The Becoming

by Larissa Ladd

  Fuck. I shouldn’t have given up women for so long, and yet, thinking about anyone else pressed below me but her felt off.

  Taking our final turn, I dipped the bike a little, and she let out a cute yelp and squeezed me tighter. The smile that spread across my face was almost embarrassing.

  “You did that on purpose!” She popped me in the back when I stopped the bike.

  I laughed. “What are you talking about?”

  “That turn.” She got off the bike with my help. I made sure she was good before getting off behind her. “You cut that turn way too tight.”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose.” I adjusted my dick so it wouldn’t be so damn obvious. “I had my mind on other things and almost missed the turn.”

  She glanced down toward my crotch and swallowed visibly. “Oh.”

  “Yeah. Oh.” I walked toward her and took her hand. “Come on. You’re going to love this place.”

  “I feel like we’re underdressed.” She intertwined her fingers with mine like we’d been a couple for years. The idea of belonging to a woman like her had my heart beating faster than I’d ever admit.

  “No. These people just want our money.” I opened the door and moved back as she walked into the restaurant. I breathed in softly, capturing her perfume in my lungs. There was no way I was letting her get away. I wasn’t sure what I would have to do to convince a woman like her to love me, but I knew one thing for sure—I was going to try.

  “Table for two?” The host looked up and smiled.

  “Yeah. Under Hawke Miles.” I nodded at the guy.

  “Miles?” He lifted an eyebrow and gave us a contemplative look. “Oh! The art gallery. I saw you guys on the news the other day.”

  “In the paper?” Jenna released my hand and fiddled with her purse.

  “No. On the news. You’re the new owner of the Miles Contemporary Art Gallery, right?”

  Shock rolled over me. On TV? Fuck. “Yeah. That’s me.”

  “Right this way, you two. How exciting. Yeah, they did a special on your dad and the gallery was highlighted in it. You have a bunch of brothers, right? All of you guys are adopted?”

  The kid knew way too much about my life.

  “Yes. Thanks.” I sat down and took my menu from him as he stared down at me.

  “Right. Okay. Enjoy your dinner.” He turned and half-jogged back to the front.

  “Wow. On TV?” Jenna leaned toward me from across the table. The movement caused the red streak in her chestnut hair to slide in front of her shoulder. My fingers itched to reach across and tuck it back behind her ear.

  “Whatever.” I picked up the menu. “You want to share a bottle of wine, or what do you drink?”

  “Red wine is good.” She pushed the menu down from in front of me. “TV is a big deal, and I didn’t know you were adopted.”

  “There’s a lot of things you don’t know about me.” I smiled. “Those are all morning-after conversations.”

  “What?” She chuckled and sat back in her seat. “What the hell is morning-after?”

  “Oh, come on. You just fell off a turnip truck yesterday, didn’t you?”

  Her nose wrinkled up. Fuck me. I was sold out for this girl.

  “No clue what that means. Go back to the morning-after.”

  “You learn a lot of things about someone the morning after you make love. You know, those few moments where you’re lying there in bed together and you realize you shared an amazing night of giving and taking together.” I lifted my eyebrow. “Come on. Don’t tell me you’ve never—”

  “I’m a virgin,” she blurted out and looked like she wished she could take it back.

  “Oh. Fuck. I’m sorry, Jenna. I didn’t mean anything by my comment. I was just teasing that you’d get some information about my past, my family, me after we make love tonight.” I picked up my menu again and made sure to lock eyes with her. “I like you even more, knowing that with how beautiful you are that you’ve held out. Religion? Parents?” My dick was doing a dance under the table. I was beyond grateful for the fact that the white table skirt was so damn long. A virgin? This girl?

  Part of it made sense. An air of innocence was part of her personality for sure.

