The Beast Loves Curves (4 page)

His lips turned up in a small smile as he remembered her reassuring presence at the hospital today. His kind, sweet Abbie. She had a gentle strength that he needed. Damn it. He needed her.

Ian stood and tossed his towel into the laundry basket with a sigh. He stunk and he needed to hit the shower soon.

One more day and he'd be saying goodbye to Abbie. He needed to face it and deal with it. He ran his hand over his chest as he felt an ache that was as much physical as mental. He had gone thirty-four years without truly feeling the pain of heartbreak.

"Christ! This one is going to hurt." He whispered to himself, trying to catch his breath.

As he made his way upstairs he knew that separation from Abbie was going to make up for every time he had never had his heart broken. He was about to be completely shattered.

*****

"What in the hell are you doing to Ian."

Abbie flinched as she heard Sandy's angry voice boom through the phone. She had just finished showering when she heard the phone ring. She was still wrapped in a towel.

She hitched the towel up. It didn't cover her plus sized body completely. "Sandy? What's wrong." What was wrong with Ian?

She heard her friend snort through the phone before replying, "You really worked him over good, baby girl."

Abbie stuck the phone under her chin and walked toward the bedroom to grab a nightgown. "I have no idea what you're talking about." Abbie was truly perplexed. Sandy rarely got angry. She pulled a nightgown on quickly as she waited for Sandy to explain herself.

"Ian really cares about you, Abbie. And you hurt him." Her friends accusing tone stunned her. She hurt Ian? "I shouldn't break Ian's confidence to Bill...but I just couldn't believe it. You aren't the type to do that."

"Sandy...Ian is just playing. It's the way he is. He doesn't really care about me." If only he did. Abbie wanted him so badly she could barely breathe.

"Oh...he cares. He cares so much that you are tearing him up good." Abbie heard Sandy draw a deep breath before continuing, "Look, Abbie...I know Tim put you through a lot, but you need to wake up. Not every guy is like Tim. You’re letting your insecurities make you blind."

Abbie plopped her ass on the bed, trying to understand what Sandy was saying. She asked Sandy hesitantly, "Are you telling me that Ian really likes me?" Not possible. It just wasn't possible.

"He adores you, Abbie. Bill says he worships the ground you walk on. He's hurting." Sandy paused before adding, "He isn't Tim, Abbie. He's fallen for you hard and he's crushed that you don't return the feelings."

"He's serious? He really does care about me." Abbie's heart started to pound as she asked the question.

"Oh, for God's sake, Abbie. You act like nobody could ever love you. Did you ever stop to think that Ian has his own insecurities. He thinks you don't like him as a person. Either that or you can't see past his scars."

"His scars don't matter. He's so attractive," Abbie mumbled in a low voice, but Sandy heard her.

"Duh...you think? Don't do this, Abbie. If you really like him...don't let your past experiences blind you. Ian's always been a nice guy and he loves full figured women. Granted, he lost his way for a while and got caught up in power and money." Sandy sighed. "He's changed, Abbie. He would never play with you. He's vulnerable right now."

Abbie groaned into the phone, her body trembling. "God...I do care about him, Sandy. So much it hurts. I'm just...scared." Her words came out in a rush. She was terrified.

"Don't hurt him, Abbie." Her friend's tone was serious and a little bit sad. "He has his own insecurities and a tender heart. I think he's worth taking a chance on. I knew when he finally fell...he was going to fall hard."

"He really thought I minded his scars?" Abbie breathed her question into the phone, still trying to believe that Ian was sincere.

"Yeah...can you imagine? Kind of like someone thinking that no one could like her because she was full figured? Sound familiar?" Sandy answered sarcastically.

"Oh shit. I have to see him." Abbie's hands were shaking as she looked for her keys. She had to go now. She couldn't stand the thought of Ian hurting.

"Go. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," her friends sing-song warning made Abbie smile tremulously.

"What wouldn't you do?," Abbie asked Sandy with a small smile.

"Me? I'd do absolutely everything." Sandy chuckled in her ear. "Be gentle with the poor guy. You have him by the balls. And for once in your life...be bold with a guy. Ian's yours if you want him, Abbie."

The comment was still ringing in Abbie's ears after she had thanked Sandy and hung up, promising to let her know how it went.

Ian could be mine.

There was no question as to whether she wanted him. She frantically snatched up her keys and her purse. Nothing mattered except getting to Ian. She had to let him know how she really felt.

She went to get dressed and ended up dragging her long coat out of her closet. Screw it. She planned on ending up in bed anyway.

Abbie caught a glance of herself in the closet mirror in her clingy, silk nightgown. It hugged her breasts in lace and molded over her ample curves. It reached to her ankles but did little to hide her body. She had never worn it before. She had bought it ages ago and knew Tim would probably just laugh if she wore it.

She put her coat on over the sultry outfit determinedly. She didn't give a shit about Tim. She felt free. Ian would either like her the way that she was or he wouldn't.

