Kept By the Beast by Hallie Bennett
CHAPTER TEN
ASA
Watching Poppy drive away from me was the hardest fucking thing I’ve ever had to do. Saying good-bye despite knowing it wasn’t permanent gutted me like a fish out of water.
I didn’t want her to leave but understood her reasoning. At the heart of everything, the harsh truth is we’ve known each other for two days. A blip in a person’s lifetime, yet it shook my world. I fell in love. Me ﹘ the fucking Beast of High Ridge. But she left, and I have to settle for weekend trips until she’s comfortable with more.
Sighing, I burst out of the truck as soon as I’m home, an excess of energy riding me hard. And without my preferred outlet ﹘ fucking Poppy ﹘ I resort to my next favorite activity for calming down. Tossing my shirt aside, I grab the axe stuck in a block of wood and start chopping away.
Physical labor always provides the release I need, though this time it’s proving more difficult to discharge the burn in my blood. Sweat slicks my coarse palms, evidence of time passing, and I bury the axe blade into a stump, chest heaving in exertion.
The unmistakable crunch of tires pulling up the driveway drifts back to me, and I round the cabin to see who’s visiting. I already told Rhett and Micah I wouldn’t be at the lumberyard today, so it doesn’t make sense for them to drop in uninvited.
A familiar grey Camry parks by my truck, and hope slams into my ribs as my heartbeat picks up speed. Poppy climbs out of the driver’s seat and walks towards me. “You’re back,” I state the obvious, incredulity coating the words.
“And staying, if it’s okay.” Wringing her hands nervously, she continues, “I love you, Asa. Which means I don’t want to live any amount of distance away from you. I want to be here with you. For good.”
Poppy loves me.
Striding forward, my hands cup her face, a tremor spiraling down my body. “Of course, you can stay here; I never wanted you to leave, baby. You’re mine, and I love you. That shit means forever.”
The brightest smile transforms her beautiful face, and I can’t resist tasting a bit of sunshine for myself. The kiss is meant to be soft and sweet ﹘ an affirmation of our love ﹘ but it rapidly devolves into a hot maelstrom of fervent need.
“Easy, little flower, or else we’ll end up fucking on the gravel. And if you thought the hardwood floors were rough…”
Poppy laughs and covers her mouth in embarrassment. “Sorry, I don’t know what comes over me when I’m with you. It’s like I morph into a sex-crazed nympho.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining. My offer still stands: jump me whenever you want. But make sure you’re prepared for the consequences whether they be gravel or hardwood.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Her hands skim over my bare chest, and I remember I’m a sweaty mess. But before I have a chance to apologize, Poppy hums in pleasure. “You really do pull off this whole lumberjack thing. Were you chopping wood again?”
“Yeah, I needed to burn some energy after you left.”
“Hmm… it agrees with you.” She draws her nails lower, scraping over the trail leading to my hardening cock. “I saw you the first morning after I was stranded. Out here looking sexy as all get out.”
“I know. I saw you, too.”
Surprise causes her to look up from her focus on my naked chest. “You did? But you acted so normal.”
“Because if I dragged you to the ground for a brutal fucking like I wanted, it might have ended with me behind bars.”
“Oh.” Arousal sparks in her eyes; the threat obviously not as repellant as I originally thought.
Clutching Poppy’s hand, I hurry us back to the cabin. “And that’s my cue to take this inside. You’re so easy to read, baby. Every emotion is clear on your pretty face.”
“That’s not very comforting to hear. A woman should be able to keep her secrets.”
“Not from her man,” I argue, slamming the front door and climbing the stairs to my bedroom.
She mumbles a sound of disagreement but doesn’t force the issue. After all, we have more important things to attend to. Like loving my mate all night long.
Guiding Poppy to the mattress, I rub the area over my heart at the sight. Against all odds, I landed the girl ﹘ the perfect woman for me.
A lush beauty for the Beast.