I call her.

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