Claiming Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy Book 2)

by Nikki Wild

  “I’m starting my own business, Mom,” I confessed, finally, bracing myself for an onslaught of questions. They came hard and fast.

  “What? How?” she asked, her eyes squinting again. “Where?”

  “What, my own fashion line. How, by lots of hard work and I’m still figuring out the logistics. Where, I’ll be looking for a space soon, but right now, I’m just working out of my apartment.”

  “Well, you’ll have to give that up.”

  “Give what up?”

  “The apartment. If you aren’t working for Bear, you can’t stay there.”

  Shit. She’d backed me into a corner.

  “You can move in with me,” she said.

  “No, that’s okay,” I said. “I’ll manage.”

  “Chloe, don’t be foolish. You’ll never be able to start a business and pay rent on that apartment. You have no idea how much that place costs, do you?”

  “I don’t have to pay rent. Bear said I could stay there, he doesn’t care.”

  “That’s absurd! Why would he do that?”

  “Because he’s a nice and generous man, Mom,” I said, rolling my eyes. And he loves me, I thought to myself, a secret thrill running through me.

  “Well, you can’t accept a gift like that, Chloe. No matter what.”

  “Mom, don’t worry about it. I’ve got it all worked out.”

  “He’s my boss, Chloe. I have to worry about it.”

  “No, you don’t!” I said, anger rising in my voice.

  “Chloe! Lower your voice!” she said, looking around, a blush creeping up her neck because I’d dared to embarrass her.

  “Just don’t worry about it,” I whispered.

  “Don’t take advantage of his kindness, Chloe,” she said. “You can always stay with me.”

  “No!”

  “Fine! Whatever,” she rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “How do you intend to finance this new endeavor of yours?”

  “I’ll get an odd job,” I shrugged, lying through my teeth. “Or two.”

  “That’s not going to leave you much time or energy to work on your business, is it?”

  “I’ll be fine!” I insisted.

  “And you’ll never be able to afford retail space in the city, either. What are you thinking, Chloe?”

  “I’ll start small, okay? God, Mom, can’t you just be supportive for once in my life?” I said, the anger bursting out.

  “Okay, okay,” she said, holding her hands up in the air. “Let me know if you need help, Chloe. I suppose its time for me to let you be an adult and figure things out for yourself. I can give you a loan, if necessary.”

  “Thanks, I’m okay for now,” I said.

  “Great,” she said, refilling our wine glasses. “I’m proud of you. It takes a lot of balls to start a business in this city. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

  “Neither did I,” I replied, with a wistful smile.

  Chapter 10

  Max waited by the curb, the snow slowly falling around him. He was a beautiful man and I imagined he had a wonderful, loving wife at home waiting for him. Suddenly, I felt guilty for making him wait for me. The restaurant was only one subway ride from my apartment, I easily could have found my way home.

  I’d dressed warmly tonight, with thick, long underwear under my black wool slacks, with two extra layers under my sweater and coat. The matching red striped scarf, hat and mitten set Bear had given me last night helped keep me warm. With the tall warm leather boots I was wearing, I was almost toasty.

  Maybe I’m starting to acclimate a little, I thought, as I walked up to Max.

  “Max, you work too much,” I said, sliding into the back seat of the limo. “I can easily walk myself home.”

  “Oh, no,” Max said. “Mr. Dalton would not like that.”

  “Well, he doesn’t have to know everything,” I said. “It’s Christmas, for goodness sake! Please tell me you’re going home as soon as you drop me off.”

  “I am,” he said. “My wife and family are waiting for me.”

  “Do you have children?”

  “No, not yet. Soon, though. My wife is pregnant right now. She’s due in June.”

  “That’s wonderful! Congratulations, Max!”

  “Thank you, Miss Chloe. Do you like children?”

  “I haven’t spent much time around them, honestly. I do love them, though.”

  “I come from a big family back home,” Max said. “I hope to have a big family here. My parents are here now, thanks to Mr. Dalton. They will help with the baby.”

