Monster Among the Roses: A Beauty and the Beast Story (Fairy Tale Quartet Book 1)

by Linda Kage

  “Holy shit,” I gasped, trying to catch my breath.

  Heat collected under my skin and seemed to explode from me when she grappled with my shirt before wrenching it up over my head, pulling off my hat with it. Then her hands were on me, exploring and gripping muscles, digging into flesh, sliding lower toward my navel.

  Feeling the need to reciprocate, I tugged at her shirt until I managed to pull it off. The black bra underneath cupped proud, plump breasts, and for a moment they were all I saw, until I leaned in to kiss the tops of them. That’s when I finally noticed the scars. They trailed over her shoulder and halfway down her torso.

  “Damn,” I murmured, sucking in a breath. “That must’ve hurt.”

  Skimming my fingers over them, I looked up into Isobel’s face to get a better sense of how much pain she must’ve endured, and yet I was still unable to imagine the severity.

  Hooking my hand around the back of her neck, I drew her forward and pressed my mouth to hers. “I wish I could give you twice the amount of pleasure for every second of pain you’ve ever suffered.”

  Isobel sifted some hair across my forehead with her fingers. “You’re making a pretty good dent so far,” she assured me with a soft smile.

  I kissed her again. And then again. And again. Our mouths clung until I grasped her shoulder, only for my fingers to come into contact with warm bare skin. Needing to investigate this further, I began to kiss my way down along her throat, then over her collarbone, and finally down to the uppermost swells of her breasts.

  Glancing up at her to make sure she approved, I slipped the straps of her bra off her shoulders and pulled the cups down. Her nipples were hard and tight, a dusty rose color. I groaned before pulling one into my mouth and sucking.

  Isobel whimpered and clutched my head. I glanced up at her, without letting go of her breast, to make sure it was a good whimper. Her eyes were as blue as a stormy sea and full of wanton need.

  I moved to the second breast, only to glance up again, needing to know she wanted this as much as I did.

  She smiled and cupped my cheek. “Why do you keep looking at me as if you think I’m suddenly going to pull away and stop you?”

  Because I kept worrying she was suddenly going to pull away and stop me.

  “Just making sure you’re real, that this is really happening,” I said.

  Blue eyes lightened with mischief. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and started to skim her hand down my chest. “You need confirmation of reality, huh? What about this? Does this feel real enough?”

  She cupped me through my jeans, and my dick jumped to attention, straining and throbbing to reach her fingers through the material.

  “Holy hell.” All the blood in my head rushed south, racing toward my lap. When Isobel slid the zipper down, I went lightheaded and clutched her hair before pressing my face to her temple. “Careful. It’s been a while since—fuck.”

  Her fingers wrapped around me, and I almost lost it. I had no clue what the hell she’d done to her hand, but I swear to God, no palm had ever felt that good clutching my cock before. She glided her fingers up and down like any other hand would, and yet rockets blasted behind my eyes.

  Unable to properly process so much ecstasy, I could only stare into her eyes and feel. Experience. Enjoy.

  Appearing confident and pleased with herself, she licked her lips. “I want to feel all this”—and she made me catch my breath as she gave another long stroke from tip to base— “inside me.” Then she held up a condom between two fingers. “Think you can do that?”

  Hell yes.

  I plucked the package from her hand and had it opened, then wrapped around myself in about five seconds flat. When I looked up to grasp her hips and pull her down on me, I finally realized we were both still clothed from the waist down.

  “Fuck, this isn’t very romantic, is it?”

  She didn’t seem to care. Eyes alive with excitement and anticipation, she answered, “It’s better than romantic. It’s exhilarating.”

  Catching the waistband of her pants, she began to peel them down her hips. I watched, enthralled. “God, you are so beautiful.”

  She merely beamed, a goddess in her prime. “If you want any more clothes off, now’s the time to take care of that.”

  The woman made a good point.

