by Milly Taiden
Looking around, she almost laughed. With such a mess, it would be hard to tell if something was missing or not. What a joke that would be. But she sucked it up and put on her big girl pants. Her mother would have a breakdown if she saw all her memories turned to garbage.
It was only material things. Stuff that could be bought again. This was what homeowner’s insurance was for. Her mom had been wanting a new coffeemaker anyway. “Beast,” she said, “I want one of those new coffee gadgets where you put a pod in and out comes an awesome flavored bean. No more measuring for me. It’s time to get with the ages. Mom has been dying for one, and if now’s not the time, I don’t know when will be.”
Beast smiled at her obvious change in attitude. “There’s my Isa, full of positive thoughts. The incredible woman who amazes me every day with her strength.” He kissed her long and deep. It didn’t take away the pain, but it soothed her anxiety and filled her with warmth.
She batted him away. “No more of that until we have a path dug out to the bedroom. Then be ready, because tomorrow, we go shopping.” What a great way to get over something that was so unfair. At least nobody was hurt. They were getting new furniture!
“What about when your mom comes home?”
She nibbled her bottom lip. “Let me call Mom and ask her to stay the night with Zuri. That way she doesn’t have to be here for all this. I don’t know how’d she’d take it.”
“Good idea,” he told her.
She watched him walk toward the living room and pulled out her cell phone from her pocket, dialing her sister.
“Hey, how was your habitat day,” Zuri greeted her.
“It was…interesting. Listen, I have bad news. The house was broken into and vandalized.”
Zuri gasped. “What?”
“Yeah. It’s a mess right now. Beast and I are going to clean up, but I think it’s best for Mom to stay the night with you so she doesn’t see this.”
“Dad’s fishing rod—”
“Still by the door. It’s literally one of the handful of things that wasn’t smashed to bits.”
“Oh, thank god,” Zuri sniffled. “I’ll keep mom up here and break it to her.”
“We’ll get things into a better state so when she comes back, it’s not full of broken mementos.” She glanced around, realizing the amount of work she had ahead of her. “Just make sure she knows the rod is okay. Everything else is replaceable.”
“Okay. Got it. Thanks for doing this, Isa.”
She smiled, thinking of her spunky mother. “I love Mom. I’d hate for her to see this now. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Isaline got home to find her mother smiling like she’d lost her mind. “Mom?”
“Oh, honey, did you see what Beast did?” She did a full circle around the living room.
Once Beast had realized the job of cleaning up was too big for just the two of them, he’d gotten a professional crew in to clean things up. They piled photos that needed to be moved into new frames and emptied out the house. He then called someone else who met with her mother and Zuri and got information on what furniture she wanted so when she came back to the house, it wouldn’t be empty.
He’d been on a mission. All day Friday, he’d been unavailable to her, making things happen. Now she realized why. Beast had gotten her mother’s house refurnished. She gaped at the beauty of the furniture. The sofas had plaid pillows on them. The wooden coffee table was in the shape of a fish.
All the photos had been reframed in gorgeous new frames that had a lovely old look to them. The window treatments matched the tablecloth and sofa pillows. The entire house looked like something out of a country home magazine. The smile on her mother’s face made her heart squeeze.
“You like everything?”
“Like?” Mirabel asked with wide eyes. “I love it! You have to see this!” She grabbed Isaline by the hand and dragged her into the kitchen.
There, where her dad’s fishing rod always hung, was now a photo of all them with their parents on a fishing trip as kids. And the rod had been framed to line the area above the kitchen door.
“I don’t know how he knew this was one of my favorite photos of all of us with your dad,” she sniffled, hugging Isaline to her side. “I was scared to come home, but now I see there was no need. This looks so nice. Your dad would’ve loved it.”
Isaline smiled and squeezed her mom’s arm. “I’m glad you’re happy, Mom. Where’s Beast?”
Mirabel’s eyes twinkled. “In your room.”
