Contracted To The Beast novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

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I tried everything to keep my eyes off Nia, but it was impossible. She sat right beside me in the back of the Escalade. The privacy screen separated us from the driver, giving the illusion of space. I usually loved this SUV for trips-practical, bulletproof, reliable. Right now I almost hate it. A limo would have given more room. But limos drew too much attention. and the last thing we needed was more paparazzi swarming us in Mykonos.

That damn citrus scent clung to her. I didn’t know what perfume it was, but it filled the car and crawled under my skin. It made my thoughts spiral into places they had no business going. I wondered what she would taste like if I buried my face between her thick thighs. Sweet. Sharp. Addictive.

I shook my head hard, banishing the images. Bad thoughts. Stay gone.

I caught another glimpse of her dress. The red fabric hugged her body in all the right ways and flowed when she moved. Breathtaking. That was the only word that fit. She had taken my breath away the second she walked out of the closet, and still hadn’t recovered. I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t trust what might come out.

I’m such a coward.

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I couldn’t look into those hazel eyes and tell her she looked beautiful without wanting to rip that dress off her right there. So I stayed silent and stared out the window instead.

We pulled up in front of the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos. The building looked regal, like something carved from Mount Olympus itself. Ancient stone architecture rose against the bright sky, solid and timeless. Security opened the doors for us. I stepped out first and turned to offer Nia my arm.

We walked side by side, our armed guards trailing a respectful distance behind. Cameras clicked from across the street. Paparazzi. Always watching. Always hungry for the next shot of the Beast and his mysterious girlfriend.

“Mr. Kane, Dr. Page,” a smartly dressed woman in glasses approached us as we entered. “A pleasure to have you. I’m Celine, and I’ll be your tour guide today.”

“The pleasure is ours,” Nia said with a warm smile. We took turns shaking her hand.

Celine spoke in a polished French accent as she led us through the exhibits. Ancient artifacts from nearby islands filled the halls. I couldn’t be bothered to remember most of the names.

My attention kept drifting to Nia. Her face lit up with genuine fascination as Celine explained the Cycladic sculptures. There was something almost poetic about the way her eyes traced the marble forms. I noticed faint similarities between those sculptures and the clean lines of Santa Marina’s architecture.

I zoned out after a while, just following their voices. Nia’s cheerful tone cut through every few minutes, pulling me back.

“…and lastly we have the Trojan Vase,” Celine said.

I snapped back to the present. “Would it be alright if we took pictures here?” I asked, forcing a smile.

We had been walking for nearly two hours. Exhaustion sat heavy in my bones. I hadn’t slept properly in the last forty-eight hours, running around to finalize every last detail.

“Yeah, of course,” Celine replied, returning a real smile. “This concludes our tour. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

I watched Nia thank her warmly for the excellent tour. Then I signaled José to come closer. Unknown to Nia, he had been quietly taking photos the entire time. Candid shots would look more natural. Less forced. Her reactions and body language would sell the story better this way.

“José! Hi!” Nia exclaimed excitedly, pulling him into a quick hug.

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14:57 Thu, Jul 9 qu

Chapter 57

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Irritation prickled under my skin as I watched them chat and laugh. It seemed like she lit up for everyone except me. Why not me? Everyone else got her easy smiles and warmth. I stiffened when she reached over and grabbed my hand reassuringly after I shared the story about Beck earlier. I hadn’t expected that. She did it because she was kind and cared about people in general. Not because of me.

I wanted her to care about me. Only me. I didn’t even know why these thoughts kept creeping in lately.

I cleared my throat loudly to cut their conversation short. “Can we begin?”

“Yeah, of course,” José said, still smiling warmly as he directed us in poses,

The shoot went smoothly. José already had plenty of natural shots, so we didn’t need many staged ones. The glam team and José were off for the rest of the day. They only needed to be available when I called.

“Hungry?” I asked Nia once José left.

“A lil,” she replied, uninterested, tapping on her phone.

“Checking on your kid?” I asked, shoving both hands into my pockets.

“Yes, I am,” she answered.

“How is she?” I asked again. I wasn’t probing. I was just… curious.

“She’s doing fine,” she replied. A soft, instinctive smile touched her lips as she continued texting.

Did my mom ever smile like that when she thought of me? Did she ever even think of me at all?

It felt strange having these thoughts lately. First Nia. Now my mom. I had searched everywhere for her, but it was like she didn’t want to be found.

I took Nia to Roca Sunset restaurant, famous for traditional Mediterranean dishes and fresh seafood. The outdoor setting faced the sea, serene and open to the breeze.

We ordered a seafood boil. It arrived steaming and fragrant. The staff were warm and attentive. I watched in quiet awe as Nia danced excitedly with a group of local kids near the water’s edge. She laughed freely, spinning with them under the fading light. She was enjoying this more than I expected. It looked good on her.

Her mood had been somber in the car this morning. Seeing her lighten up now eased something tight in my chest.

Dusk had settled by the time we returned to the villa. I sat downstairs, waiting for her to finish showering and settle in before I went up. When I finally headed upstairs, I came out of the shower with only a towel wrapped low on my hips. I caught Nia’s heated gaze for a split second before she quickly looked away.

I pulled on my pyjama pants and prepared for bed.

“What are you doing?” Nia asked, arms folding tightly across her chest.

“What does it look like?” I said, dragging on my pants.

“There’s no way I’m sleeping with you.”

I let out a short breath, stepping closer-not touching, just enough to close the space between us.

“There’s one bed.”

“There are couches.”

“Not happening.”

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