“I’m not good,” he whispered. She knew it hurt him to talk, but he did it anyway.

She gave his chest a push but he didn’t budge. “Stop trying to scare me,” she signed.

He released her and turned his back on her, and that scared her a little. She ran in front of him to get his attention.

“We’re not done. Don’t walk away when the conversation’s getting tough.” Mel gasped as he edged her toward the closest wall and pinned her body with his own. She could smell the soap and cologne he used. She pressed one hand over his heart, pleased he didn’t push her away.

“I can take you right here and no one would hear you scream for help. No one’s coming for you.”

Beast did it again, trying to scare her off.

“You could have,” she signed. “But you didn’t. You took care of me.”

Beast laughed, the sound harsh to her ears, reeking a little of despair. “I wanted you to heal, prepare you for what’s coming. I don’t want a broken doll.”

Mel let out a breath. His words stung, but she knew he didn’t mean it. For some incomprehensible reason, he wanted to make her believe he was a monster. A beast.

Fear gripped her heart. Excitement raced down her spine and made her shudder in anticipation as she remembered Beast in the shower, stroking his cock. He’d been thinking about her, she could tell. She’d only known him for three days. They were still strangers, but she believed he’d never harm her.

“I can handle you.” She signed those words carefully, making sure he understood.

Beast blinked, looked down at her. There it was again. Ravenous hunger. Mel didn’t think she could love her body again but right now, she was wet for him. Her nipples tightened to points. Mel regretted not joining him in the shower earlier. She’d been too confused, terrified of the emotions brewing inside of her like a storm.

Mel thought it was wrong to want a man, to crave Beast out of need and desperation, but it was more than that. He didn’t just save her. He made her feel again and right now, she wanted him to claim her, to take her and erase all those awful memories stuck in her head. Replace them with new ones.

She lifted her face and stole another kiss from him. His body felt like a furnace against her, so hot, it burned her too. She wrapped her arms behind his neck, pleased he ran his big hands down her body slowly, carefully. Beast slipped his fingers down the hem of her loose shirt, his touch proprietary.

He thrust his tongue down her throat and her mind went blank again. She mounted him like a tree, wrapping her legs around his waist, confident he wouldn’t drop her.