Page 21 of Her Christmas Beast
“I’m still concerned that you forget to eat when you get busy. And when the real world returns, I’ll still have occasional travel, although I’ll try to schedule that for when you’re not teaching. So if you don’t skip more than a couple of meals during the week and you cum at least once a day, including on video chat if I’m away, you’ll get a star for the week. If you don’t manage that, there will be remediations on the weekend but no star. When you have ten stars, you get a reward.”
Apparently, my pussyreallylikes rules because it’s clenching in anticipation already. Or again. Or whatever.
“What kind of reward?”
He shrugs slightly. “Whatever I can make happen for you. Or I’ll surprise you, if you prefer.”
I look around at the completely empty, pristine beach and hold my hand out to him. “I really like your surprises.”
His smile transforms his face as he pulls me up out of the lounge chair and prods me inside where we start over from the beginning, only this time, he’s definitely in charge.
* * *
I prop my chin up on hands balancing on Billy’s chest while I wait for my pulse to return from the stratosphere. “Do you remember anything from your days in the orphanage?” I ask him idly.
His gruff voice holds hesitation. “Not really. A still image here and there. I have a vague memory of lines of metal cots and another of a long line of women in gray skirts. Or rather, what I remember is the skirts. I’m assuming they were on women. Why?”
“Because I think somebody loved you. And it’s sad really that she doesn’t know where you are and you don’t remember her.”
“What makes you think that?” He twists his blunt fingers through my hair gently.
“Because you’re not a sociopath. You’re sweet and kind and I’m betting that means you had some loving care early on.”
“Even though I tortured you daily with sex toys?” he asks dryly.
“You didn’t torture me. Okay, you did, but not in a bad way. And it’s not like I was tied up.” I balance on my chest so I can waggle my fingers in his face.
“Ah. I see the hole in my plan.” Swiftly and without warning, he flips us over, still careful not to drop his weight on me. I shriek with laughter, which stills when he presses into me ever so slightly. I gasp with renewed desire, but he stops there.
“How about now? Hard to escape my evil ways from here, right?”
“Don’t want to. This feels cozy and safe. I like it.”
He rolls his eyes at me with mock exasperation. “How am I supposed to be Zver’s Russian Beast when you go around calling me cozy and safe? What if people heard you?”
“Then they’d see what I see and want a piece of it.” I say with satisfaction and immediately see the error of my ways. “You’re right. From here on out, I’ll only tell people how mean you are and that you never let me cum. Ever.”
My limbs flail wildly as he takes advantage of his position to tickle my ribs without mercy. I’m still laughing when he flips us back to his favorite lounging position, with me draped over his chest.
“Let that be a lesson for you, my Angel. Don’t bait the beast.”
But of course I do. I can’t resist.
Epilogue
One year later
Billy looms in the doorway of my university office glaring at the back of the last student who stopped by with a Christmas gift, in this case a pound of chocolate truffles from the good place in town. “They’re even more in love with you this semester than last,” he grumbles before picking up my laptop bag and slinging it over his shoulder. “Can’t they see the wedding rings on your fingers? You ready, Angel?”
“I think so?” I dart my gaze around the small room guiltily because this is my last day at the university before taking a year-long sabbatical. Deep down I know I probably won’t be back. I’ll still be teaching, that’s in my blood, but over the last year Javier and I have bonded over the lack of equal access to advanced math education. We’ve been working on a virtual project together for me to teach remotely. If it goes well, I could be working from home or wherever Billy is working and reach more students. We’ll see. The university will still be here if I decide droning on to bored kids in the lecture hall feels better after all. I snatch one of the truffles before Billy consumes the entire box and we head out.
Students in the hallway give my husband a wide berth. Even though they’re used to seeing him with me because he rarely misses a day to drop me off and pick me up again or to bring me lunch. It’s a wonder the man gets anything done, but then geniuses are weird. Take my wedding ring or rings, for example. He got so caught up in whether it should be on the left or theright hand given American versus European tradition that he finally said it had to be both, just in case. Since he designed them and they’re as beautiful as one of his buildings, I don’t mind wearing two, but his possessive streak does make me giggle every now and then.
I’m lost in my thoughts as we drive home until I notice that the scenery is a bit different. “Where are we going?” I ask idly.
“Want to check on the new house site before they get started tomorrow.”
I shake my head. The field won’t have changed since the last time we looked at it, two weeks ago. But Billy does so much for me. Indulging his need to be in complete control of his building projects isn’t a big deal. And this house is going to be spectacular. Not that the previous one wasn’t or isn’t, but this one, the one being built from that first quick sketch he did of me, is only for the two of us. Tom and Javier, when he stops in, will be staying back at the old place. Oddly, even though it’s miles away by road, the two properties adjoin at the base of the lots, so Billy will be able to walk to his office through the woods. And I think I’ve negotiated a deal with Tom where he’ll do some of the food prep and similar household basics and Billy will bring it back with him. Sort of like an in-house meal service.