  “You’re lucky to have them,” I said, thinking of Bear. How many lives had he touched? I thought of my Mom and her new boyfriend. Anthony, she’d called him. A friend of Bear’s…

  I made a mental note to ask Bear about him tomorrow.

  I closed my eyes, leaning back into the warmth of the car, running through a mental checklist of everything I needed to get done for my business. I’d been running around all week and the more things I accomplished, the more tasks I seemed to accumulate. It was like an out of control snowball.

  The holidays hadn’t helped. I’d almost forgotten to find a Christmas gift for Bear, but had lucked out as I passed an old vintage jewelry store near the fabric store I was checking out. I’d spotted a beautiful gold antique pocket watch with an intricately delicate filigree engraved on the case. The sign next to it told me it was manufactured in 1860.

  Something about it reminded me of Bear.

  A feeling of something so steady, strong and determined on the inside and yet so stunningly beautiful on the outside.

  I stood there on the dirty sidewalk as hundreds of people streamed past me, looking in the window, contemplating the bewildering idea of just how long this watch had been around, ticking, ticking, ticking, for over a hundred years, marking the passing of time, the passing of someone’s life.

  Bear and I had only been involved with each other for a month and that wasn’t long.

  Four short weeks.

  Thirty-one days.

  Seven hundred and forty-four hours.

  Forty-four thousand, six hundred and forty minutes.

  That was nothing compared to the life this watch had seen. The fact that after all that time, it had made it here, restored to its original glory, to be offered in this window at this exact moment, to me, of all people—well, it just seemed magical.

  I raced in to the shop and purchased it on the spot and asked to have it engraved. They were able to do it right there and it was in my purse wrapped and ready to give to my love. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when I gave it to him.

  Most of my to-do list involved work and cleaning up the rest of the mess in my apartment before Marie’s arrival. I was looking forward to seeing her and showing her around. Mostly, I was looking forward to telling her everything. I’d kept all my news to myself, until I’d told Matilda about my business, but it was the engagement I was bursting to share with someone.

  Anyone.

  I opened my eyes and dug through my purse for the ring. A thrill shot through me as I slid it back on my finger.

  Mrs. Bear Dalton…it had a nice ring to it.

  I looked up and saw that Max had passed my apartment.

  “Max, where are you going?” I asked, after lowering the panel between us.

  “Didn’t Mr. Dalton tell you? He asked me to bring you to his penthouse,” he said, “I’m sorry, Miss, I thought you knew. Is that okay?”

  “Yes, of course,” I said. “Thank you.”

  I sat back in the seat, looking down at my clothes. I was dressed in a million layers, including the oh-so-attractive long underwear that made me look like a lumberjack.

  Then, I remembered the panties underneath.

  If I didn’t get to them before Bear did, there’s no telling what Bear would do to punish me for them.

  I sat back in the seat, a slow smile spreading across my face.

  It was going to be a good night.

  Chapter
11

  “This is for you,” Bear said, handing me a black velvet box. A red satin bow sat on top, and I smiled in anticipation.

  He’d given me three gifts so far.

  A pink diamond encrusted butt plug.

  My black velvet and diamond choker.

  And my enormous engagement ring.

  I couldn’t wait to see what this one was.

  I’d gotten to his place and was delighted to see a huge glimmering tree in the corner and the entire penthouse decorated for the holidays. After greeting me with a passionate, breathtaking kiss, he took my coat, hat and scarf and led me into the living room. He was dressed simply in a pair of jeans and a dark blue sweater that matched his eyes. He’d put a glass of champagne in my hand and handed me this box.

  I pulled the ribbon with glee, my eyes sparkling with happiness. The ribbon fell away and I opened the lid. Pulling back a layer of sparkling tissue paper, my eyes widened when I saw the contents of the box.

  Three more chokers were laying on a bed of velvet, very similar to the one I wore on my neck, but these were engraved with words, tiny diamonds placed together to form one word on each.

