Page 38 of Beautiful Beasts

Those words coming from her make my knees go fucking weak.

I pull her lower lip between my teeth and suck, watching her close her eyes as she moans softly. “Be my good fucking girl and run for me,” I say, hearing the need in my voice.

I release her lip and lean back to look at her face and see her response to my request. Confusion flashes across her face, but she nods. I step back to give her room to move. Even though the need to bend her over my desk and fuck her is riding me hard, I know that she needs more than that right now. I will show her what it feels like to be desired by a king, a beast.

“Don’t be a brat; run for me before I change my mind and fuck you right here, right now,” I warn.

A smile forms across her lips as she walks into me, pressing her heaving chest into mine. “You going to spank me if I don’t?” She asks, staring me right in the eyes.

I grab her by the throat and pull her against me, leaning down to lick and nip at her neck. “I will do more than just spank you, Bella. Now, fucking run,” I whisper as I release her throat and step away from her.

She sprints toward the door, takes a deep breath, and turns her head to look at me. “Thank you,” She says softly.

“For what?” I ask, looking over her body.

She turns slightly and looks at me. “For not treating me like I am damaged.”

“We are all damaged, Sweetheart, but I crave your kind of damage.”

She nods, turns back around, opens the door, and takes off running.

I close my eyes and rub my hands together.

One.

Two.

Three.

I open my eyes and jump over my desk, stepping out into the hallway; I see her disappear up the stairs. Her laughter fills the house, warming my heart like never before.

She better fucking run because when I get my hands on her, she is going to learn a whole new meaning to the word “Beast.”

27

Bella

D ante left a few hours ago, reassuring me that he would be okay, but the thought of him being out there while Bruce is still in the wind makes me uneasy. I know Dante is more than capable of taking care of himself and doesn’t have an issue doing what needs to be done, but that doesn’t take away my anxiety. I want him to be safe like he wants me to be.

Dante and Harley looked pained a few hours ago, and I could tell they were battling within themselves, trying to figure out what the best fucking thing to do is. I would feel better if Harley was with him. I have seen them together; they are a force that no one should mess with. But Dante asked him to stay, and Harley refused to leave me no matter what I said. Both of them stopped me before I could even get the fucking words out of my mouth. It was a lose-lose situation, and I shouldn’t be surprised Dante was not going to give in to my demand to leave me alone.

There is no right or wrong with us. They have things that need to get done, no matter how I feel about it. I am not the only one that is a stubborn fucking brat. Sometimes, I swear they are worse than I am.

Part of me is grateful, while the other part feels guilty. I would never forgive myself if something happened to him out there because Harley was here watching over me. These damn fucking negative, drowning thoughts, will I ever just be fucking normal?

I don’t think so. I don’t think normal is in the cards for me, and for the first time in my life, I am okay with that. My life has brought me here to this moment, and I wouldn’t fucking change it. Even with everything with Gus, after what he has done to me, I still wouldn’t change a thing because it brought me to Dante and now to Harley.

I sit back in the chair and stare into the fire as I sip the wine Harley poured for me a few minutes ago. We have been hanging out in the library talking about all the different dark romance books he has read and all the ones he thinks I should read. I plan on reading all of them. I want to get closer to him, and if this is my way in, then so fucking be it.

“What are you thinking about?” Harley asks from beside me.

I snuggle into his side as I turn and look at him. Fuck he is gorgeous. “You, Dante, the books,” I say calmly.

There is so much more I want to say to him, but I chose to keep it simple and broad. I want to tell him what has been happening. I want to tell him that it is not just the outside world we need to worry about but also the person inside the walls of this house. Walls I no longer feel safe behind, but I don’t say that either. I don’t want to destroy this moment, whatever this moment is.

The last few hours have been nice, just laughing, drinking, and talking. Harley has a soft side to him, a side I can tell not many people get to see, not even Dante. But he is this way with me. He allows his guard to come down; in return, I can feel mine coming down as well.

“What about the books?” He asks curiously. That tone he is using right now makes my heart race. The tone that tells me he fucking cares about what I am thinking and what I am about to say.

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