Owning Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy 3)

The corset lay thrown across a chair, the handcuffs hanging off a side table. The whip and panties tangled together on the marble floor. I looked down at Beauty again and smiled at the collar still firmly secured to her neck.

She was mine.

Officially, completely, unapologetically mine.

My heart soared with the realization that this was my reality now. This was the beauty my life was filled with, a loving woman, a happy home, a beautiful, perfect life.

I drank in the peaceful feeling, holding her close as I inhaled her sweet scent. Last night had been a whirlwind of sex and connection and lust and letting go. There was something about being bound by marriage that let all inhibitions fall away. Chloe had embraced me already, accepted my quirks and preferences, as I liked to call my domineering tendencies, but last night, she’d leaned into them in a whole new way.

My cock was throbbing before I’d opened my eyes and I yearned to start all over. Sure, I’d take her this morning, but we wouldn’t have time for a repeat of last night. Max was waiting for us outside the hotel to take us to the airport and the plane was waiting on the runway to whisk us away to our honeymoon.

I’d let her pick the location and she’d picked Paris. An obvious choice, but a romantic one. I couldn’t wait to make love to my wife in France. In fact, I made a vow to make love to her on every continent and as many cities around the world as possible. We’d laugh about it later, making memories that would last a lifetime.

But first, I needed to get rid of this painful throbbing between my legs. I reached down between her legs, gently sliding my fingers between her lips, slowly rubbing her clit. Her moan was like a song in my ears. I gazed upon her face, my eyes trailing over her upturned nose and her lush full lips, and when her eyes fluttered open, and a slow, sleepy smile spread across her face, I couldn’t help but growl and roll her over and slide my cock deep inside of her without a word.

She moaned again, over and over, her cries vibrating soft and low in my ears as she wrapped herself around me, rocking against me as we rode the massive waves of pleasure that our bodies created out of our tangled limbs, our heat, our love…

Hand in hand, we walked out of the hotel. On our beaming faces, cheshire grins had taken up permanent residence. We were so damned elated, we were practically skipping to the car. Max stood by the back door, always on time, always patient.

“Good morning, newlyweds!” he cried, with a happy smile.

“Good morning, Max!” Chloe said, hugging him.

“Morning, buddy,” I said, gripping his fist and pulling him in for a hug. “Thanks for the lift.”

“Of course,” Max said. Chloe slid into the backseat and Max stopped me before I got in. “Bear, there’s a man over there that told me he was waiting for you and Chloe.”

“What?” I asked, looking at the man Max was pointing to. He was walking straight towards me. “I don’t know him.”

Max straightened up, stretching to his full height and putting his hand in his jacket as the man approached. I knew Max carried a gun, but he was always discreet about it.

The man walking our way had short, dark hair and familiar eyes, his hands fidgeting nervously as he neared.

“Mr. Dalton? You’re Bear Dalton, right?”

“Yes?” I asked. “Who are you?”

He stood in front of me and I towered over him at least four inches.

“Is that Chloe?” he asked. He looked past me into the car where Chloe was waiting. I took a step to the right, putting myself between him and Chloe.

“Who are you?” I asked again.

“Oh, sorry,” he said, turning his attention back to me. He flashed me a nervous smile. “I wonder if I could have a word with her?”

“With my wife?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

“Yes, well…with my…well, it’s best if I talk to her first,” he said.

“I’ll ask you again,” I said, “who are you?”

“Bear?” Chloe’s voice sounded behind me and she poked her head out of the car. “Is something wrong?”

The man’s face lit up when he saw her. It made me extremely uncomfortable, he still hadn’t answered my question and I wasn’t about to let him anywhere near Chloe.

“Everything’s okay, babe, just a minute,” I said. She looked at the guy and turned away, disappearing back into the car. Obviously, she didn’t know him, which made my instincts light up even more.

“I’m Randy,” the man said finally, putting out a hand. “Chloe…well, she’s…she’s my daughter.”

“What?” I said, shaking my head. “No, I don’t think so…”

I turned to Max and shook my head.

“Let’s go,” I said to Max and turned back towards the car.

“No, seriously,” the man said. “Chloe! It’s me!” he called. I slid in beside her and started to close the door. He pushed his hand in before I could shut it.

“Look mister,” Max said, pushing him out of the way, “back off!”

“Chloe, please! It’s Randy, Chloe! I’m Randall Anderson, your father!”

I looked over at Chloe and she’d gone white.

“Babe?” I asked.

“How does he know my father’s name?” she asked. She leaned over me, looking out the window.

“Just some crazy guy,” I said, dismissing him.

“Stop!” she said to Max. “My god…” she whispered. She pushed past me, opening the door and facing the man. Wordlessly, with wide eyes, she looked him up and down.

“Hey sweetie,” the man said, flashing her the same nervous smile he’d given me. “It’s me. Dad.”

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I saw your wedding announcement in the paper!” he said. “I tried to get in to see you yesterday but the doorman at your building wouldn’t let me in.”

I made a mental note to give our doorman an extra tip. There was something about this guy that I didn’t like. Chloe hadn’t told me much about her father at all, just that he’d disappeared when she was young, leaving Matilda to raise her alone. By the way she was looking at him, she wasn’t sure what to think herself. I couldn’t tell if she believed him, or recognized him, or what. She just stared at him silently.

“How did you find me here?” she asked.

“I followed you last night. You looked so happy and I didn’t want to interrupt you once I saw you. I didn’t want to ruin your happy day.”

“Then why are you here now?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“Why?” she said, her voice hardening.

“Because, well…you’re my daughter, Chloe.”

“So what? What difference does that make?”

“Chloe…”

“It wasn’t important for you to show up before now, so I don’t see any point for you being here now.”

“Chloe, please…” he said, his eyes searching hers.

She squared her shoulders, shaking her head.

“No,” she said. “You left my mother, you left me…I don’t want anything to do with you. You shouldn’t have come.”

She turned away, her eyes cold, her lips stretched thin with anger as she got back in the car.

I turned back to him and looked him in the eye.

“You heard the lady. Get lost,” I said. “Let’s go Max.”

Chloe

I was still shaking when the plane lifted off. Bear was amazing, pulling me into his arms as soon as the limo door closed and now that we were on the plane, he was giving me a little space and making me a cup of tea.

I couldn’t believe what had happened.

Why in the world would that man decide to show back up in my life now?