“Don’t you two want to get out of here and ‘catch up’?” Ava asked with a wink.
The others had gathered round the table when they saw Raven and Beck hug each other tightly, eagerly wanting to know whether they were back together. Raven was still tucked into him. His arm around her, holding her hip. The other holding her hand.
“There’s still a lot more to tell you,” Beck said as he stroked up and down her arm. Goosebumps erupted where he touched.
“Should we go somewhere?” Raven asked, then looked towards Mike.
He’d been watching them the whole time, looking for any hint that Raven was upset with Beck. He would’ve been there in a heart beat if she was. He’d also said his piece about Kato. He wanted to hunt him down and show him the error of his ways.
“Go,” Mike motioned with his head to the door. “Go figure stuff out.”
“Thanks Mike.” Raven smiled at her uncle. Reaching across the table and grasping his hand.
She removed herself from Beck’s side and made a move to stand.
“Beck.” Mike said, as Beck stood, making him pause. “None of what happened was your fault; I get that, but she’s still my baby niece so you better watch yourself.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Beck replied and shook the hand that Mike outstretched with his answer.
They walked hand-in-hand to the doors, waving to their friends before leaving the bar.
In a split second, Beck pulled Raven into him and held her close.
One hand threaded into her hair, cupping her head, the other wrapped around her lower back.
Raven hugged his tight waist in return. Her head buried into his shoulder, and she inhaled his scent. She loved how he smelled.
His hard body pressed into hers, and another hard part of him pressed into her stomach.
Her nipples pinched in arousal, and her core burned for him. She needed him so much, she had to physically stop herself from rubbing against him right there on the pavement.
She’d heated all over, but she had to restrain herself. No matter how much she’d missed Beck, or how much she wanted him right then, she had to stick to her plan.
Her plan to have Beck make it up to her. It was cruel -to them both- but it was necessary.
Beck pulled back and held her face in his hands.
“I’ve missed your lips,” he whispered, and his eyes locked on her mouth. “I want to kiss you.” He leaned towards her.
“I don’t kiss on first dates.” Raven couldn’t hold back her smile.
Her head and body both screamed at her to not be so stupid. The tremors that coursed through her, and caused her knees to quiver, confirmed that she’d lost her damn mind. All that time without him and now she was going to make him wait? More to the point, she was going to wait!
Yes. Insane.
“What?” Beck looked both shocked and confused at the same time.
“Do you realize we never went on an actual date?” she asked. They hadn’t. They’d jumped in at the deep end right from the start.
He looked in thought, still holding her face in his hands. “We didn’t.” His eyes moved back to hers.
“Well, you said you still have a lot to tell me. We could start there.”
“Seriously? We haven’t seen each other for seven months, and you want to go on a date?”
“Yes,” she replied with a satisfied grin. “You said you would make it up to me.”
Beck returned the grin, but with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Uh oh.
Raven instantly knew he was right back to being the Beck she knew and loved. The dirty minded filthy talker that turned her on at every opportunity.
She’d gone and set herself up for painful retribution; of the sexy kind.
“Ok, Raven,” he said, his voice low. “Have it your way.”
Beck’s eyes scanned her face before stepping back just enough to be able to look her over.
Raven swallowed.
The fire in his eyes shot straight to her center.
I’m sorry, can I take it back? I want you right now!
Beck’s hands slowly released from her hair, and they smoothed over her shoulders and down her arms to her hands.
“I said I’m going to make it up to you, babe; and I will. If this is what you want…” his eyes roamed over her again, and he took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. “…This is what you’ll get.”
Raven’s mouth hung open, and she licked her lower lip into her mouth. Just a few words with the correct inflection and she was turned on.
She was in so much trouble.
Beck held her hand and turned to walk down the street.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“To my car. I’m taking you on our first date,” he winked.
“But I’m not dressed for a date,” Raven said, pointing to her black tee and pants.
“Raven, you look amazing in anything.” She smiled shyly as her face flamed. “Here we are.”
Beck had stopped next to a black Audi Q7 Sportback with five double spoked alloys wheels. It looked expensive.
“This is yours?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “It’s all part of the ‘business image’ as my dad puts it,” he said.
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” he replied, opening her door for her.
“A gentleman,” she smiled. “Are you after something?” She giggled as she sat in the black sports seat, even though she was nervous.
The whole interior was black with a chrome trim on the doors.
Beck walked around to the driver’s side and got in. A gust of Beck smell hit Raven in the face, and she held her breath.
You need to hold out! Don’t give in yet!
Raven watched his arm muscles flex as he reached for his seatbelt.
“Raven?” he whispered. “Did you hear me?”
“Hmm?”
Beck smiled broadly. “I said to put on your belt.”
“Oh, yeah.” Raven blushed, just like she had a million times before when she got caught staring by Beck.
“Let’s go.” Beck reached for Raven’s hand, and she took it, as he began to drive the car.
“Did your mom take care of you?” Raven asked.
It had been playing on her mind, even though she wanted to tear Beck’s clothes off, she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been looked after in New York.
“That’s what I wanted to tell you,” he answered, his smile slipping, making Raven feel guilty for making him sad again. “Don’t feel bad, babe,” he said. “I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn’t want to discuss it near the others.
Beck had always been private, even with Donnie, and Raven understood why he didn’t want to continue their talk in the bar. The others had come over, making him cut it short.
