Falling for the Beast

by Victorine E. Lieske

  “She liked to garden?”

  “Father said she would spend hours out here.” He pointed to the rose bushes, the flowers dried and wilted. “The roses were her favorites.”

  She pointed to a bush. “Look.”

  A single red rose clung to the top, the one spot of color in the lifeless garden. He walked to it and picked it, then handed it to her. “You might as well enjoy it while it lasts.”

  She fingered the delicate flower. As she twisted the stem, a thorn pricked her finger and she jerked away. A drop of blood formed on her fingertip.

  Thaddeus took her finger, slowly wiping away the blood and healing the puncture. She stared down at his finger, watching the tiny wound open up. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I know,” he said.

  Her gaze lifted to his. “What can you do to break the old woman’s curse?”

  He let out a mirthless laugh. “This isn’t a fairy tale. There is no breaking the curse.” He turned his back on her. “And that’s why you must leave.”

  “Wait, what?”

  He opened the gate and let himself out. Didn’t she see? He was not boyfriend material. It would never work. “You have to leave,” he repeated, controlling his voice. Making sure he didn’t yell at her but keeping it firm.

  “But, I don’t understand.” She closed the gate and followed him around the house. “I thought…”

  He rounded on her, clenching his fists. “You thought what? That we could ignore the situation? That we could pretend nothing is wrong?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you putting words into my mouth?”

  “I’m not. I just—”

  “You finally open up to me and tell me about your past, and now you’re shoving me away?”

  Her anger surprised him, and he took a step back. “No. I—”

  “You aren’t afraid someone’s going to find out about you. You know I wouldn’t tell anyone. You’re afraid of letting another person into your life. You want to shove everyone away so you can live here, alone, wrapped up in your misery.” She gave him a fierce look, fire in her eyes. She brushed past him and into the house.

  “Belle…” he said, but she’d already gone. He stared at the door, unsure of what to do. She was right about all of it. He didn’t want to let her in. Didn’t want to watch her figure out exactly who he was, and what he was capable of. Didn’t want to see her turn away in fear. He raked a hand through his hair. Things had gone too far. He needed to break all ties with her. Right now.

  He marched inside to do that, but the moment he saw her standing at the window, her back to him, his resolve crumbled. He approached her and when she didn’t turn to him he put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  She spun around, brushing his hand off her. “Why are you constantly pushing me away? When I feel like we’re finally opening up to each other, you shove me back.”

  He let his shoulders fall. How could he tell her the truth? That he was afraid she would hate him in the end? That he didn’t want to watch her hero worship fall away and turn into something else? His gut clenched, and he felt sick to his stomach. He didn’t know what to say, so he pulled her close.

  She rested her head on his chest. “Please don’t turn me away.”

  He didn’t want to. He wanted to let her in. But he would hurt her in the end, he knew it. His life was too complicated. She wouldn’t understand. But he no longer wanted to insist she leave. He wanted to hold her close. Protect her. Maybe if he tried hard enough… He pressed his lips to the top of her head. “I won’t.”

  Chapter 11

  Aribelle squeezed her eyes shut and held Thaddeus close. She didn’t know what to say, so she stayed silent, allowing the moment to stretch on.

  Would he really let her stay in his life? Would he continue to open up to her? She wanted nothing more than to look up into his eyes and press her lips to his. But she couldn’t. She would scare him off for sure if she did that.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said, his voice husky.

  She pulled back to look at him. “I’m not hurt. I’m confused. I thought we were friends.”

  He slowly nodded. “You’re right. We are.”

  “Good. Then that’s settled.” That was as good as she was going to get right now. She nodded and changed the subject. “I’m going to need a tow truck.”

  “I called this morning. It’s taken care of.”

  “Where are they going to tow it?”

  “Probably the junkyard.” His eyes apologized.

  She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Yeah. I’m sure that’s where it needs to be.” Poor Bunny. And how is she going to pay for another car? She didn’t have any savings.

  “We can search online for another car.”

  What else could she do? She’d have to finance a car. “Okay.” She twisted her fingers and stared at her fingernails. “I’m going to need a shower and change of clothes.”

  “I can take you home.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “On your motorcycle?”

  “Of course.” His lips twitched, hiding a smile.

  “Isn’t it still down the hill?”

  “I brought it up this morning.”

  She’d never ridden on a motorcycle before, and the thought of riding one alone scared her. But the thought of being close to him, holding onto him, was appealing. “You got it.”

  “Are you ready now?” he asked.

  She nodded and followed him outside. The wind had picked up a bit, and she was glad he’d given her his leather jacket. He straddled his bike, slipped on his helmet and handed her one. After she’d put it on, he motioned for her to get on behind him. She lifted her leg over and grabbed him around the waist. It was like she had her arms around a steel pole. A pole with abs. And warmth. Good heavens.

  He started the motorcycle and kicked the stand up. “Hang on,” he said, a grin in his voice. And then he took off.

  She squealed as the bottom dropped out of her stomach. Her grip on his middle tightened. “Show off,” she said under her breath.