  She cleared her throat and pawed at her chest softly. “No. I just wanted to focus on my dancing career. I mean, my mother was a part of that, but she’s not the only part of it. And honestly, I just never found anyone that I felt would be a good fit for me.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear it.” I looked up as the waitress came over and introduced herself. I ordered their best bottle of red wine and two glasses before looking back over at Jenna. “And now?”

  “Are you seriously asking me if I’ve accessed if you’re worth my virginity?” Her cheeks burned deep red.

  I laughed and shook my head, feeling so much more comfortable with her than I should have. “No, but I want to know the answer to that one now.” I winked. “I was asking if you were still focused on your career, or if dating might be something you’re open to.”

  She let out a sigh and pressed her hand to her forehead. “Whew. God, you put me on edge.”

  “You haven’t seen anything yet.” I put the menu down and reached across the table to pull her hand from her face. “Talk to me about you wanting to go back to dancing. Maybe that’s a better place to start this date instead of me stealing your virginity and putting a ring on your finger. Too heavy, you know?”

  She laughed and pushed my hand away. “Please don’t make me fall in love with you. I don’t know if I’m staying here.”

  My heart dropped. “What do you mean? Are you thinking about New York seriously?”

  “I don’t know.” She put her hands into her lap and wouldn’t focus on me. “It’s the best place for me to pick up my career as a professional dancer, but I’m not sure if that’s what I should do. I need time to think about it some more, but my mother keeps pressuring me because the president of the academy is willing to talk to me again.”

  “Again?” I picked up the bread basket and offered her a roll before taking one of my own. If she moved to New York, we’d figure it out. I wasn’t letting go of the notion that the beautiful girl across the table from me belonged in my life somehow.

  “I was a part of the company or academy for the last six years. I was moving toward being a principal dancer, which is a high place to be, but I hurt my ankle, gained five pounds, and a younger dancer convinced them that I was old news.” She took the roll and bit into it as her expression relaxed. “Maybe it’s dumb to go back after the dream.”

  “Or maybe it’s not.” I leaned back as the waitress poured our wine. “You asked about my art.”

  She straightened up in her seat. “Yes. Tell me all about it. Better yet. Show me.”

  “I will on the way back to my place tonight, but there’s nothing I would put in front of it. I mean, maybe my wife eventually.” I smirked. “But even then, that art is from my soul. It’s who I am, how I bleed, where I cope.”

  “I love it,” she blurted out, her eyes locked on me. The look of need on her face blistered me. Fuck.

  “Then we need to find that passion inside of you and exploit it. You can figure out where you feel it most, and wherever that is, whatever you’re doing in that moment, that’s your place to really live.”

  “You’ll help me do that?” She leaned back and put her bread on her plate.

  “Absolutely. However you need me to.”

  “Even by letting me go?” She cleared her throat and shook her head, looking embarrassed. “I mean, letting me go from the gallery. Not—”

  “Even by letting you go.” I nodded. And it was the truth, as much as it sucked. No way in hell would I hold her back from her calling, whatever or wherever it was.

  I just hoped it was with me in Seattle.

  14

  Jenna

  Hawke changed the subject and talked about his brothers and his life throughout the rest of dinner. I was beyond grateful for him
pulling us back toward a comfortable topic. I’d spent my whole life hoping for someone like him to show up, and now, here he was. I’d been a bitch off and on the first few days of him being at the gallery, but I couldn’t hold up that persona anymore.

  It just wasn’t me. My mother maybe, but not me.

  “You ready to get out of here?” He stood after dessert and offered me his hand. “I’ll take you the places where my art is and let you be the judge of my talent.”

  His confidence was so far beyond hot. “Good. I’m pretty picky honestly.”

  He laughed and took my hand. “No, you’re not. You’re spending your Tuesday night with me instead of Law & Order. I’d call that the opposite of picky.”

  I snorted and covered my face with my hand. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “But you like me.” He winked and walked in front of me as we made our way through the restaurant.

  “Night, Mister Miles!” The host called out, a big smile on the guy’s face. He looked like he’d seen a celebrity.

