The Beast (Wicked Villains, #4)

by Katee Robert

“You are both so different. I wanted you because you’re this mystery wrapped up in the prettiest package I’ve ever seen. I wanted Gaeton because he’s giant and brutal and yet has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. Being with you brings out different things in me.” My voice wobbles a little bit, but I power through. “And I liked that you were both mine, that I was both of yours. The things Gaeton accused me of are the truth of it. Part of me got off on bouncing back and forth between you.”

This marks them as mine as much as it marks me as theirs. I want that marking. I want the world to know that I am connected to these two men. That I am owned by them. A primitive, uncomfortable feeling, but I refuse to shy away from it. The last couple days haven’t been easy by any means, but the harshness of our words and actions have been a strange sort of balm for my soul.

He steps back, depriving me of his solidness at my back. I close my eyes for a long moment to try to get control of my emotions. I feel like an exposed nerve right now. No matter how close we get, Gaeton keeps holding himself at a distance. I don’t know if he can ever truly forgive me. I don’t know if I can pick him if forgiveness isn’t on the table, even if it’s a forgiveness I don’t deserve.

When I open my eyes, it’s to find Beast watching me. I catch him completely unfiltered for an entire breath, the longing on his face potent enough to rock me back on my heels. I don’t know if he’s looking at me or at Gaeton at my back. Before I can figure it out, he locks himself down again, his expression carved in ice just like it always is.

I find myself holding my breath. If we were good at communicating before, maybe we wouldn’t have left a trail of trauma behind us to get to this place. If we have any hope at a future, we have to be able to talk.

“Can you just tell me this—is there any chance of you forgiving me?” Shock widens his eyes a little. “I’ve already forgiven you.” “No, you haven’t.” I shake my head. “It’s okay that you haven’t. I hurt you terribly. But what I need to know is if there’s a possibility I can earn your forgiveness.”

Gaeton reaches to smooth my hair back from my face, his hand moving as if he can’t help himself. “I never stopped loving you. I don’t think either of us did. It’s just all tangled up in the other shit.” “There’s a lot of other shit.” That’s the crux of the matter. Maybe if we’d all been this honest the first time around, we’d have a chance. Two weeks is not enough time to fight for both the future and to be free of the sins of the past. Choosing one of them might very well be a moot point, just prolonging the inevitable crash and burn.

“With those two delicious specimens, no one can blame you.” She finally gives the men her full attention. “It is both of you, isn’t it? I would hate to see another situation like before, where you’re hauling these boys around by their heartstrings. It’s an entertaining spectacle, but hardly sends the message of strength.”

These lockers aren’t just for show.” She makes a face. “Though they smell better than the real thing.” I like her. I have no doubt in my mind that she’s fucked both the men I love—I suspect Tink has, too—but I like her. “You aren’t happy with Beast and Gaeton.”

Aurora looks like she considers whether to play naïve, but finally shrugs. “I know enough of the details to know that they haven’t gotten over you. Just like I know that revenge fucking you, or whatever it is they think they’re doing, is only going to complicate things further. They should know better than to scene when they’re angry, but they’re ignoring the rules they don’t want to deal with.”

I never would have considered myself a sex addict, but I’m standing here fantasizing about a woman I don’t even know while the two men I love are waiting for me. What is wrong with me? Beast might have made that comment about monogamy in passing, but surely juggling two men is enough for me? I shouldn’t want to be passed around like a party favor and licked and stroked and fucked until I’m limp with spent pleasure.

I find myself grinning back at her. “To be honest, I’m pretty sure you’ve hooked up with both of them, so I was prepared to hate you on principle, too.” “Hating past flings out of principle is so overrated.” She loops her arm through mine and tugs me toward the door. “It’s a good thing we’re enlightened ladies, huh?”

Alaric raises his eyebrows. “Sounds like you might enjoy how much they wouldn’t like that.” There it is again, the compulsion rising beneath my skin. I want to be wicked. I give myself a moment to imagine if Beast and Gaeton’s command was different. If they ordered me to seduce every single person in this room. Would I start by taking Alaric’s hand and slipping it beneath my dress?

“I want to be wicked.” “That so?” His voice lowers. “Is your pussy needy, little slut?” There’s a deeper game, a deeper role playing going on here, and it thrills me that I’m so out of my element. “Yes.”

Gaeton shifts my hips back, putting a little distance between us. I’m about to protest when I feel Beast’s hand on the lower curve of my ass, delving forward to cup my pussy. Shock steals my breath and I look up at Gaeton. He uses his hold on my hips to rock me against Beast’s hand. “Just an appetizer.” “For what?” I spread my legs a little and Beast pushes three fingers into me and then spreads my wetness up around my clit. I’m soaked and they’ve barely touched me.

It feels dirty. Like they own me. I love it. I have no idea if anyone is watching them get me off right here at the bar, but I don’t care. I want people to watch. I want Beast to yank up my dress so they can all see how wet I am, how aching. Pleasure sparks, gathering in my lower belly. “Gaeton, please.”

Understanding dawns. A new layer they’ve offered me. To be wicked, yes, to be caught and punished. I smile up at him. “I love you.” I turn that smile on Gaeton. “I love you both.” Gaeton looks away as if gathering himself. “Then prove it by being good tonight.” Be good by being bad. Obey by disobeying. The conflicting feelings crash through me, sending my desire to new heights. “I promise.”

I glance at Beast and Gaeton for permission. “Can I? Pretty please?” Beast lowers his brows, but I know him well enough to see the heat lurking in the blue depths of his eyes. “Be good, princess.” “I will. I promise.”

She kisses me like she needs this as much as I do. As if maybe this is real and I’m hooking up with the pretty bartender while my boyfriends drink a few feet away. She tastes of something sweet and I sink into the kiss. I cup her breasts, but it’s not good enough, so I tug down her dress to get to bare skin. She’s so soft and the way she sighs against my mouth makes me crazy. So wrong. So right. God, I can’t stop. I don’t want to stop.

The door’s ripped open and suddenly Beast and Gaeton are there. I startle, but Aurora has me held too tightly to jump up. She doesn’t stop, doesn’t move, just keeps licking me as Beast and Gaeton glare. If anything, she slows down further, drawing this out, sending my pleasure spiraling with shame. “I can’t stop,” she whispers, her brown eyes on mine. I glance at the men and then down at her. “Don’t stop,” I whisper back.

Just like that, I can imagine them fucking, her smaller body riding his cock and … I don’t hate it. I don’t hate it at all. I blink. “What are you thinking, princess?” Beast murmurs in my ear. It doesn’t even occur for me to lie. “That the thought of her fucking either of you—both of you—is hot as hell.”

Isabelle delights me to no end. I knew I loved the woman, but even when I spun out the terms of this pact, I didn’t expect this. Amazed, I lift my gaze to find Gaeton looking the same kind of shell-shocked as he watches Isabelle eat Aurora’s pussy. I find lust and surprise and the tiniest bit of anger in his dark eyes. But then, Gaeton is always angry these days. He just covers it better than some.