Beck

by Toye Lawson Brown

  She shifted on her knees to sit on the floor. “It’s been another shitty day. I mean, I don’t have to tell you; you’re sporting the bruises.”

  She was right about that: the day had been shitty. Hell, what harm could one meaningless hug do? She clearly needed it.

  “Come here,” I said, and pulled at her hands.

  She moved quickly as we stood to our feet. I went to pull her toward me. Abbie hesitated at first, then slowly walked into me, her arms around my waist. The curls of her hair tickled my chin as I closed my arms around her slim waist and gave her a hug she desperately craved.

  Abbie was incredibly soft and smelled so fucking good. The scent of sweet and spicy drifted from her body. I knew nothing about flowers or perfume. I just knew she smelled good.

  “Thank you; I needed this hug so badly,” she whispered.

  Her breath was warm against my ear. There was that sensation again. This time, it sent tingles down my spine and straight to my dick.

  My mind was blown, and I couldn’t think as I cupped her face, holding her to look at me.

  “Beck, this isn’t—”

  Before she could finish her sentence, my mouth was on hers. All at once, I was surrounded by her heat, her strength, and her sexuality. The sparks that had flown between us minutes before were nothing compared to the raging inferno between us now.

  I closed my eyes and lost myself in the feel of her mouth. Her soft breasts pressed against my chest. I tilted my head to the side, and her lips opened, allowing my tongue entrance.

  I sighed as our tongues swirled together as we kissed with fervor. I gripped Abbie’s hips and pulled her closer. Abbie traced the muscles of my back, and over my arms, down across the ridge of my abs.

  My dick hardened to the point that it hurt. The way she touched me, how she felt against my mouth, my body pressed against hers… it was fucking incredible. If I could freeze time, it would be with me kissing her.

  Never had Joanie kissed me this way. Abbie shifted her head, giving me better access. We pushed and pulled at each other, trying to get closer—as close as the space between the chairs allowed. She moaned, causing me to break the kiss.

  I rested my head against her forehead as we both struggled to catch our breath. I could feel the shift in her as I sighed loudly. “Abbie, I’m sorry.”

  She shook her head. “I shouldn’t have kissed you.” She crossed her arms over her chest, unable to meet my eyes.

  I ran a hand through my hair and moved away from her. “I was out of line. I promise it won’t happen again.”

  She released a small giggle. “It was a kiss; we didn’t commit a cardinal sin. We’ll get past it. I’m not upset about it—are you?”

  I found it interesting how she’d done a complete turnaround and could laugh about it now. But she was right: it was only a kiss. I shook my head. “No, I’m not upset about it at all.”

  *****

  As I settled into bed for the evening, I had to keep my mind off the kiss. Abbie had my head going in circles, and I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t stop the thoughts or images of what was beneath that yellow top or under her shorts.

  Those thoughts were never the right combination when I was sexually deprived. My next day off was unknown. Unless Briggs was able to determine the suspect captured today was not after the Parkers, but doing random break-ins in the neighborhood. If that was so, then this job could be over soon.

  Maybe then I would give the cute bakery girl a call and let her show me the parts of Cleveland I hadn’t seen. Perhaps even let me sleep with her.

  I rubbed the ache pounding in my chest, knowing she wasn’t who I wanted. The feel of Abbie’s lips on mine was fucking awesome—so plump, full, and soft.

  My cock twitched under my boxers. I took off my boxers and laid my head back on the pillow and fisted my hard cock at the base. As I closed my eyes, Abbie’s image came into view. My breathing became deep as I slowly slid my hand up from the bottom, making my way to the tip and back down again.

  The vision of her went deeper. Her mouth was on me now. That luscious tongue that had been in my mouth was licking up and down my shaft. Her soft, warm mouth, taking me to the back of her throat. My balls drew tight as I increased the pressure and speed on my cock.

  My phone rang, breaking the thunderstorm waiting to release. My mother’s face filled the screen.