  He sped up, the trees flying by in a blur. She buried her face in his back and closed her eyes, the motion filling her with butterflies on steroids. She could tell why he liked this. It was thrilling. A bit dangerous, but that added to the excitement.

  They arrived at her apartment in twenty minutes. She refrained from scolding him about speeding. She couldn’t deny she liked the speed. He parked the motorcycle and dismounted, taking off his helmet and flipping up his hood to cover his face in one fluid movement. He was like a cat. Stealthy. Sexy. Man, she needed to stop thinking like that.

  She pulled her helmet off and walked him past her neighbor’s Halloween decorations. They entered her apartment. She turned to him, unsure if he was staying or not. “Thank you for the ride.”

  He glanced around the small living room. “Cozy.”

  She laughed. “That’s one word for it.” An awkwardness settled in and she shifted her weight. “Would you like to stay for a while?”

  He seemed like he was debating it but then nodded. “Okay.”

  “Make yourself comfortable.” She didn’t wait for him to say anything else. She went into her bedroom and closed the door. A quick shower and clean clothes, and she felt like a new person. She tossed his sweatshirt in the dirty laundry bin. Her stomach flipped as she blew her hair dry. Why was she so excited he was at her apartment? It wasn’t like he was her boyfriend or anything. If he had his way, they’d go their separate ways and never see each other again.

  An incredible smell wafted in from the other room. She found Thaddeus in the kitchen, checking something in the oven, and he grinned at her when she entered. “Thought I would make us some food.”

  She eyed the cookie sheet. “What is that? It smells delicious.”

  “Ham and cheese croissant ro
lls. Something I made up.”

  “You made that? From scratch?” She didn’t try to hide her surprise.

  He grinned, a little smugly. “I used your pre-made croissants. I added the deli ham and some shredded cheese then rolled them up.”

  “You can cook?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then why hire someone?”

  His smile disappeared, and he didn’t answer for a minute. “Sometimes I’m in too much pain.”

  Oh. Guilt pummeled her and she blinked. It had been callous of her to ask that. “Sorry.”

  His green eyes met her gaze. “Don’t be. You still don’t understand my life.”

  She swallowed. Maybe he was right. Maybe she was being naïve. He’d been through more than she could even imagine.

  “But you will,” he said, a sadness in his eyes. And then he lightened the mood with a smile. “Are you hungry?”

  “Starving.”

  He glanced at the table. Aribelle’s cheeks heated. “Sorry. My father was working on a puzzle and I haven’t had the heart to put it away.”

  “It’s okay.”

  “Can we eat in the living room?”

  “Sure.”

  She took down two plates from the cupboard. He used a spatula to dish out his ham and cheese rolls. Then they took their plates to the couch.

  The croissants were heavenly, and she moaned as she chewed. “This is so good. Where did you learn to cook?”

  He half-shrugged, his cheeks turning pink. “I had a lot of time on my hands growing up, and a billion cookbooks in the library.”

  “You learned how to do this from cookbooks?”

  He tried to hide a smile and failed. “I liked to read. And I was bored a lot. At least it’s a good skill to have.”

  “I can’t argue with that.” She bit into another one.

  After they’d finished eating, she took the dishes to the sink and rinsed them. Thaddeus stood by the kitchen table, gazing at the puzzle. “Mind if I…?” He let the question fall off.

  “Go ahead.” Her heart squeezed. She’d worked on the puzzle a little, but only with half effort.

  He pulled out a chair and sat, concentrating. She joined him.

  He picked up the box lid to study the completed picture and then picked up a piece and fit it into place. His gaze connected with hers. “You miss him.”

  Emotion choked her. “Yes.”

  He picked up another piece. They worked in silence for a while, Thaddeus seeming to understand her need to finish the puzzle instead of simply putting it away.

  The scene on the puzzle was a cottage home, lush greenery on the outside and a charming front porch swing. Her father enjoyed all kinds of puzzles, but his favorites were always the photographs taken outdoors. She studied the pieces in front of her, every once in a while looking over at Thaddeus. He seemed content.

  “Do you mind if I ask another question?”

  He didn’t look up at her, but his shoulders tensed. “Go ahead.”

  “You said you heard me get into the crash. How far away can you hear? Like right now…what can you hear?”

  He frowned a little but indulged her curiosity. “I can hear your neighbors talking. The woman above you is trying to finish her son’s Halloween costume.”

  “Can you hear beyond my apartment building?”

  His eyes glanced up at the ceiling. “Yes. Two or three blocks away there’s a traffic light. I can hear the cars. And up the road, there’s a Starbucks. But I knew that because of the scent.”

  He had super hearing and super smelling. She tried not to act like it was a big deal. He didn’t like it when she admired what he could do. “And you use these to find people to heal.”

  He nodded, studying the puzzle as if he weren’t paying attention, but she knew he was very much paying attention. To everything.

  “What helps you more? The hearing or the ability to smell?”

  “Both. But it’s the scent of blood that usually leads me to an accident. Or a victim.” He glanced at her, a measured look on his face.

  “I see. And how far away can you smell blood?”

