Page 66 of Once Upon a Beast

“Good to know,” I said and then smiled at Layla as she came up to us.

“Do I want to know what you two are talking about?” Layla looked at me and then at Ara.

“We were talking about the best tools to have in your house,” Ara deadpanned.

“Really? Do you have any tools in your house?” Layla asked Ara.

“The important ones.” I laughed and Ara did too. Layla looked at us like we were crazy, which we might have been. “Get home safe. I love you,” Ara said to Layla and hugged her.

“Love you too.”

As we drove back to my place, Layla leaned up against me and put her head on my shoulder. I dropped my head on top of hers. We sat like that until we got back to our place. The day might have started out stressful but being with Layla and her friends had been good. It had gotten my mind off my father and I felt I could look at it with a better perspective. Tomorrow. I didn’t want to think about him anymore tonight. All I wanted was to spend time with Layla, alone.

“That was a fun night,” Layla said as we took the elevator up.

“Yes, it was. It was good to spend some time with your friends.”

“I want you to know them,” Layla said as we walked out of the elevator. She kicked off her shoes and put her purse down before turning to me and saying, “Do you want to tell me where you were all day and why you didn’t return any of my calls or texts?”

It didn’t surprise me that Layla knew something was off and that she would want to talk about it. I could understand her worry and concern but I didn’t want to talk about it. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say.

“No.”

“Too bad,” Layla said and I let out a half-hearted laugh.

I should have known she wouldn’t be happy with that answer. She would need to know what had happened. Even if it wasn’t the whole truth, I was going to give her at least the truth I could.

“Layla, I’m sorry. It isn’t that I don’t want to tell you, it’s that I’m not ready to talk about it yet. I’m not trying to keep anything from you, I promise. I just need some time and space to figure it out. I promise when I can tell you, I will. Can you trust me and give me that?” I asked.

“No,” she said and I laughed.

“Throwing my words back at me?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said with a sigh and then stood and stared at me. After a moment, she added, “But I will because you asked. I do trust you. I do believe you when you say you will tell me when you can. But this isn’t over. You shut me out once and I’m not going to let you do it again. You need to be honest with me about whatever it is, whenever you’re ready to tell me. You can tell me anything. I promise I can handle it.”

I walked up and put my hands on Layla’s hips and smiled down at her. “Thank you for trusting me. I won’t let you down. There’s no one in this world who is stronger or smarter than you are. I know whatever is thrown at you, you will handle it with the grace and beauty that is you.”

“You really know how to charm a girl.”

“I speak the truth. I promise I will tell you when I can. But for tonight, can we not talk about it? I want to just think about you, us, and what we can be together.”

Layla ran her hands over my arms and wrapped them around me. “I thought you would never ask,” she said.

Chapter 34

Layla

Nic’s hands were strong and firm as he held me. I could see the hunger and need in his eyes as he dropped his mouth toward mine. His tongue pushed up against me and demanded entrance. I opened my mouth and his tongue dove inside. I let out a deep moan and Nic did the same. I could feel how much he wanted me in his arms, in his body, and between his legs. There was a desperation that was almost primal. I didn’t know what demons he was trying to chase away but I wanted to help him. If I could give him an escape to whatever was bothering him I would. I wanted to do anything and everything I could for him.

He kept his mouth on mine as he lifted me up and carried me to the kitchen counter. There had been many places we had made love but the kitchen counter was a personal favorite. I let out a soft cry at the feel of the cold counter on the back of my legs. My hands went to his shirt and tugged it off. He let out a frustrated moan when it didn’t come off quick enough. He broke the kiss and tore his shirt off. I leaned back and admired the view of his six-pack abs and firm chest. I ran my hands from his stomach to his chest and he growled deep in his throat.

“Take off your dress,” he demanded.

The words were both a shock and a turn on. He had never talked to me in such a way. He had said some inventive things but nothing that demanding. I liked hearing and seeing how much he wanted me and what it did to my body,

I did as he asked and took my dress off, I let it fall uncheck on the floor. Nic barely let it fall before his hands were on me again, his mouth finding my breasts and kissing the exposed part over the top of my bra. His hands went to the clasp and undid it. The bra joined the dress on the floor. His mouth went to my right nipple, sucking and teasing it as his right hand massaged my left breast.

“Nic,” I moaned and arched my back towards him.