  “Crap,” I murmured, and then tucked my erection under the sheet. I couldn’t talk to my mother with a hard-on ready to blow.

  I cleared my throat and tried to get my breathing under control. “Hey, Mom.”

  “Hi, honey. Are you in bed already?”

  “I’m in bed, but not to sleep. About to watch a baseball game. What’s up?”

  “Put me on video, sweetie.”

  I wiped the perspiration off my face then did as she asked. My mother had a way of reading me—if she knew what I had been doing, she’d be embarrassed. In her eyes, her sons didn’t have sex. We were good boys and didn’t do nasty things to women.

  If only she knew what Braden, Braxton, and I did to women. Yeah, my brothers’ names started with the letter B too. Mom had a thing about our names beginning with the same letter. My twin sisters were Barbara and Beatrice.

  Anyhow, she wouldn’t show her face in public if she knew how deep our sexual appetites went. I didn’t believe she was naïve enough to think her sons hadn’t had sex, since we were all over the age of twenty-one and out of the house. Heck, my first experience with sex was at fourteen.

  Marylou Stratton was older than me and willing to show me how to please a girl. She was my first, and that was all it took for me to seek out other girls to let me practice my newfound skills on. Once I reached adulthood, my techniques had improved to please women, not girls. I knew how to touch and stroke the intimate places on a woman to make her scream my name and beg for more when she could hardly lift her head after the first orgasm.

  With Mom on video, I had to compose myself. “Now will you tell me what’s going on?”

  “Beck, what happened to you? Look at your gorgeous face.”

  Shit. I had forgotten about the black eye and busted lip. “It’s not as bad as it looks. I got in a fight with a perp. I’m fine, and he is in jail.”

  “I thought you were a security guard. You shouldn’t be fighting anyone.”

  “I was promoted not too long ago. I’m a bodyguard now.” My mother’s face paled before she moved from the video. I wasn’t sure if she had fainted. “Mom? Are you still there?”

  “A bodyguard, Beck? That is too dangerous. I was actually glad when you gave up being a police officer, and now you are protecting people again. Are you nuts?”

  “I probably am. But I like my job. The pay is twice as much as I was making before, and I work for a great organization.”

  “Out of all my boys, you are the only one that wanted a job that can kill you. I don’t know where that dangerous streak comes from.”

  I smiled. Mom could never resist my smile. “I live for excitement. Now, did you call to tell me something?”

  “Yes, I did. Barbara and Beatrice will be turning eighteen soon. Will you be attending their birthday party? The whole family will be home to celebrate. Dad and I have the hall reserved, I’m having food catered, and a DJ will perform.”

  I adored my sisters, and going home to Chicago would be great. One day to spend with my family and to celebrate a milestone with my sisters. I would even tolerate spending time with my other relatives. It had been a long time, and I needed to reconnect with them.

  Briggs could get a replacement for one day. “Of course I’ll be home for their birthday. Is it a surprise party?”

  My mother laughed. “A surprise party with Barbara snooping around? She’s like a bloodhound. They are aware of the party, and Beatrice had a lot of input.”

  That made me laugh. I always told Barbara she should be a detective; she had the nose to snoop and was persistent. And Beatrice was a planner. Every detail had to be just
right.

  “I’m sure the party will be interesting.”

  “You know how we do, sweetie.” There was a hesitation before Mom spoke again. “Honey, you haven’t mentioned Joanie getting married.”

  “What’s to mention? She has moved on. How did you hear about it?”

  “Her family is always in the society pages. However, I ran into the high and mighty socialites’ downtown. They were leaving the bridal shop. That stupid grin on Millicent’s face made me sick to the stomach. Honey, are you okay?”

  I inhaled a breath. “Don’t let those people work you up. And I’m fine; not like I have a choice, since I live in Ohio.”

  “I know it’s none of my business, but I’m glad she’s getting married to someone else. You were too good for her, Beck. That family is so snobbish, they believe their—”

  “Mom!” I yelled. “I get it. You didn’t like Joanie or her family. You never hid that… none of you hid it. I just wish you’d told me how you felt before I got in too deep with her.”