  Rushing to join her in her nakedness, I bumped my elbow on the door handle. She cracked her knee against the steering wheel. We laughed and leaned into each other, absorbing the amusement of our awkwardness from one another.

  “First time I climbed inside this truck, I thought it was the biggest damn vehicle I’d ever been in,” I said. “Why does it suddenly seem way too small?”

  Isobel grinned into my eyes and smoothed her fingers through my hair. “Let’s get into the back.”

  “Yes. God, yes,” I said, only to groan and press my face into her shoulder and mumble, “No. Fuck, no. Our first time shouldn’t be in the back seat of a truck your dad owns.”

  “So…you think we should go back to my place…that my dad owns?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Or go to yours…that your mom owns?”

  I started to correct her, telling her it was my apartment, not my mother’s—a fact she already knew—when her words struck a funny bone. “Hell, we both still live with our parents. How lame is that?”

  “Totally,” she agreed, only half paying attention because she seemed more focused on the path of her hand as she drew her fingers across my chest. “We should climb into the back seat and console each other for being such losers.”

  After snorting out a laugh, I nipped at her chin with my teeth. “You know I’m not going to tell you no if this is what you really want.” Because it was what I really wanted too, ideal location or not.

  I started to add a but, except Isobel beat me to the punch.

  “Oh, thank God.” She hopped off me and started to wiggle herself over the seats and into the back, flashing me her million-dollar ass in the process. “I thought I was going to have to get violent and force you.”

  I shuddered as a vision of her brand of violence entered my head. It consisted of teeth biting into my shoulder, fingernails clawing my back, thighs of steel suffocating my hips, and her scream of release bursting my eardrums as I pumped into her. Holy damn, now I actually wanted her to get forceful.

  Setting my hand on her backside—because, how could I resist?—I helped her along, making her tumble into the back with a surprised oomph. “Violate me any way you like, my little beast,” I told her before joining her, tackling her onto her spine and pinning her beneath me. When I grinned at her, she gaped up at me with wide, surprised blue eyes.

  “In fact,” I leaned in to nip at her jaw with my teeth, “do your absolute worst. I dare you.”

  Her gaze warmed, it flooded with challenge, and the next thing I knew, she was clutching fistfuls of my hair and yanking my face down to hers. The kiss that followed was hard, brutal and one of the hottest kisses of my life. I swear she bit me. I even tasted blood.

  Growling out my pleasure, I found her knee and opened her for me before fitting my hips between her spread thighs. My cock found its way to her opening, and it rested there a moment, anticipating that first thrust. My mouth began to water and my balls drew up taut.

  As she sucked on my tongue, Isobel tightened her thighs around me, gripped my ass and arched up, impaling herself.

  I threw back my head and roared, surging forward, deep into the tight wet heaven she provided.

  God, it felt so good. I ground against her, relishing the sensation and making her whimper before I pulled out and spiked back in, repeating the move over and over and over again. She arched up to meet me, and our bodies slapped together, losing all semblance of sanity as we surged toward each other, our needs primal and urgent.

  Staring into my eyes, she sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and tightened against me. It was my breaking point. Sweat popped out of my brow. I lost control. I was going to come.

&nb
sp; Gritting my teeth to hold it off as long as possible, I pressed my forehead to hers, looked back into her dazed blue eyes and rasped, “Come with me, Isobel. Come…”

  When she shook her head and bit her lip, letting me know she was close but still not ready, I touched her clit and flicked my thumb across it, teasing her toward her release.

  She gasped, dug her fingernails into my ass and began to spasm as the walls of her sex constricted around my cock. I grinned at her and pushed deep into her, emptying myself of everything but her.

  chapter

  TWENTY-TWO

  I couldn’t stop glancing across the cab of the truck as I drove back to Porter Hall.

  Isobel anticipated every stolen glance and met my gaze before she sniffed out a laugh and rolled her eyes. But then we both burst out with crazy, delirious grins. I bit my lip before I returned my attention to the road. When I reached across the interior of the truck without looking, she took my hand and interlaced our fingers.

