by T. L Smith
Sorting through my thoughts, I turn to look and see him already watching me. “You should go.”
“You can’t still hate me.”
A sigh leaves my mouth. “I don’t, but you should leave.”
He shakes his head. “And, what if I say no.”
“Then I’ll leave, and I really don’t want to leave my own house.”
He stands, shaking his head, and starts reaching for his clothes.
“Why are you shaking your head?” I ask him confused.
He looks up at me, pausing before he does his trouser buttons up, so his snail trail is on perfect display. I remember when I licked that only a few hours ago. My eyes make their way back up to him.
“Why are you pushing me away?” he asks irritation floating in his voice.
I sit up not even bothering to cover myself, and his eyes roam to look me over again before they come back to mine. I can tell they are hungry eyes.
“You want what you want, which isn’t what I want,” I say.
He looks at me in disarray. “Did you just hear yourself? That made no fucking sense.”
“You want sex… I want a relationship that lasts. So, you want what you want but I want something completely different. Does it make sense now?”
“You want a relationship… with me?” he asks, clearly not understanding.
I shake my head. “No. You can’t give me what I want, and that’s okay. But that also means this has to stop so I can find what I want. At the moment you’re hindering that,” I tell him honestly.
“You want to stop fucking, so you can find someone else to fuck?”
My head lolls back and I roll my eyes with a sigh before I look back at him. “I want someone for forever, not a temporary.”
He seems to get that now and nods his head. “And I’m not a forever type of man.”
“Bingo,” I say and he seems to mull that over before he slides his shirt on.
“What if I could be?”
I shake my head. “You can’t. Tell me, Falcon… when was your last relationship?”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Never.”
“And I won’t be your first test try either.” I get out of my bed and reach for my nightgown, sliding it on to cover myself. “It’s been fun and all, and I understand what you did all those years ago wasn’t to insult me. I forgive you, so… let’s be friends?” I offer him my hand, but he just looks at it.
“That same hand was wrapped around my cock less than an hour ago. You want to agree to be friends on that shake?” He smirks, so I pull my hand back and shake my head.
“See, this is why. How about we make a deal?”
“Yes, deals I can do.”
“I won’t comment or even be a smart ass every time I see you with one of your women.” His eyebrows pinch together. “And you’ll do the same when I’m with someone.”
“No deal.” He turns, heading to my door, and starts walking out. I follow, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder. Touching was a bad move because he spins, pins me to the wall, and stares at me with those eyes that could eat me alive. He’s so fucking intense. “I’ll have you when I want you.”
My mouth opens and he places a finger on it to shush me.
Falcon’s hand slides up my leg and my stupid legs part for him. “Because your body is unable to say no. So, no… no deal. Because I do plan to fuck you again, and again, and again. Till I decide I’ve had enough… if I ever do, that is. You seem to have sparked something in me, and I just can’t get enough of all that’s you.” He leans in and his lips land on mine. He steals my open-mouthed kiss as his tongue slides in, and I can taste myself on him but it doesn’t matter. None of it matters, because what he said is true. My stupid body responds to him every time, so maybe I need to stop putting myself in positions where we’re alone and start looking out for me.
Pushing him back, his lips are wet and his smile is wide.
He doesn’t bother wiping me off of him, just leans in and his thumb runs over my bottom lip. “Until next time, Raven.” He walks out before I can think of anything else to say.
I need to move, far, far, away so he can never find me again.
Yes, I’ll do that.
“Holy fuck, Ariel, you guys have some mad-ass chemistry.” I stay leaning on the wall, still unable to move as Chad walks around. “I walked into the lounge room to grab my cell and saw you jump him last night. How about a high five, girl, and tell me that dicking was everything you’d hoped.” His hand stays up in the air ready for me to give him a high five—that’s not happening.
Shaking my head, I walk past Chad and back into my room. The same one that smells of him. I look at my bed and immediately decide I need to strip it, and get rid of everything that’s Falcon.
17
Falcon
“What do I do?” I sit with my leg bouncing watching Elicea, Creed’s partner, holding baby Annabelle. I came to speak to her because I knew Creed wouldn’t be here. I respect Elicea, even if I did want to fuck her when I met her. Now she’s with basically my brother, and that can never happen. So, I come to her for advice on other women. I don’t want to go to Tracey, that’s her best friend and I don’t want to put her in the middle of anything.