Beck began to tell Raven about landing in New York, where a car had come to pick him up. His mom hadn’t been there to meet him, which Raven thought was mean.
When he’d gotten to his mother’s and told her what had happened, she hugged him. She got him settled and then went out for her spa session that she’d already booked.
Raven was mortified that she’d left him alone after what he’d been through.
Beck continued.
He went to his room and didn’t go out of the house for over a month, and then it was only to go to the gym. He worked out, went home, and studied. He also did the occasional projections figures for his dad who still only called him when it was for business.
His mom cared more than his dad, even going as far as suggesting he sought medical help for depression but still she never cancelled any of her social activities to be with him.
Beck had felt alone but, even in his state, he’d preferred it that way.
The way things were -he thought they were- the least amount of people he saw, the better. The only people he’d spoken to face-to-face were his mom and her housekeeper, who he didn’t allow in his room whatsoever.
He’d received his books and studied hard. He completed his degree earlier than expected, and received his certificate. Once it was over, his dad hounded him to start at the company. He’d only been back for three weeks when he decided to go for a drive and saw Donnie’s car outside Mike’s bar.
Without thinking, he’d pulled up and walked in. That’s when he saw the whole gang, and some extras, having a little get together. It had devastated him further seeing her in Mike’s arms, until he found out the truth about their relationship.
Beck had been lonely for all that time. At least Raven had had her family and friends to support her. Beck had had nobody.
She began to think twice about her ‘making it up to her’ plan. She wanted to let Beck know how much he meant to her, that he was cared about more than he could ever know.
Raven rested her head on his shoulder, and Beck gently kissed the top of her head as his thumb stroked over hers as they held hands.
“Will you tell me what happened?” Beck asked.
Raven didn’t know if she should. The things she’d done, she wasn’t proud of. She hadn’t been herself and had turned to self destruction.
“It wasn’t a good time,” she said. “I was a mess.”
Raven reluctantly told him all the grisly details of what had happened at college after he left. Not getting out of bed, not going to class, fighting…
He was infuriated to say the least.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” he said again, his eyes filling up from what she’d gone through. “I know I should’ve called you, but I couldn’t think straight after I saw the paper. I broke down and the next thing I knew, I was getting led to the car.”
“It’s all over now,” she whispered. Joining her other hand with his.
“It is.”
Beck parked up outside the pizzeria on fifth street, and turned off the engine.
“Here we are, our first date.”
“Here?” she asked excitedly.
“Pizza brings back great memories.” Beck waggled his eyebrows.
Raven mock gasped. “Beck! Are you trying to get in my pants?”
“Oh no. I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said, with a devilish grin. “Not like someone I could mention,” he muttered under his breath, but fully intending Raven to hear it. Her gasp was real that time, making him laugh.
Raven had missed that too. Missed him so much it still hurt.
She blinked back her emotional tears and walked through the door Beck had held open for her.
Sitting side by side at their table, eating pizza, was fun. Talking about the times before they were together and the ways Beck would torment her. They’d talked about some of them in the past; there were many.
Beck’s phone rang, and he pulled it out to check the ID.
“It’s my dad,” he said, declining the call and putting it in his pocket. His phone rang again straight away.
“It’s ok, you should answer. It might be important.”
“Not important as you.” Beck gazed into her eyes as he spoke, sending shivers down her spine. God she loved how he did that. “I’m sorry,” he apologized when his phone rang for the third time. “Hi dad,” he said into the phone.
“Where are you?” Jack’s voice sounded from the other end. Raven could hear him clearly from where she was sitting.
“I’m on a date,” Beck replied, smiling warmly at her. He was looking at her the way he used to.
Raven’s heart skipped a beat.
“A date? Why the hell are you on a date? We have work to do.”
“I’m sorry, dad, but this is more important to me.”
Raven snuggled into Beck’s side, his arm around her and his fingers tangling her hair.
“No, this is more important,” Jack said angrily.
“Not happening dad,” Beck shook his head.
“Excuse me? We have to finalize the details of this deal!”
“It can wait.” Beck’s jaw clenched. “I don’t expect you to understand, but I’m not coming back right now.”
“Understand what?” Jack spoke as though he was bored with the conversation. “Just fuck her already and get back here.”
Raven’s stomach rolled at the way Jack had spoken to Beck. It was disgusting.
Wow, what a nice guy! Not.
“Bye dad.” Beck hung up the phone, turned it off, and put it away.
“He’s going to be mad, isn’t he?” Raven asked. From what Beck had told her in the past, Jack wasn’t going to be happy that Beck had put something before the business.
“I don’t give a shit,” he replied. “I was done when he said that.”
“Said what?” Jack had said many things.
“He said to fuck you.” Beck moved his mouth to her Raven’s ear, and her breath hitched. “We don’t fuck…remember?” His words flowed through her making her eyes flutter
Raven pulled her lower lip into her mouth to stop a moan from escaping. She pressed her knees together under the table to calm the storm brewing there.
She wanted Beck so much. Her body was fighting her, virtually screaming at her to make up for the lost time. The gray in his eyes had almost disappeared with his dilated pupils. He was feeling the same way… and she was torturing them both.
Beck moved so his face was mere inches from hers.
“What are you thinking?” he asked. A slight curl on his lips.
“I…I… I have no idea,” she whispered. Her mind was blank except for the one focus that remained.
Getting Beck naked.
Beck licked his lips, his eyes glancing down to hers. Raven swallowed hard. Beck was doing the same things to her as he had in college.
