by K. A. Linde
Even though Christmas always made her giddy, she hadn’t really expected to get presents from anyone. So she was blown away when she saw a pile of presents on her desk, including an unusually large black box.
She grabbed her sweats from the floor and dragged them on as she dashed across the room. She surveyed the rest of the presents, but her hands trailed to the black box first. On top of it was a single white rose.
Her heart stuttered. Beckham.
She smelled the rose with a sigh and then lifted the lid on the box. Her gasp was audible. Her hand went to her throat and she bit her lip. Slipping her hand inside, she lifted her camera out of the box. The note inside read Perspective. She was giddy at the sight. The familiar weight of the camera made her feel as if she were holding on to an old friend. Something she had desperately missed.
A knock on her door broke her from her reverie. “Come in!”
Jodie stood in the doorway. Reyna brought the camera to eye level and pressed the button. A picture of Jodie, with her perfect dark skin, wild curly hair, and dismayed expression appeared on the screen.
“Whoa. Fancy camera. Where did that come from?” Jodie asked. “Wait…let me guess—vampire boyfriend?”
Reyna laughed. “Yes. Becks got it for me when I was living with him. I used to wander around the city and take pictures of all the things that I wanted to change in the world.”
“You’re so dramatic.”
“Pretty much. Anyway, I figured Visage must have confiscated the camera or something because Becks never brought it back. I guess he was just waiting for the right moment.”
“Makes a perfect Christmas present. This is the first Christmas I’ve celebrated in a long time,” Jodie said with a frown. “I just wish that June was here.”
Reyna nodded. They had not been having good luck locating Jodie’s cousin. Reyna hoped for Jodie’s sake that June was still out there. Jodie had made so much progress. It was amazing to think of the fierce combative person she had been when they had taken her out of Visage. They both had changed a lot. For the better.
“I feel like we’re really close,” Jodie said. “But Meghan is distracted with other stuff. That mission thing the guys are going on.”
“Yeah. I wish I knew more about how to locate someone,” Reyna reached out and took Jodie’s hand. “I’m sure you’ll have a breakthrough once you have more help.”
“I hope so.” Jodie shook away the melancholy and handed Reyna a wrapped gift. “I wanted to give this to you myself.”
“Jodie! You didn’t have to get me anything!” Reyna said. She took it from her and peeled the red paper back. Inside were two books—a slim copy of the Complete Works of John Keats and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
“They, uh, got me through some dark times. I thought, if anyone would understand, you would.”
“I do. I can’t wait to start them.” Reyna pressed them to her chest.
“Books keep me sane. They transport me to a thousand new worlds. They let me escape into a different reality. A better reality than my own.”
“Sometimes we all need to escape.”
Jodie nodded, an understanding passed between them.
Reyna placed the books down next to the camera Beckham had gotten her. She linked her arm with Jodie’s and drew her out of the room. She couldn’t imagine that Christmas had been a pleasant time for Jodie inside Visage. She hoped that today, with presents and a big meal and the wedding, it would maybe start to feel like home for the both of them.
* * *
—
When Reyna returned to her room to get ready for the wedding, she was surprised to find a long black bag hanging in her closet. For a second her mind returned to that time Harrington had sent her a dress to wear to Penelope’s mayoral ball. The shadows lengthened in the room. Her mind felt fuzzy. A box closed around her, slowly constricting her breathing and narrowing her focus. She felt queasy, unsure if she was going to vomit or not.
She closed her eyes against the pain of the memory. This wasn’t real. She took deep breaths in through her nose and slowly released them out of her mouth. There was no box or shadows or monsters lurking in the darkness. There was no Harrington, no B, no insanity waiting. She was fine. She was safe. He couldn’t get her here.
When she opened her eyes again, the shadows had disappeared from the room. It was the same as it had ever been. She loosed a shallow breath and crossed to the closet. There was a note pinned to the bag.
You are my greatest temptation.
She grinned despite herself then slid the zipper to the floor. She opened the bag to reveal a blood-red floor-length gown. She salivated at the sight of the gorgeous dress. It was silky and stunning. But as much as she liked it, she worried that she would look way overdressed for the occasion. Everyone else she knew was going in clothes they had here. Meghan had gotten Jodie a dress for Christmas for it. Reyna had been planning to wear the stray dress in her closet. The boys were wearing jeans and button-downs. This was too much.
She ran her hands over the fabric once more and then zipped the dress back up. She wouldn’t wear it. She couldn’t.
Retreating to her bathroom, she took her time getting ready. She had just finished her hair and makeup and slipped into some unmentionables when she heard the door click in her room. “Hello?”
Beckham appeared in the doorway to the bathroom. His eyes crawled the length of her nearly naked body. “Hello, Little One.”
She choked on her reply. He was in a tuxedo. Crisp and black and fitted to perfection. He looked like a god walking among mere mortals.
“You’re early,” she finally stammered.
“I believe I am right on time.”
