Chapter 5 – Belle
CHAPTER FIVE
BELLE
Back at the club, the girls helped me unpack my bags into one of the spare rooms. It was slightly better than the one I had to sleep in the night before. I think Queenie had cleaned it especially and added a vase with flowers and a throw across the base of the bed to make it more homely, and probably a little more feminine. Unlike the other room being across the hall from Beast’s, this one is right next door. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I was kind of hoping I would be further away. Was I attracted to him? Absolutely. I just think that maybe the timing isn’t great, and I think I’ve bitten more off than I can chew with him.
I was dumb with Kyle. I wanted to try something. I was trying to be adventurous. Unfortunately, he was terrible at it and ignored my protest, even before he had properly started. I don’t think I could handle a man like Beast, and I would certainly disappoint him. I have the bravado of a mob princess. I’m not afraid of the bad guys, because I’ve grown up with them my entire life. Never let anyone know they can upset you, and never let anyone know they can break you. My dad taught me that, and the only man to ever make me cry is him.
Standing in the bathroom, I wash my face, removing the heavy make-up I wore to get my stuff. I can’t help but smile at the night’s events. I’ve been here for 2 nights now, and they have taken me under their wing like I’m one of them. Which is nice, different actually. You don’t exactly get a load of friends and invites when your dad is, well, my dad.
As I’m patting my face dry, there’s a tap at the door. I walk to the door and open it, seeing Beast stood there, each hand on the edge of the door frame, caging me in. “Yeah?” I ask calmly, like my stomach hasn’t just done that flip flop feeling.
“It’s late. Why aren’t you asleep yet?” he asks.
I frown. “It’s 3:30am. I was just washing off my make-up and going to bed,” I answer. I shake my head. “Wait! What is it to you?” I snap.
He shrugs. “I could hear you moving around in here. Wondered why you hadn’t just gone straight to bed. I thought something was up,” he answers, like that’s a reasonable thing.
I cross my arms, and his eyes flicker to my breasts in my pyjama tank top. “Well, if there was something horribly wrong, I will scream, yell, call out your name to come rescue me. How’s that?” I counter. His lips twitch, fighting a smile. “And if that is all you wanted, I am going to sleep. So, goodnight,” I add. I grab the door and push it hard to slam it shut, but of course, it doesn’t. Instead, Beat grabs it with his hand.
He doesn’t say anything for what feels like an eternity, when in reality it’s probably only around 10 seconds. He then steps forward. I freeze, wondering what he is doing.
Leaning down, he places a soft kiss on my cheek. “Goodnight, beautiful,” he says softly, his lips brushing against my cheek before he steps back, taking hold of the door handle and closing the door behind him, leaving me stood there, feeling things.
I turn around and climb into bed, laying there wide awake, my mind whirling with a million questions. It took me a long time to drift off, my last thought the feel of his lips against my cheek.
I awake later that morning, feeling exhausted. I roll over as my alarm goes off. I groan as I switch it off and climb out of bed. I rub my face and sigh. I probably only had a few hours of sleep, at most. I get up and go to the bathroom, deciding that a nice long hot shower might be what I need. Stepping under the hot spray, the water cascading down my tired body feels beyond incredible. After just standing there for a good few minutes, I wash my hair and body. Switching the shower off, I step out and grab the towel, pausing to wrap it around my body. I grab a separate one for my hair and begin to towel dry it as I walk back into my room. I quickly get dressed, apply some subtle make-up, and dry my hair a little so it’s not soaking wet, leaving the rest to air dry. I don’t have much time.
I pull out my outfit; a black high-waisted pencil skirt that stops just below my knee, and an emerald green, ribbed square neck top. I quickly chuck it on and grab my heels, spray on a quick spritz of perfume before grabbing my bag. I leave my room and walk quickly while ordering a cab on the app. Not looking where I am going, I walk straight into a hard wall.
“Omph!” I grunt, nearly dropping my phone. Large hands steady me, holding my waist. I look up and see Beast staring down at me.
“Where are you rushing off to?” he asks.
“Work,” I answer.
He frowns. “You work?”
I roll my eyes. “Yes, I work. Just because my father is a mob boss, with endless amounts of money, that doesn’t mean I don’t work. I earn my own money. I don’t like asking my father for anything,” I state, catching the time on my phone. “Look, I have to go, or I will be late setting up,” I say as I try to side-step out of his hold. I sigh. “What?” I ask.
“We didn’t know you had a job. We are supposed to be keeping you safe,” he states.
“Yeah well, I work at Edmond High school. You can’t just walk in without being checked in. You need to have a pass and walk through the metal detector, so I am pretty safe,” I answer. I try to walk off, but he doesn’t release his hold.
“You work at a high school?” he presses.
