Page 71 of I Was Born Ruined (Death by Daybreak MC 1)
Beast, surprisingly, is still watching me.
“I saw you fight tonight,” I say, finishing my water and going for the beer next. “Very impressive.”
He nods, acknowledging my statement without reacting to it.
Damn.
This man has iron-clad control. When I reach up and undo the top button on my nightgown, his eyes remain stoic. Makes me wonder how far I can push him. Or if it’s wise to.
Whatever.
This reckless streak flares to life inside of me, and I lean even further back into the pillows, running my tongue across my lower lip. Beast watches every motion I make.
“You were hot as hell,” I tell him, wondering if I sound sexy or just stupid. He doesn’t even smile at that, just keeps watching me. It’s infuriating, his lack of action, his silence. Biting my lower lip, I swallow back some of my beer and then set the can on the floor. With a fresh surge of alcohol in my veins, I pretend it’s the booze making me crazy tonight, and then I spread my legs wide.
Beast still doesn’t say anything, just reaches out and puts his warm, rough palms on my knees. He closes my legs while I gape at him. Is he really telling me no?
“You should go back upstairs, Gidge,” he tells me calmly, like I didn’t just flash him. The thing is, with the little bit of light from outside, I can see a tenseness in his neck and shoulders, like maybe I really am having an effect on him.
“Why? What’ll happen if I don’t?” I sound like an asshole, I know that. But tonight has been … interesting. I woke up angry, and I’m still roiling with emotion. Losing my virginity didn’t change that. Maybe nothing ever will.
“If you don’t,” he starts, turning toward me, “then I can’t promise you’ll make it out of here unscathed.”
My cheeks flush, and I find it suddenly hard to breathe.
“Are you going to ravage me?” It’s a cheeky thing to say, but I can’t help it. I am my father’s daughter, after all. I’m not some blushing teen who can barely say the word cock without losing her shit. I might be a little sore between the legs, but there’s a challenge to seeing if I can get Beast to lose his control that I like.
“Is that what you want me to do?” he asks, voice still neutral but threaded through with a hint of primal need. It’s there, base and animalistic inside of him. Spreading my knees wide again, I watch as his pupils dilate. That’s the only sign that he’s interested, just that one, little tell.
“Maybe.” I wait there, my muscles tight, sweat pouring down my spine. I can feel my nightie sticking to my chest, my nipples pebbling to hard points.
“Mm.” That’s the response I get from him. He pulls out his phone, checks his messages, and then slips it away again. I’m still sitting there, feeling like an idiot, the aching heat of my core right there for him to see. Instead, he focuses on the quiet darkness of the fireplace. “You should go back upstairs and get some rest.”
“Are you serious?” I choke out, so shocked by his refusal that I’m shaking. At age sixteen, I’m sure that I know everything. He can’t tell me no. Guys don’t say no. Dropping my hands between my legs, I tease my clit with my fingers, using my own wetness as lubricant. It feels good, not as good as if Beast were to touch me, but … A moan escapes my lip, but he still doesn’t look at me. “You’re going to sit there and let me masturbate in front of you?”
“My only job is to protect you, suge.” Suge, like Southern for sugar. That nickname kills me; I love it. “Do whatever you want to do.”
“I want to do you,” I whisper back, my voice husky and broken. There must be something to it because he finally glances back over at me, my hand moving in rhythmic circles, my breathing coming in shallow pants. “But if you won’t touch me, I’ll just do it myself and imagine it’s you.”
“I ain’t easily tempted, but when I break, I shatter.” He says this as cool as a cucumber, no emotion whatsoever. Holy hell. His words spiral through me along with the pleasure. “Tempt the beast, get the claws, Gidge.”
“I’m not afraid of you,” I tell him, voice steady. “I never have been.” He stands up, like he’s going to walk away and leave me to it. “Don’t leave me alone with my thoughts,” I add, voice cracking. “It’s dark in here, the things inside my head darker still.” I swallow and lick my lips. “Please.”
Still, he stands there, completely and utterly unmoving, but then my fingers reach out and brush against his. Heat flares between us, and I know I’m not the only one that feels it.
