Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Beast counted to ten in his mind. “You’ve pushed me, so don’t deny it. But Marcel is already here, so why are you being so sour about this? He’s mine, and I’m going to pay for his keep. You don’t need this whole job circus.”
Laurent’s lip curled. “Oh. So this is what it’s about. You want to make sure I don’t have means of my own and remain financially tied to you? Well, I am sad to inform you that this is the year 2018, and I have obtained gainful employment as a bartista.”
Beast’s brain stumbled on the word. “What’s a bartista?”
“It is a job in which you create, serve, and sell artisanal coffee beverages.”
Beast was torn between wanting to scream at Laurent and cuddling him. “Didn’t I tell you I was going to take care of everything? Keep you safe in this world you don’t know much about? Why do you have to be so stubborn?” he asked, taking a step closer, because where Laurent was involved, cuddling was always the temptation.
“Our last argument has revealed to me I may need to take care of certain matters on my own, so I’m trying to earn more money before the baby hatches.” Laurent did raise his warm brown eyes at Beast, and they beckoned Beast closer. Or was it just Beast superimposing his own needs on Laurent?
He stared back, hypnotized by the depth of the dark gaze. His feet moved, but Laurent backed away until he hit the wall. He looked so frail in comparison to Beast’s own tall, meaty frame, yet he intended to take on the world on his own, regardless of whether he was ready for it. Beast hated and admired it all at once.
“Our argument revealed nothing like that. The only thing it revealed is that you find it easy to let go of me,” Beast said, struggling to voice a complaint so vulnerable.
Laurent’s gaze softened, and he put his fingers against Beast’s chest. “You have no idea how wrong you are.”
Warmth spread in Beast like a gulp of hot cocoa. He couldn’t force himself to analyze if Laurent was lying or not. He wanted to believe him. After all, hadn’t it been Laurent who proposed marriage in the first place? He couldn’t have changed his mind about love in the span of three days.
Maybe talking was overrated. Maybe Beast could show Laurent what he was missing. And he knew that under the ice prince facade hid a personality with scalding-hot passion. A dormant volcano that just needed a nudge.
He stepped forward until Laurent’s head rested against the wall. Beast had him trapped, yet Laurent made no attempts to free himself. Maybe he’d been waiting for this. Maybe all they needed was a reminder of how well they worked together, how beautiful were evenings Beast didn’t have to spend on his own.
“I missed you,” Beast whispered, moving his lips against the smooth skin of Laurent’s forehead.
Laurent’s breath hitched, and the gentle fingers sliding to Beast’s sides were heaven after days of deprivation. “I miss you every day, but I can’t fall into this craving when there is so much still unsaid.”
But the way he clutched at Beast was in stark contrast to the words. It was warm and got firmer with every passing second. Beast didn’t want to wait. He leaned down to get his forearm under Laurent’s knees and pulled him up. The slender arms instantly found their way around his neck, and the dark eyes sought his, already burning.
“Later.”
There was nothing better in the world than knowing he was Laurent’s weakness. When it came to anything else, Laurent’s resolve was steely. He argued as if he were in a bare-knuckle fight where one used words instead of fists. And yet, to Beast’s touch, he yielded like butter on a hot pan.
“But… I…” Laurent couldn’t even finish a sentence, let alone argue. Beast had this.
“Shh,” Beast whispered and pressed his lips to Laurent’s, overwhelmed with the relief that he could still make Laurent lose the plot. That he could still make him pliant, no matter how angry he was. Instead of going straight for the bed, he moved along the room in slow steps, letting Laurent feel his strength, his silent promise to protect him forever.
Laurent didn’t even try to talk anymore. He wrapped his arms around Beast’s neck and kissed him.
Knight knew shit. Beast had a better handle on Laurent than anyone.
When someone knocked on the door, Beast could’ve fucking shot the guy, but anger gave to shock when the door swung wide open and no one other than Magpie walked in, ruining this perfect moment.
And what made it even more surreal was his looks. The hair that had been perfectly styled whenever Beast saw him now was anything but, and the fine, extravagant clothes have been replaced by a silk robe that opened at the front, revealing a muscular chest with a bit of dark hair.