She backed away from my Charger as I started it. I drove home with the image of her standing alone in that beautiful dress shrinking in my rearview mirror. My heart tightened in my chest and I prayed hard that I hadn’t just made a huge mistake.
Chapter 3
Danni
I stood in the parking lot watching Beau drive away from me. I was stunned. Seeing Beau in his suit at dinner, smiling as best as he could for Everleigh’s birthday already had me feeling confused. When our hands made contact at the dinner table I felt like my blood had been set on fire. I had touched Beau several times in friendly gestures since everything went to hell, but that innocent brush of his fingers shocked my system. I ended up following his hand under the table and grabbing onto it. I don’t know if it was not having had sex in a year and a half or if I was just plain lonely, but when he laced his fingers with mine something sparked and I felt hope for the first time in a long while.
I tried to shake off the feeling, sure that it was just a fluke. I would always care about Beau but that didn’t mean I wanted to start things up again. However, when Ryder announced that he and Everleigh were having a baby, I looked at his face and saw something I hadn’t seen in his eyes in a long time. Beau was happy. He was going to be an “uncle” and he looked so thrilled, which made me start to melt.
All through dinner, I had a long internal talk with myself. I thought back to the night in New York City when things went bad…
“So, tell me Danni, how is a girl as hot as you still single?” Jake asked me, his toned and heavily decorated body pressing against mine.
“I can’t believe for one second that you’ve been hanging around the guys in Bad Blooded Rebel and none of them have gone after you yet.”
I felt nervous as his fingers grazed my bare arm. I didn’t want to talk about Beau in that moment; I just wanted to focus on having fun. If he didn’t want me I would make sure that I found someone who did, and Jake seemed like the perfect place to start looking.
“Let’s not talk about them right now. Why are you still single?” I asked.
Jake grinned at me, his lip ring catching the light. “Guess I just haven’t found the right girl,” he said seductively.
“And you think I might be?” I asked, smiling.
Leaning his face close to mine, he answered with a question. “Well why don’t we find out?”
His lips were on mine in an instant and I gasped. Jake took my reaction as an invitation and slid his tongue inside my mouth, his tongue ring clicking against my teeth. I thought I heard someone opening the back entrance door but I was so caught up in the moment I paid no attention.
I wanted so desperately to kiss him back, but all I could think about in that moment was Beau and that I wished he was the one kissing me, not Jake. I knew right then that I couldn’t move on with Jake because I would never be able to see past Beau.
I gently shoved against his chest and said, “Wait, Jake, stop.”
“What is it, Danni?”
“I can’t do this. It’s not fair to you. The truth is that I have been…am…I mean was involved with one of the guys.”
Jake grinned at me. “It’s Beau, isn’t it?”
I sighed and licked my bottom lip. “How did you guess?”
“Well, it was pretty obvious by the way he was looking at me earlier like he wanted to gut me like a fish,” Jake answered, and I laughed.
“He was?”
“Of course he was. Have you seen you? You’re beautiful.”
I blushed and smiled. “Are you sure he was looking at you like that?”
He nodded and said, “It’s obvious by the look in your eyes right now that you love the guy, Danni. Go tell him.”
“He’s been pretty stubborn and doesn’t seem like he wants to have a relationship with me, Jake. What if you’re wrong?”
He chuckled and said, “Trust me, I’m not wrong. Beau wants you and if you want him too, I am not going to stand in the way. He’s my friend before anything else. You know, ‘bro’s before hoes’ and all that shit.”
I laughed and playfully punched his arm. “Hey now!”
Smiling, his tone was serious as he said, “Seriously, Danni, go get your guy. But just remember if it doesn’t work out I’m more than happy to be the one you run to, beautiful.”
I smiled and hugged him.
“Thanks, Jake,” I said before I practically sprinted back into the bar to look for Beau.
I remembered everything that led us to this day. Right before we all left the table tonight, I stole one last glance at Beau. In that short moment I allowed myself to take him all in. I really looked at him and my heart started to beat faster. My palms were clammy and my breath hitched in my throat. After all that time and everything that happened between us I still had feelings for him. He was so beautiful; I loved and hated how my body was betraying me. I should’ve been mad at Beau Cavanaugh forever for how badly he hurt me, but something about him made it impossible.
As I stood in the parking lot, watching him drive away and getting lost in my memories, my cell phone rang and pulled me back to reality. I started walking to my car as I pulled my phone out of my bag.
“Hello?” I said, pressing the phone to my ear as I unlocked my driver’s side door.
“Hey, princess, how are you?” said a gruff voice, and upon hearing it I instantly relaxed.
I smiled. “Hey Dad,” I said, sighing in relief. If anyone could help me work out my shit with Beau, it was my father.
“How’s it going over there? Did you give Everleigh the photo album your mom and I sent?”
“Of course I did. She loved it and said to say thanks,” I answered.
My parents, Dan and Brenda Sharpe, were some of the warmest people you’d ever meet and they loved Everleigh just as we all did…like family.
They had sent a photo album full of pictures of Ev and me growing up and when she’d opened it, she cried. Then again Everleigh always cried over everything…this pregnancy was going to make her even more of a mess.