  Damn, I felt giddy. Lightheaded. Downright decadent. It was the best feeling in the world.

  “I don’t want to take you home,” I admitted, even though that’s exactly where I was taking her.

  Night had fallen and I could only see her face in the bluish glow from the screen of the truck’s dashboard. Yet I still had no trouble making out the hope in her expression when she said, “You can stay the night…if you want.”

  I was tempted. Of course I was tempted, but then all the reasons why I couldn’t stirred in my head, and I ended up wincing. “I don’t think I could get comfortable snuggling with you under your dad’s roof. And I need to get home to my mom, anyway, make sure she’s okay.”

  She nodded, even though I could practically smell the disappointment ooze off her.

  “I’d invite you back to my place, but…” I winced again. “My bedroom is currently the living room and I’ve been sleeping on the most uncomfortable pull-out sleeper sofa ever made.”

  Isobel blinked. “And how long has it been since you moved your mom in with you?”

  I shrugged. “Not that long. I’d like to find us a new place. Preferably something with two bedrooms. But…we’ll see.”

  “I’ve never met your mother,” she suddenly murmured.

  I glanced at her. She looked as if she’d been left out of something important. Drawing her hand to my mouth, I kissed her knuckles. “We’ll have to fix that, though I already know she’ll love you.”

  Her smile showed relief and delight.

  When we pulled into the drive, I rolled down the window to hit the call button on the gate. It took nearly a minute for anything to happen, and then the iron bars began to open.

  Henry opened the front door and stepped outside to stand on the front steps as I pulled around the circle drive to the front door, my headlights splashing over him. Then he started toward us even before I could brake and kill the engine.

  “He doesn’t look pleased,” I mused, unbuckling my seat belt.

  “I know,” Isobel said, sounding similarly confused. She shared a glance with me. “I wonder what that’s about.”

  “Think he knows what we did?” I whispered.

  She sniffed but didn’t say yes or no.

  Henry pulled open the passenger side door, gasping, “Isobel,” as he reached for her.

  “Dad?” She took his hand and let him help her down from the truck. “Is everything okay? You look upset.”

  “Upset? Upset?” he roared. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You’ve been missing for hours.”

  “I…” She shook her head, seemingly perplexed, while I frowned.

  “You didn’t tell him where you were going?”

  Her gaze shot to me as I joined her and her dad next to the still opened passenger door. “No,” she said before blinking. “You told him yourself; we’re adults. Why would I—”

  “Because you don’t typically leave the house,” I explained. “Of course he’d worry. I would’ve worried if you had suddenly disappeared without a word after eight years of never going anywhere.”

  “Thank you,” Henry said, nodding as he whirled to his daughter and pointed my way. “What he said.”

  “But I…I…”

  At a loss for words, she merely stared at her father and then me before I cleared my throat and offered, “Maybe you should let him know whenever you go out, just until he gets used to the idea of you coming and going again.”

  “Yes, exactly,” Henry added. “It never even occurred to me you had left the property. I thought you’d gotten hurt, or fallen into the lake, or…I don’t know. I just knew I couldn’t find you. And it was awful.”

  “Well I’m home now,” she started slowly before wincing. “And I really didn’t mean to worry you, Dad. I’m sorry I did.”

  Henry nodded. “It’s already forgotten. I’m just glad you’re here now, and okay.” But he remained standing there between the two of us, his gaze shifting from me to Isobel as if maybe—oh, Lord, I hoped not—he could see exactly what we’d been doing.

  “So…you two went out?” he finally said.

  “Yes. It was a lovely time.” She grinned and kissed Henry’s cheek. “And you’ll never guess what. We’re going to open a flower shop together and sell some of my roses. Shaw told me my flowers’ beauty was meant to be shared. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that ever since. So I want to. Share them, that is. I’m going to start my own shop.”

