Beaten (Broken Book 1)

by Rue, Rebekah

  “Talon?” I say through chattering teeth. “Will you turn off the fan? I’m so c-c-cold.”

  “Baby, the fan is off.”

  Oh. The bed moves, and I shiver as the covers lift and cold air hits my skin. Suddenly, it feels like a ball of fire has jumped in bed with me. I didn’t know fire could feel so good. He isn’t wearing much except boxers, so every inch of hot flesh connects, searing mine. With my head perfectly tucked under his chin, he wraps his toasty arms around my tiny frame, encapsulating my body. The heat feels amazing. My eyes close as a comfortable moan leaves my lips, and my teeth stop chattering.

  “Shhh.” He soothes as he holds me close, gently stroking my hair. “Just rest. I’ll take care of you.”

  A weak tear trickles down my cheek into my hair at the thought of someone concerned enough to take care of me. Those words alone feel as if they can heal me. My I’m-okay mask slips, and some more of my vulnerability leaks out in the form of tears. I’ll take any affection I can get, even though it will make pushing him away that much harder in the morning.

  Little do I know I won’t have to. From his tender words, I figure he’d still be here, but the next morning, he treats me like all his other cheap dates and is gone. No note, no text, no hey, see you next Tuesday . . . nothing.

  My head is pounding like someone is jackhammering in my skull. Carefully, I turn my head and notice the glass of water and two tiny pills sitting next to it. I start to remember bits and pieces, but a lot of holes in my memory remain.

  Once again, I feel humiliated. I allowed my naïve psyche to control me, to open myself up, to wish for something with a promise. This whole Talon issue is one big continual slap in the face.

  Two knocks come from my door, and Maggie slips in, seeing I’m awake. She’s wearing an oversized worn T-shirt with “Coffee is my lover” printed on the front, coffee in hand, and fuzzy white bunny bedroom slippers dusting our hardwood floors. She sits on the bed with me, crossing her legs at her ankles, blowing into her mug. “How are you feeling today?”

  I roll towards her, inhaling the creamy aroma, noticing that I don’t feel like vomiting. We must be good. “I’m fine except for my head.”

  “Were you okay with Talon last night?”

  I think about that and slowly sit up, shrugging my shoulder. “Yeah, I’m still alive, so something went right.”

  “Huh.” I keep quiet while she takes a pull from her coffee. “What happened? Why didn’t he stay?”

  “I wish I knew.”

  “He’s a bastard! I should have taken you home myself, and I’m sorry I left you with him.”

  “No, you did nothing wrong and you couldn’t have.” I pause, looking down. “He was actually perfect.”

  “Yeah, until he did his disappearing act.” I flinch at her blow and Maggie notices. “Honey, I’m sorry. You’re falling for the man whore.” It isn’t a question, but she is spot on.

  This singular question has been bouncing around in my head since the day I met Talon. I have to ask her, hoping her answer will somehow make me want him less. “Maggie?

  “Yeah?”

  “Have you . . . umm . . .” I don’t know how to ask her, but I’m suddenly nervous and fumbling with the tail end of my sheet. “Have you and Talon . . . you know . . .?”

  A mist of coffee dusts over my sheets, and I shield myself from being sprayed. When I lower my blanket past eye level, she is staring keenly.

  “I was hoping you were never going to ask me, but since you brought it up, I think we should talk.”

  Shit, I shouldn’t have asked. “I changed my mind. I know the answer already.”

  “No, you need to hear this from me.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “After I moved down here, I started hanging out with some girls from school. We had a really hard bundle of finals one term and worked our asses off to ace all of them, so you can imagine how spent we were afterward. That night we drove around, searching for something to do, including men, when we happened to drive past a house overflowing with people and loud music. We figured no one would give two shits if we snuck in and drank a little free booze, so we did. The night progressed. I was horny and feeling pretty. I stepped out into the backyard and spotted a fine group of sexy-ass men in a circle, getting high. I didn’t even think. I just went. Talon happened to be the one I sidled up to. I mean, God, you can’t fault me. His hands are so big, he’s a bad ass, and those eyes could split you in two, though that night they were really dilated. From what he’s told me, I worked my body over him like he was a stripper pole and practically begged him to pop the pussy. My words, not his.” She stops and rubs her temples. “How embarrassing.”

