Page 31 of Beast

The wait was over, my time alone with Grady would start today.

I’d flown into Reno this morning and spent the past hour driving my rental car to Lake Tahoe. He’d offered to pick me up at the airport, but I insisted on renting a car. I wanted to not be dependent on him just in case anything went wrong.

Even so, he would be in control.

In other words, he would be my master.

As I approached Incline Village, I marveled at the beauty of the emerald bay. I rolled down the window—the scent of freshly fallen pine needles mixed with the mountain air tickled my nostrils. I needed this retreat. A time to relax, read some books, finish that Christmas needlepoint stocking I’d been working on for years—I could definitely think of worse ways to spend the week, especially since I was still unable to enroll for fall quarter. I’d applied for a loan, but because I’d missed the deadline, I wouldn’t be able to attend.

But there was nothing I could do about that now. All I could hope for was that this week with Grady would go smoothly, that we would have a great time at the ball, and that he would keep his promise and let my dad write his book.

And maybe, something deeper would develop with Grady.

I followed the navigation system and pulled in front of a towering log cabin with a view of the lake.

I took a deep breath, steadied my nerves, and walked to the magnificent door. It was gorgeous—hand-carved, mahogany featuring a bear eating honey from a tree.

I pressed the doorbell, and Grady opened the door. His muscles bulged out of his T-shirt but seeing his scars in the light sent a shock through my core. I gasped, in spite of myself.

Grady’s fingers pressed deeper into my flesh, and I let out a yelp.

“You’re mine now, baby. And this time you can’t run away. You’re going to be forced to look at me every day.” His voice was urgent and dripping with sex.

His eye shot a dagger at me and then he finally released me.

I gulped.

I’d hurt him.

He must’ve thought the only reason I wanted to see him was to ask him to do the memoir.

But that wasn’t true. As much as Grady scared me, I was drawn to him.

Before I could speak, he’d turned and disappeared into the cabin, slamming the carved wooden bear door behind him.

I didn’t know whether I should be flattered or scared or pissed off.

The only thing I did know was the heat of his body next to mine had made me ache to be with him again.

19

Grady

All I had wanted was to spend some time with her, and I’d promised myself I would try to start fresh. But seeing her outside, looking so damn sexy, triggered rage inside me. Rage that she would never be mine, rage that she was only here because I’d forced her hand, rage that she was only agreeing to be around me so she’d have enough money to finish school. I wanted her to choose to stay with me because she wanted me, not because she felt being fucked by me was the only way to save her father’s ass after he stole her money.

My solitude was short-lived. Isa cautiously opened the door and headed to the sofa. Her scent filled the room—she smelled like whipped cream and strawberries.

She was wearing a tight-fitting yellow sweat suit and flip-flops with rhinestones. Despite her incredible body and heart-shaped face, she didn’t look fake or hard like a few of the celebrities and models I had met. Her smile was very genuine and I had yet to see her in heavy makeup.

We were alone together. Truly alone.

I sat on the distressed leather sofa and just stared at the lake. My ears pounded and I cracked my knuckles.

If she wanted to, she could talk.

It only took her a few minutes.

“Can we talk? I really want to start this weekend off in a good place.”