They stood there staring at each other. Completely enraptured by the sight. She felt like at any second they were both about to tear each other’s clothes off and go wild.
“I should probably…get dressed.”
“Probably.”
But Beckham blocked the doorway. She stepped into his space and he reached out, running his hands down both of her sides.
“Or you could stay like this.”
She laughed breathily. “You can have your dessert after dinner.”
“Rules were meant to be broken.”
“Is that so?”
“You’re wearing lingerie.”
“You bought it for me,” she said with a grin.
“Remind me to buy you more, because I’m tearing this off of you tonight.”
She shivered with excitement at his words. A promise for later.
He moved to the closet and reappeared a minute later with the black bag. “Your dress,” he said, opening the bag for her. “Put it on before I change my mind.”
“I…can’t wear that.”
“You don’t like it?”
“It’s just…extravagant for the occasion.”
He slipped the straps of the beautiful dress off of the hanger and passed it to her. “Wear it.”
“Becks.”
“I took care of it, Reyna.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why don’t you put it on and find out.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. What had he done? He was so sneaky. Was this attention to detail one of the reasons he’d been so successful in life? Part of his charm.
She vacillated only a second longer before taking the dress out of his hand. She slid it over her head and sighed with satisfaction. It felt like water on her skin and it hugged her figure like a dream. The bodice was V-cut with straps that crossed at the nape of her neck. It had a fully open back, which meant she’d had to remove her bra, but the rippling of the material made it less noticeable. The only issue was that it was about four or five inches too long and she only owned Converse.
Beckham held out a pair of shiny gold high heels t
hat crisscrossed up the front, with red lacquered bottoms.
“Holy shoe porn,” she whispered in awe.
Beckham laughed that rare unguarded one that made her toes curl. “I never thought you would actually like heels after your fit about them in the penthouse.”
She snatched them out of his hand. “They’re perfect for the right occasion. Not for everyday wear when I have to…you know, walk and run and kick some ass.”
“Duly noted.”
She slid the shoes on and Beckham’s feral grin was a seal of approval.
“You’re missing something,” he said.
“I am?”
He withdrew a black velvet box from the inside pocket of his suit coat. “This.”
Her eyes widened. When she didn’t move to take it, he popped the top open and revealed a stunning teardrop-shaped diamond pendant on a long chain. He moved his finger in a circle, motioning for her to turn around. She did as instructed as if lost in a dream. She pulled her hair off of her back and felt the cool metal touch her skin as it dropped down right between her breasts. He clasped it into place.
“Wow,” she whispered. She was mesmerized by the huge rock. She knew it was a drop in the bucket for someone who could create an economic collapse, but still it was magical. “This is…beautiful.”
“I’m glad that you like it.”
“I love it. But you didn’t have to get me anything else. My camera was enough.”
“Your camera was returning property that already belonged to you. I should have brought it long ago.”
“Thank you.”
“Merry Christmas, Little One,” he said, dropping a kiss to her crimson lips. Then he held out his arm for her. “Shall we?”
She placed her hand on his elbow and followed him through the secret door. Her mind was racing with the extravagance of this gift. What she had gotten him was nothing compared to this. But what to get the man who had everything? She pushed it out of her mind. It didn’t matter. Beckham didn’t care.
They took the elevator down a few floors, then entered onto the main set of corridors. Reyna was surprised to find them cleared. Had he done that too?
A set of double doors were open to reveal the wedding space. Reyna’s jaw dropped. She had sat in meetings with Meghan, Jodie, and Laura for hours the last two weeks discussing the small wedding they were planning and fantasizing about the elaborate affair Laura wanted to have but knew was impossible. That fantasy was now a reality.
The room was no more than a large conference space, but had been transformed into a stunning rose garden. White, red, and pink roses bloomed on a large garden archway at the end of a pathway of red rose petals. White wooden chairs were artfully arranged in a semicircle with flowers on either side of the chairs. Twinkling white lights lit the ceiling, mirroring the stars of the night sky.
And everyone…everyone was dressed to the nines.
Brian and Drew were standing in lush black tuxedos at the front of the room. Meghan had on a forest green floor-length gown and Jodie wore a dusty pink dress that shimmered in the lights. There were about a half-dozen other people in attendance that Laura had gotten to know in her time at Elle and all of them were dressed in similar attire. It was as extravagant and gorgeous as any ball Reyna had ever been to…maybe more so. Because this was for her…for Brian and Laura.
This was a gift. The real Christmas gift. A real wedding for them amidst these hard times when they had never expected to get anything. Let alone…this.
“You did this?” she whispered.
Beckham plucked a white rose from a high-top table at the entrance. “White roses are for new beginnings,” he said, passing the bloom to her. “This is our new beginning.”
“You’re incredible,” she said. Her heart thudded in her chest, captivated by this amazing man. She knew she was incredibly lucky. He might have a past, but their future was up for the taking.
“I do it all for you.” He swept a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You make it all worthwhile.”
