Page 72 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

My fingers found his mouth again, but this time I pushed them inside. “Suck,” I demanded, and he did.

Tears collected in the corners of his eyes. I wasn’t sure if he was in pain and wanted me to stop, but he never gave me the indication or said to.

“Gil,” he whimpered, and I was afraid of his response. “I’m going to spill.”

And sure enough, that sweet seed sprang from his swollen flesh. His fingernails dug into the skin of my arms, his back arching against me and pressing me deeper into the stairs.

If he wasn’t enjoying it, his voice betrayed him, and I was sure if he hadn’t woken the whole manor before, they were awake now.

The ecstasy that had been building within me gathered in my lower belly, tickling my insides. It shook me, and I thrusted every drop of my seed that erupted into him, the squelching sound of me pounding into him echoing in the stairwell before I pulled out and collapsed on the stairs.

Cale rolled over, panting, and tried to get to his feet, but he sank back down and closed his eyes.

I grimaced as I got up, my whole body feeling much more tired and tense now. “Cale, are you all right? Did I hurt you?”

He laughed. “I think we both hurt ourselves.” He looked down at his body littered with dark spots where I’d nipped and sucked his skin. When he looked at me, I noticed the glossiness in his eyes, and a pang hit my chest.

“I did hurt you.” I shook my head and looked away.

“But you didn’t. I wanted it. I think the stairs hurt more than anything.” He laughed and then winced. “I’ve got a cramp in my leg.”

“Here.” Standing to my feet, I pulled up my trousers and leaned down to grab his arms, helping him to his feet, and he leaned against me, still tired. Rather than make him go back downstairs, I picked him up in my arms, which was easy, given the strength my cursed side gave me, but after being out all day and coming back late to this, I was a bit winded.

But still, I carried him up the stairs and into my room. I kicked the door shut with my foot and laid him on my bed, now out of breath. I cleaned myself off then took care of Cale’s sensitive area that I was sure I’d just ripped in half. Aside from looking red and rather stretched out, it was fine.

“Why’d you do that to me?” I asked him, laying down beside him in the bed. “I thought we talked about letting me be for a while when I came in from Ashwood?”

“I wanted to sleep with you,” he said, curling against me.

“I could have hurt you, Cale.”

“But you didn’t. You think you’re some awful person, that everyone will turn their backs on you. I’m convinced that the only person who sees you as a beast is you.”

“You only know what you’ve seen so far.”

Sitting up, Cale leaned over and kissed me, his fingers trailing softly over the stubble on my face. Then he traced the mark on my arm, the awful proof that I was a monster. “Gil . . .” he whispered, “I feel safe with you.”

Such words shouldn’t have roused me, but they did, and I could do nothing but blink in bafflement. This man, who I’d met only a few months ago, was admitting a lot with those five words.

I held him to me, my lips going down to his neck. “Cale . . .”

A banging on the door of my tower separated us, and I looked over, my heart pounding. Cale and I exchanged glances before hopping up. I buckled my trousers and straightened my shirt before rushing out of the room, running down the stairs until I came to the door and opened it to find Annie on the other side.

Tears streamed down her face, and when I looked over her shoulder, I found Natalie standing outside Annie’s bedroom with her hand over her mouth.

“He’s gone!” Annie’s knees buckled, and I caught her as she sank to the floor. “He’s gone . . .”

I held her, trying to make sense of the situation. I glanced up and saw Mary, who shook her head, her face sullen.

Cale barreled down the stairs, his other shirt replaced with one of mine. When he saw Annie crying, he looked up at Mary and understood. His shoulders sank as he leaned against the wall, and all I could think about was how terrified I was that it could be him next, or the others.

“Annie—” I started.

“You killed him!” she screamed. Pulling away from me, she slapped my face and got to her feet. “Damn you!” She turned away and fled down the stairs.

My jaw clenched. I could feel all their eyes on me, burning through me—Mary, Natalie, Edgar, Eugenia, and even Cale’s.

Standing slowly, I gazed at the floor as a dark cloud washed over me. I moved away toward the stairs, saying nothing.

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