Page 60 of Beast

She back led me through the song as I tried to focus on doing heel leads and keeping the rhythm slow, quick, quick, slow. I hated to admit it, but I actually enjoyed dancing—the pressure of Isa’s tight body on mine, the softness of her skin in my scarred hands as we moved as one to the music. I was in complete control. Of the dance, of her, and of my life.

After a few more steps, she twirled off me. My Marines stood up, their claps and catcalls deafening.

She kissed my lips. “I can’t believe you danced with me.”

I lowered my hands to her waist and kissed her back. I reached into my breast pocket, and pulled out a ring. I had a question to ask her.

42

Isa

Before I could even realize what Grady was doing he’d dropped to one knee in front of me, holding a ring. I thought I was going to faint.

“I love you, Isa. I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

“Ay dios mío, Grady. Yes!”

He picked me up and kissed me. Applause rang out through the banquet room.

I stared at my ring, a beautiful oval-cut diamond set in rose gold.

Rose.

From my beast.

My beast. My prince. My hero.

My fiancé.

Epilogue

For my final act in the Marine Corps, I married my lovely bride in a traditional Marine Corps wedding, my buddies creating the arch with their swords.

After Isa and I were married, our lives had blended together seamlessly. She’d re-enrolled in her senior year at UCSD. I found a job working with wounded warriors, men and women just like myself. It was great to know that I could inspire those who felt as desperate and despondent as I once had.

Money would be tight, but we were both fine living on a budget. Between Isa’s job teaching dancing, and my income from my job and the VA, we would make ends meet.

Pasha had been arrested and charged with kidnapping and sexual assault. Because he had no priors he pled it down to probation. I’d always known there was something seriously off about that guy.

Turns out, he had other pending allegations of sexual assault with other dance students. They had been afraid to file a report against a TV star. He must’ve counted on Isa being an easy target. But she pointed the gun at his head. Isa was strong and beautiful.

I would never stop missing Rafael, but I finally found some comfort, knowing he would want me to be happy, and that he was guarding the gates of heaven.

Almost a year after we met, I looked out the window of our apartment and heard the sounds of a party from the local frat house, where Isa and I had met.

“Hey, there’s a party down there. Looks like some superhero theme. Would you like to go?”

Isa came over to me, wrapped her arms around my neck as I squeezed her ass.

“I’d love to. But this time, let’s go as the Joker and Harley Quinn. You don’t need a mask.”

The End

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