“I want you,” she whispered. “Completely. No backing off and no holding back this time.”
The sound he made was low, raw, and devastating. She was in his arms, his mouth finding hers with a hunger that stole her breath. His hands slid into her hair, down her back, pulling her against him like he’d been waiting years, and not just hours, to touch her and make her his.
Belle kissed him back with everything she had. The fear, the longing, and the need she’d tried to hide from herself were front and center. He lifted her easily, her legs wrapping around his waist, and her world tilted ever so slightly off axis.
Her back met the cool edge of the kitchen table, and she gasped against his mouth. “Belle,” he breathed, forehead dropping to hers, voice wrecked. “Tell me to slow down.”
She shook her head, pulling him closer by the shoulders. “I don’t want you to slow down, Beast.” He exhaled sharply, like he’d been holding that breath all night, and kissed her again, deeper, hotter, the kind of kiss that made her toes curl and her pulse race.
His hands slid along her thighs, her hips, guiding her, grounding her, worshipping her in a way that made her tremble. Every movement, every brush of his skin against hers, every quiet groan he tried and failed to hold back only dragged her deeper into him.
“Sweetheart,” His voice broke on the word. “You have no idea what you do to me.” She did, or at least she had a pretty good idea of what she did to him because he did the same to her. She felt it in every shiver, every breathless sound, every slow, desperate slide of his hands.
The kitchen seemed to disappear, and her fear was gone. The whole world narrowed down to the heat between them—the way he held her, the way he whispered her name like he was afraid it might be the last time, and God, the way that he looked at her like he wanted to consume her.
Belle wrapped her hands around his jean-clad erection, and he groaned. “We’re wearing too many clothes,” he said. She nodded her agreement as she unzipped his jeans, causing him to hiss out his breath. He stood and smiled down at her. “You’re going to unman me, honey,” he said.
Belle went up on her elbows to watch as he finished the job for her, gasping when his impressive erection sprang free from his jeans. “Your turn,” he said, giving her a wicked grin. Beast made quick work of removing her pajamas, and within seconds, she was lying across her kitchen table, naked, and panting with need.
“Beast,” she gasped as he covered her with his body.
“I’ve got you,” he whispered into her neck, his voice shaking with the intensity of it all. “I’ve got you, Belle. I won’t let you go.”
And when he finally moved with her, against her, into her —gently at first, deeper, intoxicating, and even reverent —Belle’s breath hitched, her fingers gripping him like she might fall apart without him. She wasn’t sure how she could feel so much for a man that she had just met, but she did.
His forehead pressed to hers as they moved together with a kind of urgent tenderness that made her eyes sting with more than just pleasure. He kissed her again — soft, deep, almost breaking — as they fell apart in each other’s arms, the moment washing through them, pulling them under in the sweetest way.
Belle cried out his name as he drove her over the edge, and Beast followed her over, panting out her name, over and over, like a prayer on his lips. And when it was over, Beast didn’t let her go. Not even for a second. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close on the edge of the table, their breaths mingling, their hearts still racing.
Belle’s lips brushed his cheek as she whispered, “You didn’t need to be careful with me.” He huffed a soft, almost-laugh against her shoulder. “Sweetheart,” he murmured, “I’m always gonna be careful with you. But I’m never letting you go.” Belle closed her eyes, sinking into him. She believed him, and for the first time in a long, long time, she felt safe.
BEAST
Beast had just finished making them dinner when his phone buzzed. He didn’t have many people who called him—hell, almost no one. So the moment he saw the name “Mom” flash across the screen, his stomach dropped. She was going to want some answers about when he was going to get into town for Christmas, and right now, he didn’t have any to give to her. He dragged a rough hand over his beard and answered.
“Hey, Ma,” he said. Belle paused halfway through setting the table and glanced over at him with quiet curiosity. Beast turned a little away, bracing himself for his mother’s onslaught of questions. His mother didn’t waste any time.
“Declan James McCarthy,” she scolded, in her thick Yonkers accent sharp enough to cut glass. “Christmas is coming up, and your sister says you haven’t given her the date that you’ll be in town yet. Are you coming on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? I’m cooking whether you show up or not, but I need to know when to thaw the damn ham.”
Beast scrubbed a hand over his face. “Ma, I told you—my rig got messed with. I’m stuck in Huntsville until the shop opens.”
“Well then, you get a rental and get here,” she snapped. “You can’t miss another holiday.” Belle’s soft laugh nearly made Beast smile. Nearly, but he still had to deal with his mother and figure out how to get back to Yonkers and keep Belle safe.
“Ma,” he said, lowering his voice when he caught Belle watching him with those warm brown eyes of hers, “I’m not sure this is the best time. Got some things I’m dealing with.”
“Oh, here we go,” she huffed. “The mysterious trucker life again. Are you hiding a girlfriend? Is that what this is?”
Beast nearly choked. “Ma, no—” But Belle’s cheeks flushed instantly, and he turned away fast, his jaw clenching.
“Just tell Kelly you’re coming,” his mother pressed. “Christmas Eve. I already told the neighbors you’d be there, and you know how nosey Nancy gets.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Ma. I’m with someone right now.” Belle’s eyes widened in surprise, and he had to admit that saying that out loud to his mother surprised him, too.
“Aha!” his mother shouted into the other end of the call. “So you are seeing someone! Put her on the phone,” his mother ordered.
“Ma, absolutely not.”
“Fine, then tell her I said hello, and she should come home with you so we can meet her.” Beast froze. Taking Belle home with him would solve his dilemma. He’d be able to keep his promise to his family, show up for Christmas, and keep Belle safe. Hell, maybe taking her out of Huntsville might give Shane time to move on to find another hobby besides stalking Belle.
