Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 567(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
The world must have slowed down, because Beast remembered every single detail, from the precise strength with which Laurent’s hand tightened on his dick to the way Laurent accidentally bit on a strand of his own hair. As soon as Laurent was breathing again, Beast captured him in a deep kiss and surrounded the graceful hand with his own, hurriedly fucking the sweaty fist to the tune of his heartbeat.
Laurent pushed closer and pressed his forehead against Beast’s shoulder. “I love knowing… I’m your only… one…” He was still panting, but also eager to give Beast the quick satisfaction they both craved. It only took one more look at his satisfied smile for Beast to come.
Beast hugged Laurent, hurriedly kissing along the angular jaw line while the world slowly fell back into place. “And I love that you see the real me. More than anyone,” he whispered, finally reaching Laurent’s sweet, soft lips. Now that he’d gotten to know it, he couldn’t imagine ever living without his husband’s flavor.
Laurent smiled, his gaze soft and hazy beneath long, dark eyelashes. “Always.”
Beast breathed in his scent and, unable to pull away just yet, hugged Laurent more firmly. “We need wet wipes, or there will really be no hiding what did during this detour.”
Laurent looked down between their bodies and gasped. “Oh no.”
*
If Beast didn’t periodically remind himself why the club put so much time and effort into organizing this event in the record time of two weeks, he might have forgotten Baal’s trees even existed. Shadow had draped colorful bunting over the claw-like branches earlier, and between games and nice food, Beast was positive most of their guests didn’t even see how unusual the tree was.
The kids’ obstacle course was a hit. Fox and Nick did most of the work on it, reusing old garden playground slides, tires, a small bouncy castle, and some of the play items Beast and Laurent had brought back from the clubhouse. The children were happy with their tiny prizes, and the parents eager to donate to a local homelessness charity in order to let their offspring have another go at the never-ending contest that produced only winners.
The Sweet Break also decided to participate in the event, serving beverages and healthy snacks out of a van. Beast was so proud to see Laurent hovering around all the food trucks with a clipboard as if he were some big celebrity's PA. All he needed to look the part was a headset to bark orders at his minions.
Beast had been in the middle of unloading barrels of fruit-infused water close to the van containing fireworks meant for the evening when he spotted his husband at work. It hit him unexpectedly how good of a parent Laurent would be. Sure, he was a bit bossy at times, but age would surely temper the judgmental side of his nature. But many of Laurent’s qualities—his conscientiousness, and willingness to learn—would be invaluable in rearing a child. Laurent might have been brought up in a different, harsher time, and the methods used back then were often unacceptable to anyone in the twenty-first century, but he would surely soak up all there was to know like a sponge and make their home run like clockwork. Beast could already see Laurent with daily lists of what needed to be done at each hour.
It would be better for everyone if he didn’t get too obsessive about doing things ‘right’, but taking care of his husband’s mental state was Beast’s job, and he intended to do it well.
He briefly sat in a plastic chair, watching a teenage couple kiss at the top of the tiny Ferris wheel the Kings had rented for the occasion. The pop music playing from the speakers had no lyrics and provided a pleasant background for what evolved into a large picnic in the sun. Many of their guests brought chairs and blankets, creating circles of family and friends all around the organized carnival, and moved between their own gatherings and the stalls to enjoy games and activities. It was the kind of party Beast rarely attended—without alcohol, nakedness, and bodily fluids staining even surfaces one wouldn’t normally expect them to—but as alien as the atmosphere was to Beast, for once he felt strangely in tune with the community he was so often separated from.
As much as he detested it, people stealing glances at him was normal. He was a massive man, a biker, he had burns and tattoos all over his body. People would stare, and he was fine with it as long as they remained civil.
He wondered what it would be like to attend a local festival like this one with a small kid of his own, see faces of strangers brighten with relief. He would no longer be the menacing man who lived outside of the law but a father. With a child at his side, he wouldn’t seem as much of a threat.