Beautiful Fiend (North Shore, #1)

by Lola King

‘Unbeatable Billie’,

I was looking at Caden King, only not the way everyone else was. I was looking at the way his sweaty chest was moving up and down so quickly the massive tattoo of a snake eating its own tail was trembling. I was looking at the way his abs tensed, and the skull wearing a crown was dancing with the clock set to midnight, both inked into his skin.

“Did they hit you?” “What?” “Your cheek,” he insists, his grip tightening. “It’s swollen. So, it’s a simple question.” He brings his face down and closer to mine. “Did. They. Hit. You?”

I shouldn’t care that a few people from my crew bothered her. But her cheek was swollen, and she looked like she’d been backhanded or something. She said it was her fight, but she did confirm they hit her. I don’t like that. I really don’t fucking like that at all. I decided I want Billie. At least for now, she’s my toy. Mine to torture and drive crazy. Until I’m bored with her, none of these fuckers get to approach her.

“Billie and I are gonna be a thing. Didn’t you know?” “Does she know?” Elliot shakes his head at me. “Billie Scott is not your girl, Caden,” Ethan says as if I’m the craziest fucker on the planet. “Yeah, well, not right now,” I fight back. “These things take time.” “What things? Kidnapping?”

I want Billie. I must have her, or I will fucking lose my mind. I don’t accept defeat. Ever. I tilt

“Good Charlotte? Trying to make yourself look old or something?”

“I will shout to this entire diner that you are my girlfriend and I will never touch any other girl if you admit that you wanted me earlier. That you wanted me to sink my cock into your tight pussy and fuck the living soul out of you until you meet God and realize it was me all along.”

“Because I want to make you mine,” he says in simple honesty. “I don’t know why. It took me by surprise, because I had completely forgotten about you these last two years. Then you just showed up in our backyard like a gift from the divinities, and I haven’t been able to get you out of my head since.”

“Good,” he murmurs as he takes a step closer. “Because it doesn’t change anything. You’ll be mine, Billie. If not now, then. If not here, in this shitty town that broke us…then there.”

"I’m obsessed with a girl I barely know and should hate. I killed three guys because they touched her. I’m turning against my own crew for her and don’t even know her fucking middle name. Trust me when I say I don’t understand myself.”

“How about some Fullmetal Alchemist?”

“Impossible doesn’t exist in my world. I get anything I want. And believe me, I want you.” Now that he’s made

Everything will be easier for you once you accept that I want you, and I will do absolutely anything I have to do to keep you. I can give you a reason if you wish, but reason or not, you’re mine, and that’s a fact.”

feel like I have a reason to be. It’s you. You make me feel crazy in the best way. You’ve already seen the worst in me. You’ve seen the length I’m capable of going to to get what I want. There’s nothing to hide now. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that so…simple?”

My savage enemy. My beautiful fiend.

He’s the man who took a piece of my soul and crushed it under his stupid boot. The man who took a chunk of me for himself and never intends on giving it back. And when I tried my best to protect myself from him, he shattered my safe space and forced himself into my life. The worst part is that I’ve been stupid enough to enjoy it.

“Are you sure you want to push me away when I’m trying to help? Because there’s no option in your life where I’m not part of it. Accept that I’m trying to care for you or be forced into accepting it. No promises that I’ll be gentle for the second option.”

Because once someone has seen the worst of you, they can love you for everything you are. That’s the beauty of knowing someone inside out. You can’t hide anything, not even your monsters.

“Goodnight, baby. I love you.” She can’t hear me, but I like knowing I said it again. I want to repeat it until my voice is raw and she can’t stand it anymore. I love you. I love you. I love you.

I just want her to understand how much she means to me. That if I force my love on her, it’s only because that’s all I have in me. Love for her. Passion for her body. Fascination for her mind. Lust for her soul.

“You said it earlier, baby. I’m fucking crazy. A maniac. Unhinged. I found what I need. And what I need is you, little bee.” “You…got tattooed…for me?” “So did you,” he smirks. “Aren’t we the cutest couple?”

“You did it, little bee,” I say just before beginning to move away from her. I know she doesn’t want me here. She wants me to let her go.

“I love you, Caden. I wish I’d been there for you like you were for me.”

“Heroes get the girl. Villains sacrifice themselves,” he shrugs. “Go find your hero somewhere far away from here, little bee. You deserve it.”

“How could I stop loving you? My heart is yours, little bee. It only loves because you showed it how to.” He wraps a hand around my jaw and brings our faces only an inch from each other, looking deeply into my soul when he adds, “And now that I’ve got yours too…you’re mine forever. Understood?”

“To Billie,” he says as we all join our beers up in the air. “Billie Unbeatable Scott. My fucking girl.”

“Remember, baby. The sun never stops shining above the clouds,” he whispers against my lips as we separate. “No matter what comes our way, I’ll never stop loving you.”

“I belong to you too. You’ve been on my mind every single day I was in that hell hole, Billie. You’re the one who kept me alive. You’re the reason I didn’t lose whatever little sanity I have. It was all for you. ‘Cause I fucking. Belong. To. You, Billie Scott.”

“I don’t have anything to my name right now, but I promise I will get you the beautiful ring when I’m back on my feet. Fuck, I’ll get you the entire world.” He undoes the cap and removes the sealing ring attached to the plastic bottle. “Billie Scott, will you marry me and become Billie King?”

We’re cuddled together, watching the sun rise on the city, when he whispers to me, “The sun is shining again.” I smile at him knowing exactly what he means. I take in his gorgeous face. It’s always been too beautiful for such a wicked man. He’s my wicked man, though. And I’m starting to realize we’re truly reunited.

“The sun is shining again,” I confirm in a murmur. “Despite everything.”