  “A good mile.” He fit another piece in, going back to looking nonchalant.

  “Can you heal anything? Cancer?”

  “No. No illnesses. Just injuries.”

  She couldn’t even imagine what it must be like. Every power he had made him a hunter, but he healed instead. To the people he helped, he was a savior.

  She’d been staring at a puzzle piece, but not really seeing it. She put it down and picked up another one. “How long have you been healing people?”

  “Eight years.” He leaned over to examine the picture.

  That was longer than she’d expected. “How long do you plan on—”

  “Belle,” he said, his voice practically a growl.

  The fierce way he stared at her told her she’d pushed him too far. “Sorry.”

  He closed his eyes, fighting to gain control. “It’s not a matter of how long,” he said after he opened his eyes again. “You still don’t understand. It’s not like I can retire.”

  “Why not?” He was right. She didn’t understand. He didn’t have to go out at night, looking for people to heal. He could stop and live a semi-normal life.

  “Because,” he said, his voice gruff. He took in a breath, and let it out. “It lives in me, this creature she cursed me to be. I can’t pretend it’s not there. This is the only way I’ve found to control it.”

  Chapter 12

  Thaddeus didn’t know what else to say and trying to explain it wouldn’t work. She was going to have to see for herself. So, he opted for a change in subject. “What are your plans for the future? Are you still working on your degree?”

  She shifted in her seat. “I’ve had to quit my online classes until I can work for a while and get enough money for tuition.”

  “What are you getting a degree in?”

  “English.”

  He nodded. “Thus, the quest to become a writer.”

  She looked at him, and he balked at the way her deep chocolate eyes affected him. “I know it’s silly. There’s no real money in writing. It’s a fantasy job.”

  She was right. Most writers had to work other jobs to pay the bills. But there were a few who got to live their dreams. “If that’s what you love to do, you’ll do it.” He put his hand over hers. “And you will succeed.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Thaddeus.”

  They continued to work on the puzzle until the sun began to set. He cocked his head to the side, listening. “The kids are starting to trick-or-treat. I’d better leave.”

  She frowned. “Why? They don’t come inside.” She got a funny look on her face. “Besides, it’s Halloween. Who cares if someone sees you?”

  He pointed to the scars on his face. “This doesn’t look like a Halloween costume.”

  The doorbell rang and she stood. As she passed by him, she gave him a small smile. “It kind of does.” She pulled a bowl of candy out of the cupboard and went to the door to hand it out to the kids.

  He moved his chair so he couldn’t be seen from the doorway. After handing out the treats, she sat back down to work on the puzzle. He continued to indulge himself, asking Aribelle questions in between the interruptions from the children. She had played softball as a kid, liked the Chicago Cubs, and devoured about four books a month. She had gotten her first library card when she was five years old. She had wanted her own, rather than using her father’s.

  Her mother had left when she was seven years old. She said it didn’t matter, but he could tell she was holding back, not saying what she really felt. Her feelings ran deep, he was sure. Maybe she wasn’t ready to talk about them yet.

  Her candy ran out and she shut off the outside light and sat back down. They’d gotten prett
y far on the puzzle, but it probably would take another three or four work sessions to get it completed. She fiddled with a piece, not really looking at it. “Are you going out tonight?” she finally asked.

  He knew what she meant. She wanted to know if tomorrow he would have another injury. He swallowed and looked her in the eyes. “Yes.”

  A mixture of emotions played across her face, and she dropped her gaze. “Be safe.”

  “It’s never safe.” He didn’t mean to frighten her, but she needed to know what his life was. She needed to know why it was best for them both if they broke off ties.

  “I know,” she said, not looking back up at him.

  She looked so sad, he started feeling guilty. “Want to watch a Halloween movie before I go?”

  She smiled. “Sure.”

  They sat on the couch and scrolled through the movies, settling on The Nightmare Before Christmas. Two minutes into the movie, he regretted sitting so close to her. Her scent enveloped him and he craved to pull her close and kiss her.

  Dumb. He turned away and tried to breathe normally. He could never kiss her.

  Half-way through the movie, the familiar coppery scent of blood caught his attention. He cocked his head, listening. “I’ve got to go.” He stood.

  Aribelle jumped up. “Why? What’s happening?”

  “Some drunken brawl. I thought it was benign, but someone got hurt.” He flipped his hood up and glared at her. The men were only a block away. “Stay here,” he commanded before he stepped out into the dark night.

  Alarm gripped her, and Aribelle stood rigid as Thaddeus’s warning echoed in her head. And then she heard them. She didn’t need super hearing to know it was Gavin and his stupid goons. She ran to the window and peered out at the apartment complex kitty-corner to hers.

  Gavin wore a Viking costume and held a sword. He was shouting something. A man lay on the sidewalk in front of the other apartment complex. Several other drunken men scattered like cockroaches. Gavin threw his sword and staggered backward.

  She couldn’t tell how bad the man was hurt. And she couldn’t see Thaddeus, but she knew he was there, in the shadows, waiting until everyone was gone. It didn’t take long. Gavin bent over, threw up on the grass, and then passed out.