Chapter Two
Listening to her book, Hope glanced around to make sure no one was around to hear her moan. It had been a week since she’d begun to tutor Dwayne, and she had a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she put that down to walking from the diner in the dark. She probably shouldn’t be listening to her current romance book, but she didn’t have much time to read the “drivel,” as her aunt called it.
Romance was her weakness. She put it down to two weeks of being chained up thinking she was going to die a virgin and not experience love. She still believed she was going to die a virgin.
No guys had ever asked her out, but that was okay. She could live with that. So long as she had her books, at least she could pretend, for however long it took her to listen to one story, to believe she was the heroine in the book. The one that got the guy, even if he was an ass, and she loved it when they groveled in books.
She wouldn’t take anyone back who treated her like shit, but that didn’t matter much.
When a black car pulled up alongside her and a door opened, she let out a gasp, pulling her earbuds from her ears.
She recognized Beast straightaway. He stared at her a few minutes.
“You know it’s not safe for a woman to walk the streets alone,” he said.
Glancing up and down the street, she frowned. Yeah, she got that it wasn’t all that safe, but no one was around. “It’s fine.” She clicked her story off, hoping he didn’t hear anything that was being said. It had gotten to the really sexy part, which she hated to admit she loved. She was a sucker for a sex scene. Romance was great, but the books that had the fire, the dirty sex, she loved them.
She was a freak, just like her peers called her. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Do you even consider the possibility of being attacked?”
Again, she looked down the street and shook her head. “I don’t really think it could happen.” She held her arms open, showing her very manly attire. “I don’t think attackers would be bothered by what I’m wearing.”
“Are you being stupid on purpose?” he asked.
“That’s the first time anyone’s ever called me stupid.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a can of mace. “I hear this is effective, and once I spray this, I’m quite heavy. I intend to slam my foot down, and then run.” She shrugged. “I figured that’s all I need.”
“I don’t like your lack of respect for your own personal safety.”
“Who’s going to attack me?” she asked.
He stepped toward her, and she couldn’t help but take a step away. He was so tall, and he seemed to completely take over everything he touched. His presence made her heart pound as she hit a wall. When did that appear?
“You see, when it comes to men there are some that don’t care if a woman says no. They will take what they want, regardless of what you want.” One of his hands pressed against the wall, and the other touched her neck. The tips of his fingers stroked over her pulse as his thumb pushed her chin up so she had nowhere else to look or to go. She held herself completely still, staring into his dangerous blue eyes.
In that moment, she knew the rumors she’d heard about the Carsons had to be true. There was something deadly in his gaze, the way he commanded attention, and she had no choice but to listen, to stare back and wait for him to decide what he wanted to do with her.
“You see how easy it is for me to take what I want. I could fuck you right now against this wall, press a hand against your mouth to stop you from screaming.” He placed a hand against her mouth, and she was confused.
She didn’t feel afraid of him. Now she really believed herself to be a freak.
“Or, I could choke you, taking what I want, and killing you in the process.” His fingers wrapped around her throat, but didn’t tighten or squeeze. The touch felt more possessive than dangerous.
You’re a freak. This man is dangerous, and you’re just standing there, staring.
Freak.
“You need to take more care of yourself.” He stepped away, and she hated that she missed his heat, his warmth. It was the first time she’d been close to someone, and she’d enjoyed it, even if it was one of the single strangest experiences in her life. “Get in.” He moved toward his car door, holding it open and waiting.
“I can walk. Honestly. I don’t live too far from here.”
She wanted to get in the car, and that scared her. This man was different. She didn’t like the feelings he inspired inside her, and the sooner she got herself back under control, the happier she would be.
“Get in the car, Hope. That’s not a request.”
A thrill ran down her spine at how he’d remembered her name. He didn’t strike her as the kind that would remember trivial matters like a name.
Seeing no reason to argue, she slid into the back seat of the car. He had another driver, and heat flooded her cheeks at what he’d seen.
Beast climbed into the back seat beside her, and the car seemed too small to her. She didn’t say anything though, staying on her side as she looked out of the window, but then glancing over at him, she saw he stared at her.
She forced a smile to her lips, wondering what he thought as he looked at her.
“You’ve not been around the house this week,” he said. “Why?”
“Erm, I’ve been tutoring him at school on breaks and after it.”
