Page 83 of Beautiful Beast

I’m spreading a linen napkin onto Belle’s lap and taking my sweet time caressing her thighs when a redhead I recognize as the girl who helped Belle accost me at my place explodes into the room.

The romantic ambiance is officially extinguished by her squeal, and I can’t remember why Belle thought it was such a great idea to have other people join us this evening.

“It’s so beautiful here,” Ariel cheers.

She’s one of the most animated people I’ve ever met. Her movements are like a graceful dance, and her voice is a song. There is nothing quiet or meek about her, and even though she’s pint-size, there’s an illusion of how much space she takes up.

Luckily, Ariel chooses to sit across from Belle and barely acknowledges me while launching into a spiel about the place settings.

She doesn’t even take a breath.

When she finally looks at me, I can’t help but smile even though the gesture makes my face ache and no longer has the desired effect.

All the money in the world still can’t speed up time and let me get my face fixed now.

“It’s nice to meet you for real this time,” Ariel says.

I start to reply, but she’s already talking about the auditions she has planned for tomorrow. When Briggs shows up and sits beside her, his presence actually makes her pause for a full three beats.

“You’re seriously just as dreamy as Belle told me,” Ariel says, clearly lacking a filter. “You’re super-hot.”

My outspoken friend who is always the first one to have a witty retort can’t string two words together. He’s looking at Ariel like she’s the most beautiful creature he’s ever seen.

I raise my eyebrows at Belle. “Super-hot? Dreamy?”

“Not like you hot,” Belle returns, resting her hand about two inches from my cock. “You’re a whole other level of sexy. But Eric is alright, you know?”

Briggs laughs. “Thanks, Belle.”

“So, Belle tells me you’re a soldier?” Ariel asks.

“Guilty,” Briggs replies.

With incessant curiosity, Ariel asks Briggs rapid-fire questions. She wants to know everything from how hot it was in the desert to what it’s like jumping from a plane and how he became a sniper. She seems genuinely interested, and Briggs likes talking about himself, so it works well.

With our friends occupied, I happily ignore them and turn my attention to Belle.

“I told you we should have stuck with my plan and stayed home.”

She laughs and starts kneading my thigh. “Soon enough.”

When the appetizers arrive, I can’t resist feeding Belle the caviar just for an excuse to touch her lips. She takes a sip of the Blanc de Noir and a low moan escapes her throat.

“This wine is the perfect pairing for seafood,” she says. “Let me show you.”

She leans in and kisses me, her tongue dancing with mine and infusing my mouth with the taste of wine, caviar, and something even better – her.

I’ve never been one for public displays of affection. I grew up learning they were beneath my station in life and that I had to behave according to proper social etiquette wherever I went. And the women I’ve dated in the past knew the rules and never questioned them.

Belle challenges everything I thought that I knew about myself, and I can’t resist her, no matter what crazy thing she’s asking me to do. I’d kiss her on a jumbotron for the entire city to witness and I’m a guy who doesn’t like attention.

“You two are so stinking cute,” Ariel sings. “Don’t you think so, Eric?”

I reluctantly pull back from Belle now that we have an active audience. Ariel is grinning and it clearly brings her joy to see her best friend happy. And that’s the kind of support all women need because I’ve seen some cutthroat shit in my social-climbing circles.

“Belle’s cute,” Briggs confirms. “Adam’s a beast.”

Given Ariel’s level of tact is about zero, I’m waiting for her to ask what happened to my face. But she doesn’t, maybe because Belle warned her not to.

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