  Now that she has my attention, I kind of want her to keep talking but figure I already know the direction this story is moving in. “It’s fine. I don’t need to know anymore.”

  “No. You need to hear the rest.”

  Ahh, kill me now. Figuring I have no other choice, I rest my head against my headboard and prepare for the explosion. Literally.

  “We ditched the party in the backyard, and he hauled me through the house up the stairs to a bedroom door. I thought this was it. I was about to have my mind blown. But instead of kicking it open, throwing me on the bed, and ravishing me, he knocked twice and waited. I could barely stand still when the door open to a good-looking, bare-chested guy. They didn’t exchange any words. Talon just gave me a slight push on the back and in I stumbled. Chestie, that’s what I called him all night, among other things”—Maggie stops again and she bites on her bottom lip to stop from smiling—“did some pretty impressive acrobatics with me. It was fucking Cirque du Soleil up in that shit. The next morning I left, walking funny and buzzing like static electricity was running through me. No one has been able to touch that performance since.”

  Wow, she never had sex with Talon. The tension in my chest releases, but now I want to know who this powerful sexy orgasm god is. “So do you talk to this guy anymore?” I ask, leaning in closer, needing to know.

  Maggie nods. “Yes, quite often actually.”

  “And?”

  “And now we keep our silent hook-ups our dirty little secret.” A glimmer of sadness hides out behind her pupils as she speaks with her index finger pressed to the center of her lips. Maggie sets her mug on the nightstand and tucks her ankles up under her. “What I’m trying to say is do what makes you happy because if you never put yourself in the path of the bad, you’ll never stumble upon all the good.”

  In my mind, I scroll through the weeks and weeks that make up months of some of the best times, and oddly enough, they were all with Talon. Good times. Great times!

  “Lo”—Maggie waits until I look at her, and I do—“I know how you feel, and you don’t have to pretend.” I hate her words and each bit of truth I dissect from them. “You can’t hide your feelings for long. Let them breathe, give them meaning, and stop thinking you’re going to disappoint me. I’m not your parents.” The mention of them spikes a round of tears. My parents are probably looking down on me now and shaking their heads. Why can’t I fall for someone normal, settled, simple like Micah? Talon is a shaky choice and it frightens me. I can’t afford to choose the wrong person to love and live with the risks that come with his lifestyle.

  Maggie leans over and hugs me. Her arms feel good. “Shit, Lo, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I just want to see you happy, and for some bizarre reason, I see that he makes you happy.”

  I draw my knees up close to my body and rest my head on them, taking in a shaky breath. I guess I can try. I’m going to try to let him in. Take a chance. And if it doesn’t work, well, I’ll know he isn’t my guy, and hopefully, it will lead me to the one who is.

  She hugs me one last time and gets up off of my bed. “Now get rid of this funky-ass mood because you’re really sparking off some real negative mojo around here.” Her smile is all sweet.

  I wipe my eyes in my sheets and force a smile in the hope it will change my mood. I can’t bum around the house all
day. I need to head up to the college to register for my classes and check out the campus. I’m excited that in a little over a month I will finally start my second round of classes. I don’t know what I want to become, but just like everything else, I’ll figure it out as I go.

  Getting ready, I pull on a white blue-embroidered short-sleeved Boho top and a pair of frayed cutoff jean shorts. I slide several leather bracelets on my wrist and pull on my comfiest cowboy boots. Next, I fix my face. My eyes are red and slightly puffy, so I blot some concealer under them, give my cheeks and eyelashes a few swipes of blush and mascara, and complete it with a coat of pink lip gloss to my plump lips. Perfect. Well, at least the outer shell is.

  The college is busy, but I don’t have any trouble enrolling in any of my classes. My work load consists of College Algebra, College Composition, Psychology, and an easy-A art class.

  After leaving the main office, I tour the grounds, taking in the colonial-style buildings blended with modern architecture. The campus is humming with students’ excitement. Pockets of lush vegetation and shade trees make for perfect study spots throughout, reminding me of a beautiful park back home called Tranquil Shades I used to visit often. Heath and I even got busted for making out and stargazing after park hours. Thank God the cop was a friend of Daddy’s and he let us off with just a warning. Dad never found out about that one.

