Page 47 of Beast

I grabbed a condom from my nightstand, pulled off my boxers, turned her over, and climbed on top of her. Her round ass mesmerized me. I took off her thong and wrapped my arm around her.

“Ready for me?” I whispered into her ear.

“Yes, baby.”

I grabbed my cock in my hand and slid into her warm pussy.

The softness of her ass as I pressed deeper heightened my desire. She moved in sync with my thrusts. I rubbed her clit until she was moaning, almost gasping for air. I could feel her pussy clench tight around my cock and I was desperate to release. I pumped faster, harder, deeper, out of my mind in pleasure. She let out a long cry and I came with her.

We collapsed onto the bed, my mind completely blank. I was about to get up when she turned toward me and cupped my face.

We lay in silence and I listened to the pattering of rain falling on the roof.

“Grady, I need to tell you something.”

Great, here it goes. I care for you but this isn’t going to work. I was ready. “What?”

“I love you.”

29

Isa

I told Grady I loved him. And he hadn’t said it back.

But I wasn’t freaking out yet. He asked me to be his girlfriend—he opened up to me about his depression.

Though honestly, knowing that he had been suicidal filled my heart with more fear than love.

Grady gave me a wicked smile the next day, and told me he had the perfect plan for us. I reluctantly agreed—even though I hated surprises.

Grady and I sat in his truck in silence as we drove on the freeway. This entire setup felt so surreal. I wanted a crystal ball so I could read our future. I wanted assurance that we could make some type of relationship work. I had never navigated an adult relationship and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. The tension hung thick in the air, and even the view of the beautiful mountains did little to ease my nerves.

We pulled off a dirt road, and I saw a sign: “Shooting & Safety.”

“Are you taking me to a gun range?”

“Yup. Since you’re an expert and all at disarming weapons.”

I shuddered. “You’re kidding me. I hate guns. I told you my mom shot herself. Not to mention you confessed to me that you tried to shoot yourself. Nope, not going to happen.”

He placed his hand on my thigh and looked at me. “You don’t have to shoot, and if you want to, we’ll leave. But you’re the one always talking about therapy. One of the methods I was taught was to desensitize yourself from the experience. This is a safe place. I want you to take back the power.”

“And this from the guy who claims that therapy doesn’t work.”

“I was blown up by a grenade. I can’t really do that again to desensitize myself. But I’m working on other ways to deal with it. Talking to you helps. So does fucking you.”

“Funny.” I exhaled, happy he could admit that keeping his feelings bottled up was futile.

At the shooting range, my fingers tingled and it wasn’t from the cold. I’d been raised shooting with my dad. After my mom killed herself with my father’s gun, I’d never had a desire to be anywhere near a weapon, though I had made an exception when I stole Grady’s bullet.

“Wait here.” Grady walked around the truck and opened my door. Swoon. He hoisted me out of the car.

Once inside the building, he introduced himself to the range owner.

The older gentleman shook his hand. “Sergeant Williams, I assure you that you do not need an introduction. It’s an honor to meet you. Thank you for your service.”

Grady posed for a few pictures, and I realized that in this environment he was a celebrity. This man was in awe of Grady.