  “Darling, that’s…” Henry shook his head before clearing his throat. “That’s great. I’m so proud of you. But are you certain it’s not too soon to—”

  “I’ll be fine, Dad. Don’t worry. But I do have a question.”

  “Oh?”

  “I want Shaw to work for me, except he insists he belongs to you and can only do what you tell him to. So can you give him permission to work there with me, instead of here with you?”

  “I…” Henry turned to me and stared for a moment before saying, “I believe I could willingly give you over into Isobel’s hands for employment, though I can’t say any of the other staff will be happy about this. They’ve become quite dependent on your handyman skills.”

  Unable to fully believe this twist in plans, I nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be months before we get the shop opened. I can keep coming here as usual until then. Maybe I can even help you find a new handyman to replace me.”

  “I’m not sure we’d be able to find anyone to fill the shoes you leave behind, but that sounds like a fine idea to me. Thank you, Shaw.”

  Isobel grinned and clapped her hands together. “It’s settled then.”

  I gulped, not sure how to take everything in. Things seemed to be changing at warp speed. And they were once again too good to be true.

  Neither Nash seemed concerned or worried about fate intervening with something drastic, though.

  “Izzy,” Henry declared. “To celebrate how proud I am of these huge steps you’re taking, I want to send you two out to dinner this weekend. On me. I’ll take care of all the arrangements.”

  “Dad, you don’t have to—”

  “I insist!”

  Isobel and I exchanged glances. She shrugged. So I shrugged, and that was enough for Henry. He set one hand on my shoulder and one hand on hers, grinning at the both of us. “I’ll admit I was worried earlier this evening when I realized how close you two had become, but after seeing how happy you are and how willing you are to get out and experience the world again, I’m beginning to think this was the best damn thing that could’ve ever happened.”

  I gulped, worried he was really over tempting fate and certain he’d take a weapon after me if he knew I’d just had his daughter in the back seat of his truck. But I remained silent as I watched father and daughter grin at each other.

  “Thank you, Dad,” Isobel murmured, pressing another kiss to his cheek. Then she turned to me. “And you.” Her hand gripped the front of my shirt before her voice dropped seductively low. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she hauled m
e down for a kiss.

  Our lips barely touched, the pressure only a promise of more to come. But it still made my body stir. I felt that lightheaded giddiness again as she pulled away.

  “See you,” I said as she turned away and started inside.

  Henry let me stare after her until she’d disappeared behind the door before he cleared his throat.

  I jumped, having forgotten he was there. Certain he was going to tell me his true feelings about my relationship with her, I tensed.

  But all he said was, “I think I’ll set you up with reservations at Urbane for this Saturday.”

  I nodded, relieved. “Okay. Thank you, sir. But, uh, do you know how much a meal there usually costs? I’m not sure I can afford—”

  “I said I’d take care of it,” Henry announced.

  But I growled, “The hell you will,” making us both jerk in surprise and gape at each other.

  I flushed, unable to believe I’d just said that to my boss. “I mean…” Face hot and heart pounding, I explained, “With all due respect, sir, I’m the one taking her there, right?” It was a pride thing. I should be the one to fund dinner. Not Henry.

  “But I said it was my treat. I never meant for you to—”

  “I want to,” I said quietly.

  He stared at me a moment before giving a respectful nod. “At least allow me to help you dress yourself for the occasion.”

  I glanced down at my usual ragged jeans and T-shirt, only to feel another rash of shame. Nothing I owned would suffice for a night out with Isobel at the posh Urbane restaurant. “Yeah,” I relented. “That would be fine.”

  He nodded, looking relieved, before he pulled a phone from his pocket. When whoever was on the other end answered, he immediately barked, “Hollander’s taking Izzy on a date this Saturday and has nothing suitable to wear. Can I count on you? Great. I’ll send him over now.”

  He hung up and tossed out an address for me to remember. “Go. Get yourself set up.”

  My eyebrows lifted. “What? Right now?”