Uh. Oh. Isa rushed to her bedroom, her mother following. She pushed the door open and almost lost her footing. Her bedroom hadn’t changed much through the years. She’d never been one to hang posters or anything like that. Still, it had been outdated and not even looking the way she’d wanted lately, but this new room was unbelievable.
“Holy shit!”
Two people laughed, and she turned to see Sage and Zuri at the door, looking at her reaction with wide smiles. Her mom wiped at the tears on her cheeks.
Isaline loved traveling and had always wished she could live in a beach bungalow. Somehow, Beast had gotten someone to turn her bedroom into a beach getaway.
The room had been painted a light blue gray that went perfectly with everything. From the seashells multi-panel canvas over her bed, to the sofa chair with sea star-shaped pillows in her little reading nook next to her bookshelf. A very cool nautical hanging lantern ceiling fan made her gasp.
To either side of her bed, she had very cool side tables with tiny seashells on the hardware. The bed itself left her speechless. It was a massive new bed. A four-poster bed. A bed she wished she could try out with her beast. The clean white sheets and pale blue pillows covered in tiny seashells and sea horses pulled a person in.
“This is amazing!”
“Beast, I told you she’d like it,” her mother said, looking at Beast who stood in the corner, watching. She hadn’t even seen him, but she’d known he was there with her. The curtains once again matched the bedding and she could only imagine it all matched her bathroom as well.
“This is freaking awesome,” Sage said. “I get back and the house looks like it came out of an episode of Extreme Home Makeover.”
She couldn’t believe everything he’d done. She rushed over and hugged him, pulling his head down to kiss him all over his face. Her sisters giggled in the background.
“Get a room!” Zuri yelled.
“We’re technically in her room.” Sage laughed.
“Oh, shush, you two. Don’t you see they’ve missed each other? If you feel like you want to christen the new bed, we can leave for a while,” her mother wagged her brows.
“Mom!” Zuri groaned.
“Ew,” Sage said at the same time.
“No need,” Beast told her.
Isa shook her head, not surprised at what her mother had said even one bit.
“What? A woman wants more grandchildren, you know?” Mirabel said.
“Mo-ther! You’re going to make Beast run out of here if you keep it up,” Zuri chastised.
“I have a surprise for you,” Beast told her, his gaze on her face. “It would require us leaving for the weekend. How do you feel about that?”
“Beast, you’ve already done so much for us,” Isa started. “I don’t need anything else.”
He cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb over her jaw. “This is for us. Some more time to get to know each other. Or more ways for me to convince you to finally say yes to being my mate. You’ve shown me all about small town life. I’d like to show you a bit of city life.”
“Go!”
“Do it!”
Her sisters said at the same time.
She rolled her eyes and glanced at the three women. “Seriously?”
“Young lady, you’re getting your ass out of here with this lovely, tall dragon beast and if he wants to devour you while you’re gone, then so be it,” her mother said with a devious grin.
“Oh, god. Mom!” Sage made a face.
“I’ll give you tonight to be with your family, but tomorrow morning, I’m coming for you. It will be fun. Trust me.”
She chewed on her lip and frowned. “What do I even pack? I don’t know where we’re going.”
“Just to New York for the weekend. I have something fun set up.”
“You have to go,” Sage told her matter-of-factly.
Zuri nodded quickly. “New York is one of the best places to go in the winter. It’s so romantic.”
“Yes,” Mirabel said. “Go with Beast boy. Come back and give me grandbabies.”
Beast gave a hearty laugh. “I’m trying.”
“Okay, let’s go to New York for the weekend and be cold over there,” Isaline sniggered.
“Smartass,” Beast said, lowering his head and kissing her. This time, the kiss lingered, and she heard her mom and sister leave the room and close the door. If only they weren’t in the house with them.
28
“C’mon, Sage, pick up.” Isaline chewed her lip staring at the three outfits on the bed. Cell phone in hand, the facetime call buzzed in her palm as she paced.
