Rolling my shoulders back, I pushed back from the piano and stalked to the door.
I snatched it open. “What?”
“Dinner is ready, sir,” Lillian revealed. “You told me to let you know when I was done.”
Lillian didn’t blink at my rudeness or cold demeanor. She had been around long enough and was used to how I was.
“I’ll be there shortly. Get Azeira and tell her to meet me at the table.” I waved her off and shut the door. Making my way back to my piano, I got refocused, closed my eyes, and my fingers started moving without thought. I felt myself centering as the music filled the room. The notes became embedded in my veins, intertwining in my soul, and caressing my heart. Music was always my safe place. A place for me to escape the cruel reality around me. Growing up I often found myself saying “why me” but when I picked up a new instrument all that went to the back of my mind. I learned early there wasn’t one I couldn’t master.
I stayed in my music room a little longer, playing a few more songs before leaving.
When I got to the dining room Azeira was already there. She glared at me with an impatient look on her face, like she was annoyed I had made her wait. I smirked and took a seat across from her.
“What’s going on?” she asked, barely giving me a moment to get comfortable.
I looked at her and tilted my head. “I don’t get the question.”
Her eyes grew tighter. “Why did you tell Lillian to make me come down here?”
Normally Azeira ate alone. She would come and make a plate of whatever Lillian cooked and ate in her room or outside in the garden or on the patio. That was about to change though.
“You said you were lonely, correct? This is fixing the problem.”
Her lips pressed together tightly. Her hand landed on the table, causing the silverware to rattle. “That’s not what I meant. I meant I want to be able to leave and see my mom and best friend. Not to mention I had a job before I came here. It was fucked up for me to just no call no show. I don’t want bad blood with the owners, they were good to me.”
“You’ll take what I give you. You wanted more interaction, this is it. If you like, I can send you to the basement and you can eat alone down there.”
She inhaled a deep breath and puffed her cheeks out. “You don’t always have to be such a dick,” she muttered.
Lillian began serving the food. Today it was pot roast with carrots and potatoes.
“Aren’t you gonna bless the food first?” Azeira commented as I prepared to eat.
I lifted my eyes to her. She gave me a look then bowed her head, saying a short prayer.
“Amen.” When she was finished, she faced me. “Now we can eat.”
My tongue dragged over my top teeth as I watched her dig into her food.
“You really enjoy the garden, don’t you?” I asked randomly.
Lifting her head, she stared at me in confusion. “What?”
“I noticed you spend a lot of time out there.”
Her shoulders lifted. “Yeah, well, there’s only so much I can do in this place. I’ve explored pretty much every accessible part. My mom was into gardening and I used to work out there with her. She loved flowers and how there was a large variety of them to choose from. I guess I got it from her. Your garden is beautiful too, really calming. My favorite thing is the waterfall in the center. Although…” Her words trailed off.
“Although what?” I frowned. The strong urge to know everything about Azeira built inside of me. I wanted no part of her body and mind untouched by me.
“I wish you had peonies out there. Next to roses, they are my favorite.” She sighed and shoved some potatoes in her mouth.
I scratched my chin and studied her. The glow and radiance that used to grace her skin and eyes were slowly starting to fade. It seemed like she was going out her way to stay out of sight as well. This was the first time since the gala I had laid eyes on her outside of passing and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Yes I could easily watch her on the cameras, but I wanted her in my presence more. I craved to smell the vanilla, oranges, and jasmine that always lingered when she left the room. She might’ve thought she was doing herself a favor by keeping her distance, but little did she know it only intensified my craving for her.
Sighing, I moaned and arched my back when Beast’s hand ran down the front of my body, teasing my flesh and sucking on my hardened nipple. His warm tongue circled the bud before he bit down and pulled it with his teeth.
“Have you been good or naughty, Beauty?” he questioned in that deep husky voice I had grown accustomed to.
“Good,” I cried. He soothed the pain where he bit my nipple with his tongue before dragging it down my breast.