  “Dad and I let you kids make your own mistakes. But I knew deep down inside you would not last with her. I just had to bide my time before I said something.”

  “Thanks, Mom. But remember, we can use a little push every now and then. Just like a bird needs to leave the nest.”

  “Is that your way of giving me permission to speak about future girlfriends?”

  I nodded. “You have my permission to interfere, but only a little. Don’t get pushy.”

  “They wonder why you’re my favorite.”

  “I love you too, Mom.”

  We ended the call with cyber-hugs and promises for me to be careful. I loved my family, and really missed them.

  With the mood broken I couldn’t finish what I had started, so I turned off the light and stared at the ceiling. Across the hall was the woman I’d had naughty thoughts about before my mother interrupted them. Maybe I didn’t have a preference after all.

  Kissing Abbie felt no different than kissing any other woman. She had the same body parts and the same desires as women of any other race. Her skin color was the only difference.

  Opening my eyes to a variety of women was in order. Yes. For me to move forward, I had to be open to dating outside my preference.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Beck

  The bed moving jolted me from a deep sleep. I sat up to find Abbie crawling on the bed next to me. “Abbie, what are you doing?” I was too groggy to even remember where I was.

  “I heard something downstairs. I ran in here,” Abbie whispered.

  It had been one strange day that kept getting stranger by the second. “What?” I grabbed the sheet, about to throw it off me, when I remembered I was naked. “I need to put pants on. Can you turn around?”

  I pulled my jeans on, not bothering to put on a shirt. Grabbing my gun and clipping on the flashlight, I walked to the door. “Stay here.”

  “Beck, I should go with you. What if you need help?”

  I shook my head. “If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, call 911, but do not come out of this room. Do you understand me?”

  “Okay. But you better come back.”

  I took a long look at her. She was scared to death. “I plan on it.”

  She closed the door softly behind me, and I heard the lock engage. My bare feet made my steps quiet as I walked down the long hall. Opening each door, I searched the bedrooms and found nothing.

  Downstairs in the foyer, I checked the closets and guest bathroom—nothing. I made my way to the living room; nothing appeared disturbed there or in the formal dining room. The media room, kitchen, family room, and both offices were also empty and undisturbed. All the doors were locked, and the alarm engaged.

  Then I heard a noise. It was by a window in the hall. Turning off the flashlight, I moved closer. The sound was a scratching noise. Positioning my gun, I prepared myself to pull the curtain back and face whatever was there. It would be me or it, and I had no plans on dying tonight.

  With a swift pull of the curtain, I aimed to fire, only there was no one there. There was a branch brushing against the window. The winds were high, and the sky was darker than normal because of the heavy clouds. A storm was coming.

  I released the breath I’d been holding and double-checked the windows and doors before returning upstairs.

  I knocked on the door. “Everything is fine, Abbie. You can open the door.”

  I heard her scrambling off the bed and running to the door. The thought of her in my bed sent a flutter through me.

  “What was it?” she asked.

  Her eyes were wide with fear. I scanned the rest of her. She was wearing the skimpiest nightgown I’d ever seen. It was barely as long as a T-shirt.

  I walked in the room and put my gun on the table. “The wind blowing tree branches against the window. It’s about to storm outside.” To reassure her, I pulled open the curtain so she could see.

  Raindrops hit the window as thunder rumbled across the sky. Abbie sat at the end of the bed. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be afraid of every sound or movement. I’ll never be able to live by myself again.”

  I sat next to her. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. On the bright side, you can go to bed and know you’re safe.”

  Abbie bit her bottom lip. She was actually terrified. Her body was shaking, her fists balled tight.

  What could I do to reassure her now? The lights blinked, and then went out. Great, a power failure. I went to the window to check the houses outside. It was late, so most of the homes were dark, but the lights on the sign were out too.

