Beast (Happily-Ever-After: The Illegitimates Book 1)

by Trisha Grace

  “You won’t hurt me.”

  She probably wouldn’t, but she wasn’t going to try. “No.” She looked at him, at the black T-shirt he was wearing. She couldn’t see his scars now, but they were there.

  She wasn’t going to lay a hand on him. Ever.

  His head tipped to the side. “You won’t hurt me.”

  “No.” She dropped her hands back to her sides. “Just no.”

  He stepped forward and cupped her face. With his thumb under her chin, he tipped her face up to him. “This is different.”

  She found herself falling into his gaze. They’d known each other for just over a week, yet it felt as if he could see into her soul. It felt as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, feeling.

  “I don’t care,” she said and put her hand on his chest, her fingers splayed. “I’m not going to do it.”

  “Hey.”

  Helena didn’t realize she was tearing up until his thumb grazed her cheek, streaking a line of moisture across it.

  “Don’t. Don’t cry. Not even for me.” He kissed her softly on the cheek. His tender kiss drew her toward him.

  She turned slightly and met his lips. Another peck, and she inched closer.

  His fingers weaved into her hair at the nape of her neck. “When you’re with me, I forget about everything else.” He spoke softly against her lips, and his low voice sent a wave of shivers through her. “Nothing else matters when you’re with me.”

  She exhaled through her nose as they remained close, without closing the distance between their lips.

  The connection between them was undeniable.

  This was why she’d waited her whole life.

  Helena had heard about all of Aunt Beth’s short-term flings. The passion. The love. The romance. All of that had resonated with her, but not the short-term aspect of it. She wanted the forever she had read about in her books.

  And this felt like it.

  In moments like this, when he spoke directly to her heart, she wanted to give him everything she had. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to become Mrs. Black. She wanted the forever for them.

  She sighed.

  Liam leaned back to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, and everything.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “One year.” She wanted to wince the moment she said that. She didn’t want to wait a year. She wanted the forever to start now.

  He groaned. “Three months.”

  “Whirlwind romances never work.”

  “What if I can show you otherwise?”

  She arched a brow. Could he do that? “Then yes.” She couldn’t believe how those words slipped out of her, but she couldn’t take them back. She didn’t want to. She wanted this. She wanted to be reckless and impulsive. She wanted him.

  “Really?”

  All Helena needed was an excuse. No, not an excuse. She needed something logical to convince the rational part of her. Anything. “Really.”

  “So if I find you the proof by tomorrow morning, you’ll agree to marry me?”

  Yes! Helena screamed in her mind, but she swallowed.

  Liam kissed her softly on the lips. “I’ll wait for you, Helena. As long as it takes for you to be ready.”

  She didn’t know what to say. Her mind and heart were clashing so hard she felt torn.

  “And I won’t be ambushing you with anything tomorrow morning. My priority is finding and stopping your stalker.”

  She smiled up at him. Every time her mind tried to tell her how crazy this was, Liam would say the sweetest thing. And she knew he wasn’t just saying things he thought she wanted to hear. “I love you.”

  Liam had a great dinner with Helena. They ordered in and chatted about everything. They laughed. They danced, because she mentioned she was disappointed that they never got to finish their dance the night their dinner date was interrupted.

  So Liam made sure they did, and it ended with a searing kiss that cemented all he felt about her.

  It was only when Cassian texted him and asked if it was all right to drop by that Liam realized it was nearly midnight.

  He had wanted to ignore his brothers, but while Cassian was polite enough to ask, he was sure Killian and Elias would be pounding on the door in a few minutes.

  Which was spot on.

  Less than five minutes after Cassian’s text, his brothers were all in his room.

  Helena excused herself back to her room after greeting everyone.

  His brothers settled around the dining table, taking up all five seats, while Liam grabbed his laptop from the desk.

  “Looks like you guys are getting along well,” Elias said with a wide grin.

  More than well. “Why are you guys here?” He sat while Trevor and Cassian cleared the plates to make space for his laptop.

  “Just checking in,” Killian said. “Making sure you didn’t mess things up again.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “That’s it?” Elias propped his elbows on the dining table. “You have to give us more.”

  Liam arched a brow. “Why?”

  Cassian laughed. “We’re concerned.”

  “We’re concerned,” Trevor agreed. “Elias is nosy.”

  On his laptop, Liam searched through GS Inc.’s system, trying to find out if the stalker’s laptop had logged into the company’s system.

  “Why do you look so frustrated if everything’s going well?” Killian asked. “Problem with the stalker?”

  “I have the MAC address of the stalker,” Liam looked up from his laptop. “And I’ve confirmed the same MAC address used GS Inc.’s internet.”

  Cassian peered over at his laptop screen. “MAC address?”

  “It’s like the identity number of a device. Every device has it,” Killian answered. “But it doesn’t say who owns the device.”

  Liam nodded. That was his problem.

  “What do you need?” Killian asked.

  Elias waved that off. “I’m sure Liam has that handled. What he needs is help with Helena.”

  “I don’t need help with Helena.”

  Elias’s brows rose. “That’s cocky. What? Has she agreed to marry you already?”

