Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 66503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
His breaths are heavy but controlled, and I can hear him smell my hair, just like he used to when we were back in that cell. But all it does is make me smile.
“I love you, Aurora,” he whispers after a while.
And you know what? I actually believe him.
Nothing can break the radiant smile on my face as I reply, “And I love you, Beast.”
I’m lying on his naked, beastly body with all my scars and imperfections, feeling nothing but beautiful. Just as he says I am.
And I finally realized what I always wanted was right here, with him. This … this is all I’ll ever need to feel loved … to feel home.
EPILOGUE
Aurora
Weeks later
“Hi, English please,” I mutter as I place my stuff on the counter.
I push some money onto the counter and watch the cashier be confused. “This is way too much for a sandwich and a Coke.”
“Oh, I know. I’m just paying it forward,” I reply with an awkward smile.
The cashier’s eyes narrow, but he still accepts the cash, like I’d hoped he would.
I won’t tell him what it’s for, but I know the real reason.
A long time ago, I promised myself I would pay back everyone I owed. And I’m starting here with this store where I once stole something when I was in dire need.
Now that I finally have the money, I want to do things right. And I’m going to use my father’s money to do it as a big middle finger to him.
Because now I’m using his money for all the things he’d never once even think about.
“There you go,” the cashier muses.
I take the food and leave more money scattered throughout the store before I make a dash.
Then I walk all the way back to the place I once stayed in the tiny alley. I don’t use the car; I parked it on the driveway of the woman we stole it from while she wasn’t home and walked back to use the bus instead. I’ll buy another secondhand car later.
Dirk is sleeping in his corner, as usual, so I sneak closer and plant the food and drink beside him under his cardboard box, then place a whole wad of euros next to him.
After another smile, I walk away.
I don’t need to see his reaction to be happy. He deserves so much more in this life than what I could give him, but it was all I had left on hand.
And maybe, just maybe, I’ll return here later to see if he’s finally flown free.
Back to the people he loves.
Back to a normal life, just like me.
The next day
I put the pot of paint aside and marveled at the floral design I had made on the wall. The paint wasn’t cheap, but I’ve got money to spare now that I’ve gotten my father’s account to my name. There is more than enough in that account to keep us happy and healthy for life.
But all the money in the world couldn’t replace a haven like this. A haven we created by hand after cleaning and fixing up every inch of this house.
Beast is still hammering nails into the wood when I say, “I’m done!”
He pauses and lets go of his hammer, the nail still stuck between his teeth as he comes to the bedroom to gaze at what I created.
“I’m not good at it, but it’s better than what it looked like,” I say.
He spits out the nail and says, “Better? It’s beautiful.” He grabs my waist and pulls me close, pressing a kiss onto my temple. “Just like you.”
“Stop,” I say, laughing when his fingers begin to squeeze my flesh like he’s attempting to tickle me.
“No, not until you admit that it’s gorgeous,” he replies, fingers digging into my skin.
“Okay, fine, it’s gorgeous,” I say. “I did my best.”
“Exactly,” he replies, licking his lips as he stares at the flowers. After a while, he releases me and approaches the paint, touching the dried parts with his fingers like he’s inspecting it up close.
“It … reminds me of that flower,” he says. “Before it dried out.”
I blush. “I actually based the design on that.”
He turns to look and smiles. “I’m amazed you still remember what it looks like.”
“Of course, they used to grow outside my father’s house, remember?” I reply, tucking my hair behind my ear. “I just wanted to give this room a special meaning, just like that flower.”
He approaches me and grabs my hands, raising his eyebrow at me. “And what kind of special meaning is that?”
“Hope,” I say, rubbing my lips together. “And unconditional love.”
“All the things you’ve given me,” he says, wrapping my own arms around him as he stands in front of me. “And all the things I won’t ever stop giving to you.” He leans in and presses a damp, sultry kiss to my lips. “Beauty.”