The Beast (Wicked Villains #4) - Katee Robert Page 0,14
and fuck me against Gaeton’s chest until he’s worked out every little bit of anger on my body.
I shiver. There’s fear there, yes, but I am not opposed to the promise in those wild eyes. Before I can decide if I want to do something to encourage or discourage him, he snaps his attention to Gaeton’s face. “Whichever one is closer.”
“Mine it is.”
Chapter 5
Beast
Getting out of the Underworld has never been complicated. Finish a scene. Clean up. Walk out. After Hercules’s interruption, I should have expected things not to be so simple. I retrieve our coats and Gaeton wraps his around Isabelle. She’s too drunk off the adrenaline letdown and her orgasm to fight too hard about being naked under it—or his carrying her out of this place.
We almost make it.
We’re halfway through the lounge when Aurora appears in front of us as if by magic. She’s a tiny little thing, all light-brown skin and big brown eyes, with a penchant for bright hair colors. It’s been pink for a long time, but she’s edging toward a frosty pastel version instead of the brilliant hue she started with. Aurora is sweet enough that she invokes every Dominant protective instinct I have. She doesn’t look particularly sweet right now. She looks furious. “Hades wants to see you.”
I feel Gaeton go still at my back. We’re staying in Hades’s territory right now, renting places in a neutral space while we figure out what the fuck we’re doing if we’re not generals for the Man in Black any longer. Gaeton and I made our choices separately, but like in all things since I showed up in Carver City, we seem to be endlessly on parallel tracks. We can’t afford to ignore a summons from Hades.
I give Aurora a long look. “Since when do you run messages for the old man?”
Her expression goes a little sharp. “Since I took over Tink’s old position as Meg’s second-in-command.”
That, I didn’t expect. Tink was mean enough to keep even the Dominants in line when she needed to. Aurora is … not. But Meg isn’t the type of woman to make mistakes when it comes to the club, so she must see something I haven’t.
Still, it’s in my nature to push. “We’re a little busy.”
Aurora props a hand on her hip. She’s wearing a tiny white lace slip that hugs her curves and barely covers her enough to be considered decent. “That wasn’t a suggestion, Beast. Not for either of you. Hades wants to see you, and the longer you make him wait, the less likely the conversation is going to go the way you want it to.”
I raise my brows. “Someone’s been taking lessons from Meg.”
She doesn’t blink. “Stop patronizing me and get back there, or I’m going to have to get Allecto involved.”
“Shit, Aurora.” Gaeton huffs out a laugh. “Beast is just being a dick. No need to bring out the big guns.” He steps past me, not quite shouldering me aside, but damn close. “Lead the way.”
She gives Gaeton a smile. “Hey, big guy.”
“Looking good, Aurora. Like the dress thing. It new?” He falls into step beside her, chatting easily as if he’s not holding Isabelle in his arms, leaving me to trail behind. It’s just as well. Gaeton is better at charming people than I am. Likely because I never bother to try. It’s easier to intimidate if you speak less, because it gives your enemy no traction to guess your thoughts. Gaeton prefers a different strategy.
She leads us back to Hades’s public study. It’s decorated in shades of gray and carefully positioned lights that leave the man behind his massive desk bathed in shadows. Hades doesn’t need all the theatrics to intimidate, but he sure as hell seems to like them.
Gaeton doesn’t bother to take a chair and I’m content to follow his lead. I glance at Isabelle to find that she’s fallen asleep in his arms. My chest gives an uncomfortable pang, but I stifle it. She came here with every intention of doing whatever it took to bring us back. If she accepted the price we laid out, then she has only herself to blame.
Besides, she needs this little catnap. Dawn is a long ways off, and we have a whole hell of a lot to compress into the two-week timeline.
Hades steeples his fingers in front of his mouth, bringing our attention back to him. “You two are dancing a fine line with this one.”