  “She said whirlwind romances never work.”

  Cassian frowned at him. “That isn’t a good thing.”

  “But she’ll marry me if I can prove that whirlwind romances do work.”

  “Is that what you’re trying to do now?” Elias asked. “Prove that whirlwind romances work? How are you going to do that?”

  “That isn’t my priority. The priority is finding her stalker and keeping her safe.”

  Cassian grinned. “Did you tell her that?”

  “Yes.” Liam closed his laptop. He needed to rethink this.

  “Do you need help?” Killian asked.

  Liam glanced over at his brother. None of them had ever asked him that. He was so used to doing things alone he didn’t think he needed help.

  All four of his brothers stared at him, waiting for him to say something.

  Elias arched a brow. “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  Trevor nodded once. “What’s the problem?”

  “I need access to the devices of the people on the team.”

  “How many people are we talking about?” Cassian asked.

  “Besides Helena, there are eight others who have seen her original illustrations.”

  Elias crossed his arms. “It’s a little difficult to steal eight laptops.”

  “Steal eight laptops?” Helena strolled over to the dining table. She was in one of his black sweaters that fell to her thighs, matched with black leggings that hugged her legs. She’d worn this ensemble often enough, and he’d always loved seeing her in his clothes.

  Now he suddenly felt like wrapping a towel around her, though she was already covered from head to toe.

  She leaned against the back of his chair and draped her arm around his shoulders. “No stealing.”

  Liam wrapped his arms around he
r waist and pulled her onto his lap.

  Her eyes widened, and she bit down on her lips. That didn’t stop a soft squeal from escaping, though.

  He played with the ends of her slightly damp hair. “There’s no seats left.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him, just for a moment.

  Trevor rubbed a hand over his mouth. “It’ll be difficult to get all eight laptops in the same place.”

  Helena shifted and turned to Trevor. “They usually bring their laptops to work. The activities of the office computers are heavily monitored, so everyone usually brings their own laptops to deal with all the non-work related stuff.”

  “Can’t they just use their phones?” Elias asked.

  Helena’s lips curled. “It’s a lot easier to pretend you’re working when you’re on a laptop.”

  Cassian returned her smile. “So we need to catch them at the office.”

  Liam frowned at Cassian, then shook his head. He needed to rein in his emotions, especially when he was determined to show Helena that he could survive in the real world with her.

  “That’s easy.” Helena shrugged a shoulder. “They’re at the office most of the time. Anytime during office hours.”

  “But we need to do it stealthily.” Killian steepled his fingers. “No way GS Inc. will allow us to go in and check everybody’s laptops.”

  Helena nodded. “They’re very secretive about their work. It’s a cut-throat industry.”

  Cassian leaned back in his chair. “So how are we going to make eight people leave their laptops behind in the office?”

  “The whole office,” Trevor said. “If Liam needs to check the laptops, he’ll need to get the whole office out of there.”

  Elias snapped his fingers. “Fire. If there’s a fire alarm, everyone will have to leave.”

  “Please don’t even think about starting a fire,” Helena said. “Besides, what makes you think they wouldn’t grab their laptops on the way out?”

  “Gas leak.” Cassian sat straighter. “We can get someone to clear the office and make sure no one takes anything when they’re hustled out.”

  Helena relaxed against Liam’s chest. “One call to building management and they’ll find out it isn’t true.”

  Liam played with the ends of her hair again, curling and uncurling a lock of it around his index finger. For a moment, he forgot his brothers were in the room. For a moment, he forgot what they were discussing.

  Someone said something, but Liam didn’t catch it.

  Only when Cassian kicked him in the ankle did Liam jerk his attention from the lock of hair wrapped around his finger.

  “How much time would you need?” Trevor asked.

  Liam unwound Helena’s hair from his finger. “Not long, but longer than a phone call.”

  “And preferably legal so none of you get arrested.”

  Killian poked his tongue into his cheek. “GS Inc.’s building is an Eolenfeld building.”

  His brothers turned their attention to Helena.

  “Edward Eolenfeld has every right to check on an office in his building,” Killian continued. “No one can deny him that.”

  “No,” Liam said. “I don’t want her to owe the Eolenfelds anything.”

  “I’ll do it.” Helena pushed against his chest and straightened to look him right in the eyes. “I don’t want you guys to get in trouble. I’ll call him.” She tried to get off Liam’s lap, but he caged her in with his arms.

  “No.” Liam ran a hand down her cheek. “I’ll do it.”

  The sudden silence was so loud it was deafening.

  Helena shook her head. “No.”

  “I want to do it—for you.” Liam swallowed. He didn’t want to admit this in front of all his brothers, but he needed her to know. “I want to show you that I can protect you too.”

  Helena sighed. “Can we talk in private for a minute?”

  “No,” Elias said, making Helena turn her head toward him. “I want to hear what you have to say to that.” He slapped Cassian on the arm. “Go order some popcorn.”

  Liam rolled his eyes. He lifted Helena off his lap and stood. If she wanted to speak with him alone, she would get that. “Stay here,” he said to Elias before heading off toward Helena’s room.