Chapter 30
Beckham took her hand and kissed it once before guiding her down the aisle to their seats in the front row on the left side. Groom’s side.
Just as they sat down, instrumental music filled the room. The guests rose, turning to find Laura standing in the aisle. She looked like Cinderella in her wedding dress. Reyna peeked back at Brian to find his mouth open and his eyes wide with shock and admiration. He was a man in love. Laura swept down the rose-petal aisle to her beloved.
As they stared at each other, Reyna realized she had never seen either of them look so unbelievably happy.
Elle had given them this. Elle and Beckham and security they hadn’t known back in the warehouses. It was a magical thing to witness. She squeezed Beckham’s hand as tears came to her eyes at the sight. He squeezed back though his eyes were on her and the joy this brought her.
“Thank you,” she whispered, leaning her head onto his arm as Brian and Laura said “I do.”
“Anything for you.”
The ceremony ended and everyone helped to clear the chairs to the side of the room for the reception. Meghan and Tye wheeled in refreshments, and music played from the speakers.
Reyna approached her brother and tugged him into a hug. “Congratulations, big brother.”
“Thanks, little sister.”
Beckham held his hand out to Brian. “Congratulations.”
Brian placed his hand in his and they shook. “I appreciate what you did for me. Maybe I had it wrong about you the first time.”
“It’s an easy mistake to make.”
Reyna liked that he didn’t try to correct Brian. Normally he’d disagree and say that he wasn’t one of the good ones. It had to be a mark of progress that he didn’t.
“Well, thank you again. We owe you. Big time.”
“Absolutely not. It’s a gift. A wedding gift.”
“It was very generous.”
“We’re going to let other people say hi. I’m so happy for you!” Reyna said, pulling Beckham away. She turned to him. “You made their life. You know that, right?”
“I hardly did anything.”
“When you have nothing, anything is a miracle.”
After all the congratulations, Brian tugged Laura into the first dance. The rest of the party joined in on the next song. Reyna saw with some amusement that Gabe slipped in for the reception and pulled Meghan into a dance. Tye looked disgruntled and when he tried to dance with Jodie instead, she flipped him off and grabbed Xavier. What a lover’s quadrangle.
Reyna’s eyes widened even further when she saw Drew work up the nerve to ask his roommate, Gregory, to dance. She was even more surprised when the man’s smile lit up his whole face and he all but dragged her brother out onto the dancefloor.
“Would you care to dance?” Beckham asked.
“I’d love to.”
They moved forward into the crowd of people just as a slow song came on. Reyna slipped both of her hands around his neck and he placed his hands on her hips. The moment felt surreal. Here she was in Beckham’s arms, surrounded by the people that she loved. It was impossible to believe that after what she had suffered…all was right with the world.
All was finally right.
* * *
—
They danced through the night.
Laughing and cheering and celebrating this blissful union. Taking all the happiness they could where they could. In the midst of a rebellion organization, these moments were rare. No one wanted the night to end.
Even Reyna.
Though she was having a hard time keeping her hands to herself after the bottle of champagne she split with Jodie. Her head buzzed. She felt amazing. And all she could think about was Beckham’s promise to shred her lingerie. She was ready to take him up on that.
; Meghan and Gabe slipping out of the room was the first sign that the festivities were winding down. Reyna kissed Brian and Laura as they decided to return to their room. He squeezed her hand and then they were off.
“Oh Reyna,” Beckham said as she twirled back toward him. “You are intoxicated.”
She trailed a hand down the front of his tux. “I’m fine.”
He hefted her into his capable of arms against her protests and carried her all the way back to her room.
“Okay. Okay. Put me down. I can walk,” she insisted.
“Perhaps I enjoy carrying you.”
She leaned her head onto his shoulder. “I like when you’re a gentleman.”
“I am no gentleman.”
“Beg to differ.”
He gently set her on her feet, holding on to her waist to steady her. “Do you always see the good in people?”
“You paid for the most elaborate wedding of the century for my brother, who up until today wasn’t even sure he liked you.”
“But you love him.”
“That’s what I mean. You do it with no thought for return. A wedding gift.” She reached up and cupped his jaw. “You are a good person.”
“My present does not erase my past.”
“No, it doesn’t. But your past doesn’t define your future either.”
Beckham stared down at her as if he were seeing his future written in her eyes. He leaned forward and branded a kiss against her forehead. She closed her eyes and breathed him in. He slowly walked around her, found the zipper at the base of her spine, and tugged it down over her ass. He grasped the straps on her shoulders and let them fall. The fabric tugged on her hips before falling into a puddle at her feet.
She could feel him assessing her from behind. Her breathing hitched when he grabbed her ass fully in both hands. They slipped up to the thong she was wearing. She heard a tear before the slinky material shredded and fell on top of the dress.
She gasped. Her body clenched. All the heat pooled in her core. Oh God, she was a goner. So lost to him.
Beckham nudged her foot, urging her into a wider stance. She moved to kick her heels off and Beckham gripped her hip.