Taming the Beast novel Chapter 37

“My heavens! Why are you just sitting there?! Get her inside,” I heard Lena say. Keegan shifted his hold on me and stood easily. He was holding me bridal-style. He held me tightly as his mom put a light blanket over me. Keegan walked briskly with his mom and the guys behind him. Little by little, I started calming down. We emerged into the house and Keegan kept walking. He took me up the stairs to a room and took me to the bathroom; closing and locking the door behind us. I clutched the blanket I’d acquired tightly as light sobs escaped my lips. I rested my head on Keegan’s chest as his hand rubbed my back gently. We stayed there until my sobbing stopped. I dropped the blanket to the tile floor and  wrapped my arms around Keegan’s neck. He hesitated before his arms came around my waist. I buried my head in his neck as his hand rubbed small comforting circles in the small of my back.

“Are you okay now?” he asked gently. I nodded slowly. It seemed like Keegan was getting angrier by the second. “I’m going to kill Asher,” he growled. By the tone of his voice, I knew he wasn’t kidding. I pulled away and sniffled as I wiped the tears from my eyes. His face softened at the sight of me. I shook my head.

“It’s not his fault. It’s really no one’s fault,” I sniffled. I gave a shaky breath as I looked at the duvet. “Two years ago, I was in the car with my parents and we were going over a bridge. This other car lost control and… we went into the water. Both of my parents died… it’s why I live with my brother now. I’ve been deathly afraid of water and being in a car over bridges ever since. And that’s how I got those scars,” I explained hoarsely. I felt comfortable enough around Keegan that I could open up to him. Even if it meant telling him something I never talked about with anyone. He wiped away tears I didn’t even know fell. He sighed and reached forward to kiss my forehead.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. I sighed as my eyes closed. I wrapped my arms around his trim waist. I could practically hear Keegan’s gears turning in his head. I looked at his face as I placed a hand on his chest.

“Don’t,” I said, pulling back. His eyes furrowed in confusion. I sighed and hit him with the palm pf my hand as hard as I could. “Don’t kill Asher. He didn’t know,” I explained.

“I want to kill him for hurting you,” Keegan growled.

“You hurt me too,” I countered. I know it was a low blow, but I wanted him to get it. His face contorted in pain, anger and sadness all at the same time.

“I didn’t mean to and I’m so, so sorry,” Keegan said quickly.

“I know that. I also know that Asher didn’t mean it either. He was just excited and wanted to have fun. Just like you,” I said. His face dropped as he got the point. I sighed and looked away before continuing my story about the accident. “The accident… it caused my appendix to rupture and grazed a few other organs. I had two broken ribs and a fractured collarbone. It was really… I had to have three different surgeries and when I woke up in the hospital, I found out that my parents didn’t make it… but those surgeries left scars that you wouldn’t believe. I’ve always been really self-conscious about them.” I explained. I think by this point, I was just talking to talk. I hadn’t really talked to anyone about what happened. Danny knew, but only because the police had to tell him. Keegan’s hand went to my stomach as he traced the scars. I sighed and relaxed. His eyes went back up to mine.

“I’ll get you a change of clothes and a towel to dry off,” he said before he kissed my cheek and left. I sighed and leaned against the edge of the huge tub. His bathroom was really nice. He had a full glass shower with a detachable shower-head, two sinks with a long connecting counter and a huge mirror covering the wall all above it, a roomy toilet room complete with a magazine rack, and a huge Jacuzzi-style bathtub that could easily fit three people—or a large wolf. I laughed lightly to myself. I must have been on drugs or something. There was no way that Keegan was a werewolf. There was no possible way. The door creaked open and Keegan walked in with a towel and a change of clothes. I started pulling off my clingy wet shirt. I tossed it in a near hamper and started pulling off my shorts.

“Caroline,” Keegan said slowly. I stepped out of my shorts and tossed them in the hamper also. I was well aware that I was in nothing more than my black lace thong and matching push up bra.

“What?” I said answered, finally looking at him. His eyes flickered to my stomach. I grabbed the towel quickly and balled it up in front of my stomach as I blushed. “I’ll be out in a minute,” I snapped quietly. Keegan didn’t take the hit, or if he did, he ignored it. He set down the change of clothes down and walked closer to me. He slowly took the towel from my hands and set it down on the counter as well. His expression was soft and understanding.