“So, she wants something? What? A relationship? And you don’t?”
“I never really thought about having one before.” I shrug while she clenches her jaw.
“Really, not one woman has enticed you to be with her for more than just sex?” I shake my head. “Gosh, Falcon, no wonder she doesn’t want to try. She doesn’t want to be your guinea pig.”
“I enjoy fucking her… no, scrap that… I really, really, enjoy fucking her. She’s my favorite thing right now.”
“Well, aren’t you just a smooth-talker.” She pinches her lips. “Maybe you should try, if you want her. Maybe a date?”
“I wouldn’t know the first thing about a date. I absolutely know the first thing about getting a woman in bed. Actually, I’m an expert at that.”
“Take Annabelle.” I do, snuggling her to me as I rock her. “Now, when you look at her, when she’s older, would you like some man to treat her like she’s only good for one thing? Sex?” she asks and as I look down at Annabelle. She opens her eyes and smiles at me.
“No,” I say truthfully.
“So, what would you do if someone was treating her that way?”
“Pummel him.”
“So, do you think using Ariel for just sex is smart?”
I look up to her. “You need to meet her, tell me if she’s any good.”
Elicea’s green eyes look down at me and she shakes her head. “I already like her, she’s making you think of who you are. She’s a keeper, I’m sure.” Elicea reaches back for Annabelle and when she does, I text Ariel.
* * *
Me: Emergency, please come to this address.
* * *
I text the address and sit and wait. Elicea talks about Annabella and I gladly sit and listen. Who knew a baby could be so adorable. The door opens and I turn to see Creed walk in. He looks at me then to Elicea sitting in her seat holding Annabelle.
“Why are you here?” he asks stepping in and walks straight to El.
“He came to see me.” She smiles up at him.
Creed looks back at me and if looks could kill I would be stone cold dead.
“Where were you?”
“Handling your mess,” he says then walks to the kitchen.
A knock on the door resounds through the house and Creed walks out to open it. I notice black hair and know it’s her.
“Falcon,” Creed growls, opening the door wider as Ariel stands there not sure what to do. “Why is Ariel on my doorstep?”
“I asked her to come over.”
She looks past Creed and shakes her head. “You said it was an emergency. I had to leave work for this, Falcon.”
“It is, come in.” She steps in and walks up to me. “I want you to meet, Elicea.”
Ariel�
��s always polite and says, “Hello,” and smiles at her before she turns back to me. “Why am I here? What’s the emergency?”
“I wanted you to meet.”
Ariel looks to El, and they both turn to look at me.
“If you want to smack him… hell, even punch him, there’s no judgment here,” El says with a smile on her face.
“I’m afraid I want to do worse,” Ariel says through clenched teeth.
Creed walks over and takes the baby from El and walks out.
“You said it was an emergency?” El asks, shaking her head while standing in front of me. “Falcon that was stupid… even for you.” El turns to Ariel. “It’s a pleasure meeting you. Hopefully, next time, under better circumstances. If you decide to bash his head in, please do it on the fur rug, I want a new one anyway.” She waves her hand and walks away.
“You can’t do that,” Ariel says her head still shaking. “I was in the middle of an important meeting. I thought something had happened to Tracey.”
I wave her off. “Tracey’s fine, it’s you who I wanted the attention of.”
Ariel turns and walks straight out of the house, not even bothering to wait to hear what I wanted her for.
I follow her. I’m faster, so I stand in front of her, her hand lands on her hips, her sunglasses covering her eyes as she stares at me.
“Move, Falcon, I have to get back to work.”
“Not until you hear me out.”
She sighs loudly. “You have a few minutes then I will kick you in your cock to teach you not to play with me again.” I like it when she talks dirty. “Oh God, you just enjoyed me saying that, didn’t you? I can see the look on your damn face.” She shakes her head.
“If you wanted to touch my cock all you have to do is ask.” I step forward, she steps back.
Her hands go up to block me from touching her. “Why did you bring me here?”
“I want a date. El suggested I date you.” Her mouth opens, then closes, then opens again.
“So you want to use me, for what? Trial and error?”
“No, I want to date you. Not just play with you.”
“We discussed this, Falcon. I won’t be it. I won’t be your plaything.” She turns, her hand reaching for the car door.
“We can play too if that’s what you want. All I’m asking for is one date.”