The looks, whispers, low voice, licking his lips… They were working too.
She was worried that if he were to touch her in a certain place, she’d fall apart right there in the restaurant.
“I missed seeing this,” he said, a smile spreading on his face. “The way you react to me. It’s so sexy.”
“Beck, don’t,” Raven pleaded. She was losing her resolve quicker than her heart was racing.
Beck chuckled. “You know that’s not how this works,” he grinned. “It doesn’t matter where we are, or what you’re doing, babe.” He raised his hand and stroked down her cheek with his fingertips. “Have you forgotten how persistent I am when it comes to you?”
“No,” Raven said with a shaky breath. “Not in the slightest.”
*****
Raven’s core throbbed painfully as they left the restaurant.
Beck had touched her like he had in their economics class. He’d let his fingers graze across her shoulders as they sat together. He’d made sure he leant in close as he spoke. And the tone he used…. Raven had to bit her lip from whimpering at the table. Her eyes closed automatically as the prickles over her skin had her body lighting up like she was on fire. He thought it was amusing as hell.
Beck opened her door, and closed it when she sat. Raven took a breath before she put on her seatbelt, being careful not to aggravate the intense pulsing between her thighs.
“Where to?” he asked, his eyes roaming over her, enjoying watching her in agony.
“Louise Avenue, just off eighty fifth,” she replied.
Without saying another word, Beck pulled away from the curb, and drove the short distance from the pizza restaurant to Raven’s apartment.
Beck had barely stopped the car when Raven opened the door.
“Come in,” she said quickly. She wasn’t giving him any doubts that she wanted him to go inside with her.
Raven knew what she’d said earlier, but her mind had won out. She’d missed him too much to hold back.
With shaking hands, Raven opened the door to their ground floor apartment and walked inside. Beck followed, closing the door behind him.
“This is a nice…”
Raven cut him off when she crashed her mouth to his, her arms wrapping tight around him holding him close. She felt his hard body press into hers then his hands in her hair. He returned the kiss in a second, and he licked into her mouth, feasting on her lips as though he was a man suffering from starvation.
Raven captured his tongue between her lips and gently sucked down the length, swirling hers as she went. She then nipped his bottom lip, letting her tongue lick across it.
“Raven,” Beck whispered into her mouth, before capturing it again.
His hands released from her hair and ran down her back to her ass. He gripped her cheeks, leaving one hand in place as the other ran up her front, cupping her breast in his hand. He ran his thumb over her hard bud, making her core tighten in response to the pleasure she received from his touch. She was aching all over and longed for his hands to be all over her; for him to be inside her again.
As they walked backwards further into the apartment, they kicked off their shoes.
Raven stroked down Beck’s solid torso, wasting no time in finding the bottom of his tee and pulling up. Beck released her, raising his arms and helping her to remove it. Hers was discarded just as quick, her bra flung across the room a second later, and their bodies pressed together again. Her hands caressed frantically over his muscles, before lowering to his belt.
Raven pulled back from the kiss, trying to catch her breath.
Her hands worked quickly as she unfastened his belt and unzipped his jeans. Beck paused their movements, and cupped her face in his warm hands, tilting her head back.
He looked into her eyes, his dark with arousal, and he smoothed his hands from her face, down her neck to her breasts. He turned his hands, palming her orbs, lifting them and dipping his head to kiss them.
Raven’s head fell back when his mouth closed around a nipple, and he thumbed the other.
“Oh God, Beck!” she sighed. Her core burned as he ran his tongue over her hard peak. The heat radiating from the center out.
“Raven,” he whispered against her skin. Kissing back up to her neck, then to her lips.
They sucked on each other’s lips as their tongues swirled around. Tasting, playing, loving.
Raven felt one of Beck’s hands glide down her stomach. Her skin prickled under his touch sending shocks through her. His fingers found the front of her pants popping the button there. He released her breast, and both hands tugged on her pants letting them drop to the floor.
Raven stepped out of them, as Beck led her back again, gripping his waistband and pushing his jeans over his thick thighs, and he shucked them down, kicking them off his feet. His hard length bobbed in the front of his black boxers, gently hitting her lower stomach.
Raven’s behind came into contact with the kitchen counter. Beck hands were at her waist, and he gripped before gently hoisting her up, sitting her on the cold surface.
He stood between her thighs, and she lifted them around his waist, all the while they kissed passionately.
Raven held onto Beck’s wide back, letting her fingers dig into the tight flesh. She raked them down, feeling his muscles tense under her touch. When she reached his firm ass, she gripped tight. Pulling him closer to her center, desperate to feel him there.
“God babe,” Beck groaned as his cock hit the apex between her thighs.
“I need you. Beck,” she whispered against his lips. “I need you right now. I missed you so much.”
“I missed you too. Baby,” he replied. “I really fucking missed you.”
Raven took the elastic in her hands and pulled down impatiently. Beck assisted, pushing the fabric down his legs. She reached down to stroke his hard dick, and Beck flinched when her fingers wrapped around the smooth shaft, making him hiss as her hand worked up and down.
Beck’s jeans were on the floor, his cock was bare and he wasn’t attempting to reach for anything from his pockets. Raven could tell he hadn’t expected to be in that position, which made her happy to think he hadn’t assumed anything would happen.
Raven eagerly nodded her approval. There was no way she was going to stop.