“Yes, you know, where teenagers go to learn. I teach them, and now I have to go. I need to prepare for today’s lessons, as I didn’t really get a chance over the weekend with all that happened,” I state.
“I will take you,” he states.
I shake my head. “Thanks, but I don’t think I can swing my leg over a bike in this outfit,” I say, pointing to my clothes.
His eyes lazily sweep my body. “I will drive the truck. Go wait for me, while I change,” he says as he releases me.
I nod and continue to walk down the hall, feeling his gaze burning into my ass. “Stop staring at my ass and get ready,” I yell, not looking back. I hear him chuckle before he shuts his door. I sit at the bar and wait. I keep looking at the clock on the wall, counting down the minutes, tapping my foot impatiently.
“Okay, let’s go,” Beast says from behind me. I turn and see him stood there in a black fitted T-shirt that clings to his broad muscled chest and huge arms, and a pair of jeans that are loose, but you can still see his thick thighs and toned behind. “I feel objectified. You’re staring at me like I’m a piece of meat,” he says, snapping me out of my frankly pornographic thoughts.
I look up at him. His wet hair is slicked back from the shower. Is it bad that I want to go up and sniff him? I swallow and nod. “Right, let’s go,” I say, trying to clear my throat. I keep my gaze forward and walk past him out the door.
He walks ahead of me and opens the truck door for me. I give him a small smile and thanks as I climb in the passenger seat. He closes the door and walks around, getting in the driver’s side. He puts the keys in the ignition and starts the truck.
“Excuse me, darlin’,” he says before he reaches across me and opens up the glove box, taking out a pair of sunglasses. I’m not ashamed to admit that I inhale deeply, taking in his scent; freshly showered, and his cologne has my ovaries bouncing with excitement. He rests his hand on the steering wheel. “You good there, darlin’?” he asks, smirking.
I nod, keeping my eyes anywhere but on him.
He pulls into the school parking lot. I unclasp my seatbelt and grab the hand of the door. “Thanks for the ride.” I smile before jumping out and shutting the door. I sigh, relieved to not have him so close to me. I start walking across the parking lot.
“Hold up!” Beast yells from behind me. I stop and turn around to face him.
“What?” I ask.
He jogs to me, placing his hand on the small of my back. “Don’t you need to sign me in or some shit?” he asks.
I flinch. “Uh, you just dropped me off. You can’t come into my classes with me,” I state.
“Sure, I can. Plus, it’s orders from Pres; not to let you out of my sight. It’s what your dad wants. So beautiful, or shall I call you Miss…?” He pauses, trying to think. “Fuck, do you know, I don’t think I’ve ever known your old man’s last name.” He shrugs.
I roll my eyes. “I don’t have my father’s last name. I kept my mother’s. That way nothing bad would be linked directly to me,” I answer. “My name is Miss O’Connor,” I state.
“So, you’re Irish.” He smiles.
I shake my head. “No, my grandfather was Irish. My mother was born here and so was I,” I answer.
Beast nods. “Come on then, Miss O’Connor, let’s get you to class,” he says, guiding me to the school entrance.
As we walk in, I catch Rita on Reception, her eyes wide. “Moring Rita, this is er, um, Mr...” I freeze.
Beast leans over me. “Mr. Smith, pleased to meet you,” he says, holding out his hand in greeting. Rita shakes his hand while trying to regain some composure.
“Right, he is here to assist me for a while in my lessons. He is a, er…” Again, my mind draws a blank.
“I’m here to help teach the kids about gun violence. What to shoot and what not to shoot.” He shrugs.
Rita frowns, confused. “In Miss O’Connor’s biology lessons?”
“Yeah darlin’, teen boys aren’t just shooting their guns, am I right? I mean, most of them are probably shooting their morning load as I stand here talking to you.” Beast laughs.
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “What Mr. Smith is trying to say is I am doing the human reproductive system this week, and he is here to offer any advice to the male students, as they may not feel comfortable talking to me about anything. And also, I thought it would be good to talk through, er, the medical side of a gun shot. I mean, it can’t hurt, right?” I laugh nervously.
Rita hands out a visitor’s pass to Beast. He winks and takes it. I grab him by the arm and walk with him through the metal detector, which goes off.
I pause and look at him. “Oh god,” I mutter to myself, wondering what weapon he has on him.
The security uses his wand to search all over Beast’s body, and it goes off around his crotch area. Beast winks before he leans in and quietly says something to the security guy who suddenly looks very uncomfortable. He gestures for Beast to walk on.
Beast places his hand at the small of my back. “What was causing it to go off?” I ask.
Beast smirks. “My piercing.” He winks.
I frown, confused. “How can there be a piercing in that ar—” I say until it clicks. “Oh my god!” I gasp.
Beast laughs. “Calm down, beautiful. If you’re a good girl, then one day I might let you see it.” He winks.