“Next week, and every week after that, I want an update. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It will piss him off that I have control, but again, I don’t care so long as I know he’s doing what is right.”
“You care about him?” she asked.
“Of course I care about him. He’s my nephew.”
She smiled. “I can work with that. He’s not too bad. His cell phone is always buzzing though.”
“I’ll deal with his cell phone.”
She liked that he cared, and she missed it. Having someone to care about her. Seeing they were close to her home, she let the driver know, and he pulled up at the smallest house on the end of the street. It wasn’t great. The front lawn was overgrown, and the windows were dirty on the outside. Her aunt didn’t care for presentation.
“This is where you live?”
“This is home.”
It was a far cry from the home she was used to. Her mother had cleaned every single day, and believed the key to a happy life was a good home.
“Thank you for the ride, Mr. Carson,” she said.
“It’s Beast. You can call me Beast.”
She smiled at him, and climbed out, making her way toward the house.
Opening the door, she glanced back, seeing Beast stare at her. She liked his gaze a little too much. Closing the door, she turned around, and saw her aunt stood there.
“Are you behaving like a whore now?” Aunt Tay asked.
“No. It’s just a friend. He didn’t like me walking home.”
“Back in my day any woman could walk home and not need a lift. You know I don’t want that kind of behavior in my house. It’s the reason your father had issues with your mother. She didn’t know when to keep her legs shut.”
“Don’t,” Hope said. “Don’t talk about my mother like that. You’re more than happy to take the money she had to take care of me, so don’t you dare speak about her like that. Your brother, my father, was the sick one. He couldn’t keep his cravings at bay.” She glared at her aunt, once again thankful that in those final hours, her mother made her aware of the stipulations of the trust fund, and the allowance that would be granted in the event of her and her father’s death.
If Aunt Tay so much as laid a finger on her, everything would be gone. The money she loved so much, and Hope could leave. Part of her wanted Tay to hit her, so then she wouldn’t feel obliged to stick around. This was what her mother wanted, and she’d do whatever it took to make her wishes come true.
****
The day was bright, and from his office, Beast stared out into the garden, watching as Dwayne and Hope were lying out on the grass. It was too hot for them to be inside, cooped up in the library. He watched as Hope tucked some hair behind her ear, and he was curious about her.
The report he had told him she didn’t even go to a counselor after the event. For two weeks, she’d listened to her father’s rants, watching as he beat her mother before turning onto her. There hadn’t been any indications of a sexual assault, and no rape kit had been required either.
Her father simply lost it.
She laughed at something Dwayne said, and it completely lit up her entire face.
Beast had gotten every single detail on her aunt as well.
Once again, he watched as Dwayne grabbed his cell phone, leaving Hope alone. For several seconds, he watched as she pulled out her own books, and started to work on her stuff. She nibbled her lip, and he saw the focus in her gaze. Leaving his office, he stopped by the kitchen on his way outside, grabbing a soda for Hope.
As he made his way toward her, she still hadn’t looked up, and only when he stood over her, casting her in shadow did she finally glance up.
“Beast,” she said, smiling.
“I figured you could use a drink.” He handed the soda down to her.
“Thank you.” She opened the can and took a sip.
“Where’s the student?”
“I think the student has a girlfriend who doesn’t like him being tutored by me. She’s probably worried my weirdness will rub off on him, and she’s going to have a weirdo for a boyfriend.”
He sat down on the grass and stared at her. “What makes you weird?”
“The fact I still go to school. That I don’t do drugs or get high. I work.” She nibbled her lip.
“I know your history, Hope.”
“Everyone seems to know about it, and of course because they know, they think they’re an expert in how a person deals with it.”
“And you hate it?”
She paused, licking her lips. “I hate that they think they know what’s right.”
“You have to admit it’s strange. Your father kept you locked up, chained to a wall, and you’re sitting here, drinking soda, looking like everything is normal.”
She averted her eyes, but he saw the tears in her gaze. She started to speak but stopped as her throat sounded full. He watched as she gained composure. “My mom, she didn’t want me to think about what happened. She told me that I would get out, and when I did, I wasn’t to make mistakes. I wasn’t to let it beat me. She wanted me to make her proud.” Her eyes watered again, and she quickly dropped her head.