He ran his hands up her thighs, until one was gripping her ass, holding her to him, the other found its way between her legs.
Raven gasped when his fingers stroked up her wet center, circling her nub. Lights flashed behind her eyes, and her stomach tightened. Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers slipped inside her.
“Fuck, Beck!” she squealed as her toes curled. She was about to fall to pieces and there was no way she could stop it. It had been so long since she’d felt that way, and her body was clearly overjoyed at being back in Beck’s arms that the sensations were heightened more than ever. “I…oh…”
Beck’s fingers left her just before the final push, replaced with the large head of his naked cock.
“Yes!” she gasped when he pushed the hot tip inside. Her core still on the brink of erupting.
Beck gripped her hips tight and surged forward, entering her in one swift movement.
Raven screamed in pleasure as he hit her end.
“I’m not going to last long,” he ground out as though trying to control himself. “Baby…fuck!”
Beck’s hips pulled back and thrust hard into her again, almost lifting her off the counter.
Raven held onto him as their bodies connected, her breasts pushed into him.
Beck lifted his head and took her mouth. His hips pounded into her and Raven came apart.
“Ahhh!” she cried out her head falling back as her eyes rolled. Every nerve ending in her body sparked, and every fiber contracted as Beck continued to pump into her, his cock thickening and pulsating.
He was coming too.
He buried his face into her neck as he emptied inside her, his lips sucking on her skin.
Beck’s movements slowed as they came down from their climax. He pressed his face into her neck, his hot breath fast and furious against the sensitive skin there. Both still panting heavily when he stilled.
Raven wrapped her arms around his shoulders, one hand in his hair.
Beck’s head remained buried in her hair as Raven held him close to her.
“I love you, Raven” he said, his voice soft.
Raven’s heart stopped.
She didn’t know if she’d heard what she wanted to hear, or Beck had just said the three words she felt for him.
Beck lifted his head and looked into her eyes. He had a nervous expression on his face, as though he was afraid of what she would say at his declaration. Her chin wobbled, and her nose stung as the tears filled quickly, overflowing just as fast, falling down her cheeks.
Beck pushed her hair back out of her face, wiping her tears with his thumbs.
“I love you,” he said again, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead to hers.
Raven placed her hand to the side of Beck’s face.
“I love you too, Beck.”
“You do?” he asked, his face lighting up like a kid at Christmas.
Raven nodded, her smile growing bigger too.
“Tell me again, babe. I really need to hear it right now.”
Raven smiled, then kissed his lips softly.
“I love you.”
Beck grinned, showing his perfect teeth. “I love you, too.”
*****
Once out of the shower Raven led Beck into her bedroom.
Her room, with its pastel yellow painted walls, was her favorite part of her apartment.
As soon as Raven had moved in, she’d bought a rug to match her paint and placed it on the pine-wooden floor next to her bed so she had something fluffy to step on in the morning.
The large square window, to the left of the bed, that sat in the center of the back wall had long white vertical blinds for privacy, and long white drapes like her dorm in college.
She’d also hung her collage of pictures, minus a few obvious ones, on the wall at the foot of the bed, next to the door.
Raven and Beck climbed into her double bed, and crawled under the huge white quilted duvet.
“I have something of yours,” she said, getting back up, and walking over to her closet.
“You do?”
“Yeah. I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t let it go.”
Raven had held onto the last thing she had of Beck. She’d tried to throw it away, but when the time came she couldn’t do it. Nobody was allowed to do it for her either. She’d said that if she was ready to give it up, then she should be able to do it herself.
“Ray, come on,” Ava said as Raven sobbed for the third time that day. “If you want to get past this, let it go.”
“I can’t,” she cried. “It’s all I have left.”
It didn’t matter that Beck had left her and broken her heart; it was the only thing she had of him that she could hold on to. She knew it wasn’t healthy, but right then she didn’t care.
“Honey, throwing it away will give you closure,” her mom said, rubbing her back.
“It won’t. I’ll only get closure when I know why he left.”
“Do you want one of us to get rid of it for you?” Ava asked.
“No!” Raven snapped. “I don’t want anybody to touch it.” She held it to her chest one more time and walked over to her closet. “It’s going to stay in here until I’m ready to give it up.”
“Ok, Ray,” Ava said soothingly.
“Whatever you need, sweetie,” her mom added.
She didn’t know why she did it to herself. Every couple of days she went into her closet and opened the box, looking through the contents. The tears would begin, and Raven would feel deserted all over again.
They hadn’t even been together that long, but what she felt was real enough to hurt as much as though they had. Raven had chastised herself enough times for holding onto the past, but she didn’t know whether she would be the same again. It had taken a while, but she’d managed to go longer without looking.
Even moving out of her parent’s house three months later, Raven still couldn’t bring herself to throw it away. It remained in her new closet, untouched for the last few weeks; finally.
Raven went to her closet, that was on the other side of the collage, and opened the bottom cabinet. She pulled out the box that sat in there. Holding it to her chest she walked over to the bed and sat next to Beck.
“Here,” she said, handing it to him.
She was a little nervous about showing what she had kept for all that time, especially when she saw the recognition on his face.
Beck slowly opened the lid, seemingly just as nervous as she. A smile spread across his face and Raven released the breath she was holding.
The item on the top was his T-shirt. The same one that Raven had gone back to her dorm in when he’d torn Ava’s dress from her body. She’d given back his sweats, but kept the shirt.