With a melodic chime, the call connected, and her sister’s face appeared on screen. “Isa? I thought you were in New York with Packed Pants Harte, making Mom’s more grandbaby dreams come true.”
“I am in New York. And don’t call him that. Shouldn’t you be making Mom’s grandbaby dreams come true, too?”
“I already am.” Sage snorted. “Honey, the man’s first name is Beast. I think calling him Packed Pants is the lesser of the evils. Zuri and I actually tossed around calling him Bulge Behind the Zipper Dude, but it doesn’t quite roll off the tongue the same way. Speaking of tongues, have you sampled his yet?”
“Jesus, Sage! You’re awful. Forget I called…” Isa grumbled.
Sage grinned even wider. “Oh, c’mon. It’s okay to dish it out when it’s me? You called me, remember? What’s up?”
“Beast sent up a personal shopper with racks of designer clothes for me to pick for tonight,” Isa replied.
Her sister chuckled. “And that’s a problem, how?”
“Sage! C’mon.” She scowled at her sister’s amused face. “I am so out of my element here, and you know it. You’re the one with an amazing eye for fashion. That’s not me.” Isa exhaled, picking up a pair of fuck me pumps in her frustration and putting them down again. “He is waiting downstairs for me and I don’t want look ridiculous. Not tonight. Not when we’re in his neck of the woods.”
“Isa, you’ve never looked ridiculous a day in your life, besides, he’s seen you naked. Game over. You could wear a paper bag and he wouldn’t care, not as long as he got to rip it off your body later.”
Isaline exhaled. “I should have facetimed Zuri.”
“Okay, okay…stop being such a big baby and show me the choices then,” Sage shot back with a laugh.
Isa turned the camera phone around and smirked at her sister’s long whistle. “Damn, that boy has good taste!”
“Sage!”
Her sister’s laugh tinkled again. “Sorry… uhm…I think I’d go with the black knit dress and the knee high black suede boots. It’s clingy yet classy, but still fun, plus it makes easy access for later.”
“Leave it to you to make shopping X-rated. You’ve both turned into Mom,” Isa smirked, turning the camera around so she could see her sister again. “If you must know, we’re going to a museum opening or something like that, so easy access just hit a cock block.”
Sage raised an eyebrow. “A museum? Wow. Uhm, fun? I guess.”
“Sage, quit it.”
Her sister chuckled. “Sorry, little sister. I’m just teasing, but remember it was you and Zuri who told me to live a little, so now I’m telling you. You’re in the city that never sleeps, with a man who can keep you and IT up all night. You deserve this, Isa, so dress yourself up so he can undress you later. Live it and love it, babe. Don’t think. Just do.”
Isa fidgeted in the private elevator as it skimmed floor after floor on its way down from the penthouse suite. She checked her look in the polished chrome, smoothing her long hair as the car slowed to a stop. Sage was right.
The black dress clung in all the right places and fell to just below mid-thigh. Black tights and the black suede books made a seamless look that was sexy and sophisticated. No wonder she felt out of place. She gave her lips a quick press and then smiled, making sure there was no lipstick on her teeth before the doors slide open to the lobby.
With a quick inhale, she smiled as the doors opened, her eyes finding Beast’s as he stood waiting for her. His hungry expression said it all, and if he hadn’t looked at her exactly the way he did, she would have gotten back in the elevator and packed for home.
“Isa…my God, you’re stunning,” he murmured, taking her hand. He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles before straightening. “The limo is outside, beautiful. Ready?”
She nodded, not trusting her own voice. Beast looked amazing. His tailored suit fit him perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and tapered waist. His dark hair was combed back, and the mischief in his eyes and the curve of his teasing smirk on his full mouth made her legs weak. His beard was shorter, but not completely gone which made her smile.
He steered her out the hotel entrance and toward the stretched limousine parked at the curb. “Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas.”
The classy car sped up 5th Avenue in what seemed a dream. Beast’s thigh was pressed against hers in the back of the limo, and all she could think about was lying back on the long plush bench seat and letting him crawl between her legs.