  “Seriously? A power failure now?” she whined. “That means the alarm won’t work, leaving me a sitting duck.”

  Did she forget I was here? “Let me check with the guard on duty.” I called, and the guard confirmed everything was down, but no one could get on the property unless he manually opened the gate, which he wouldn’t do unless it were a resident. We had strict orders during a power outage not to open the gate to non-residents.

  “I’m sorry I’m a pain in the ass,” Abbie said. She got off the bed and headed toward the door. “Go back to bed.”

  “Are you going to be alright alone?” I asked.

  I heard her release a sigh in the darkness. “Good question. I can’t watch television or get any work done on my computer without Wi-Fi. Guess I’ll go to my room and hide from the storm.”

  I didn’t know where my decisions were coming from tonight, but I seemed to be making a lot of them without careful thought.

  “You can stay with me if you want. I know you’re afraid of thunderstorms and don’t want to be alone.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I couldn’t see her face in the dark, but I knew she was relieved by the tone of her voice. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

  “Can I lock the door? It will make me feel better since the alarm isn’t working. Not that you can’t protect me.”

  I pulled off my jeans and fished around on the floor for my boxers. I pulled them on and got into bed.

  “I understand,” I said. “Get some sleep. Hopefully, the power will be restored by morning.”

  Her warm body crawled in next to me. Although she kept a safe distance on the other side of the bed, her presence was noticeable. My hard-on came back with a vengeance. If only Mom hadn’t interrupted, the edge would be off, and Abbie in my bed wouldn’t be a problem.

  Keep telling yourself that, asshole. I hadn’t had sex in eight months, and I was dying for the feel of a woman beneath me. I blinked to keep from staring out the window.

  I heard low music and talking. I lifted my head and saw she was watching a movie on her phone.

  She looked up at me. “If this is bothering you, I can turn it off.”

  “No. What are you watching?”

  “Netflix. Want to watch with me?”

  Before I could answer, Abbie had moved closer to me, so I could see what she was watching. I was not a romance movie type of guy. Joanie loved those mo
vies, but I couldn’t stand them. The movie held my attention briefly. I was watching Abbie, my gaze bouncing from the unrealistic characters fawning over each other to her reaction. She was calm and totally into the male love interest spewing words of love and devotion to the female. No real man would act in such a manner.

  But romance movies were made for women and not men.

  “Not liking the movie?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “I don’t really watch romance movies. Put on a thriller or a kickass Bruce Willis movie, then I’m all in.”

  “You didn’t watch sexy romance or erotic movies with your ex?”

  “Not a lot. She was busy with her social calendar, so we didn’t do date nights at a movie or pizza nights. She planned almost everything we did.”

  “Movie and pizza nights are the best. Eddie and I used to go bowling or to football games. Suddenly he just stopped. Something always came up, and he’d cancel on me at the last minute. Well, I guess I know why now.”

  “You think she’s been in the picture that long?”

  She paused the movie. “Yes, I do. Eddie loved to be noticed. Mic night at a local bar was a favorite spot of his. He’d sing me love songs and gyrate on stage. He knew it made other women want him, and that gave me insecurities. She could’ve been the one in the audience he was really singing to.”

  “But it doesn’t prove he cheated,” I said.

  “Right. I didn’t come out and accuse Eddie of cheating. In fact, I put the blinders on because I didn’t want to know my beloved was screwing other women.” She dragged in a deep breath. “It sucks when reality bites you in the ass. I just wish I could un-see what I saw at his house. I’ll never get that image or those sounds out of my head.”

  I couldn’t figure out why visualizing him touching Abbie and then that other woman behind her back made my blood boil. It had to be sympathy, because I knew how she felt having her heart ripped from her chest.

  “Well, I’m not an emotional guy who expresses his feelings. Maybe that’s another reason Joanie decided to dump me for the doctor. She wanted some sappy dude who sang love ballads and wrote poems. I’m not that guy.” I snorted.