He couldn’t resist reaching out, tucking some hair behind her ear. She didn’t pull away from his touch, and she glanced over at him.
The yearning in her gaze was clear.
Beast wondered how many people had taken the time to touch, to take care of her. The information on her aunt wasn’t exactly flattering. He didn’t for a second imagine life was easy for Hope.
“You’re not alone,” he said. “There are always people who can help.”
She laughed. “I know. What happened to me wasn’t as bad as what some people go through. It wasn’t the best, but … it could have been a lot worse.” She gritted her teeth. He saw the telltale sign of her jaw clenching.
“You can talk to me,” he said, offering his support even before he knew why he was doing it. He didn’t owe this woman—girl, he had to remember that—he didn’t owe her anything.
“I really don’t need to talk about it, but thank you. I really appreciate it.” She tucked some hair behind her ear.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Dwayne said.
“I’d like you to tell your girlfriend you’ll deal with her when you’re not studying, as otherwise I’ll take your phone.”
“Beast,” Dwayne said.
“No, your education comes first. Miss Miller could be anywhere else in the world. She doesn’t need to be helping your lazy ass. Give her the respect she’s due.”
He got up and walked away, not glancing back.
Heading to his office, he grabbed his jacket, looking outside once more to see them both studying. His nephew looked pissed off, but he didn’t care.
Leaving his office, he stopped at the doorway, seeing Levi standing there. “Make sure Hope Miller gets home safely. I don’t want to see a bulletin about her being lost or dead.”
“Yes, sir.”
Beast climbed behind the wheel of his car, taking off into the city.
The few occasions he’d spoken to Hope, he’d found himself drawn to her. The darkness in her gaze, the need, no one else saw it, but he did. Hope Miller craved attention. Her family was dead, and that left her alone. Not for the first time, he wondered how long she’d been wanting attention, touch.
She wasn’t acting out for it, nor was she showing any outward signs of needing it, but he saw it.
The way she leaned against him, begging for his touch with her gaze. At the same time, she pulled away, not wanting what he could give.
She was pushing and pulling with equal measure.
Eighteen years old.
She’s a high school student.
She’s already had something fucked-up go on in her life.
Even as he tried to list every single reason that he had to stay away, he was once again drawn to her gaze. She wasn’t afraid of him. He also believed she didn’t have a clue of what he was capable of. What he could do.
He wasn’t a good man.
He hurt people.
Anyone who betrayed him found themselves a gruesome death.
Beast had never taken shit from anyone.
“The key, son, is fear. Make everyone afraid of you, and it will keep them in line. Anyone tries to take that power away from you, show the world why they should fear you.”
He’d watched his father torture men and women, anyone who thought they could have a life without him.
Each lesson had created the person he was today. His own mother had told his father she’d named her son aptly, because that was exactly what he was going to turn into, a beast.
Parking up outside of Sarah’s apartment block, he made his way inside, nodding at the man on the main desk. It wasn’t the first time he’d been here, and he knew it wasn’t going to be his last either.
Sarah was a first-class slut. She took anyone’s money, and so long as they paid her high fee, she’d make every single man’s dream come true.
He’s seen her in action. Fucking an entire line of fifteen men and loving every second of it.
As he knocked on her door, she opened it with a smile on her lips.
“Hey, Beast,” she said.
He shook his head, opening the door the rest of the way. She loved it when he took charge. Closing the door behind him, he wrapped his fingers around her neck, pushing her against the wall.
“You don’t say my name. You don’t say fucking anything. I don’t even want you to look at me right now.”
She instantly closed her eyes. Her nipples were rock-hard points, begging for his attention, her body already on display with the sheer dress she wore. She loved the attention and the shock value she gave. He’d watched her walk down a street, seeing men and women turn to look at her.
Tearing the dress from her body, he cupped one of her breasts. They were a little small for him, but for now they would do.
Moving her from the wall, he pushed her down so that her ass was pointed up. He didn’t want to stare at her. Grabbing a condom from his pocket, he tore into the wrapper, rolling it down his cock. Once he was protected, he didn’t touch her nasty pussy. He never did. Sarah was just a tool to be used, and if he didn’t fucking need her right now, he wouldn’t be here.
Slamming his dick deep inside her, he closed his eyes, not liking the other face he saw. He was royally fucked.