Page 8 of Beautiful Beasts

“Bella, let me wash you,” I plead with her. I need this. I need to be the one to fucking touch her right now. I feel helpless and don’t know how to process this feeling. I am trying to be soft for her, but I only have so much patience left in me right now.

She reaches out to grab the sponge, but I lift it out of reach and shake my head, keeping my eyes locked with hers.

“I can do it,” she says sternly.

I have no doubts. I know she can do anything she puts her mind to, but right now, I need this.

“I know you can,” I reassure.

“So then let me do it,” she pleads.

I shake my head and walk into her, forcing her to step back until her back hits the wall. “I want to wash you,” I confess.

She tilts her head to the side. “Why?”

“Why are you making this so difficult?” I ask in a confused and edgy voice.

She smiles. “It’s what I do. Now give me the fucking sponge, Dante.”

“Stop being a brat,” I tell her.

After what just happened, I just want to take care of her, and she is making it fucking impossible right now. I am not going to hurt her. I would never hurt her unless she asked me to.

“Stop being an asshole, I’m not a child,” she snaps.

I walk into her, completely pinning her between me and the wall. “I know you are not a child, but you are going to let me do this for you,” I say in a low, dark voice.

She shakes her head. “No,” she whispers.

“Bella,” I snap, my patience wearing thin at this point.

Her smile widens, which tells me that she is playing a dangerous fucking game with me.

“Stop it,” I snap.

“What are you going to do, spank me?” She asks in a low, desired voice.

Holy fucking hell.

I take a deep breath and place my hands on either side of her head on the wall. I lean in, my lips almost touching hers. “Don’t tempt me. Now, let me wash you,” I warn.

“Fine!” She snaps.

I gently press my lips to hers. The kiss is quick, too fucking quick, but I will take it.

I step back and bring her back under the water, watching her closely as I lower my hand and gently begin to wash her body.

She is a brat, a pain in my ass, but she is my brat, my pain in the ass, and now that I have her, I am never going to let her go.

6

Bella

First Week Together

“I Feel Like I’m Drowning” by Two Feet

I open my eyes, and the gray ceiling above my head confirms that everything that happened last night actually fucking happened. From my father chipping a piece of me away, Dante coming in and saving me, to our encounter in the shower.

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