  “Night. Thanks for the great dinner.” Hawke opened the door for me. “After you.”

  “Thanks.” I walked out into the cool Seattle night air and took a deep breath. “I do love it here.”

  “Good. Stay.” He took my hand again and walked us around the side of the building where the bike was. “You’re not the New York type anyway. That place is stuffy and far too businesslike. You’re an artist. Stay here with me, and let that part of you bloom.”

  “I thought you were good with seeing me off?” I lifted an eyebrow and laughed as he turned and pulled me into a tight hug.

  “I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you go without a little bit of good old male persuasion involved.” His strong hand ran up my back and cupped the base of my head. “Besides, I’m thinking I might have to buy a jet from my brother to come see you all the time. No one wants to hear his mouth about it after I do.”

  “Is that Kade?” I closed my eyes, not getting an answer, but a deliciously long kiss. His soft lips brushed by mine before he nudged me with his tongue. I tilted my head and opened up, letting him in to explore me. The thick press of his body against mine only got better when his cock thumped against my stomach.

  Every inch of me tightened, and chill bumps raced around my skin. I gripped his sides and moaned into the kiss as he pulled me in closer. We stood there for a few more seconds, enjoying the taste of each other. Someone honked, and I backed up, chuckling and wiping at my mouth.

  “Fuck, woman. You’re not going to New York. Never mind my nice guy bullshit.” He got on the bike and offered me his hand. “Come on. Before I ask you to marry me.”

  “Yeah, right.” I got on the bike behind him and wrapped myself around him. With my cheek pressed to his back and my hands clasped together around his tight stomach, we took off. The wind blew my hair in every direction, but I loved it.

  Being with him, racing through the city, and knowing that he was going to demand my virginity was pure freedom. Bliss. Never had I felt so damn alive before. I would cling to the moment forever.

  Hawke’s hand grasped one of mine and pulled it free from the other. I wanted to ask what he was doing, but we were riding through the center of town, near the restaurant I’d taken Lisa to for her birthday. There was no way he would hear me through his helmet.

  A gasp lodged in my throat as he pressed my palm to his erection, covering my fingers with his. He rolled his hips, rubbing himself against me. Wetness pooled between my legs, and I glanced around.

  Here? What the hell?

  There was no way I was giving up the opportunity to touch him. I pushed his hand away with my free hand before tightening my hold on him. I ran both hands down his swollen cock, tugging at the tip and scratching as I hit the seat near his balls. By the time he pulled off the road, he was panting loudly.

  “Goddamnit.” He pulled off his helmet and cupped his hand over mine. “Slow down, Jenna. I’m going to come.”

  A boldness I didn’t know I had inside of me roared to life. “Good. I want you to.” I lifted up and kissed the back of his neck. I wanted to be someone’s vixen so damn bad. I was hoping I had read enough romance novels to know how it was done.

  “Not yet.” He gripped my hands again and turned the bike off. “Come here, Kitten. I want to show you something.”

  Kitten? Somehow him calling me that made me want to purr.

  “What is it?” I got off the bike and moved to his side as he wrapped his strong arm around me. We stopped in front of the beautiful graffiti painting I’d fallen in love with the week before. “Oh, I love this one. You know the artist?”

  He moved behind me, wrapping his strong arms around my waist. The soft brush of his lips against the side of my neck had my knees going weak. “Yeah. Me.”

  “What?” I tensed. “You cannot be serious.”

  “This is mine.” He tightened his arms around me, and I pressed back against him, rolling my hips to brush my ass against his cock. He growled against my skin. “Come home with me tonight. I want to release all this pent-up passion on you. Let me.”

  I nodded, not willing to say no to what was sure to be the most terrifying and amazing night of my life.

  “Yes.” I turned to face him and whimpered, and he leaned down and consumed me with hot kisses. The drum beat deep inside of my stomach aligned with the racing of my heart. I needed this so badly. Needed him.

