Claiming Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy 2)

“Who are you and what have you done to my fiancé’?”

“Hush,” he said. “Balance, remember?”

“Right,” I laughed. “Balance…”

Rockefeller Center was indeed beautiful. It was also crowded. And colder than a witch’s tit, however cold that was.

I pulled the hat down on my head and pulled the scarf tighter around my neck as we waited in line. Bear hugged me tight, doing his best to keep me warm.

“You’ll forget about the cold once you get out there,” he promised.

It took a few minutes, but eventually, we ventured onto the ice, our rented skates tied firmly onto our feet.

“I’ve only done this a few times in Portland,” I said.

“You’ll get the hang of it,” he said. “Just keep control of your ankles.”

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” I asked, as I wobbled and held onto him.

“It’s easy,” he replied.

“Maybe easy for a control freak like you, but I’ve never had to be in control of my ankles before in my life. They’re just there! Doing their thing.”

He laughed, holding me up as we slid around the rink, dozens of people passing us.

“That’s it,” he said, “you’re doing good.”

I wouldn’t call it that myself. I felt like I was barely staying upright, my uncontrollable ankles betraying me.

“You have to lift your foot a little,” he said. “Take little steps and then glide…”

“Lift?” I asked, attempting to do just that. My other foot slid out from under me and I landed on my ass on the ice. I looked up at him and shook my head.

“Are you sure you know how to skate?” I asked.

He laughed, pulling me back to my feet.

“Of course,” he said. “Let me tell you a story about this ice skating competition I was in once…”

“Oh, you!” I said, hitting his arm as he winked at me.

“Come on,” he said, pulling me along. “You’re doing good, Beauty. Keep at it.”

We skated for hours and after a few more falls and a whole lot of encouragement from Bear, I finally got the hang of it. I wasn’t going to be doing triple-axels anytime soon, but I could stay on my feet, and surprisingly, I began to understand what he meant about controlling my ankles.

“You’re a good teacher,” I said, after we’d gotten back in the car.

“And you’re a good girl,” he growled, kissing my ear.

“Hey Max,” he called. “Take us to St. Patrick’s.”

“My pleasure, Mr. Dalton,” Max said.

“St. Patrick’s?” I asked.

“Cathedral,” he said. “I’d like to stop by for midnight mass if you don’t mind?”

“Oh, no,” I said. “I don’t mind. I didn’t know you were Catholic.”

“I’m not. I just like to go at this time of the year. The ritual is beautiful. The performance, the costumes…”

“That sounds lovely,” I said, as the city flew by outside the window. When we arrived, the church was lit up, a beautiful temple of snow covered spires and arches that jetted up into the pitch black sky, throwing spooky shadows on the streets below. Huge wreaths hung from the giant arched wooden doors.

“This is stunning,” I whispered, as Max pulled away, leaving Bear and I standing on the street, staring up at the intricate exterior of the cathedral and the huge tree, glittering with a million tiny white lights.

“This is my favorite building in New York. The foundation was first laid in 1858 and it didn’t open until 1879. It’s a masterpiece that took twenty-one years to complete.”

The doors were open and people were streaming in.

“Let’s go inside.” Bear grabbed my hand and we walked through the heavy doors, the scent of incense hitting me immediately.

“It’s so lavish,” I said, drinking in all the beauty. Candles glimmered everywhere, creating twinkling diamonds in my vision everywhere I looked. The pews were lined with red velvet scarves with wreaths at each end.

Thick marble columns traveled up to the top of the church, forming huge, majestic arches that towered over us. Brilliant stained glass windows shimmered, the flickering candlelight dancing against them. Above the pews, empty balconies disappeared behind the arches like empty holes, the only darkness that escaped the hundreds of lights in the church.

Bear led me to a back pew as the choir began singing.

I looked over at him and was stricken by his sheer handsomeness. He looked amazing in the candlelight, in the warm amber glow of the church and I knew I’d remember this moment forever. He smiled back at me, grabbing my hand and holding it tightly. I leaned into him, closing my eyes and letting the sound of the choir’s angelic song wash over me.

When I opened them, the service was beginning. Old priests in elaborate white, gold and red robes and pointy hats began slowly walking down the aisle in a line. The man in front, his bushy white beard as pure white as the fresh snow falling outside, was carrying a golden covered book with a huge cross on it. The choir sang as they made their way to the altar at the front of the church. A huge nativity scene stood next to the choir.

‘Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant’ the choir sang, their voices rising all the way to the top of the church in a blissful, hypnotic chant.

Bear tugged on my hand after the last priest passed by, pulling me out of the pew and back into the lobby.

“Where are we going?” I asked, as he pulled me towards a back staircase.

“I got a tour of this place once. I think we can get a better view,” he said, as we stopped in front of a velvet rope blocking the staircase.

“I don’t think we’re supposed to go up there.”

“Nonsense,” he said, unhooking the rope and pulling me past it. He hooked it back, without a care in the world, and pulled me up the dark stairs. The sound of the choir in the distance echoed through the church, as we walked up the stairs. Darkness fell around us and I gripped his hand tighter.

He led me down a hallway and past a cluster of offices. He opened a door at the end of the hallway and looked around.

“Looks like the coast is clear,” he said, as we walked through a bigger office and though yet another door.

Oh come let us adore you…the choir’s voice rang out loud as they approached the end of the song.

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” I asked.

“Hush,” he said, looking over his shoulder and winking at me, as he pulled me past a dark curtain and then out into an open space. I gasped as I realized we were in one of the balconies at the top of the church. The altar, the choir, the priests, now on stage, the parishioners singing in their pews, all their voices rising straight up to us, filling the dark balcony like an amphitheater.

Bear pulled me to the railing and we looked down at the spectacle below us, my heart filled with awe. The power of the voices alone, their song explosive and enchanting, it felt like a dream.

Just like every moment with Bear, I thought, beaming at him.

“You’re amazing,” I said, leaning over and whispering in his ear as he gazed down below.

He put his arm around my waist, pulling me close, as we watched the service.

“That’s the Holy Father,” Bear pointed out the man with the golden book as he walked on stage. A group of young boys, also dressed in robes, surrounded him, holding up a smoking gold orb that he took from them. He turned his back to the crowd, waving the orb all around, sending billowing smoke clouds floating all around him, before handing it back to the boys.

He walked over to the podium and the choir stopped singing.

Bear walked around behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist as I leaned back into him. My eyes widened when I felt his hard cock press into my ass.

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” the Holy Father began.

Bear spun me around in the darkness to face him, leaning me up against the railing. He kissed me, his tongu

e parting my lips and darting inside, tangling with mine. His kiss was hot, urgent, and it took my breath away. I pulled away, my eyes wide with surprise.

“Bear!” I whispered, as quietly as possible.

A slow grin spread across his face and he arched an eyebrow.

“On your knees, Beauty,” he whispered.

“You can’t be serious?” I said, my heart racing. He pressed his cock into my hip, his expression stern and insistent.

And then, he simply nodded.

“Peace be with you…”

I sank to my knees, hoping to God I was hidden from everyone below us. I looked up at Bear and he stared down at me.

“Take it out,” he said.

I bit my lip, my pussy spasming despite the thundering in my chest.

“My brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, I welcome you sincerely to St. Patrick’s Cathedral this evening…”

I reached up, unfastening his jeans, pulling out his pulsing, throbbing cock. Hot and heavy in my hands, the soft velvety skin slid across my palm as Bear flinched above me, his eyes staring down at the service.

“To each and every one of you, I extend my prayerful best wishes for a Christmas filled with every grace and blessing, for yourselves, of course, and for all of your loved ones, as well….”