His smile widened when he saw the next item.
“You stole my slippers,” she said, pointing at him and narrowing her eyes. Her lips pursed as she held back her smile.
“I did,” Beck chuckled. “You looked so goddam gorgeous wearing your morning after outfit.” He licked his lips. “I couldn’t help myself. I took them when you were all bouncing about. Then when Donnie texted me that you were leaving, I watched you walk barefoot to your dorm.”
Raven’s heart thudded as Beck’s eyes looked her up and down. He was remembering exactly how she looked that night, and glancing down at his towel, she could see the effects of that too.
“What happened to the others’ pairs?”
“I dumped the others. It looked too obvious if I left theirs behind.”
She had to give it to him; he’d covered his tracks.
Beck looked back inside again and pulled out the photograph of their first day, and his eyes lit up.
“My first ever picture of you. I took it with the old Blackberry I had back then, after you told me to go fuck myself,” he laughed.
He pulled out the card from the flowers her dad had sent to her -that he’d written on- and smiled mischievously.
Then, he picked up the last thing from the box.
“My phone,” he said, his voice was so quiet he almost mouthed the words. “You kept it.”
“I did.” Raven nodded, as Beck held the iPhone he’d left behind.
“Did you erase anything?” he asked, a worried look on his face.
“No. As soon as Donnie got your dad’s number, I switched it off. I thought you would’ve deleted it through the cloud.”
“No. I don’t know why, but I never backed it up, and I’d never switched on the find my phone feature. I lost everything when I dropped it. I just transferred my contract to my new phone.” Beck tried the power button, but it didn’t switch on.
“It was in the doorway of your closet,” she said, remembering the unusual place to find a phone.
Raven took it out of Beck’s hands and placed in on the charging dock on her nightstand.
“Thank you,” Beck whispered, pulling her close to his bare chest. “For keeping everything.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied against his warm skin. “I’m just glad I could give it back.”
Beck put the items back in the box and placed it on the other nightstand. He turned, cupped Raven’s face and gently pressed his lips to hers.
“I love you,” he whispered against her lips.
“I love you so much.”
Beck kissed her once more, then pulled her into him in a loving embrace. Raven tangled her legs with his and took a deep breath against the skin on his chest, sighing contentedly.
*****
Raven woke up to an empty bed, and her heart leaped into her throat until she heard male laughter coming from outside the door.
Getting out of bed, she opened the bedroom door a fraction, and peered out towards the kitchen area. Beck and Donnie were chatting as though it was a normal day.
Raven smiled when she saw what they were doing. They were cooking breakfast.
Going to her bathroom she quickly showered, and dressed into her black leggings and long V-neck red and white striped tee, before leaving her room.
“Good morning sunshine,” Ava whispered as she opened her own bedroom door. A wide smile on her face.
She had regularly stayed over, Donnie with her, for a few days of their semester breaks -before visiting their own families- and had their own room there. Raven was always glad to see her best friend, and she was also glad to be able to provide some privacy for them whilst they were looking for their own place.
“Good morning,” Raven whispered in reply.
The girls exited their rooms and walked through the living room to the kitchen.
“I see you had a good night last night.” Ava winked then looked pointedly to the folded up clothes on the sofa.
Raven’s face flamed. Ava and Donnie had not only seen the clothes scattered, but had tidied up after them.
“You could say that.”
Beck turned, and Donnie looked over when they heard their voices. Beck’s face lit up, making her smile, and he put down the bowl and whisk he was holding and walked over to her.
Raven opened her mouth to speak, but her words were stopped by Beck’s mouth on hers. His arms banded tightly around her, holding her tight to his body.
“Wow,” Raven sighed, when Beck released her mouth.
“We’re making breakfast,” he said, a huge smile spreading across his face.
Raven looked down at Beck’s clothes.
A plain black tee and dark blue jeans. Sexy as sin, and by the way his lips curled at the corners, he knew it too.
She wondered where he got clothes from.
Beck took her hand and led her to the kitchen as he explained. “Yeah, I kept a spare set in the car” he grinned. “If you wouldn’t hear me out, I was going to book a hotel room and pester you again today. Donnie kindly went out to my car and got them for me this morning.”
“Otherwise his naked ass would’ve been on show,” Donnie said from across the room, Ava sitting on his lap. “When we saw the state of the place we knew you’d definitely worked things out,” he chuckled.
“I don’t know how you got your bra to hang from my door handle, but from where the other clothes were strewn over the floor, I’m guessing it was thrown,” Ava laughed.
“You can’t learn that,” Beck said, a huge grin on his face.
“Sure,” she narrowed her eyes playfully. “Well at least you didn’t leave your empty packets lying about.”
Raven blushed.
She noticed Ava looking at her funny and glanced down at the floor before turning back to Beck.
“Do you have to work today?” she asked. Raven didn’t want him to leave her so soon, even it was only for work.
“No, baby.” He pulled her close again. “I’m not going anywhere without you today, if that’s ok.”
Raven beamed. “That’s more than ok.”
“I love you,” he said, running his thumbs over her cheeks.
“I love you too.” Raven’s smile widened when Beck’s did. His eyes lit up just like the had when she’d told him the previous night.
“Aww!” Ava sighed, her hands over her heart. A tear rolled down her cheek.
Donnie grinned too, and wiped her tear away before kissing the wet trail.
“Let’s carry on making you girls breakfast,” he said, and Ava got up off his lap.
