Page 26 of Beautiful Beast

But I can’t handle her revulsion.

“Just leave,” I try again, a last-ditch effort to turn back the clock and swallow my brave threat that I don’t want to make good on.

“Oh, no,” she says. “You arenotgetting out of what you said now. Maybe after you show me whatever you’re hiding, you’ll stop being such a jerk. It’s always easier when the elephant in the room is acknowledged. And you have a whole herd of elephants with you, buddy.”

My lips twitch, but I don’t let myself smile. The tightness and pain in my face are made so much worse when I move the muscles. It’s still too raw and too much of a reminder of everything that I’ve lost.

Everything that I won’t get back.

Belle heads to the seating area of the foyer and carefully sets the casserole dish on the coffee table by the window. With a flick of her wrist, Buster sits and then lies down, settling his big head on his paws for a nap.

And then the unthinkable happens.

I’m way too shocked to react let alone take a step back when Belle struts right into my personal space like she belongs in it.

Like she owns it.

Strawberries and honey invade my nostrils from her dark, silky hair, and all I can think about is her smooth, touchable skin.

Unlike mine.

The beauty and the beast.

With trembling hands, she reaches up – way, way up because the girl is tiny – to pull the bandana away from my face.

The black cloth is the only protection I have from scrutiny, criticism, and confirmation of the doubts and fears roaring inside me.

And it’s starting to fall away.

I grab her wrists to hold them still, and she gasps at the contact. Her skin is just as soft as I imagined, and there is a whole list of other reasons I’d rather be pinning her hands above her head. Instead, I’m forcing her to keep the material in place to cover my shame.

“You’re sure?” I ask again, but this time my voice is gentle, brought down several notches from the fear and vulnerability brewing in my gut.

She sure as hell won’t be back to visit me after she learns the truth.

And the outside damage is just the beginning.

Belle is so close to me that our chests touch and her pert, full breasts push against me with every shallow breath she takes.

“I’m sure, Adam,” she whispers.

Damn, the way this girl says my name is going to undo me.

Against the wisdom of every rational cell in my body, I release her hands and they immediately drop, removing the last of my defenses. It takes everything in me to force myself to keep my eyes open and absorb her reaction.

“Not quite what you expected based on your google search, huh?” I ask.

I’m waiting for the absolute worst.

A gasp of horror.

Several steps back, so quick that she stumbles.

Her pretty, pink mouth twisting in shock and horror.

A comment like, well, that explains it, I’m out of here.

Instead, she does – nothing.

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