by T. L Smith
“It’s no problem. Where’s Oliver?” Shandy asks.
“Kids’ club here at the restaurant. I have a few things to finish, then I’ll be picking him up.”
“What is it you need with Anderson’s father?” I ask.
Jacinta’s hazel eyes shoot to me and narrow. “He is Oliver’s grandfather, and he’s been helpful with things.”
“Okay. Well, maybe after you’re finished, you could come over for a drink?” Shandy asks as the waiter brings over our food.
Jacinta steps back as our plates are placed in front of us. “No. I have to get going.” She looks back over her shoulder, then turns back to give us a smile. “Enjoy your weekend, though.”
As soon as she walks off, I turn back to my food. Shandy has her elbows on the table, her hands under her chin as she watches me.
“Why are you staring at her like that?” she asks, and the grin she is sporting is not missed by me.
“Like what?” I pick up a piece of steak and chew like I don’t care what her answer is going to be.
“Like she’s that steak you’re eating.”
“Eat your food and shut up, Shandy.”
She pulls her elbows down and starts on her chicken. “I’m just saying, I know you. And you got it bad for the little green-eyed bandit over there.”
“Her eyes are hazel, not green.”
“See … the fact you know that makes me believe even more you’ve got it bad.”
I shake my head at her words then finish my meal. Shandy tells me about her date, amongst other things.
“You leaving?” Shandy asks as Jacinta walks past us again.
She stops briefly. “Yeah, good seeing you both. I’ll see you on Monday.”
“Hmm, what did you do to her?” Shandy asks.
“It’s time we get going. Get your shit.”
“But I want dessert,” she whines.
“I’ll give them my card. Order your dessert, but I gotta go.”
“Whatever.” She waves me off as I hurry out of the restaurant. As I exit, I see Jacinta straight away, leaning down and doing up the buttons to her son’s jacket.
I hang back, and when she stands, I slide my hands into my pockets as she turns to face me. “Beckham,” she says.
“Hey, Beckham.” Oliver waves at me and Jacinta gives him a confused look.
“You know Beckham?”
“That’s Winter’s favorite uncle, Mom. Beckham is the coolest.” I smirk at his words. Kid’s got taste.
“Yes, the coolest,” she says sarcastically, then opens her car door so he can get in. “Was there something you needed?” I look down to the closed window and back to her.
“Come back to mine.”
She clutches her purse in her hand tightly. “No.”
“Why?”
“Because I have my son.”
I lean down and knock on the window, and Oliver winds it down.
“Hey, I have a heated pool and an Xbox. You want to come and hang out at my place with Mom?”
His eyes go wide at my words, and he nods his head eagerly.
“That was pure evil,” Jacinta hisses under her breath.
My lips go up in a smirk. “Follow me,” I say as I head to my car.
As I pull out, I check the rear-view mirror, and low and behold, she follows.
Chapter 21
Jacinta
I should have expected something like this. I mean, really, I should have. But as I clutch my purse to my chest, I just can’t. He strides around so casually, grabbing a few towels, then coming back out. Oliver is ecstatic and already down to his shorts, then he jumps into the heated pool. But the smile on his face is well worth the pain I am feeling at being forced to be here.
“Get undressed,” Beckham instructs as he reaches for his own shirt and pulls it over his head, so now he’s standing in front of me in just a pair of shorts.
He looks way too good.
“I have nothing to wear.” He passes me the shirt he was wearing, and I take it. “Now you do. Get in.” He spins and dives straight into the pool.
We are in an apartment building, but he has a rooftop pool all to himself.
Who the fuck has that?
Beckham does, that’s who.
I stand and pull my shirt off—it’s not like he hasn’t seen me naked before—and slide his shirt on. Then I take off my bra underneath, followed by my skirt. The shirt is long enough that it covers just below my ass. When I finally get into the pool, it’s warm and oh so nice.
Oliver is floating on his back as he tells Beckham all about school.
Beckham listens attentively.
Which surprises me.
He smirks at me from the other side of the pool.
I sit on the step and watch them both.
An asshole with my son.
Yet somehow, Oliver chats to him like he’s his best friend. Tells him all about the video games he’s obsessed with, and Beckham even joins in on the conversation.
“Mom, can we stay the night? I want to play Beckham’s Xbox. I have a PlayStation, and all my friends have an Xbox, so I want to try.” Before I can say no, that we cannot stay at this man’s house who makes me feel things, Beckham speaks for me, and I’m unable to say anything.
“Of course you can stay. I’ll put the Xbox in Winter’s room for you.”
Oliver fist pumps the air before he dives under the water. I turn, glaring at Beckham.
Beckham makes his way over to where I am on the step and sits next to me. “Why do you look so uncomfortable?”
“This is weird,” I tell him under my breath, making sure Oliver can’t hear. Though, he’s too busy diving for toys and then throwing them and diving again to pay us any mind.
“Why? Because I want to fuck you in my bed tonight?” His hand is under the water and comes to rest on my thigh. He slowly moves it up until he is near my entrance. The only thing stopping him right now from going in is that I am wearing panties.