Raven stared at Beck as he poured the mixture from the bowl into the frying pan. Being apart for all that time, she would have expected it to feel somewhat strange with him there; it didn’t.
She let her eyes wander over every perfect inch of his muscular physique from head to toe. Her eyes paused when they reached his tight ass, that was shaking as he stirred the contents of the pan, and she licked her lips.
“Hey, you’ve got a little…” Ava said, gesturing to her own mouth with her finger.
“What?” Raven asked in embarrassment, wiping her mouth.
“A little drool,” Ava smiled, then raised an eyebrow.
Beck laughed. “Raven, are you checking out my ass?” He’d asked her that same question in college.
“Yes,” she nodded, her face flushing. “Yes I am.”
“That’s ok then,” he winked, sending a flood of heat right down to her center.
Raven and Ava finished washing up after the delicious scrambled eggs and toast, and Beck pulled her onto his lap. He dipped his head, and Raven shivered when she felt his lips graze the shell of her ear.
“You look sexy,” he whispered, tightening his grip around her stomach.
Raven felt his hardness flinching underneath her.
Before Raven could reply, there was a knock at the door.
Donnie got up to answer it, opening it wide.
Raven’s stomach rolled when she saw who it was, and Beck tensed.
“What’s up babe?” he asked, stroking her arms.
“Oh shit. I completely forgot.”
“Hey Georgio! Nice to see you.” Donnie stood back as Raven’s father walked into the apartment. Donnie kissed Jayne on the cheek as she followed him in. ‘Hi Jayne. You look as lovely as ever.”
“You’re such a charmer, Donnie,” Raven’s mother laughed. “Where’s my girl?”
Raven stood up from sitting on Beck’s lap, and she saw the look in her mother’s eyes when she noticed her. She was wondering who the hell the guy was behind her daughter.
The look in her dad’s eyes, however, was something else. It was more ‘why the hell is that guy behind my daughter?’
“Hi guys,” Raven said nervously. “I’m sorry, I forgot you were coming over this morning.”
“Yes, I can see that.” Georgio’s gaze was fixed on Beck.
Beck stood up but made no move to go anywhere. Raven blocked his path, just in case.
My dad will kill you, so stay there.
Raven held her hands up. “Mom, dad, this is Beck.”
She waited for the outbursts that were sure to follow.
Nothing.
Her mum smiled and her dad eyed Beck as though he wasn’t quite sure he liked him.
“We had a feeling he’d be here,” Jayne said, looking between the two of them. “Mike called us last night and told us what happened.”
“I want to know everything, Ray.” Georgio said. “I know what Mike told us, but I want to hear it again, with every detail.”
Raven knew her dad was in detective mode. She could tell by the stern look in his eye.
“You’ll need to sit down for this.”
Raven gestured to the sofas, and they made their move to the living room. Luckily, Ava saw and swiftly grabbed the clothes and moved them to Raven’s room.
Her parents sat down on the deep red two seated sofa, and Raven sat on the beige one that was perpendicular. Beck sat next to her, and Raven took his hand, showing her parents that they were together again.
Her dad scowled. Raven understood, but she hoped he would change his mind when he heard the truth.
“Mom, dad…” she began, before taking a deep breath. “Beck was lied to… about me.”
Jayne’s eyebrows shot up and Georgio looked to Beck.
Raven told them the details Beck had relayed to her, checking with him that she hadn’t left anything out. They told them that the details on the report were exaggerated and weren't how things had happened between them.
The looks on their parent’s faces were first shock, disgust, then sorrow.
To say they were furious was an understatement.
“Do you still have the evidence?” Georgio asked.
“Yeah.” Beck got up and went into Raven’s room, returning with the piece of paper. He held it out for Georgio. “Here it is.”
“Could you unfold it?”
Raven watched as Beck opened up the piece of paper and held it out to her parents so they could read it for themselves.
“That lying, sneaky son of a bitch!” Jayne snapped.
“Who else has touched this paper?”
“Myself, Raven, Kato and probably Veronica too,” Beck replied. “I never showed it to anybody else until yesterday.”
“Honey, grab a food bag,” Georgio said to Raven. “Beck, fold that up again, and put it in the bag.” They both did as her dad asked, sealing the paper in the plastic. He took it from them and put it in Jayne’s handbag. “I’ll get this tested for prints. Those two aren’t getting away with what they did to you both.”
Raven sat back down and turned to face her parents, and Beck sat next to her with her back to his front. His arm came round her waist, and she held his hand on her lap. She didn’t miss her mother’s eyes glance to what he was doing.
“What happens now?” she asked.
“Do you know where Kato is?”
“No idea.”
“We’ll find him.” From the tone of his voice, Raven knew her father meant business. Kato was in serious trouble, and so was Veronica. “Excuse me, I need to make a call.”
Georgio stood and left the apartment, calling somebody on the way.
“Your father pursued me relentlessly in college,” Jayne said, surprising her. “I could’ve written that paper myself,” she winked.
“Ew mom!” Raven cringed. “Too much information.”
Beck chuckled behind her.
Jayne just sighed happily. “Ah, memories.”
“I need to take a trip to the station,” Georgio said when he walked back in. “One of the officers is going to take the evidence to the lab. Ray, we might need to take statements from both of you."
*****
Raven’s parents had hung around for coffee before they needed to leave. Georgio had to take the report to the lab as soon as possible.
