Muzzling the Beast: Taming the Beast, Book 4 Read Online Free Page A

room.”
    Becca rubbed Constance’s back. “Things will get better.”
    When? With who? Certainly not Gabe. “Do you remember the impact Eric had on you when you first met him?”
    “We all do,” Zoe said and rolled her eyes. “Talk about someone being difficult to live with. So what if he was a god and she was a crappy witch, it didn’t mean—”
    “Hold it,” Becca said. “Crappy witch?”
    Zoe looked quickly embarrassed. “Sorry. Half-witch. I keep forgetting.”
    Becca continued to frown. “My spells and potions work.”
    No one commented.
    “I’m getting better at them,” she muttered, “and this is about Constance, not me.”
    Great. Everyone’s attention was back on her. “I’m not complaining,” Constance said. “I’m happy for all of you. I’d just like a little of it for myself. Sometimes it’s hard to spend my nights and days alone or go to award ceremonies where all of you have dates, some of you have several, and mine stands me up.” She lowered her face, trying to hide her sadness. “Is it a crime for me to want to be with somebody too?”
    “No,” they all said at once.
    Becca hugged Constance harder than she had before. “We want you to hook up with a great guy, really.”
    “But not Gabe.”
    Becca’s embrace loosened considerably. “He’s mortal. All of us are with other supernaturals.”
    “Makes it easier,” MJ said.
    “For you.” Constance regarded them. “None of the guys here have ever really been interested in me. Why do you think I have to come on so strong with them even though they’re not my type? If I waited for those jerks to make a move, I’d never see any action.” She turned to Zoe. “Remember when you asked me not to flirt with your guys because you were worried they might not want you? Well, sweetie, the way you felt then is the way I am all the freaking time.”
    Zoe’s hair stopped smoking. She knelt by Constance’s side and rubbed her knee. “I had no idea.”
    Heather stroked her turban. “Me either.”
    “Same here,” MJ said, gripping her shoulder.
    They loved her and it was nice, but not nearly enough, especially after meeting a guy like Gabe. Sure, he probably had crappy habits like everyone else. Maybe he whistled off-key, watched too many sports, failed to take out the garbage.
    No one was perfect, though to Constance he was damn close.
    As if Becca had read her thoughts or body language, she eased away and studied Constance. “Did he say what had brought him here?”
    “He danced around it. All he admitted to—unless he was lying—was he’d heard things.”
    Becca’s face drained of color. “Like what?”
    “I have no idea.”
    Becca turned to the others. “None of you ever talk shop with mortals, right?”
    They offered a collective gasp. The same response one would expect from an elderly nun who’d been questioned about masturbating.
    “Are all the permits in order?” Zoe asked.
    Becca and the others looked at Heather, who backed away from their questioning gazes. “I filed everything exactly as I’m supposed to and paid all the fees. I even overpaid the IRS from my own checking account so they wouldn’t cause us any problems.”
    MJ rolled her eyes. “Keep it up, sweetie, and you’ll go broke.”
    “So? I don’t want anything happening to this place.”
    Becca turned to Constance. “Tell us exactly what he said. Don’t leave anything out.”
    Constance shared it all, except for her and Gabe’s deep, lingering kiss, how he’d made her want what she’d never have.
    Becca rocked on the sofa, clearly agitated. “Maybe someone made a complaint about the noise.”
    The weres, demons, and vamps were really going at it tonight, as if someone were yanking out their fingernails and teeth.
    Becca spoke to Zoe. “You better keep the racket down.”
    “Sure thing.” She smacked her fist into her palm. “I’ll have my guys take care of it immediately.”
    “No broken bones,” Becca said. “I don’t want Heather