She began to cry, and her arms moved around him, holding him close. It was a good thing Micah was now in police custody, as otherwise he’d kill the little shit with his bare hands.
“How many girls do you think he’s done that to? He was so confident. He knew nothing and no one was going to harm him. How? Why? He shouldn’t … he can’t get away with that.”
“I’ve already got it handled. He’s not going to get away with anything, baby. I promise you. I’ve got things in place to make sure he won’t ever touch or hurt another woman again.”
She nodded and clung to him.
Closing his eyes, he kissed her head. “Next time, tell me that Dwayne’s going to have a party.”
“I’m so sorry. He begged me not to, and this is his home.”
“It’s yours as well.”
“I didn’t think that would happen. I thought I’d be safe.”
“I don’t want you to be afraid inside your own home.” He pushed some hair off her face and smiled down at her. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know you won’t.” She pressed her lips to his. “I trust you.”
Just like that, guilt once again gripped him.
He saw the love shining in her eyes, but he didn’t say anything. He just held her close.
Chapter Nine
Time passed. Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned into months, and it was Christmas before Hope knew what was happening. Her time spent with the Carsons was the happiest of her life. After the party, her friendship with Dwayne was rather … awkward. She felt guilty, and after a few weeks, Dwayne apologized to her for not being there.
She didn’t say anything, just gave him a hug, and put it behind them. Beast had somehow made it so that Micah was sentenced for multiple counts of rape. A lot of girls had come forward, not just in their town, but in several others. Each of them had a story, and quite a few of them with similar claims as Hope’s, where he’d told them he’d get away with it.
Just thinking about it made her sick.
“I don’t do trees,” Beast said, from where he was lying on the bed. He was still completely naked after his latest lesson. They weren’t lessons, and they never had been. He didn’t teach her anything, but her body certainly felt good after their time together.
She gasped, placing a hand against her chest. “How can you say such a thing?”
“I told you I don’t do Christmas.”
“That cannot happen.” She rushed toward the bed, dropping down beside him. Even though she was naked, she felt comfortable in her own skin around Beast. Maybe that had something to do with fact he’d seen her completely naked, and had even kissed every square inch of her body. She smiled up at him, recalling how he’d trailed his tongue down her back, lifting her up so that she was on her knees as he’d stroked her pussy and ass.
“You know,” he said, resting his hand on her ass. “You’ve been talking about Christmas a lot. Tell me why?”
“My mom always loved it.” She stared down at her hands, closing her eyes as he began to stroke up her spine, then sliding his fingers down. He grazed over the cheeks of her ass. “Aunt Tay didn’t celebrate it, and I guess I just wanted to have one Christmas before I went away to college. You know. It’s fine though. I don’t mind if you don’t want to.” She smiled as he tsked and slapped her ass.
“You know how to get whatever you want out of me, and you don’t even try.”
She giggled. “When was the last time you had a Christmas?” she asked.
He thought about it. “After Dwayne’s father was born. That was the last time she put up a tree.”
Hope saw the darkness swirling in his gaze, and she hated that it was there. “Talk to me.”
“There’s nothing to talk about, babe. My dad, he hated Christmas, but he made her do a big thing of it because he knew she loved it, but he’d spend so much time shouting at her, and tearing it down. I think he only allowed her to put it up so that he could ruin it.”
She placed a hand on his chest and moved so that she straddled him. His cock already pressing against her core. “We don’t have to celebrate it.” She didn’t like the bad memories she saw in his gaze.
He smiled. “You know if you want something you’re not supposed to agree to not have it.”
“I don’t want you to be sad. Just as a point to mention, your dad sounds like an asshole.”
“He was.”
She didn’t touch on the past tense. He skimmed his fingers down her body, gripping her ass and rolling her over. “I’d love to know what you’ve done to me.”