“You should all come round for dinner,” Jayne said as they got to the door. “Soon, please. I don’t see my little girl nearly enough as I’d like.”
Raven hugged her mother tight. “We will, mom. Soon, ok?”
“Sooner rather than later, honey,” Georgio added, pulling Raven into a bone crushing embrace.
“Come here, big guy.” Jayne grinned. Raven was surprised when her mom wrapped her arms around Beck and squeezed him tight. The look on his face showed he was too. “It was lovely to finally meet you.”
When she let go, Georgio took his hand and pulled him in for guy hug. “She’s my little princess, Beck. Hurt her and I’ll be taking my brother-in-law up on his offer.”
Raven rolled her eyes. “Dad,” she warned. “Leave him alone.”
They waved their goodbye’s, and then her parents were gone.
“Your parents are nice,” Beck said, pulling Raven into his arms. “I bet your dad wanted to kill me.”
“Well, I did ask him,” she said, lifting her arms around his neck, and chuckled when Beck’s eyes widened. “He said he wanted to, but the force frowned upon it.”
“What was the offer Mike made him?”
“To help him hide your body,” she giggled.
“I like them even more.”
“Why? Because they wanted to murder you?”
“Exactly,” he smiled. “It shows how much they love you.”
“Her dad’s crazy protective,” Ava cut in. “Just a warning… Mike has nothing on him.”
“I’ll bear that in mind,” he chuckled, nuzzling Raven’s neck. She sighed when his lips grazed the spot under her ear. “I’m never going to hurt you again, baby. I promise,” he whispered, sending shivers down her spine.
“I know,” Raven replied. “I trust you.”
Raven gasped when Beck ran his hands down her legs and swept her up into his arms. He began to walk across the living room to her bedroom.
“I think it’s time we went out,” Donnie said quickly, grabbing his keys off the counter. “We’ll call soon.”
“Um… yeah,” Ava added on as they rushed out of the apartment.
“See ya!” Raven waved as Beck opened her door.
It was good that their friends had left them alone.
What Raven had planned to do to Beck, she didn’t really want them to overhear him moaning in pleasure.
*****
“He’s determined to speak to you, isn’t he?” Raven said when Beck’s phone rang for the third time.
“I don’t care,” Beck replied as he fastened the laces on his sneakers. “After what he said last night, he can wait longer. He’s a dick.”
It rang a fourth time, and Beck dropped his head back before taking a calming breath.
“Speak to him, baby,” she said, passing his phone. “He won’t leave you alone otherwise.”
“What dad?” he ground out when he answered.
“Where the hell are you?!” Jack roared on the other end of the phone. “You need to get back to wrap up this deal!”
“I’ll be back when I’m ready.”
“You’ll get back here now! This deal needs to be finalized today!”
Jack was definitely angry. Raven could hear him growling from where she sat.
“Dad, I’m still out of the city. I’ll swing by later.”
“Swing..?” Jack released a frustrated breath. “You’ll get your fucking ass in this office within the hour, Beck. You know why I need you to do this.”
Beck sighed.
“It’s ok,” Raven whispered, rubbing his thigh. “I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
He turned to her, placing his hand on hers and gently squeezing.
“We’ll be there soon, dad, but we won’t be staying long.”
Raven was happy that Beck included her, but she was also worried that his dad would blow up on him for not returning to the office sooner.
“I’m sorry. I’ll just be a few minutes with him,” he apologized as he cupped her face in his hands. “As soon as I’m done we’ll leave, ok?”
Raven nodded before pressing her lips to his. “Take as much time as you need, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Why do you need to sign the deal?” Raven asked Beck as he drove down the highway. “I thought your dad dealt with all of that.”
Beck snorted a laugh. “The guys who own the other business can’t stand my dad,” he said, grinning. “There’s a lot of money involved and they would only come on board if they could deal directly with me.”
“Seriously?” she asked. “He actually gave away some power?” From what Raven had heard from Beck, Jack wouldn’t give up anything unless absolutely necessary. Sometimes not even then.
“He had no choice. They wouldn’t sign otherwise.”
“He must’ve been livid.”
“You could say that,” he grinned.
Beck went on to explain the last calls Jack had made to him when they were at college. Jack had proposed the merger, but the other company was reluctant because the owner didn’t like him. Jack didn’t trust any of his workers with the task so, he’d had Beck look through all of the business information and come up with the forecasted profit margins for the next five years. The owner had been impressed and had agreed almost immediately, but on the condition that they would deal with Beck; not Jack. He’d been furious at first but ultimately, the only thing Jack was concerned with was keeping the affiliation with the other business. That alone would make the company much bigger than before. It didn’t matter that Beck would effectively be running a separate part of the company on his own, Jack only cared about the opportunities the merger opened up for himself.
Raven felt a sense of pride for Beck. All of his hard work had definitely paid off.
It didn’t take long to reach the tall building that Jack owned. It was a huge gray building with tinted windows all around. It looked to be at least one hundred floors high. It made Raven dizzy just from looking up at it.
“He leases out some other floors for other business,” Beck said, taking her hand. “He makes a profit from the extra space.”
“It’s huge,” she almost whispered.
“Thanks, it’s not even hard,” he said, leaning into her and waggling his eyebrows. Raven burst out laughing. It was the same line she’d said in the bar. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”
Beck led Raven through the automatic doors and into the lobby. Everything was shiny and clean. The black floors were spotless, and the crisp white walls gave a cold, clinical feel to it.
