Page 92 of The Beast's Heart

A Rowan sapling is introduced as “Morgan Treeman” and he’s named his baby pear tree “Groot”. Then he holds out a Monstera and proudly declares it “Audrey Two”.

“What happened to Audrey One?” I ask.

He gasps. “You’ve never seen Little Shop of Horrors?”

When I shake my head, he tuts and sets the plant down. “We’ll have to remedy that after the pandemic.”

After.My heart sings. “What about this one?” I point out the spindly plant he was tending to when I saw him here before.

“Doesn’t have a name yet.” He lifts it up and passes it to me. “Why don’t you name it?”

I cock my head, examining the delicate leaves. “...Kevin?”

“Kevin!” He laughs.

“I don’t know! I don’t even know what it is.”

“It’s a Pomegranate”

“Oh, well Persephone is the obvious choice then.”

He pulls me to his side. “No, it’s Kevin. No take backsies.”

Adam sits beside me while we eat and we talk at length—about Persephone and how Pomegranates are supposed to grow in paradise, about the children and how they’re coming along with their lessons, about my siblings and home, and my favorite books and memories from the past. He asks more questions than he answers, listening intently to everything I have to say. The rain starts falling in earnest, drumming against the glass.

At one point I shiver and he wraps an arm around me. “Are you cold?”

“A little,” I confess.

He moves away, getting up to fetch my jacket, and I immediately miss his warmth. So I follow him. When he turns to hand me the jacket, I kiss him.

He hums approval, wrapping his giant arms around me. I press against his body, seeking his warmth and his touch. I pull away from his lips to nuzzle into his neck and kiss the delicate skin there. I don’t know what I’m doing, but this feels right. This feels more right than anything I’ve ever done before. I drag my lips along his jaw, savoring the tickle of his beard, meeting his lips again. They part for me and our tongues brush against each other. A frisson of exquisite electricity races down my spine as he cups my jaw, deepening the kiss. His mouth tastes like expensive wine.

When he pulls away we’re both panting and his pupils are dilated. He kisses me again, sweet, soft, questioning. In answer, I slide my hands down his chest. All my senses feel heightened. The softness of his jumper, the scent of his skin. I pause at his belt, looking up into his eyes as I move my hands under the jumper. He sucks in a breath as I rest my palms against his stomach.

“Cold?” I ask, apologetically.

He shakes his head. “Keep going.” His voice is even gruffer than usual.

He kisses my temple, my cheek, as I skate my hands up over his abs and pecs, trailing through his chest hair, enjoying finally being able to touch him.

“Is this real?” I ask out loud.

He laughs and catches my lips in another kiss. Then he steps back and pulls the jumper over his head. Adam stands before me bare-chested. The candle light plays over the contours of his muscles and I drink him in. I know that thousands of people have beheld this glory before. I know that. But here, in this greenhouse in the middle of the dark forest, it’s just for me.

“You’re so…” I say, but I can’t find a word that’s adequate. There’s nothing that encapsulates how good he looks.

He smiles as he closes the distance between us again and slides my cardigan off my shoulders. Then he starts at my shirt, undoing the button at the collar, then the next one down, looking into my eyes, watching my expression. When he starts on the third, he kisses me again and peppers a trail of burning kisses down my neck, then my chest, following his hands. He’s so gentle, his touch so light, like I’m precious. It’s almost enough for me to forget to be self-conscious. When he slips the shirt off, he kisses my shoulder and wraps his warm arms around me again. My skin is alive, my nerves endings vibrating with need.

Adam’s palms smooth down my back as he kisses the crook of my neck. “I’ve wanted you for so long,” he murmurs.

My stomach swoops. His hands drop to my waist, sliding around to cup my arse as he kisses my throat. I sigh, which quickly turns into a moan as he presses his hips to mine and I feel the solid press of his length against me.

He walks me backwards to the sofa. My pulse races and I can feel my heart beating beneath my skin. The look in his eyes makes his intentions clear.

On the sofa, he hovers over me, his broad shoulders moving under my fingers as he continues to kiss me. I’ve never beenkissed like this before. I’ve never felt wanted like this before. He lifts my glasses off my face and sets them aside and covers us both with the fluffy blanket. Then he finally starts at my fly. I drop my head back, staring up at the canopy of leaves above us as I whisper his name.

His hand slips into my trousers and I arch into his touch. His breath is ragged as he palms my cock through my pants and we groan in unison.

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