  Good Girl.

  Slut.

  Mine.

  With trembling fingers, I picked them up, one by one, fingering the diamonds and letting the velvet brush against my fingertips.

  “These are for wearing in private, Chloe,” Bear said, his voice low and gruff. “Will you wear them for me?”

  “Of course,” I whispered, my bottom lip quivering as I raised my eyes to his. The storm was raging already. “Which one do you want me to wear tonight?”

  “You choose,” he replied.

  I placed the box on my lap and reached up behind my neck, unfastening the buckle that held the choker I was already wearing in place. I laid it in the box with the others and picked another one up. Taking a deep breath, I placed it around my neck, lifting my eyes to meet his stormy gaze.

  “Mine,” he growled. I nodded, my eyes wide with love and lust and yearning. Love for this beautiful soul who had already taught me so much. Lust for the masterpiece of flesh that his beautiful soul lived in. And yearning—yearning for all the knowledge that he’d yet to impart.

  Knowledge of himself, knowledge of me, of my body, of the possibility of pure magic that we were going to create together.

  If ever I could have wished for something right then, I would have wished to see the future. To see where we were in six months, a year, five years. I felt like there was so much ahead of us, so much learning, so much living, so much life and I had never been more eager for anything.

  Bear’s kiss felt like velvet. His lips were so soft, so welcoming and warm that I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his neck and letting him guide me onto my back on his couch. His kiss stirred the deep, familiar need, reaching so deeply inside of me and yet it still wasn’t enough.

  No matter how far we went, no matter how scared I was, or reluctant, or shy, it still wasn’t enough. I kept wanting more. My need deepened, physically and emotionally. If Bear’s cock could reach ten feet inside of me, I’d still want him to go deeper.

  It was as if my hunger for him was never-ending. As if there wasn’t enough time.

  Time!

  “Wait!” I said, pulling away from his embrace.

  “What’s wrong, Beauty?”

  “I have something to give you, too!” I jumped up and retrieved my purse from the front lobby, coming back with the box in my hand. With a proud smile, I placed it in his outstretched palm.

  “You shouldn’t have,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

  “I hope you like it,” I said.

  He opened the box and pulled out the watch.

  “It’s beautiful,” he said, holding it up to the light and admiring the filagree on the outside. He pushed the button on the side and it popped open, revealing the clock face and the engraving inside.

  To a lifetime…

  Love, Beauty

  He read it out loud, then looked over at me, his eyes so full of love that my heart melted.

  “I love it, thank you so much.”

  He pulled me back into his arms, lovingly staring down at me.

  “I’m going to love you forever, Chloe,” he whispered, “My love for you will outlast that watch, it will outlast the light of the moon, it will never die, even after all the stars have lost their luster in the sky…”

  “Oh, Bear…”

  His kiss lit up my soul. I kissed him back with everything I had in me, all the love, all the pain, all the pleasure, all the wonder and all the life. I wanted to give everything he gave to me back to him ten-fold. I wanted him to feel the way I felt every time he took me into his arms.

  He broke our kiss, looking down at me with smoldering eyes.

  I’d never wanted anything in my life more than I wanted him right then.

  By the darkness flashing in his eyes, I was beginning to believe he felt the same.

  His hand caressed my breast through my clothes, and I remembered all the layers I was wearing and then I remembered the panties.

  I pulled away from him gently.

  “I need to go to the bathroom,” I said, untangling myself and looking down at him, my heart skipping a beat at his beauty. He never seemed to look the same. Sometimes, he was soft and playful and other times, he was hard and demanding. His face changed with each mood, every emotion playing across his chiseled features.

  I couldn’t decide which I liked more.

  Right now, I’d say he looked impatient.

  “Hurry up,” he confirmed, his brow wrinkling slightly.

  I nodded and turned before trotting down the hall.

  “Wait,” he said, before I got out of the room. I stopped and turned with a smile on my face. I couldn’t wait to get naked with him once again. It had quickly become my favorite thing to do.