“Stop,” I say with a heavy breath.
“You don’t sound like you want me to stop. The vein in your neck is pulsating and your breathing has picked up. Looks to me like you want this as badly as I want to give it to you.”
I turn to face him and his smart-ass mouth. “Do you bring many women back here?”
He touches my hair and brushes it behind my shoulder, breathing me in. “None. You are the first.”
“I’m hungry,” Oliver says.
Beckham squeezes my leg, then pulls away. “Let’s get you fed, then.” Beckham steps out of the water, and Oliver follows him gladly, not even bothering to ask me if I’m coming. I dive under the water when he’s gone to release a scream before I come up and climb out of the pool.
Picking up one of the towels and wrapping it around myself, I grab my clothes and go inside. I don’t see them straight away, but I can hear Oliver’s laughter as I make my way past the overly large living room to a bedroom with the light on.
Beckham is sitting on the floor, a towel around his waist and a game controller in his hand, as Oliver eats a packet of chips on the bed.
“You have to jump here.” Beckham does so with his controller, and Oliver pays close attention.
“This is a beautiful room,” I say, looking around.
“It’s Winter’s room,” Oliver says, still looking at the television.
“Okay, got it?” Beckham asks him.
Oliver nods happily and takes over the game.
“He can’t play all night. He needs rest,” I tell Beckham when his hands grip my waist and he pushes me out the door.
“Oliver knows the TV is set for an hour, then he has to go to bed. He has his own bathroom there if he needs it, don’t you, buddy?” Beckham says, not looking back, just staring at me as he says the words.
“Yep,” he shouts. Oliver is too entranced in what he’s doing.
Beckham shuts the door with one hand still on me. “What do you think we should do?” His eyes roam my body suggestively.
&nbs
p; “Nothing,” I answer back. I go to turn toward the kitchen, but he pushes me in the opposite direction. It’s dark until he claps his hands, and soft lighting comes on. “You plan to seduce me?” I ask, giggling. Facing the room, there is an enormous bed in the center. And when I say enormous, I’m not joking. I’ve seen king beds, and this one is way bigger than your average king-sized bed. The room itself has one black textured feature wall, where the other two walls are a lighter gray. There are wall-to-ceiling mirrors along one wall, which I am sure hide an ensuite. The bed is covered in a black with silver pinstriped duvet, and there are large cushions at the bedhead. At the end of the bed is a studded black leather bench. There is a huge television hanging on the wall opposite the bed. The whole area is bigger than my entire home. It’s ostentatious, but not in a bad way.
“I’ve already seduced you. Now it’s all about getting you into my bed.” I step away from his touch and wander around his bed. I can tell which side he sleeps on because his phone charger is there.
“Why such a big bed?”
“I like my space.”
“You don’t like to cuddle?” I ask while attempting to hold back my laugh.
“No, I do not like to cuddle.”
“Pity. I love to cuddle. Especially naked. When you get so close that you can just slide …” I open my mouth to an O and snap it shut, “… straight in. It’s one of my favorite positions.” I smirk at him.
“Is that so?”
“Very much so,” I tell him, dropping the towel and then pulling my panties off before removing his shirt and climbing into his side of the bed. I pull the duvet over me and lie on my side.
“Well, I’m all for experiments,” he says before removing his pants. He comes to the bed and gets in the same side as me, pushing me over until we both fit. His hand runs down my side before it gets to my ass and travels farther down until he grabs the spot directly under my knee and hooks it over his waist. That same hand then moves between us until he finds my clit and rubs just a little. He brings his fingers up and holds them in front of my mouth. “Lick.”
I do as he says and taste myself. He smirks and then licks his own fingers, the ones I just licked and puts his hand back between us so he can rub my clit again.
I start moving and arching into him, and he bites his lip, his dark eyes turning heated before he leans over and kisses my exposed neck.
Feeling anything for Beckham is not something I ever wanted to do.
It wasn’t meant to happen.
How did it even happen?
I shake my head when I feel him at my entrance. He hikes my leg up higher on his waist and slides inside me. I pull myself closer until no air can squeeze between us, and he starts moving.
Lips, hot and heated, continue to kiss me, stealing them as a thief does jewelry in the night. I let him steal my diamonds because I know in return, he will make something out of them.
And it will be magical.
Until it isn’t.
I push him away so his kisses can stop thieving, and when I do, he pauses. I catch my breath and push him again, so he rolls on to his back, and I go with him. Now on top of him, I push my wet hair over my shoulders and start moving my hips.
Beckham lightly strolls his fingers down my back until he reaches my ass and slaps it.
I move faster, and his hands grip and help me move even faster.
To walk away would be smart.
To not get involved would be smarter.
I have managed to do so up to this point.
We have managed to work together at the office, but now it feels different. Everything feels different. Especially when I see him staring at me the way he is now. It makes me feel so many emotions. And none of them I should be having for my boss. Of that, I am sure.