  “Okay.” He nipped at my lips. “I’ll be careful with you. You know that, right?”

  I nodded. “I trust you. And if you don’t, I’ll just burn down your gallery. I know where you work.”

  He laughed and moved back. “You want to drive the bike?”

  “Um no. Thank you, though.” I walked over and got back on it, still in awe over the fact that he was the graffiti artist that I’d come to enjoy around the city. “Your talent amazes me.”

  “And your beauty amazes me.” He got on the bike and glanced over his shoulder. “Last offer to take you home before the biting commences.”

  “This is the first offer to take me home.” I laughed.

  “And the last.” He turned back around and started the bike. “No? Okay, good.”

  We took off, and I reached out and grasped him like my life depended on it. A few minutes later, we were on the rich side of town and making our way up to the penthouse in one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Seattle.

  “You live here?” I turned to face the glass wall of the elevator. The city lay before us on full display, the lights bright and beautiful.

  “Yeah. It’s weird.” He pressed himself to my back and wrapped his arms around me. “My father left me this penthouse in his will. I’m not sure this place is me at all, but it will work for now until I figure things out. The gallery is my first concern.”

  “Well, poor you.” I turned and gave him a smirk. “If you want to trade places, you can stay at my apartment on the shady side of town instead.”

  “Would you be there?” He moved to the opened door and offered me his hand.

  “Yes?” I wasn’t sure what he was getting at.

  “Then your shady-ass place it is. I’d rather be with you there than here all alone.”

  I took his hand and walked toward his place, butterflies and nerves tearing up my stomach. “Aren’t you sweet?”

  “No. Not in the slightest, but there’s something about you that has me acting completely out of character.” He released me and opened the door.

  My breath lodged in my chest when I walked in. I’d seen some beautiful places on TV, but nothing compared to Hawke’s suite.

  “Holy hell.” I walked around, stopping at each painting and staring. “Did you decorate this place?”

  “Yeah. I spent a few days and a lot of money to put the place together.” He shrugged as I turned to face him.

  “I love it. It’s gorgeous, Hawke.”

  He reached up and unbuttoned his shirt before tossing it behind him. “Good. You want to g
o for a swim outside? It’s an infinity pool. Looks like you’re king of the world from the edge of it.”

  His strong muscles flexed, and my eyes were drawn to the dark hair that disappeared into his jeans. Tanned skin stretched across his swimmer’s body, and the outline of his erection told me that I was in for more than I bargained for. Maybe sleeping with someone so big for my first time wasn’t a good idea at all.

  “Um,” I mumbled like an idiot.

  “Hey. Eyes up here.” He bent down a little and got my attention.

  I laughed loudly. “I hate you.”

  “Yeah you do.” He walked toward me and ran his hands over my shoulders. “Stay with me tonight. All night.”

  “And sleep with you?” I glanced up, hating how nervous I was.

  “Who said anything about sleeping?”

  15

  Hawke

  The fear in her eyes forced me to stop myself from devouring her. Every cell in my body screamed for me to strip her down and kiss every inch of her shaking body.

  “Yes. I want to stay. I want to sleep with you. I want all of it.” She lifted her chin a little and I laughed.

  “You’re beyond cute, Jenna Camden.” I reached down and picked her up as if I were taking her across a threshold of a doorstep on our wedding night. Leaning down, I kissed her to keep her from asking questions as I walked back toward my bedroom.

  While I was tempted to drop her on the floor in the kitchen and show her what passion looked like in true form, she was a virgin. I needed to take my time with her, open her flower up slowly and gently. There would be time to fuck like rabbits in the future, but now wasn’t it.

  “Hawke,” she mumbled as I laid her on the bed and reached down to run my hand between her breasts and down her tight stomach.

  “Shh... you’re okay. Just relax and let me love you.” I nodded toward the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Don’t be shy either. No one can see this high up.”