Page 49 of Beast

“The Jolly Roger Tavern.”

I nod. “Perfect. Then we got talking?—”

“And you couldn’t help but flirt with me.”

I cock an eyebrow at him. “Hardly. It was you who made the first move.”

Finished with his boots, he turns his big body to face me. “No one will believe that.”

“But they’ll believe I couldn’t help myself but fall at your feet because of your charm?”

“Yes.”

“I hate to break it to you, but you’re not that charming.”

He sighs. “Can we move on?”

“Fine, we got talking and a mutual attraction developed over time.”

“How?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“How did our attraction develop? Did we meet at your place? They’ve never seen you before. And you’ve only been to the clubhouse that one imaginary time.”

Right. “We’ll tell everyone we used to meet at my place because we wanted our privacy.” I pause, remembering the rumors about him having a secret affair in town. “I have a question…”

He barely contains his eye roll. “Of course you do. What about?”

“The mysterious girl you’ve been leaving the clubhouse to visit late at night. What happened to her? Why isn’t she here instead of me?”

His demeanor changes. Just slightly.

“Shenever existed. It’s just rumor.”

“But they say you were disappearing every night to spend time with a woman.”

“Theywere wrong.”

“If it wasn’t a woman, then where were you going?”

“You ask a lot of questions.”

“Well, color me fussy but I do prefer to know a little bit about the man I am meant to marry.”

“It’s none of your concern.” He stands and gestures to the TV. “Put on whatever you want. I’m going to take a shower.”

And just like that, I’m dismissed.

Beast disappears into the bathroom connected to his room, and I wait until I hear the sound of the shower going before climbing off the bed and checking the door. I’m not going to escape. Beast has ensured my compliance by taking care of my uncle. But there’s still that deeply ingrained need to know I’m not locked in that makes me cross the room to check.

I rattle the door handle and my relief is instant when I see it isn’t locked.

I pause, wondering if Beast is testing me. If any moment he’ll appear in the doorway with a scowl on his face ready to throw me over his shoulder again. But the shower is going and I can hear the changing rhythm of the water as it rains down on his body.

I cast a glance around the room, and my gaze settles on his cut hanging over the back of the chair.

I cross the room and pick it up. The leather is well worn and scuffed in some places, the zipper tarnished by age. I bring it to my face and it smells like leather and time.And him. It’s surprisingly soft but heavy, and the interior is lined with a rich red fabric.

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