“Good. So, how’s she been doing? Married life treating her okay?” Dad asked.
“She’s so happy, Dad. Ryder’s a great husband and he’s been amazing to her.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for her. She’s had such a tough couple of years.”
“Yes she has.”
“So, what did he get her for her birthday? It better have been big.”
I smiled and answered, “Oh it was, believe me. He gave her a baby for her birthday.”
My dad chuckled and said, “Is that right? Well, I wondered how long it would be before they had a little one. That’s so great, please tell her congratulations.”
“I will,” I said as I pulled out onto the road and began driving toward my apartment.
I sighed and before I could say anything else, Dad said, ‘So, how’s your guy doing?”
I knew it wouldn’t be long before my dad brought up Beau. I had worried that he wouldn’t approve of him since he was an ex-Navy SEAL and pretty critical of the boys I dated when I was growing up. For some reason, however, he had taken a liking to Beau even though they hadn’t met and encouraged the relationship whenever he had the chance.
“Beau’s not my guy, Dad,” I answered sadly. He could be though…
“You sure about that, honey? I mean, you moved to another state to help him battle his alcohol dependence.”
“Well, yeah, but only because he refused rehab and Everleigh begged me to.”
“But is he doing better?”
“Much better. He’s getting back to the old Beau that I l-”
“Love?” Dad interrupted.
“Dad, I…”
“Danni, don’t do this to yourself. You love that man and you know it. You two need to stop being stupid and just work this out.”
“I tried to ask him tonight if we could talk about things but he didn’t want to.”
“He didn’t? Why is that?”
“Well, he pretty much
said that he didn’t need to because his feelings are still the same that they’ve always been and that if I want to give him another chance then I know where to find him.”
I could hear my dad sighing on the other end of the phone. “Well what are you waiting for, Danni? Go to him!”
“It’s not that easy, Dad. I can’t just forget what happened.”
“Honey, think about it. Yes, seeing Beau with that girl hurt you but let’s face facts here. You two weren’t technically together when that happened. He was a single guy and probably looking for a little comfort. Cut him some slack.”
My mouth dropped open and I wanted to argue, but I couldn’t. The fact of the matter was Dad was right. Technically Beau and I weren’t a couple when he had sex with that girl, but it still hurt me.
I grumbled and said, “Ugh, you’re a real pain in the ass sometimes, you know that? I don’t know why you are pushing this so much. You are basically telling me to forget my own pain and run to him so we can start sleeping together again.”
“No, Danni, I’m telling you to follow your heart and let it lead you in the right direction. If you didn’t love him, you wouldn’t have moved to Ohio to help him get better.”
“You’re annoying,” I said, pouting like a child.
He laughed. “I’m right, Danni. I’m always right, you know.”
I turned onto my street and drove the short distance to my townhouse apartment. As soon as I pulled into my parking spot, I turned off the engine and leaned my head back against the seat.
“Well, Mr. Always Right, I’m tired so I’m going to go inside and go to bed.”
“Okay then. Give Everleigh our love and tell her to come back and visit when she feels up to it.”
Everleigh hadn’t been back home since leaving Muncie for New York. She was afraid that after having killed Scott in self defense the whole town would either turn on her or pity her. Now that she was pregnant I could definitely understand her not wanting to go back there just yet.
“I will. Love you, Dad,” I said.
“Love you too, princess,” he said and I hung up the phone. I had hoped that my conversation with Dad would help me get some clarity but it just left me feeling more confused. Sighing, I got out of my car and walked up the steps to the apartment I’d lived in for the last six months. I unlocked the door and walked inside, my conversation with my dad still fresh in my mind. Shaking my head as if to banish the thoughts of what might have been and what could still be, I locked the door behind me and quickly went to my bedroom to change out of my dress.
After I was showered and in my pajamas, I sat down on my bed and turned on the television. As I mindlessly flicked through the channels, my thoughts inadvertently went to Beau and the first time we slept together…
I knocked on his hotel room door and waited for him to answer. I had just gotten off work at Deuce’s Diner, and Ryder’s bodyguard had given me a ride to the Holiday Inn where the band was staying. I was a ball of nerves and excitement as the door opened and there he stood, dressed in a fitted black ACDC tee shirt, jeans, and bare feet. “Well, there you are. It’s about time. I’ve been going nuts playing video games with Kris and Jude.”
He held out his arm in invitation and I walked inside. “I’ve only been off work for fifteen minutes Beau. Relax, I’m here,” I giggled. I started to take off my coat and the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up as I felt him behind me. Beau reached around to the front of me, grabbing the zipper of my coat and tugging it down. After he slowly slid it off my shoulders, he gently nibbled the top of my ear and I shuddered.
“You smell like heaven,” Beau whispered against my skin.
Nervously, I laughed and said, “No, I smell like french fries.”
I felt his mouth curve into a grin as he said, “Well whatever you smell like its intoxicating.” He pressed his lips to my neck and kissed it quickly before opening his mouth and licking my skin. My head instinctively rolled back to rest on his shoulder and I moaned. “You like when I kiss you here, Danni?”