  “Did I say something wrong?” he asked after closing the door behind him.

  Helena laughed softly. “No.” She ran her hands down his arms. Her fingertips made an electric buzz as they grazed his skin. “You don’t have to prove anything to me, Liam. You’ve already done more than enough for me.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “My entanglement with the Eolenfelds is mine to deal with. I don’t want you to get involved with them.” She locked eyes with him. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

  “I don’t like how you’re drawing a line between us.”

  Her brows drew together. “I’m not doing that.”

  “I want you, Helena—entanglements and all. I want to be a part of everything in your life.” He watched her carefully. “Is that too much to ask?”

  “No, it isn’t.” She cupped his face. “It’s really sweet. But how can I allow that when I know what they put you through?”

  “Because you’ll be giving me so much more.” He drew her face closer. “It makes me happy to be the one protecting you—no matter what that entails.”

  She bit down on her lips.

  “I can handle it.”

  “I don’t like that you have to.” A tenderness came into her gaze, one that made Liam want to end their conversation and just kiss her. “I want to protect you too.”

  That successfully ended his self-control.

  Their lips met, and she melted into his arms as their tongues danced.

  Helena put a hand on his chest and pushed him back, breaking the kiss. Her lips were red and swollen from their kiss, her chest heaving, as his was. “Your brothers are outside, and …” She cleared her throat. “It was getting a little too much.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I just …”

  “I know, and I’ll wait.”

  Her lips curled.

  “Let me call Edward Eolenfeld.”

  She sighed heavily. “I hate that you’ll owe him a favor.”

  “I know just what to offer in return.”

  She arched a brow.

  “Freedom from his parasites.”

  “You’ll break him out?”

  “I think it’ll be fun to know I’ll be annoying every other Eolenfeld.”

  She laughed softly. “They’ll freak.”

  “Good.”

  She smiled and watched him for a moment. “Liam,” she said when her smile faded. “You don’t have to prove anything to me. You’re enough. Do you hear me?”

  This wasn’t the first time she’d said it, and each time she did, he felt the knots in his chest loosen. Knots he didn’t even know existed. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

  “Good things, I hope.”

  “Definitely good things.” A corner of his lips hooked back in a smirk. “Some other not so good things.”

  A flush rushed up her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze.

  So adorable. He leaned forward and kissed her hair. “Let’s head out before Elias tries to break down the door and find out what we’re talking about in here.”

  Chapter 22

  Helena’s phone buzzed in her hand, right after she gave Edward Eolenfeld’s number to Liam.

  Aunt Beth. She grinned when she saw the name across the screen. She wanted to stay and listen in on Liam’s call, but she wanted to talk to Aunt Beth too. She couldn’t wait to tell her all about Liam, and she wasn’t sure when her aunt would get wi-fi again. “I need to get this.”

  “Go ahead.”

  She licked her lips. “Will you be okay?”

  “Go,” Liam said, in that commanding voice of his that she loved.

  She scanned the faces of his brothers before nodding. She answered Aunt Beth’s video call as she made her way back t
o her room. “Aunt Beth!”

  Her aunt laughed. “I miss you, sweetie.” Her eyes narrowed when she took a good look at Helena. “Did something happen? You’re glowing.”

  “What?”

  “You met someone, didn’t you?”

  Helena chuckled.

  “Tell me everything.”

  She did. Sort of. She told Aunt Beth how she ended up at the mansion. She told Aunt Beth how Nigel made her stay in his place. But since she wanted so much for her aunt to like Liam, she left out the detail of him locking her up in his old bedroom.

  Her aunt’s face fell slightly at the mention of Nigel’s name.

  “He’s fine. He texted me a couple of days ago that he was with Bobby.”

  Aunt Beth sighed. “I want to hear more about Liam.” She grinned when Helena told her. “You really like this guy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”

  “I’ve dated.”

  “Yes, but you’re glowing.” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you being safe?”

  “Safe?” It took Helena a moment to realize what Aunt Beth was talking about. “I’m not sleeping with him.”

  “Why not?”

  “You know that isn’t my style.”

  Aunt Beth shrugged. “As long as you’re happy. I want that for you.”

  “I am.”

  “Good. Tell me more.”

  She hesitated a moment before telling her about how Liam was connected to the Eolenfelds. Because of what happened to her parents, Aunt Beth didn’t have any good feelings toward the Eolenfelds.

  She told Aunt Beth about Liam’s scar, and her aunt—as Helena expected—didn’t care about it. Then she told her aunt about her stalker and how Liam had been helping.

  “Why didn’t you tell me that in your emails?”

  “I didn’t think it was serious. The Facebook and Instagram messages were more annoying than anything.”

  “And he’s sure he’s deleted everything?”

  She nodded. “He’s still running his program just to be sure.”

  “I like him.”

  Helena grinned and licked her lips.

  “Oh oh. What are you not telling me?”

  “He asked me to marry him.”

  “Yes! Say yes! Wait—no.” Aunt Beth held her index finger up. “Wait until after I meet him. That’s why I called. I’m coming home! I’m actually at the airport now. I should be home tomorrow evening.”