Curved wooden counters ran along the left side, and a bank of elevators were to the right.
Beck walked past them and to a set of black doors at the end. He took a card out of his pocket, swiped it through the console, and the doors slid open revealing a private elevator.
Mirrors surrounded the interior with a hand rail in the center. The floor matched the lobby.
Beck pressed the button to the top floor, and the doors closed.
Raven was surprised when Beck backed her against the wall.
His mouth crashed to hers the moment his hands found her hair. She gripped his top, pulling him closer to her. Beck tilted her head and deepened the kiss, running his hands down her body until he came to her thighs. Gripping tight, he lifted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Raven could feel his cock harden underneath her. Her hips moved automatically, trying to ease some of the pressure building between her thighs.
“I’ve thought about getting you in here,” he panted, breaking the kiss. “Every damn time these doors closed I imagined what it would feel like to bury myself inside you against this wall. Right here, where there aren’t any cameras.”
“So why don’t you?” she asked, running her hands underneath his tee and caressing his solid torso.
She would never tire of stroking over the ridges of his muscles. It turned her on when he tensed under her touch. Making him harder. Getting him ready to drive into her.
“We’re almost to the top floor,” he said, nipping the skin on her shoulder and digging his fingers into her ass cheeks.
“God Beck!” she squeaked when he placed an open mouthed kiss on the sweet spot under her lobe.
Beck groaned as she moved her hand between them, stroking over the large bulge in his jeans. Her other hand held tightly in his hair.
“I just couldn’t go another minute without touching you,” he breathed into her ear.
His hot breath on her skin drove her insane. Her back arched and her nipples tightened painfully.
One hand disappeared from her rear and landed on her breast, kneading and stroking. Raven moaned, biting her lip to quieten herself. Beck kissed up her neck, over her jaw until he found her mouth again.
“I love you,” he said between kisses.
“I love you too.”
Beck carefully lowered Raven to the floor just as the elevator came to a stop.
He ran a hand through his hair to fix it -then adjusted his pants- took Raven’s hand, and walked out.
“Here we are,” Beck said as they passed the receptionist’s desks reaching a dark wooden door.
Without knocking, he turned the handle. He opened it into a huge room with a charcoal carpet, huge windows running along the wall to the right of the door overlooking the city, and a long black sofa with a glass coffee table in front.
“It’s about time!” A man said from the seat behind the large dark wooden desk.
He stood and walked towards them.
His suit was navy blue with a matching tie and a bright white shirt. His short styled hair was dark with graying around the sides. He looked to be around the same height as Beck, but he was nowhere near the same size in musculature.
“Dad…” Beck began to say, but Jack cut him off.
“Where the hell do you think you’ve been? I’ve been waiting for you to get back here to finish this,” Jack said, raising his voice.
“I’ve been busy dealing with something more important,” Beck countered, gripping Raven’s hand. “The merger could wait while I got my life back.” Beck turned his gaze to her, letting her know what he meant by that.
His life?
Raven melted inside.
Jack noticed the exchange and fixed his gaze on her. She didn’t like it at all. Especially when his eyes ran over her making her feel exposed.
“Who’s this?” he asked, his mouth turning up.
“This is Raven.” Beck lifted his arm and wrapped it protectively around her shoulder.
Raven opened her mouth to greet Jack, but he spoke first.
“What? The same Raven that fucked you over?” he asked, his mood shifting.
Beck shook his head. “The thing that happened in college; the report. It was all lies. Raven didn’t do anything. Kato forged the document.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Jack asked, his voice raising. Raven thought he may have a heart after all. “So all that trouble of keeping an eye on the college and making sure no details were leaked was a waste of my fucking time?”
Nope. He’s a cold, heartless bastard. Just like I thought.
“Son of a bitch!” Jack yelled.
Raven couldn’t believe that Jack was only concerned about what he’d had to do to keep the ‘report’ quiet. Not even bothered what his own son had gone through because of Kato. She could feel her heart racing in her chest as her anger rose to the surface. She could hear Jack ranting about his wasted resources and time over something that wasn’t true. The only thing he was mad about what how it had affected him.
Raven opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind.
“It’s not worth it, baby,” Beck whispered before she could say anything.
He placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her forehead before walking over to the desk. Picking up the pen, he signed two documents that were on there, taking a copy with him.
“All done. Let’s go babe.”
Raven gladly reached for his hand, and they headed to the door.
“Where are you going?” Jack asked, clutching the signed document tightly.
“Back to my girlfriend’s place,” he replied. “I won’t be at the office for a while.”
They left Jack staring after them open mouthed. He didn’t have anything more to say after Beck had done what he’d wanted.
The ride down the elevator was just as hot on the way up, and by the time they reached Beck’s car, Raven was having trouble walking.
“I’m so going to get you for this, Beck Traynor,” Raven warned. “You just wait until we get back to my apartment.”
Beck leaned over the center console into her space. “Baby, don’t say things like that,” he said. His voice low and sexy. “It just gives me more of an incentive to do it again, and again…” he lowered his voice further “…and again.” He licked his lips and grinned lazily.
Raven’s jaw slackened. A fire was raging in the pit of her core, and her breaths were shallow as Beck looked her up and down, teasing her and turning her on.
The mischievous grin, and glint in his eye told her he had every intention of doing just that.
Bastard.
*****