One Hundred and Thirty-Six Scars(75)

Hooking his arm around my waist, he spins me around and pushes my body up against him front to front. Bringing his head down to the crook of my neck, he growls, “You’re playing with fire, baby.”

I laugh, bringing my arms up behind his neck as the chorus kicks in. I tilt my head, running my eyes down the angry scar that starts from behind his ear, running down his neck all the way to his V lining. Dragging my thumb across his cheek, I bring it down to the risen white scar before taking my eyes back to his. His jaw tightens as he shakes his head and grips onto my hands, pulling them back down again.

Gripping me into him again, we finish up the song before walking back to the bar where Jada is sitting with Hella watching Melissa closely.

“Why don’t you two just talk?” I say, dropping onto the barstool and taking a long drink of Beast’s beer.

“Because,” he starts, keeping his eyes locked on her. “I don’t want a girlfriend.”

“What makes you think that’s what she wants? She wants to kill you, Hella. I think you’re safe from a grade A clinger.”

A slow smile pulls on the corner of his mouth as he drags his eyes away from Melissa and brings them to me. “Maybe. But maybe that’s where the excitement is? I’d fuck her black and blue up against a brick-wall whether she had a knife in her hand ready to shank me or not.”

Beast exhales, bringing his elbow to the counter, pinching his eyes between his fingers and shaking his head with a low chuckle. “Brother, you are fucking sick.”

“Don’t I know it,” he replies, his eyes still locked on mine with the same smirk on display.

Jesus, there is no words that could explain this man.

“May I recommend a therapist?” I tease, taking the shot Jada just slipped to me.

He laughs, throwing his head back. “I’d put your therapist in the nuthouse, sugar.”

I believed that. Shaking my head, I shoot back the shot as Beast shakes his head, his shoulders jiggling under his laughter.

Hella bumps Beast with his elbow, nudging his head to the crowd. Beast pauses, spinning his stool around so I follow suit, turning around to see that same woman from the other night walk in through the doors, her eyes searching the crowd.

She’s stunning. Her long mouse blonde hair sits around her jawline in a perfect halo, her sharp nose and high cheekbones showing she has a no fuck around attitude about her. She pushes through the masses of people, shoving through the crowd while she makes her way to us. Swallowing, I look to Jada, who laughs at the expression on my face.

Bending her head into my ear, she whispers, “She’s not your issue, babe.”

A nervous laugh escapes me as I pour another shot.

“Everything good?” Beast mumbles beside me, looking toward the dance floor at I presume where the blonde beauty is standing.

Downing the shot, the hot liquid burning the back of my throat like a cloak of fire, I spin my stool back around and lock eyes with her. “Hi,” I say, placing my hand out. “I’m Meadow.”

Her eyes narrow as she tilts her head at Beast. A small smile slips over her mouth after a few seconds and she takes her finely manicured hand into mine, shaking it lightly. “I’m Shelby. Nice to finally meet you.”

“Finally?” I ask, glancing between her and Beast.

She nods her head before taking her attention back to Beast. “We need to talk.”

“Talk with Hella,” he replies, taking his eyes off her and wrapping his arm around the back of my chair, pulling me in close.

She looks between both of us as Beast lands a long kiss on my temple. She swallows and begins shuffling uncomfortably, glancing between all of us.

“Beast?” she begins but he doesn’t look back to her. Instead, his strong hand cups around my chin softly as he tilts my face to meet his. Searching my eyes, he runs his thumb across my bottom lip, bringing his lips to mine, the warm sensation shooting straight between my thighs. When he sucks my lower lip into his mouth with the strong bitter taste of beer lingering on my tongue, a light moan vibrates off my lips and he groans his reply.

Pulling back from me, he leans back against the bar, resting his elbows on either side of him and cocking his head. “What, Shelby? You’ve met my Old Lady, you can leave now.”

Her eyebrows rise. “I need to talk to you, Beast. It’s about Layla.”

“What? I gave you this job because I thought you were woman enough to handle all the whores.”

Her shoulders square. “I am, Beast,” she hisses.

“Watch your fucking tone and remember who you’re talking to,” he answers, clenching his jaw with eyebrows raised.

“Beast,” I whisper to him. It’s the first time I’ve seen him talk like that. He’s always sweet with me so it shocked me a little.