The car pulled in front of the MET and the driver came around to hold the rear passenger door open. Beast slid out first and then held his hand out for Isa. She got out and saw Beast standing like a metropolitan god in front of the museum’s iconic steps.
“This is amazing,” she murmured, looking up at him and then the billowing banners highlighting the latest exhibit. “Egyptian Kings…really?” she asked excitedly.
Beast nodded. “I remember you said Egypt was on your bucket list when we were at the habitat build, so I thought why not?”
She squealed like a teenage fangirl, and Beast chuckled as he steered her up the steps. Isa held his arm and looked around. Except for the outside flood lights, the place seemed deserted. “Uhm, Beast, are you sure the exhibit is open tonight?”
He nodded again.
“Then either we’re very, very early or very, very late, because it looks like there’s no one here but us. An event like this should have crowds.”
His lips pushed to a side smirk and his eyes glistened with obvious mischief. “You’ve never been to a Beast Harte exhibit. They’re exclusive, and tonight’s is as exclusive as it gets.”
A valet held open the heavy front doors to the museum and the two walked in alone, their footsteps echoing in the expansive lobby. A runner made of sheer fabric patterned with a Middle Eastern design wound through the main entry area toward the back.
Beast swung his arm wide and grinned. “Ladies first.”
Isa met his grin and stepped onto the runner as Beast slipped in beside her. “You’re not going to tell me what this is all about, are you?” she said with a soft chuckle.
“Nope.” He shook his head. “Tonight is all about setting the mood.”
“The mood for what?” she asked, but before she could finish, the heel of her boot got caught in the runner and she cringed. She was going down. Hard.
Beast’s arm shot out and caught her around the waist before she hit the ground. “Easy there, killer.”
Embarrassed heat rushed up Isa’s cheeks. “Great way to make an impression, Isa. Stumbling over yourself to your knees. Wow.”
“If I wanted you on your knees, I think I could find a better way than booby-trapping the venue,” he murmured, pulling her close. “In fact, I think I’d start by sweeping you off your feet.”
He took her mouth, kissing her so
ftly but with an underlying hunger, and then without warning scooped her into his arms.
“What are you doing?” she said, breathless as he carried her through the tall doors toward the main exhibit.
He picked up his pace, tightening his grip. “You’ll see.”
29
Isaline turned the corner and the room opened into something she’d never seen before. Priceless artifacts and statuary millennia old surrounded a plush harem-style tent, decorated with sumptuous pillows and silk veils. Fat beeswax candles gave the room a romantic glow, and Isa sucked in a disbelieving breath as Beast held her while she took it all in.
Large palms had been brought in along with stuffed lions and camels, their glass eyes hidden in the brush. The tent’s interior had been set with low tables piled with fresh fruit and candied dates, nuts and wine.
“This place is unbelievable! Like something from a story book or Aladdin,” Isa said, taking in everything.
He walked forward and laid her gently on a tufted chaise, his eyes taking in every inch of her curves. He stepped back, letting his hand drift over her throat to her breast, lingering on the soft mound. There wasn’t a soul around, yet her body hummed with need and fear.
“Beast, we shouldn’t be here. What if we’re caught? This has got to be a special exhibition tent and we’re trespassing, not to mention ruining the set decorations.”
He shrugged out of his suit jacket and tossed it over a chair, and then walked toward her again, unbuttoning his dress shirt. His eyes never left hers, and their normal chocolate hue had gone gold with his dragon. “You’re right. This is for a special exhibition and we are the main attraction.” He ripped the rest of his shirt from his shoulders and stood bare-chested, his wide muscled chest making her mouth water.
“Tonight is for us. For me. I want you wet and on display. For my eyes only. Spread wide for me to take and taste. There’s something wild about taking you here. Like the queen you are. Mine. I want you here. I bought the space. There’s no one else around, but it’s easy to imagine us as an exhibit. A sex act on display.”