“Stop that.” My hands grip his face, and I push it away so he can’t stare at me any longer. I close my eyes as I come, and he keeps on moving me, pulling my head down so my face is directly in front of him.
“Kiss me.”
And I do because it’s better than the alternative.
When he comes, he holds me to him, not letting me go.
Eventually, I say, “I need to use the bathroom,” and try to get off of him.
He lets me leave, but his gaze tracks me as I grab his shirt and head to the ensuite through the glass doors and throw it over my body as I shut the door.
The shower has two heads and is four times the size of mine. I use the bathroom and wash my hands, then splash water on my face.
Telling myself I can walk out there, I do.
When I open the door, the light is on and Beckham isn’t there, but then I hear, “He’s asleep.” Beckham’s standing in the doorway with a towel wrapped around his waist.
“You checked in on Oliver?” I ask.
“It’s adults I don’t like. I love kids,” he says, walking back to the bed. “You have a good kid.” He throws back the duvet, loses his towel, and slides in, holding the cover open for me. “You look good in my shirt but much better with it off.”
“No more sex. I can’t risk Oliver walking in. I don’t even know why I allowed it the first time,” I say while looking at the door.
“Get in bed, Jacinta.”
When I reach the bed, he grabs hold of my hand and pulls me down, so I land next to him. Then positions me so I’m in a spooning position on his side of the bed. The whole other side of the bed remains untouched.
“This is a big bed,” I say, nodding. “You can move over if you want.”
He harrumphs near my ear but doesn’t move.
“This is going to have to stop,” I tell him. “We can’t keep doing this.”
“Hmm,” is all the response I get.
I close my eyes and wonder what my life would be like if I never met Anderson.
I would not be here.
I wouldn’t have Oliver, which I do not regret for one second.
And I would have never met Beckham.
His hands tighten around my belly, and I hear the soft snore that follows soon afterward.
What a conundrum he is.
Chapter 22
Beckham
Jacinta and Oliver are gone when I wake.
But did I expect anything less? No.
The kitchen is clean, and not a trace of her remains anywhere.
My head hits the counter as I lay my hands on it, wondering why I am feeling like this.
While I am leaning over and thinking, the front door opens, and in walks Rylee. She eyes me as she walks straight over. “What is going on with you two?”
She couldn’t have known about last night.
“Shandy?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes almost to the back of her head. “Of course. She is my best friend. Now, tell me, do I have to watch for anything? Is this a smart move?” she questions. “She works for you, and more than that, she also has a son.”
“She was out at dinner last night with Noah and Anderson’s father.”
“Anderson wants to see Oliver, and she doesn’t want him to. Anderson’s father hired Noah to get something more permanent in place, as what they have isn’t working.”
That makes sense.
“She has a kid, Beckham,” Rylee says again. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“No. But I don’t need you to tell me either. If that’s the only reason you’re here, then you need to leave.”
“You sound like August. He told me to stay out of it, but I care for both of you. And, well, after Paige …” I grind my teeth at her words, “… you haven’t wanted anyone since her. It’s been six years, Beckham.”
“I’ve been with multiple women,” I bite back, stepping away to the fridge and pulling out a bottle of juice. “Do you want their numbers?”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. You haven’t had any kind of relationship with any of them. They are nothing more than fuck buddies.”
“That’s by choice, or should I say … my damn choice,” I tell
her.
“No, it’s not. It’s because you can’t handle anything more. And that’s fine, it is your damn choice … but remember one thing, if you keep going with Jacinta, you will need to be careful. Feelings might develop, things might change.”
“Don’t you have a kid to raise?” I bark.
“Yeah, yeah.” She waves her hand at me. “If Shandy asks to go with you to one of Archie’s parties, tell her no. I’ve heard about them, and she for sure does not need to go to that.”
“Maybe I should take August.” I smirk.
She stands taller and points her finger right in my face. “You will do no such thing, brother.” She turns and walks to the door, then looks over her shoulder directly at me. “I’m blocking your number today. Call tomorrow.” She walks out and shuts the door.
I check my phone and see Archie has sent me the time for the party.
“She’s a pretty little blonde thing, don’t you think?” I look in the direction he’s pointing.
“Go then …”
He nudges me. “For you, Beckham … not me. You need it more than me.”
Bringing the glass up to my lips, I take a small sip while I watch everyone and then reply, “I’m fine.”
“Unless you are fucking that sweet ass from your office, you aren’t.”
Ignoring his comment, I scan the room. I’ve been to a few of Archie’s parties. He holds them mainly for his criminal clients. It’s somewhere they can do what they want and fuck who they want under the protection of his home.
He lives out of town, and his driveway is basically its own street, complete with security cameras, so he knows if anyone is coming down it, and that includes the police.
This gives them enough time to make sure people can leave easily via the back way out of the property. Everything is perfectly timed, so if there are any issues, everything goes like clockwork.
“What about that brunette?” He nods to another girl who’s walking around wearing nothing but body paint.
When I look more closely, she has handprints slapped all over her body in bright red and pink paint. I raise an eyebrow when I glance back at him. “Archie, fuck off.”