She thought back over the last week and all of the signs Ian had given her that he wanted and liked her. She had rebuffed him. Rejected him. If he hadn't been joking or flirting then there was a good chance she had actually hurt him. She hated herself for that. Ian had been so kind to her. He hadn't deserved it.

Night greeted her as she ran from her apartment and jumped in her car. It was nine o'clock. Certainly Ian wasn't in bed yet.

She arrived at his house ten minutes later with a hopeful, racing heart and excitement pounding through her veins. She reached up for the doorbell, but for some reason turned the knob first.

Abbie rolled her eyes and smiled. It was open. The man with the expensive security system left it off and his door unlocked. She closed the door behind her and flipped the lock.

"Ian," she called hesitantly from the foyer. She didn't want to invade his home, but her instincts were in charge right now.

Her voice echoed slightly. She was right. She knew this house was huge enough to echo.

He wasn't downstairs or he would have heard her call. "Ian...are you here," she called loudly. That one definitely echoed.

She dropped her purse and keys in the living room and went to the stairs. She didn't hesitate as she scampered up the steps. She stopped at the top, unsure of which room was his. That was when she heard the water running.

She followed the sound to his bedroom. The door was open and she sighed at the huge, king-sized bed covered in a beautiful forest green quilt. The furnishings were all heavy, dark wood. It was masculine and smelled like Ian. She caught a whiff of his cologne as she entered that made her body tighten.

Ian.

Every insecurity she had tried to rise up inside of her, but Abbie pushed them back down brutally. She would not screw up this chance because some idiot had hurt her. She wanted to believe in Ian and she would, damn it. He had never hurt her.

Don't make him pay for the mistakes of others, Abbie. It's not fair. If he doesn't want you...fine. At least give him a chance.

She remembered Sandy's voice telling her to be bold. In all other areas of her life...Abbie was bold. It was time to take the bull by it's horns.

Or Ian by his cock.

Abbie giggled nervously, surprised by her own thoughts.

As she stepped further into the bedroom, the running water cut off and a door opened on the other side of the room.

She gulped as Ian emerged, clad only in a towel that was wrapped around his waist. Her pussy drenched immediately and her nipples stood at attention. He was so beautifully made.

She squeaked as he removed the towel, her breath coming hot and fast between her lips. Oh...holy hell. She was nearly dizzy with delight.

"Abbie?" Ian either heard her or saw her. His eyes landed on her quivering form hovering by the bed.

He grabbed up the towel to cover himself. Abbie huffed in disappointment. It was a pity to cover a body like his.

"Hello, Ian." She greeted him softly. "I'm sorry to barge in. The door was open."

He moved to her quietly and grasped her shoulders. His look of concern made her heart flip flop. He asked her urgently. "Are you okay, sweetheart? What are you doing here?"

"I'm fine, Ian. I just needed to talk to you." Her voice sounded breathless...but she couldn't help it.

He eyed her intensely, as if he was trying to make sure that there was really nothing wrong. "Okay...just let me put some clothes on and then we'll talk. Whatever is wrong...I'll take care of it, baby." His eyes didn't leave hers.

Abbie bit her lip nervously. Typical Ian. Ready to conquer the world...solve any problem. God...she loved that about him. He was the strongest, most capable man she had ever known.

Be brave, Abbie
.

"If you want to take care of my problem, you shouldn't get dressed. My problem involves you naked and probably in bed, but I can improvise if I need to." Okay...that was brave. Her voice was husky and seductive.

His eyes shot to her face, his expression incredulous. "What are you saying, Abbie?"

Oh God. He looked so raw and vulnerable that Abbie's eyes grew damp. Tears spilled over her checks as she whispered. "I want you, Ian. Please." Her voice was still shaky as she continued. "I thought you were just flirting or wanted a one night fling with an available woman. It never occurred to me that you might really just want me. That you might care for me."

She heard his sharp intake of breath as he moved toward her. His arms came around her like steel bands and held her so tightly she nearly squealed. "Jesus, Abbie! Why would you think that? I care. Very much."

She wrapped her arms around him and held on. It was like coming home. "I'm sorry, Ian. So very sorry if I hurt your feelings."

Ian pulled back slightly and turned her face up to his. He brushed her tears away with his thumb. "It's clear that someone hurt you, Abbie. I hate it. I hate whoever did it. I'm hear to listen if you want to talk about it. Please don't ever think that I don't care." His voice was choked with emotion as he asked her quietly, "Abbie, are you sure this is what you want? That you want me? "

"Yes, Ian. I want you so badly I hurt." Her eyes were shining with adoration that she didn't try to hide. She wanted Ian to know how she felt.

"Once I have you...I'm not letting you go." His voice held a warning that warmed Abbie to her toes.

"If that's a threat...it's not working very well. I don't want you to let me go." Abbie's voice was seductive, her confidence restored by Ian's words, as she moved away to remove her coat. She let it fall to the ground without even looking at it.

Ian groaned aloud as her coat fell away. "You're killing me, Abbie."

Invigorated by his need, Abbie audaciously removed his towel.

"Abbie...my scars," his voice was urgent and embarrassed.