Page 95 of The Beast's Heart

“Mmm hmm. Do you want to tell me what really happened? Because I’m not buying the tripped and fell during a storm angle.”

“That’s what happened.”

“And then he organized a new pair of specs for you? Totally normal thing for an employer to do for an employee. Especially an employer known as The Beast. Now, I’m putting you on speaker. This is gonna be good.”

“Hey, Jonathan,” Sebastian says a moment later.

I groan. “I did fall during a storm. He was being kind because that’s who he is.”

Adam doesn’t seem to overhear. He’s gazing out at the open landscape beyond his property.

“So, are you boning yet?” Zane asks, “I say you are, Sebastian says you’re not.”

“I’m so sorry,” Sebastian says. “We’ve been locked up in this house for weeks.”

“Entertainment is hard to come by,” Zane says.

“Goodentertainment,” Sebastian corrects. “We’ve taken to watching reality TV.”

“Shit, you don’t even know about Tiger King, do you?” Zane says.

“You’re not missing out,” Sebastian assures me.

“And you haven’t answered the question,” Zane says.

I growl in a not-bad Adam impression.

He whoops. “Fucking knew it! Tell me everything.”

“I can’t get into it right now.” Even though I’m sure that Adam isn’t eavesdropping.

“He’s there with you?” Zane guesses, somehow.

“Yeah.”

“And has he figured out you’re not the Belle he ordered?”

“Ah… he sort of knew all along.” I toe at the dirt. I hate admitting that Zane was right.

Zane laughs. “Babybel, I’m proud of you. And now you’ve got two full months of amazing sex to enjoy before you come home.”

My stomach twists sharply. Only two months. Half the time I’ve already been here.

The icy wind picks up as we head back to the house and a light drizzle starts to fall. I’m even more grateful for Adam and his warmth as I tuck into his side.

I expect him to pull away as we approach the house, but he doesn’t let go of me until we’re in the foyer, stripping off our jackets and scarves.

“You have plans for the rest of the afternoon?” he asks.

“Not really. I thought I might visit the library.”

He hums.“Thought I might take a long bath.”

I turn to him, surprised. He didn’t strike me as the long bath type. But then, I’m learning that The Beast contains multitudes.

The expression I find on his face is pure heat. The corner of his mouth quirks up. “What do you think?”

My insides quiver at the implication. “Are you…” I drop my voice. “Are you inviting me?”

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