  The longer I walk around, the more excited I get. I check out the cafeteria, and I hit up the bookstore. With a small fortune in hand, I walk back across campus, passing numerous booths for clubs and groups to join. I figure I have enough on my plate for now and steer clear. With the bus stop just outside the edge of campus, I’m starting to rethink my night writing class. I’ll have to ask Maggie to take me, or eventually, I’ll need to buy a car. A nighttime mugging really doesn’t fit into my busy schedule.

  Later that evening, I get a text.

  Talon: What r u doin?

  I toss the hand full of peanut M&Ms into my mouth and text back.

  Lo: Reading smut. U?

  Talon: Missing my friend, want some company?

  I take a minute to think it over. I’m giving him a chance, I remind myself.

  What the hell. The only person here to talk to is Diddy, and he’s licking his balls spread eagle in front of me right now.

  Lo: ok

  Talon: Good

  Not even a second later a knock comes from the front door. No way, I think, craning my neck in that direction. I toss my e-reader to the side, causing Diddy to pause mid-lick and watch while my bare feet take me to the front hallway.

  With the swing of the door, there he stands, smolderingly handsome; it takes my breath away. “Tada,” Talon says, clearly proud, inviting himself in.

  I give my head a slight shake, feeling lightheaded from his sudden nearness, and walk back to the couch. Talon follows, picking up my Kindle and taking the seat next to me.

  “Ooo, Lo, you naughty girl, this is some dirty stuff,” he says, eyeing the page I’m on.

  A pink flush crawls across my cheeks, and I leap at him to snatch the e-reader away, but he holds his arm out, keeping me back. “Uh, uh, uh, sit back and relax. I’m gonna read you a story.”

  No way! I leap again, but he predicts my moves, raising the device even higher. My head lands in his lap, facing his stomach, and he holds me down easily with his forearm as I squirm to break free. Unfazed, he begins reading. “Gaylord loved Shanaynay and couldn’t take it any longer. Spreading her large skinfolds wide, he stuck his subpar member in, only to elicit a tiny moan.”

  My body stills at his glorious voice; then like a damn we break out in hysterics. Our laughter bounces off the walls, and he tosses the Kindle to the table. Maggie is right. I haven’t laughed this much in a long time. Our laughter cools and turns into big smiles for each other.

  He stares down at me and I stare right back at him. With passing seconds, his mood suddenly turns serious. “Is that what you want, Lo? Romance? A rich man to sweep you off your feet? A happily ever after?” There’s not a trace of humor in his voice.

  My smile disappears along with our carefree moment. “No,” I softly say and I mean it. I don’t need all that. I want someone who wants to hold my hand when I’m scared or pauses his favorite show so I can tell him about my day. I want to make love to someone who loves me. That’s my happily ever after.

  His hands move. One cups my outer hip, snugging us closer together while the other gently pushes my hair back. His touch is warm and feels so good. I take a deep breath in, filling my lungs, and feel peace spread through me in a warm rush. My eyes slide close and a low hum slips from my lips. Stroke after stroke, he scratches his nails over my scalp, popping goose bumps up all over. I don’t want his fingers to stop. It’s easier to allow him to take things to the next step if I don’t know when to stop him. “I’m sorry I had to leave you last night.”

  I don’t care; don’t stop. “Mm, no, I appreciate all that you did. I didn’t expect you to sleep over.” Actually, I did.

  The hand stops. I wait. Eyes softly closed, I can see shadows moving from behind my lids but can’t make out what is happening. Anticipation wreaks havoc, sloshing my stomach acids around. With a light hand, he clutches my chin, resting his thumb delicately up the center of my lips. Peppermint breaths brush across me in short little pants, and it makes me smile to see I affect him in that way. I want to look up and watch him, to search his soul for what I so desperately crave. It doesn’t take long to recognize the reality of where this is heading, I’m growing anxious under his tender touch, and it is taking superhuman strength to not reach up and claim him with a kiss. I want many, many more. Ever so slightly, I part my lips letting the tip of my tongue graze the pad, tasting his salty skin. Talon sucks in a deep breath through his teeth and I wait. His wet thumb brushes across my pink flesh and I wait. My heart is going to need reviving from beating so erratically after this, but still, I wait. Then his thumb disappears, leaving my lips cold and lacking. I still don’t open my eyes. I wait.

