Understanding Beauty (The Beauty Trilogy Book 2)

by Raven Scott

  “I’m calling to give you our final answer. The trial hasn’t started yet and until a judge requires us to give you the information on the defendant, we won’t be. Have a good weekend.” The line goes dead.

  I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at the screen, a mix of anger and shock running through me.

  “Baby, what’s wrong?”

  I set the phone down and look up at him. “That was someone from the defense attorney’s office letting me know they won’t be giving me any of the defendant’s information unless a judge orders them to do so.”

  His eyebrows shoot up for a second and then the timer for the oven goes off. “Is there anyone else you can call? What about the arresting officers?”

  My mouth drops open and the light bulb in my head goes off. “Oh my god, Ro, why didn’t I think of that sooner?” I rush over to him and grab his face, planting a hard kiss on his lips. “Can you handle this while I make a call?”

  He chuckles and kisses me, much softer than what I did to him. “Of course, baby. Rowan and Rain are going to be here in a few minutes.”

  I grab my phone and kiss him again before heading back into my bedroom, shutting the door behind me as I dial the number for the police precinct. An officer answers on the third ring.

  “Hi, my name is Parker Helding. I’m the attorney handling the Theodora Crowe accident. Can I speak to someone involved with the case?”

  “One moment, Ms. Helding,” the young voice on the other end says.

  A few minutes later, the line clicks back on. “This is Detective Blake. Whom am I speaking with?”

  I repeat who I am and then take a deep breath. “I’m calling because the defense attorney is refusing to give me any information on the defendant. I was hoping you could.”

  Detective Blake sighs loudly. “I’m sorry, Ms. Helding, but I can’t.”

  “And why the hell not?” I can’t help the anger flare. This is starting to get ridiculous.

  “Because the defendant is a minor, Ms. Helding. Legally, without a judge's order, we can’t give out the identifying information.”

  The breath whooshes out of me. Rogen and I briefly talked about this being a possibility, but I never really considered it to be an actual possibility. “A minor?”

  “Yes, ma’am. The best I can tell you is to file with the judge overseeing the case and have them put in an order to get you the files. If they do, we can send you everything we have.”

  I nod even though he can’t see me. “Thank you, Detective.”

  I hang up and sit for a moment before opening my phone again and dialing one of my business partners. She and I talk for a few minutes and she agrees to file the request with the judge first thing Monday morning. There’s a heaviness in my chest now, knowing the person I’m going to be prosecuting is a kid. Which means this case is a lose-lose situation no matter who wins.

  I get up and head back into the kitchen only to find Rowan and Rain on one end of the couch and Rogen on the other. All the food is covered but set out on the table.

  “You guys ready to eat?” I ask sadly and they all jump and turn.

  Rogen takes one look at me and hurries off the couch to wrap me in his arms. “What’s wrong, babe?”

  I let out a heavy breath. “The defendant is a minor. That’s why no one can give out the information.”

  “Shit,” Rogen says under his breath.

  “Oh, honey, that fucking sucks. Come hug me,” Rain says, stepping around Rogen and opening her arms.

  He keeps his hand on my lower back as I step from his embrace to hers. I like that he isn’t clingy but still makes sure I know he’s there. I’ve never told him how much I need that reassurance, but it’s like he already knows.

  “Hey,” Rowan says, stepping up and putting her hand on my shoulder. “Let’s eat and then we can sit and help you figure out where to go from here with the case.”

  I stand up straight and take a huge breath, nodding my head in agreement.

  “Alright, ladies. You all sit and I’ll uncover everything and grab drinks,” Rogen says with a clap of his hands, making us all chuckle.

  As I chat quietly with the girls and watch Rogen move around getting things ready, I’m reminded how truly lucky I am to have these amazing people in my life.

  Even with darkness lurking in my soul, I’m still one blessed bitch.

  18

  After dinner, the four of us hang out in the living room and talk over Theodora’s case. Rowan is the logical one and suggests I sit tight until the motion is filed. If a judge denies the request, then I can figure out where to go after that.

