Page 40 of Beast

I stroked her hair. “Forget about him. I got you.”

“No, you don’t understand. He has a reason to hate me. He’s still mad because I ended our partnership right before Blackpool. We probably would’ve finaled that year.”

“He doesn’t matter.” I planted a kiss on her forehead. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

She sobbed in my arms.

After a few minutes, she abruptly stood up. “I’m going to go take a bath.”

I remembered the night I’d met her at the party, how her friend had ditched her. She hadn’t mentioned anyone else close in her life. My gut told me, that as of today, I was the only one she had.

23

Isa

After seeing Pasha, I wanted to escape, drown out the voices in my head that told me that somehow our partnership had been responsible for my mother’s death. I’d been so wrapped up with the show and training for Blackpool that I hadn’t noticed how lost my mom was. Maybe I would’ve seen a sign.

Enough—he didn’t deserve to occupy my thoughts.

I filled the tub with hot water. A large window looked out to the lake, the snowcapped mountains in the distance. I undressed and slipped into the blissful heat.

The best distraction from Pasha was fantasizing about Grady.

Everything was happening so fast between us. It seemed like a big jump to me though, going from never leaving the house, to eating at a restaurant, to spending all our time together. I hoped Grady could handle it, and that he wasn’t moving too fast.

Grady opened the door, and I couldn’t help but gasp even though I’d seen him only a few minutes ago. Every time I looked at him, he became more and more beautiful to me. His battle scars made him look rougher, tougher, badder.

His eyes focused on my body. I wanted him so badly, I arched my back and made sure to give him a view of my breasts.

His tongue darted out to lick his lips and I imagined his tongue doing its magic on me. “Can I join you?”

“I’d like that.” I watched him peel his clothes off, a private strip tease. I’d never grow tired of staring at his body, like some lovesick teenager. His cut abs, his massive chest, his huge biceps. Had he never been injured, his gorgeous face would’ve matched his incredible body. Who would he be now? Some cocky, drop-dead gorgeous player?

He climbed in the soaker tub and wrapped his body around mine as I relaxed into his. Grady’s hands gripped my thighs, and the warmth from his body sparked joy deep inside me.

He squeezed me tight. “I’m glad you dressed as Black Widow that night.”

“Me too.”

His lips crashed onto mine, and my body became alive next to his. I couldn’t get enough of his touch, his scent, his strength.

“Grady, I’m crazy about you.”

He let out a growl but kept my body faced away from his, his cock pressing against my ass. “Don’t move.”

He jumped out of the tub, and the sight of his ass, muscular and defined, was almost enough to send me over the edge. He dimmed the lights, opened a drawer, grabbed a lighter, and lit the candles placed around the tub. He poured some bubble bath in the tub, and turned on the water.

After what seemed way longer than a few minutes, he finally slipped back behind me, and I leaned back into his chest. Our breath syncopated, and his fingers began to massage my temples.

I was literally melting into him when he finally turned the water off. The scent of salted caramel bubble bath filled the room. Grady grabbed a turquoise mesh loofah and gently kneaded my skin. The fabric danced over my neck, my breasts, down my belly, until it rested in between my thighs. I let out a moan, as his fingers replaced the fabric, teasing my folds, pressing on my clit.

“You’re so beautiful, Isa. Let me worship you.”

He propped me up on the edge of the tub, knelt in the water, and spread my legs. One hand rubbed my nipples, now slippery and slick, while his other hand teased my pussy.

I was desperate for his tongue, remembering how amazing it felt the other night. His eyes looked up at me, and he flashed a wicked grin before his mouth covered my slit.

His tongue swirled around my lips as he rubbed my clit. The pressure was divine, the perfect blend of sucking and licking.