  After a few heated beats, his touch returns, only it isn’t him at all. A hard but smooth candy-coated shell glides in the center of my lips, working them into a smile. My slick tongue reaches out and captures it from his fingers, and a light laugh vibrates his chest and warms mine. Chocolate is a girl’s best friend, but chocolate is even better when your best friend is feeding it to you. After all that time and still no kiss, I finally allow my eyes to take in the man who’s slowly stealing tiny pieces of my heart. “Lo?”

  “Mmm hmm,” I hum nervously.

  He takes a deep breath and holds it like he’s going to tell me something, but stops and ends up exhaling that used breath slowly. “Do you . . .?” His mood shifts and he speaks with a charming smile. “Do you want another M&M?” Tempting me, he holds a green M&M up between his fingers. I’m disappointed that that’s the question, but also very relieved. My mouth opens in invitation and I wait for the small treat. Very gradually, Talon brings it down, barely touching my lips, resting the sweet bait at my entrance, and waits. Just before my tongue reaches out to capture the green candy, he swiftly retracts it, popping it into his mouth. What the . . .? I flinch back and my mouth drops open completely, shocked. The candy was there one minute and gone the next. He seems to find that completely hilarious, pressing his hand to his chest and jostling my head in his lap.

  “That’s just mean.” I pretend to sound hurt.

  He pipes down the laughter and pipes up the innocence. “Oh, you wanted that one?” he asks, pointing to his mouth swallowing the candy down in a gulp. I’m too busy watching the muscles in his throat work to care. Frowning, I glare up at him. “Well, here, let me get you another one.” Talon leans over and plucks a blue chocolate from the dish. I hold perfectly still as he perches it on the rim of my lips. Just as I go to take a bite, he pulls it back and pops it into his mouth again. My shocked and disbelieving expression has him throwing his head back, laughing uncontrollably. His silliness is infectious, and I pi
nch my lips together to keep from laughing. I love the timbre of his voice, so full of danger and sin.

  This calls for revenge; I have to defend the two M&Ms I lost in battle.

  “You big ogre, that one was for me.” I huff, getting up, straddling his pronounced hips, and grabbing a hold of his wrists, wrestling them apart. Holding tight, I tilt my face up to his. My blue M&M is being held hostage between his treacherous lips, taunting me, begging to be saved. His arms fight back, complicating the rescue. I bob and swerve. “Give me the candy!”

  “Never!” He mumbles around the chocolate.

  All of a sudden a loud crash echoes from my bedroom. My body jumps with the racket, and I wrap my arms around his neck and coil against him. Talon rotates on the couch and protectively shields me with his body. His posture’s alert, serious, face tense. “We’re the only ones here, right?”

  I nod a tense yes. Talon delicately unfolds my body from his, leaving me on the couch. “Stay here. I’m going to check to see what that was.”

  “I want to come with you.”

  “NO!” His voice is protective and firm, his eyes meaning it.

  I pull my legs back up, tucking myself into a ball, knowing better than to fight. Quietly Talon slowly tiptoes sideways down the hall, meeting my door and pushing it open, stepping out of view. After some heavy minutes of silence, I can’t take it any longer. I sneak down the hall, and just as I’m stepping in front of my door, Diddy rushes out of the blackness, releasing a mean primal meow, bolting between my legs. My heart stops and I practically jump out of my skin.

  “Stupid cat,” I spit, reaching down, throwing a squeaky mouse at him. I’m starting to hate him. Carefully, I step inside, trying to pick out anything that is out of place. The door to the bathroom is cracked open, spilling a sliver of light into the bedroom. I walk up to it and push the door open. Holy—! An overpowering wall of perfume hits me, and I use my sleeve to cover my nose as the floral aroma dominates the tiny room. Talon is kneeling next to the sink, picking chunks of glass up off the floor and tossing them in the tiny garbage can next to the toilet. With the creak of the hinges, he looks over his shoulder.