In the Arms of the Beast (Kings of Hell MC 5)

“Without Instagram?” Laurent entwined their fingers. “And then they’re private?”

Beast shrugged. “Always assume there’s a small chance of a stranger getting the message. So you can send me selfies. Just not anything... too private,” he said and patted Laurent’s pert ass.

“Hm…” Laurent’s face flushed, a sure sign that they thought of the same thing. “Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

Beast slid his hand up Laurent’s back, and it hit him. Something was missing. “Where’s the e--Marcel?”

Laurent’s smile became softer at the sound of the name. “In the car. I fastened him with a seatbelt.” He pointed to the back seat, where the backpack was secured in a child seat.

With his heart that much lighter, Beast sat Laurent on the hood of the car and leaned down to kiss his neck. The weather was getting warmer every day, so Laurent, who craved to be ‘modern’ and leave the past behind, showed way more skin than would have been proper in his times. He wore a fitted white T-shirt under the leather vest that proclaimed to the world whose property he was. His hair also had a looser wave to it today, which in turn made him look more relaxed, more approachable. He was an angel in skinny jeans, with big brown eyes and sinfully full lips.

Laurent laughed and pushed at Beast’s chest while wrapping his legs around Beast’s hips like the master of mixed signals that he was. “I can’t, my love. I have to go for my driver’s licence test.” His soft fingertips rubbed Beast’s nape, once again going against his words.

Beast hugged Laurent more tightly, bearing with this punch to the gut. He wanted to be happy for Laurent, he really did, but all he could see was Laurent crashing into a tree, shards of glass sticking out of his head, and the egg cracked open and bleeding.

He wanted to offer Laurent all the independence he wished for. He’d been the one to teach him how to drive in the first place, because he didn’t trust anyone else with it, but did Laurent need to leave him now? Did he have to give Beast another thing to worry about?

Beast didn’t want to argue about this right now either. He was so, so tired, and all he wanted was to sink into Laurent and feel his love. When they were close, Laurent made him feel as if nothing could go wrong, as if they lived in a world where Beast could ensure his man’s safety, and where their very existence was not under threat.

“I’ve had a visit from Baal. I need you close,” he whispered into Laurent’s ear, despising himself ever so slightly for manipulating him. It wasn’t a lie, but he wouldn’t be in denial about why he was saying this. He wanted to keep Laurent from leaving. To keep him where Beast could protect him.

“Oh, Beast… oh no. What did he say?” Laurent tightened his hug, the concern in his voice making guilt burn that much hotter in Beast’s heart, but there was no backing out.

“Can you stay? I know the driving is important to you, but can it wait? He threatened us all again, showed me you and Marcel dying. I just need to know you’re safe.”

Laurent hesitated, but he ran his fingers over the back of Beast’s head. “I’ll stay. I understand.”

Beast cupped Laurent’s face. The soft, wavy hair slid between his fingers and tickled the flesh of his palm, but it was the way it framed Laurent’s handsome features that had Beast breathless.

“You’re my everything,” he whispered, placing a kiss on the plump, lovely mouth.

Disappointment still glowed in Laurent’s eyes, but it was quickly dispersing and making way for interest in the here and now. None of Beast’s friends understood what a sexual being Laurent was under the shell of propriety he showed to the world. Beast was the only one to know what hid in Laurent’s heart, the man Laurent had proposed to and chosen as his life partner. Knowing this had Beast’s chest swelling with pride, lust, and love, all at the same time. He was also the only one capable of pulling Laurent away from his duties by seduction, which was gratifying, if a bit wrong.

Under the touch of Beast’s hands, Laurent became pliant, so unlike the self-righteous uptight young man who sometimes drove their friends mad

“That’s why I know we will succeed in our fight,” Laurent whispered, looking straight into Beast’s eyes. “You’ll keep me safe from harm.”

It was exactly the thing Beast needed to hear after experiencing the horrific vision. He smiled at Laurent and rubbed his hips against that perfect ass when it sank toward him on the slope of the hood.

“It’ll be all right. I promise,” he whispered. There were no certainties, and he shouldn’t be giving his word for something he couldn’t ensure, but in this moment of closeness, all danger seemed trivial in the face of their love.