“Y-yes,” I breathed, leaning my body against his. “But wait a minute.”
He chuckled. “What’s the problem?”
I took a deep breath and turned around to face him.
“There is no problem, Beau. Believe me, whatever is about to happen I am so beyond ready for it,” I said, and he laughed even more. “I just want to ask one thing before we do this.”
He cocked an eyebrow and asked, “And that is?”
“No matter what happens, we stay friends first. I don’t know if the friends with benefits thing will work for us or not, but if it doesn’t I just want to make sure that we can still be cool after it’s all over.”
Beau smiled again and said, “Danni, I think you’re over thinking all of this. Our friends are in a relationship, yes, but if we start hooking up it’s something that’s between us and no one else.”
“That’s true, but I don’t want you all to end up fighting if this sex thing doesn’t go our way. I will not be the reason for any kind of rift between you and the band, Ryder and Everleigh, or even me and Everleigh. Think this through, Beau.”
He sighed.
“I have thought of all of this Danni and I think we can still have a good time together. It’s true, I’m not a relationship kind of guy, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hang with you. You’ve become a very close friend in the past few months. There’s no denying this hot chemistry between us. It doesn’t need to be a big deal. We can be friends that meet each other’s needs.”
I felt a rush of excitement. “I’m not asking for any kind of commitment, Beau. I just want to make sure that when or if this thing ends we can be adults and stay friends. Do you think you can do that?”
He wrapped a strong arm around my waist and pulled me close to him. “For you, I will do just about anything, beautiful. You have my word…it won’t get messy.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and played with the ends of his hair with my fingers. “Then take off your pants and show me a good time, Beau Cavanaugh.”
I barely got the words out before his lips were on mine in a panty-melting kiss. We wasted no time moving toward the bed, kicking off shoes and ripping off clothes. Soon I was wrapped in Beau’s arms wearing nothing but my bra and panties. I started to unbuckle his belt and moaned as his fingers searched for the clasp on my bra. He stripped it off me practically tearing it from my body as his lips began trailing kisses along my collarbone.
My hand brushed against the bulge in his jeans right before it found the zipper and started to tug it down. I pushed his pants down and grasped his thick cock in my hand. I shivered from the anticipation of how hot sex with Beau was about to be.
“God, I’ve wanted to feel you stroking my cock for a long time, Danni,” Beau growled. “You like it, don’t you?”
I nodded and said, “Yes…but you know what I’d like even more?”
“What’s that, beautiful?”
“To taste it.”
I dropped to my knees in front of him. He growled and ran his fingers through my hair as I stared at his long, thick, beautiful length. My mouth watered as it swayed slightly. I grabbed him again and made eye contact with him as I took him into my mouth.
“Shit, Danni,” he growled, his hands guiding my head as I moved him in and out of my mouth.
He tasted amazing and smooth. Moaning, I pulled him completely out completely, swirling my tongue around the head of his cock. I licked the bead of pre-come off the tip and tasted it.
“God damn, you love sucking me, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I whispered, pulling him back into my mouth.
I was getting wetter as he was getting harder. My eyes flicked back up to his face to find him watching suck him with burning lust.
Suddenly Beau gently pushed me back and I reluctantly let go of him. He had fire in his eyes as he pulled me to my feet. They bore into mine, sending heat burning throughout my body to the tips of my fingers. Almost i
nstantly his lips were on mine in a deep, sensual kiss. Tangling my hands in his hair as he tasted my mouth, I was so lost in him that I didn’t realize he had walked us back toward the bed until the back of my legs hit the blankets. He playfully shoved me onto the bed and I fell back, letting my legs fall open.
His body hovering over mine, I leaned up on my elbows watching with baited breath as his fingers hooked into the sides of my panties. He slid them down with agonizing slowness before tossing them to the floor. Neither of us said a word as he parted my thighs with his hands and got onto his knees in front of me.
“My turn to taste you,” he said, and I shivered as his breath against my skin gave me goose bumps.
I gasped loudly then moaned as he bent his head down and licked my wet folds. Sliding two fingers into me, he sucked my clit hard as his fingers moved in and out. I felt warm tingles spreading through my body as he torturously licked and sucked.
I leaned my head up to watch as his tongue glided around my pussy, tasting every part of me up and down. His eyes flashed up to mine and narrowed sexily as he continued his sensual assault. Our eyes never left each other’s and when he curled his fingers inside me while giving me a sexy wink, my body exploded in an intense orgasm. I screamed and tossed my head back, breaking my eye contact with him.
“God, you’re so sexy when you come,” he growled.
I collapsed on the bed before panting, “Fuck me, Beau.”
With my eyes still shut, I felt him stand up in front of me. I opened them to find him staring down at me with scorching desire.
“Say that again,” he commanded, his eyes dark and sinful.
I raised my head and licked my lips.
With my gaze locked on his, I repeated, “Fuck me, Beau. Now.”
I heard the quick tear of foil and I watched with desire as he sheathed his length with a condom. His body covered mine in an instant; I shivered in anticipation as I felt his thick cock teasing my entrance.
Reckless Redemption: A Bad Blooded Rebel Novel (Bad Blooded Rebel Series) Page 4