Her Beast

She saw her clothes had already been hung up, and the few possessions she had were stored in the closet. The picture that she’d kept by the side of her bed was already there, waiting for her.

“Thank you,” she said, feeling incredibly touched.

“I hope you find some happiness in your stay here, Hope.” Next, he pulled out a cell phone from his pocket. “This is now yours. I’ve already placed numbers in it—mine, Dwayne’s, and several of my men. You call them at any time, and they will come for you.”

She nodded, and smiled. “Thank you.”

“If there’s anything you need. Don’t hesitate to ask.”

He moved away, and she watched him leave.

“Wait, where do you sleep?” she asked.

“At the end of the hall. I’m a light sleeper, so I’ll know if Dwayne tries to sneak up here.” He winked at her, and she got a little thrill knowing she shared an entire floor with Beast.

“Thank you, for everything.”

He nodded, closing the door as he left. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she didn’t care about the time. Not right now. She was … in shock.

Her aunt was finally in the past, and she didn’t have to hear the crap coming from her mouth. Staring down at her cell phone, she flicked her thumb across the screen and scrolled through contacts. She smiled as she saw a contact for the local Chinese place.

She had to keep herself in check. There’s no way she could let her crush shine through. No way.

****

Beast stared at the security screen in the library. Dwayne was taking a test, which Hope had been helping him with seconds before. She now stood at one of the bookshelves, staring at the array of titles he had on them.

Today she wore a pair of shorts that fell to her knees, and a crop top. They were having hot weather once again. It had been a couple of days since he picked her up. She’d already gotten used to the routine, and Dwayne didn’t mind having her around. The two rarely spoke to one another unless she was tutoring. Neither of them moved in the same high school circles.

Dwayne had told him Hope was a loner, and a lot of people considered her a weirdo. Beast didn’t think she was a weirdo. More misunderstood than weird.

“Have you told her your part?” Caleb asked.

“No, and I’m not going to.” He didn’t look away from the screen. She’d climbed up to the second floor of books, the ones that were far more intimate.

He watched as she pulled a book from the top shelf. Now this one interested him as she opened up the book. The camera angle was just right to see the page she’d flicked to. Dwayne had gotten him that book three Christmases ago. It was a book on sexual positions, with rather detailed pictures. In response, he’d gotten Dwayne a checkup at the hospital, and a supply of condoms. He didn’t give a shit if people didn’t agree with his parenting methods. It worked for him and Dwayne.

Hope’s cheeks were on fire, but she didn’t close the book as if she was too shocked to see what was there. Her hand landed on the book, and he watched as she slowly traced her fingers across the picture. She turned the page over, and once again, she was met by a rather explicit display of sex.

What was she thinking?

He wished he was there right now. He’d ask her everything he could think of to know and understand about her.

“You’re a little … obsessed by this girl.”

“She’s not a girl. She’s a woman,” he said, not really paying attention to Caleb.

The way she looked at him, it was like a fucking drug, and he was growing more addicted with every single passing day.

She was of legal age.

Not once had Hope made him think of a child or a teenager. She was all woman. Her body was made for sex, and seeing as she was flicking to the next page, he knew her mind was as well.

He watched as she closed the book and looked down. Dwayne held a piece of paper up, and she nodded.

She placed the book back, but held the spine a little longer. She didn’t want to leave it alone.

Finally, Beast stood watching her for another few minutes as she marked Dwayne’s test, and he had no choice but to pull himself away. He couldn’t keep staring at her, watching her, even though deep down he knew that was all he wanted to do.

“We’ve got to head out to the warehouse,” Caleb said. “Business needs to be taken care of.”

Leaving the house, Beast didn’t need to give the order for his men to take care of Dwayne and Hope. He’d given them that update days ago.

Climbing into the back of the car, he pulled out his cell phone, checking through the texts before giving Caleb his undivided attention.