  “Yes?” I asked.

  “Take off your clothes first. I want to see you walk away naked.”

  My heart raced. I didn’t really need to go to the bathroom. I just wanted to take off my panties before he found them, because Christmas night didn’t seem like the right night for punishing sex games after all.

  “I’ll be right back,” I protested.

  He raised an eyebrow, raking his gaze across my body before shaking his head slowly.

  “No, Chloe. I said take them off,” his voice turned to that low growl again. “Now!” he barked.

  I jumped into action, pulling my sweater over my head and then the two thermals underneath. A sexy grin spread across his face as he watched from the couch. I stood in front of him in my bra and slacks and boots. I decided to test the waters a little.

  “There you go,” I said, turning to go.

  “You aren’t done.”

  Dammit!

  I turned back and reached between my breasts, unfastening my pink lace bra and letting them fall out into my hands. I slid the bra back over my shoulders, the brush of it falling on the floor the only sound in the room.

  I wondered if he could hear the thundering of my heart.

  I stood in front of him, my breasts bared, my hands shaking.

  “And the rest.”

  I kicked off my boots and stood back up, avoiding his gaze.

  I took a deep breath as my trembling fingers fumbled at the button of my slacks. The thing is, before I’d gotten in here, I’d been excited at the idea of him being angry about the panties.

  I mean, it seems so silly, doesn’t it?

  But as soon as I was really standing in front of him, knowing he would be a little pissed and yet not knowing exactly what he was going to do about it, while still thrilling, was now also a little scary.

  More than a little, in fact.

  But I’d made my bed, hadn’t I?

  I’d passed up the opportunity and now I would suffer, or revel in, the consequences.

  I pushed the slacks over my hips and they fell to the floor in a heap at my feet. I stepped out of them,
pushing them back with my foot.

  “Long johns?” he asked.

  I shrugged and smiled, before biting my lip.

  “It’s like the Arctic tundra out there,” I whispered.

  His laughter filled my heart and I couldn’t help but join in. It broke through the tension and I took a full, deep breath, a welcome change to the ragged shallow ones that I’d been taking the last few moments.

  I knew the moment would be lost as soon as he saw the pink cotton boy shorts I was wearing underneath my hilarious looking long johns.

  “Are they warm?” he asked.

  “Yes, very,” I replied.

  “Are you cold now?”

  “No.”

  “Excellent. Take them off.”

  “All right,” I whispered. “But before I do—.”

  “—Now!”

  I shrugged, my fingers grasping the waistband and sliding them down my thighs, revealing a flash of bright pink cotton. I pushed the thermals down, stepping out of them and pushing them to the side with my slacks.

  When I stood up, I locked eyes with him.

  I swallowed hard, my heart jumping in my chest.

  In a flash, he was on me.

  “Panties!” he growled angrily, his hands reaching out and gripping them tightly, before ripping them from my body. The distinct ragged sound of tearing fabric made me flinch. The feel of the cotton tightening around my ass and then breaking free sent a shock right to my pussy.

  He raised his arm and my eyes widened. My torn panties dangled from his clenched fist, his eyes wild with raw rage. Quivering and spasming, his eyes seemed to shoot daggers of forbidden delight right to my pussy.

  “Open,” he seethed.

  “What?” I asked, my voice quivering as much as my sex.

  “Open your mouth, Chloe.”

  My mouth? Why? I wondered. Slowly, I lowered my jaw, my eyes wide as saucers as I waited to see what he was doing.

  His fingers went in first. He brought his other hand up to my lips, the one that wasn’t holding the panties. His thumb rubbed against my bottom lip, pressing the fleshy center before sliding inside. Instinctively, I began twirling my tongue around his finger.

  “Stop it,” he said, shaking his head. His gaze was glued on my mouth and he wouldn’t look up at my eyes. He put two fingers in my mouth, pressing against the top, spreading it open.