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said softly. Looking into his amber eyes, I believed him. His hand reached up hesitantly and touched my stomach. I let out a breath and closed my eyes. “You’re beautiful, Caroline. Don’t let anyone tell you differently,” he said softly. I opened my eyes to see him looking me with… love. I tangled my hands in his hair and pulled him to my lips. He inhaled deeply as his hands slid to my waist. He picked me up and sat me on the counter. He sat in between my legs and pulled my lower back so I was flush to him. Something poked me in the thigh as my back arched to meet him. His tongue flicked inside of my mouth. His hands gripped my hips tightly as he groaned. His lips moved to nip my ear. I gasped as my stomach did a million back flips and turns.

“I love you… every inch of you,” he whispered gently before he pulled away to look at me. I froze and my eyes shot open. There it was: the L word. Keegan said he loved me. The thought that he felt for me the same way I felt about him made it a little harder to breathe.

Keegan loved me.

I sat there in shock for a minute as I tried to process this. Keegan loved me: that’s all that continued running through my head. His eyes searched my face, nervous of what I would say. He was scared, I could see that. Did he not already know that I loved him too? It was obvious to me, but then again, I knew my own thoughts. Keegan had no idea what I was thinking. I smiled at him lightly and released a breath. I moved one of my hand to cup his face as my thumb ran over his cheek.

“I love you too, Keegan,” I whispered. He smiled before he kissed me deeply. I moved my hand back to his soft, short black hair. The kiss picked up pace quickly, making my heart beat wildly. I was pretty sure Keegan could hear it. His hand slid up my back and then back down. He groaned when I slipped my fingertips under the hem of his shirt to rest on the edge of his jeans. I pulled his shirt up and he raised his arms for me before his hands went to my knees and slid up my legs, coming dangerously close to the hem of my thong. His lips attached to my neck and he sucked on it gently. His hands slipped over my hips and he squeezed my backside. His lips traveled further south and he kissed the top of my chest. I arched my back and let my head fall back.

“I need to stop,” Keegan breathed as his lips brushed against my neck. I didn’t want him to stop. His lips attached back to mine and my nails dug into his back. He growled and bit my lip gently. “Caroline,” he breathed huskily. He was trying to control himself and I could see that. I moaned loudly as he nipped at my ear and hit my sweet spot on my neck. Keegan finally gave in. *~* He lifted me by my thighs and I wrapped my legs around his waist as his lips crashed back to mine. He moved his hand to my butt and squeezed it roughly. I let out a small breathy gasp. Keegan walked out of the bathroom and into his bedroom. How he did that while driving me insane at the same time, I have no clue, but he did. He set me down on the bed and hovered over me keeping his lips on mine the whole time. My hands reached down and fumbled with his belt before I managed to get his pants off. He kicked them off. His hand moved up my leg as his other one propped himself up. His hand inched closer to my underwear. He put his knee up on the bed in between my legs. His lips were magic against mine. Fire shot to my core. I felt his hand on my underwear straps and then my underwear was off. I opened my eyes breathlessly just in time to watch Keegan tuck my underwear into the back pocket of his jeans. His eyes ranked over me lovingly and lustfully. I fought the urge to cross my legs and cover up.

“You’re so beautiful,” he muttered before his lips were on mine fiercely. I ran my hands down his chest and rubbed my hand over the front of his flimsy boxers. I was greeted with a big surprise. He groaned and his hand squeezed my thigh above my bent knee. He pushed my legs open more before his hands went behind my arched back and snapped off my bra. I quickly tossed it to the side and pulled Keegan’s shoulders down so his lips were on mine again. He trailed kisses down my neck and chest. When he got to my stomach, he glanced up at me almost as if he were asking for permission. I granted it and he placed light, gentle kisses along every single scar. His lips came back to mine and I attacked him fiercely. He hand came up and rubbed my swollen and ready lips gently as his mouth continued to move with mine. I moaned and wiggled my hips to get closer to his hand.

“Fuck, Caroline,” he muttered into my neck. He teasing was driving me nuts. Finally, he slipped a finger into my throbbing core. I squealed/moaned as my eyes snapped shut and my jaw went slack. My back arched as I forgot how to breathe. He slid his middle finger out before pushing it in again. My hands gripped his shoulders and Keegan pumped his finger in and out repeatedly and it drove me mad. I was squirming the whole time. My breaths were coming in pants now. He did this for a while before he added another finger, making my squeal again. He groaned against my mouth and thrust his fingers deep inside me. I couldn’t help it, I yelled out something incoherent as my eyebrows knitted in pain