Page 50 of Unravelling The Beast

Choosing against it, I push on her wrists with annoyance as I climb off her and stand off the bed before making my way to my bathroom without looking her way.

My chest rises and falls with each breath I take as my eyes follow him until he walks into the restroom. When he is no longer in my sights, I stare up at the towering, dark ceiling above me, lost in thought about what he just said to me.

I think Arlo has it all wrong. I know this is only sex and I'm happy with it being that way because, in all honesty, I’m not after a relationship with him, but a girl can like a little aftercare too, right? I suppose I shouldn't get my hopes up too high with him. He's a cold-hearted beast who makes no apologies for it and I will need to learn to accept that.

I rise up before shifting my ass across the bed until I'm sitting on the edge, when I suddenly feel something beneath my feet.

My brows furrow in confusion as I glance down to see a photo. I reach for it, pinch it between my fingers and turn it around. When I see a stunning blonde young woman peering back at me, I know right away she's Cree's mom and Arlo’s wife just by looking into her eyes.

As I drop the photo to the floor, I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling curious about what happened to her. Did they ever find the person who did it? Who would do something so horrific to a new mom? Who would do that to Arlo?

I have so many unanswered questions on my mind, yet I'm unable to ask them. Arlo is undoubtedly still grieving the loss of his wife, and he doesn't seem like the kind of person who would open up about it.

If he has been looking at a photo of her right after spending the night with me, I know he is feeling one particular emotion. Guilt. Which makes me feel sad for him. It’s clear I am the first to have him after her death and it seems like he has been fucking me like he hates me for it.

I sit there for a moment, staring ahead, lost in a daydream, wondering what to do next in this scenario, when suddenly I hear the bathroom door open behind me. I side-eye Arlo as he strolls in with only a towel around his waist and when I glance forward again, he speaks.

“Go get yourself ready; we'll be taking Cree to see Sara and the baby today.”

I stand up from the bed, not responding, and slip my bra and panties back on, feeling his harsh stare all over me the entire time. Before I leave, I slowly reach down and pick up the photo, and my gaze is drawn to his as he stands on the opposite side of the bed from me.

He straightens his broad shoulders while inhaling deeply, shifting once from one to the other, clearly now aware that I've just seen a photo of his wife, and we lock eyes.

I speak as I gently lower it onto the bed.

"She was absolutely beautiful, as expected."

He stares at me expressionlessly while I offer him a small, soft smile, not wanting to make things awkward between us because, regardless, it was still his wife and he loved her. I then break eye contact before hurrying out of his room.

When I enter my bedroom, I close the door behind me and exhale a big breath that I hadn't realized I was holding in. I rush to the shower to quickly get ready and once inside, I allow the warm water to rain down on my dry skin as I stand there in a daze.

I'm wondering if I'll be able to find the time to confront Sara today about why she lied to me. Why did she feel the need to lie? Did she expect me to run away and not take the job?

It might have freaked me out a little, but it wouldn't have stopped me from looking after Cree. Regardless, it's something I should have been aware of from the beginning, and I wish she'd just been honest with me, but we're here now and there's no going back.

I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around myself before approaching the huge mirror. I bend over the counter to get a better look at myself, and my eyes widen in disbelief when I notice I have marks all over my neck. Bite marks and fingerprints, and my mouth hangs open, a gasp escaping.

Arlo ravaged my throat last night in the shower; he was all over it while he fucked me hard against the steamy glass. That man isn’t soft at all; he almost choked me to death.

"They look beautiful, don't they?"

My body jumps as soon as I hear his voice behind me and I place my hand on my chest, feeling my heart pound beneath it.

I give him a sideways look as he stands in the doorway before I respond sharply, feeling irritated.

"How the hell am I going to cover them, Arlo? Do you have to be so rough?"

"Yes."

When he snaps back coldly, I roll my eyes before looking over my shoulder at him, making stern eye contact.

"Don’t you know how to knock?"

He raises himself off the doorframe and carefully examines my demeanor with his eyes. He takes a slow step, pressing his tattooed hands into his black, tight jeans pockets, and speaks in a frighteningly calm manner.

“You are one to talk; you don't know how to stay the fuck out of my bedroom; besides, I've now fucked your ass, your pussy, and your throat hard.”

As he continues forward, he keeps his intense, stony gaze fixed on mine, causing my heart rate to rise.

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