  Rogen is sitting behind me with one leg off the couch and the other behind me so that I’m sitting between his legs with my back to his chest. Just after I stop laughing at one of Rain’s crude jokes, Rogen brings his hand around to tilt my head to the side until my lips connect with his.

  He holds the side of my head in his hands as his tongue teases my lips open. Willingly, I submit to him, my body on fire, ready to beg him for just one more touch despite the fact that there are people in the room.

  “At least they didn’t face fuck each other at dinner,” Rain says under her breath, causing Rogen and I to break apart in laughter. “Because we have to eat in there and I don’t want to be making sandwiches where they’ve gotten all their juices.”

  “Rain, shut up,” I screech at her, turning to bury my very red face in Rogen’s chest.

  His body shakes with laughter. “Don’t worry, Rain, I like eating dessert in bed anyway.”

  “Shut up,” I yell without lifting my head as Rowan and Rain roar with laughter.

  “Oh my god, Parker. That’s what you’ve been doing for the last few months, ignoring our calls because you’re now Rogen’s personal buffet.”

  “Be nice, Rain. Christ, I just get her to like me and you’re trying to fuck it up and send her running,” Rogen says, tightening his arms around me.

  I look up at him, sliding my hand up his chest just enough to grab his neck and pull his lips down to mine.

  Rain makes gagging sounds and I smile against Rogen’s lips. “I can’t fucking un-see this shit. Y’all are as bad as Collins and Cannon.”

  Rogen moves his lips to my ear, nuzzling against me. “Now I want dessert. Which means I’m going to feast on you later. Keep that in mind before you try going to bed later.”

  “Christ, just send them home now,” I whisper back to him as he grazes my earlobe with his teeth.

  “Aye, that’s enough,” Rain says as we both look over at her. “Get up and get changed. We’re going out. I have a surprise for you guys.”

  “Oh really?” I say, sitting up and smirking at her.

  “Yep. I’m going to show you my world, buttercup, and there ain’t no place for those lawyer flats or tailored suits there.”

  The moment the words leave her mouth, I’m slightly worried. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m a lawyer.”

  As I head to my room to change, I laugh at Rain and Rowan trailing behind me. “Why do you say that?” Rain asks with a chuckle.

  “Because if you end up in jail, you’ll need to hire me.”

  We spend the next hour getting ready, and of course, Rowan picks out my clothes. For the first time ever, I look more like a girl Rogen might pick in a crowd. They slicked my blonde hair back on both sides and pinned it, fluffing the top on a faux-type mohawk, and Rowan picked out the tightest pair of dark, torn jeans that I own along with an old t-shirt that she cut into a crop top.

  When we walk into the living room, Rogen’s jaw drops and he lets out a low whistle. “And now my dick is hard. Rain, go without us. Parker, back in the bedroom so I can strip you with my teeth.”

  I blush so hard my face is warm to the touch.

  “That’s the kinky shit I like to hear,” Rowan says clapping me on the back before she walks up next to Rogen and opens the door. “However, we are going out, but we will not be coming in after the fun so that you and your teeth, an
d tongue, can get busy on ya woman.”

  Rogen drives and the three of us girls chat and poke fun the entire ride. Rain gives him directions and after a little while we pull up in front of an all-black building with two white words above the door identifying this as The Playground.

  I’ve been on this side of town a million times and never noticed this place. As we get out of the car, a group of people come out the front door with strange chokers around their necks, and while I get a feeling I know what this is, I’m going to pretend like I’m wrong.

  “Rain, where in the hell are we?”

  She smirks at me as she takes my hand. “Follow me, wee scaredy cat.”

  Rogen comes up on my other side and pulls me into his side. As we step up to the bouncer, he looks up, his eyes widening in surprise as he looks over Rain.

  “I didn’t know you were working tonight.”

  Rain smiles back at him. “I’m not. Figured I’d show my family what I do when I’m not up their asses.”

  The bouncer chuckles and shakes his head. “Only you, Rain.”

