Page 3 of Bella and Her Beast
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My home is located just outside of the city. It’s been in my family for centuries with updates. With this being in the age of technology, my friend and confidant, Russel has helped install digital cameras to monitor the grounds and biometric locks for easy and quick access when a key won’t do.
The drive back takes about twenty minutes, and along the way my wolf whimpers inside. He feels she’s the one that can break this curse that has befallen my family for generations. I exit the highway and take the twisty roads that lead to, what is affectionately called, Greyson manor. The stories around town about us are hilarious at times, and almost true. I choose to neither engage, or pay attention to any of them because I know the truth. It wasn’t easy growing up; in fact my mother and step-father hired an au pair to teach me at home. The early adolescent years were the toughest. Teenage angst coupled with a curse was more than he could handle and he left my mother. Shortly after, she passed away from a broken heart, although that wasn’t the first time she had hers broken. My dad completely transformed into a wolf by his twenty-fifth birthday. That is the fate I don’t wish to have on me.
The slick roads prove to be treacherous while I continue to make my way to my destination. I turn on the radio to serve as a distraction. Rounding the last turn before I meet my driveway, the engine purrs when I downshift and slow to a crawl while I open the gate. I proceed inside and drive up the interminable stretch that leads to the garage where I park her for the night. The wolf inside concedes defeat and retreats when I open the door leading inside.
“Did you talk to her tonight?” Russell asks, taking my jacket from me and hanging it on the hook in the mudroom.
“No. I couldn’t.Hewouldn’t remain calm. I had to leave abruptly out of fear he would take over. I march into the kitchen and grab a whiskey glass from the cabinet, pour myself a shot, and slam it.
“Well, after tomorrow, you can try again.”
“Tomorrow I will try again,” I say, while I fix myself another glass.
“But it’s a full moon.” His face carries his concern and while I understand the fear behind that, there isn’t cause for concern.
“I know. I’ll go early. I’ve studied her schedule long enough to know that she closes tomorrow by herself, so maybe I won’t be so apprehensive about approaching her.”
“Very well. I’ll have a bath drawn for you in twenty minutes.” He turns to leave, but I stop him in his tracks.
“It’s fine, Russ. I’m home now. You can go on with your evening. I’ll just grab a shower.”
“Okay. I’ll set up the perimeter alarm and retire to my room. Goodnight.”
“Night.” I finish my liquid nightcap and descend downstairs to the basement. I wonder around looking at the conversions we completed. There was once a time my family would keep themselves locked down here to protect the outside world, but I figure as long as I’m inside and with the upgrades we have in place to the security system, I’m safe, they’re safe,she’ssafe. After making sure everything is secure, I go back upstairs to the master suite on the third floor. I step into my bathroom where it has a large shower and separate oversized jetted tub. I turn the faucet to hot and the stream comes out forcefully, just the way I like it. Stepping back, I undress and put my clothes in the laundry basket for washing.
My first step under the hot water is inviting and soothes my wolf. I slump down to the floor, allowing the droplets to place tender kisses along my skin. But the only kiss we want is hers. My animal has its own reasons for wanting her, both carnal and practical. Over the past few years, I find myself wanting her personally. I’ve grown to love her hair when it’s curly, or straight, but mainly curly. Her bright smile when she’s sharing a laugh with the other patrons at the library or her friend, or even the sway of her hips when she walks the aisles re-shelving the books she loves so much. I sent her a few precious books from my personal library last year as a gift on her birthday. She never figured out who it was from, but I did watch her reading them daily until she finished. I lather up, bringing myself from my thoughts. I now understand why my wolf cries for her when she’s near. She seems to have an effect on us.
I rinse off and close off the faucets. Grabbing my towel, I dry off from top to bottom before securing the bath sheet around my waist. Strolling into my room, I remove the book I’ve been keeping track of my daily journeys and write in today's entry.
August 2nd. Nothing really has changed since the other day. Today I went to the library as usual. Gathered a few books on spells and curses hoping something would seem plausible but nothing stood out — except her. She always stands out. Today she wore her usual adornments, the ones that remind me of what our family folklore speaks of. She caught me staring at her bustline and for a minute she allowed her fingers to trail down the smooth delicate skin that was peering atop of her mounds. I’d be crazy to say that I thought she liked the attention, but that may just be my wolf speaking. Tomorrow I will just man up and say something.
I close the journal and put it back in its proper place. Falling onto my bed, I lie awake; her smile haunting me, smell still lingering in my senses, the subtle sound of her voice penetrating my eardrums awakening all my animal urges. Yeah, tomorrow, I’ll make my move.
CHAPTER TWO
ISABELLA
The sun is out today, which is a welcome change from the past forty-eight hours. Although those days provide the perfect setting for cuddling up with an enjoyable book, I do need the sun on my skin every once in a while. Today our library had the local schools visit for story time and how to check out a book demonstration. With the parents' permission, I give each child a temporary pass good for one check out. They will receive their permanent pass once the parent comes in to complete the registration. The sponsoring schools would be responsible for the materials checked out.
Joy is only here until five today, so I make sure to get a lot of the work done while I have a second pair of eyes to help keep watch.
“Here he comes again,” Joy says, when our mysterious man enters. Today he is without his hoodie, but is wearing a long sleeve tee and dark-tinted sun shades.
I can see a bit of ink on his hands and now I’m intrigued. There is something about tattoos that are curious and usually tell a story.
He gravitates to his usual spot and grabs a few books from the shelves.
“Why doesn’t he just check out the books and take them home to read instead of coming here?” Joy questions.
“Maybe he enjoys coming to the library. Maybe he’s getting away from something or someone.”
He stretches his arms upward and his shirt raises enough to display even more ink on his abdomen and tight abs to add.
“Whoa. Who knew that the weirdo had a body,” Joy comments.
I slug her in her arm and she yelps a bit, bringing attention to us. Even being hushed by the children in story land. We giggle a bit, and I take a few returns to re-shelve. One of the books happens to be near our wandering stranger, so I make it my mission to seek him out. I stow away all the other literary works in their place and proceed to the case next to him.