  He opens the doors and we pass into a lobby with a podium at the front and a tall woman clad in a very tight corset behind it. “Rain, it’s your week off. I thought you’d be somewhere with that fine ass man of yours!”

  All our heads snap to Rain and she rolls her eyes, walking right past the woman with us following. “Not my man and hasn’t been for a very long time,” Rain says partly over her shoulder.

  “You got a man,” Rogen says in surprise and Rowan pushes Rain’s shoulder with a look of irritation on her face.

  “No, I do not. Now, shall we,” she stops at another entrance that has a cute little goth-covered hostess greeting people.

  “Hey guys, welcome.” Her eyes drift over each of us and stop on Rogen, a big flirtatious smile crossing her lips as she bats her eyelashes at him.

  He gives her a small smile and glances down at me. Just as he goes to look up, I grab the collar of his shirt and pull his lips down to mine, our tongues instantly trying to war for dominance, his hands going around my waist and gripping them hard.

  As Rogen takes control, everything around me disappears. The voices, the snickers, the music, everything, and all that’s left is the fire of his hands on me and his lips pressed against mine.

  “Y’all keep that up and I’ll lend you my private room so you can do more than tongue fuck each other,” Rain says with amusement in her voice.

  Rogen bites my lip as he breaks the kiss, both of us panting. “Another second and I’ll fuck her on the bar.”

  Rowan hoots. “Hot damn, hell yes!”

  I give him a quick kiss and as we turn to walk into the club and give the hostess a very pointed glare. Her cheeks redden and she looks down at the floor. As we walk in and I finally look around, what we are standing in hits me like a ton of fucking bricks.

  Rain works in a sex club.

  My jaw drops and my eyes land on Rain, my limbs tensing. Her eyes widen as I step forward, but Rogen grabs the back of my neck and squeezes. It’s the most possessive and dominant thing he’s ever done and it freezes me in my tracks.

  Without moving his hand or releasing the pressure, he steps up next to me, looking in my eyes and shaking his head. “Let her explain.”

  It isn’t until I nod my agreement that he leans down and kisses me, letting the pressure on my neck lessen. That should NOT have been a turn on, but I’ll be damned if I’m not extremely wet right now. Trying to ignore how Rogen’s control just made me feel, I turn my eyes back to Rain.

  “A couple years back, some shit went down. The girl I was died, and the only thing that was left were memories I wanted to forget. And pain. More pain than I’d ever felt in my life.” Rain runs her hand through her hair with a shimmer of tears in her eyes. “I wandered in here one night, more out of curiosity than anything else, and some guy asked me to dance for him. I said fuck it and I did. When I danced, the memories went away, the pain stopped. It gave me a different kind of numbness. He was the manager and he offered me a job. I took it. I don’t need the money, but I need the release, the escape.”

  Rain’s eyes lock with mine. “Why didn’t you tell me about all this?”

  She bites her bottom lip and tears well a little more. “I didn’t think you’d understand. Not the level of darkness I carry, but now—”

  “Now we match,” I say, deadpan. “Nothing could ever have made me change how much I love you, Rain, not then and not now.”

  Rain blows out a relieved breath and launches into my arms, crushing her body to mine. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime, girl. Anytime.”

  Rain stands with a huge smirk on her face. “Good, now, let's find a table so I can show you how I dance!”

  19

  By the time Rogen and I walk through the front door, I’m exhausted and ready to pass out where I stand. Watching Rain dance was amazing. The freedom shone through every movement she made, and by the time we left, I felt like Rain and I were closer than we’ve ever been.

  She was apparently so worried about what I’d think, but she didn’t need to be. Dalton and I would have understood. And I’ll support her no matter what.

  Rogen shuts and locks the front door as I toss my purse on the entryway table. His hands grip the top of my jacket and he helps me get it off. Before I can take another step into the apartment, Rogen kisses my neck and runs his hands up my chest, teasing my nipples through my shirt.

  “This is going to be quicker than I want, baby, but you’re exhausted, and I want you in my bed tonight.”

  “You know I won’t be mad if we don’t have sex tonight, Rogen. That’s not all this is for me,” I say, turning to kiss him gently.

  “Mmm, I know, but I just spent all night in a sex club imagining taking you on the bar. So, instead, I’m going to have you on the kitchen table.” He grabs me by the ass and lifts me, kissing my neck and collarbone as he walks us into the kitchen and sets me on the edge of the table.

  I unbutton his shirt, helping him out of it as he reaches and undoes my bra before pulling off my top and sliding the bra down my arms. He leans forward, pushing me down on the table and licking and sucking my nipples as he pulls my jeans and panties off, bending my knees and putting my feet flat on the edge of the table.

  He hums with appreciation as he kisses down my body, between my breasts, stopping just above my sex. Gently running his tongue from hip to hip, he places a hand on either thigh and pushes my legs open wide. “I think I’m addicted to you, Parker.” He lightly licks my clit and my body is so sensitive that I arch up off the table, whimpering. “Everything from the way you smell to how delicious you taste makes me ache for you.”

  “Rogen, please.”

  “Mmm. I like it when you beg, too.” He eats my pussy like he’s starving. His tongue is rough and relentless and it doesn’t take long before I’m squirming under him, crying his name and panting. Just as I’m about to come, Rogen stands and slams his cock into me all the way to the base, pressing down on my clit with his thumb.

  He doesn’t wait for me to adjust before he pumps in and out of me, holding one hip with his hand to keep me in place. The pain is so good that I fall over the edge within minutes, and Rogen is right after me. He doesn’t pull out, but leans over the table, covering my body with his and kissing my lips, along my jaw, and then moving to my neck. “You’re so fucking perfect, baby.”

  We’re both covered in sweat and the stickiness from fucking so quick and hard. Rogen eventually stands and just as I go to get down from the table, he scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the shower in his room. Setting me on the small rug beside the tub, he turns the water on and holds his hand underneath the shower stream for a few.

  “That should be warm enough. Get in and let me wash you, baby. Then we can put on a movie and curl up in bed, okay?”

  I bite my bottom lip and nod before stepping into the shower. The water is perfect, hot enough to make my skin slightly red but not en
ough to cause actual burns. My muscles loosen under the water and I sigh, content, truly content for the first time in a long time.

  Rogen sets his hands on my hips and slowly turns me so I’m facing him and my back is to the shower head. “Lean your head back, baby. Let me get your hair wet so I can wash it.”

  I do as he says without even trying to argue. Dalton and I never showered together. It wasn’t something he liked and I respected that. Rogen seems to want to do everything together, and I’ve never had someone care for me like he is. It’s a whole new level of intimacy that I’ve never experienced. I honestly don’t think anyone has washed my hair since my Mum when I was a kid.

  Rogen turns me again so my back is to him and gently tilts my head, lathering soap in my hair and massaging my scalp as he washes it. After he’s done with my hair, he washes my body from head to toe, and I can’t seem to find words the entire time. When he’s done, I switch places with him and gently smack his hand when he reaches for the shampoo.

  “My turn,” I say in a whisper.

  Rogen gives me a sexy smirk and tilts his head back into the water before turning around so I can wash his hair. When I’m done with his hair and body, he rinses and shuts off the water. Reaching outside the shower, he grabs a huge fluffy black towel and wraps it around me, kissing the tip of my nose. “Thank you, baby.”

  “I should be thanking you,” I say, leaning forward to kiss him right above his heart.

  “Mmm. Let’s get dressed. I want to hold you.”

  My heart melts. Literally, I think he just turned me into a puddle of emotion. We dry off and go in his room. Rogen slides into a pair of boxers and as I open my mouth to tell him I’m going to go get dressed, he turns to me holding a t-shirt in his hands.

  “For you.”

  I have to stop myself from nose diving into the fabric. As I slide it over my head, I’m surrounded by Rogen’s smell, which just creates a wave of calm and peacefulness over me. Rogen smiles at me as I grab his towel off the edge of the bed and take it with mine back to the bathroom. I hang them on the back of the door and return to find Rogen in bed with the sheets pulled down.