“No. Date someone else.” She pulls the door open and slides in.
I hold it open while looking down at her. She doesn’t look up.
“It won’t make you jealous if I date someone else?”
Her beautiful dark eyes look up at me. “No. Now move.”
“Well good, I don’t want to date anyone else because I want to date you. And believe me, you and I will date.” I shut the door and offer her a wave as she looks at me confused, and it only takes her a minute to drive off.
When I turn, I notice Creed on the doorstep waiting for me with Annabelle in his arms, which makes me feel safe, so I walk to him.
“You’ll hear the news soon anyway… so a heads up.” I wait to hear what he has to say. “Tom’s dead. Don’t make me have to deal with the other issue either.” He turns and walks inside.
I turn to see if I can still see her, but she’s long gone. I pull up my cell and search Tom on Google. Someone like him dies and it will be everywhere, and sure enough, he comes up straight away.
I cringe when I see how.
But I also smile knowing he’s now out of the way.
18
Ariel ‘Raven’
The nerve of him. I told Falcon I forgive him then he has to the nerve to message me about some emergency which I left a very important meeting for—ran from it, to be exact—and went straight to where he said. I shake my head as I drive back to the office and think of all the ways I can kill him with it not going noticed. The damn idiot could get me fired. I cringe at that thought, I really hope not. Just as I pull back to work, my cell starts ringing. I check to make sure it’s not him before I answer—my work number is flashing.
“Hey, Amy, I’m pulling up now.”
“Ariel,” my boss’s voice booms. She doesn’t usually call, normally it’s only our front of office.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“Where are you, exactly?”
“I just parked.”
“Okay. I need you to go, right now, I will email you the exact location…” she pauses, “… and Ariel, I’m truly sorry.” She hangs up, and I sit to wait for the email to come through.
Her words sit uncomfortably with me… why is she sorry? Is she firing me? Shit! My line of work is hard to find employment in. This job alone took me over a year to secure, and while I was trying to land my almost-dream job, which this isn’t exactly but it’s close, I was a bartender back home waiting for that call which would bring me into the city and working like a grown-up.
* * *
Ariel,
* * *
Tom Spec has died. Witnesses from the scene say he crashed into a barrier and the impact was so severe he died on impact.
* * *
Monica,
CEO
* * *
Oh my God, I didn’t expect that. Not that. I only saw him a day ago. How could this be? Tom died. Fuck! I pull up the address from my cell and go straight to the scene—it’s blocked off and people are everywhere. Thankfully the body is gone and now it’s only the police and newspaper reporters hovering around making sure they get that perfect photo of the car. I push my way through and see someone familiar standing there. It’s one of his bodyguards. I tap his shoulder and offer him a smile. He sees me and basically runs the other way.
Well, that was weird.
I pull out my camera and snap a few photos as well before I look around. There are no other people here from Tom’s staff, just that one bodyguard who I only recognized because he’s Tom’s main security.
Walking to my car, I sit and want to cry. I never really liked the man, but he didn’t deserve to die. No one deserves to die.
A message beeps and Falcon’s name appears. Somehow my lips manage to lift just a fraction before they fall.
* * *
Falcon: I’m sorry, Raven.
* * *
I press call, and he answers on the first ring.
“Where are you?” he asks.
“I need you.” And I do. I want body contact despite trying to stay away, which I had planned. I want his contact, and I know he will give it to me. Stupid, I know. But we all do stupid things in life and maybe Falcon will be my biggest regret.
When Falcon enters my office, I stand and he wraps his arms around my body the first chance he gets. I fall into them as he pulls me tight, so all I can feel is him as he lifts me up.
“It gets easier, if that helps. Each time you lose someone it gets easier to numb the pain.” I look up to him and he pulls my hair back and strokes it. Falcon lost both his grandparents when we were growing up. I remember then how that changed him, he was close to them. Beyond close, he even used to call them Mum and Dad, by accident and sometimes on purpose. I lay my head on his shoulder and hold him with everything I have. They died one year apart, and I knew then it broke something inside him, but I was young and in love and I thought he would get over it. I don’t even bother asking him how he knew—Tom was famous, the whole world knows.
“I didn’t even like him, but I feel guilty.”
He shuts my office door and sits with me on my couch. The need to strip his clothes off right now is overwhelming. My need for him is almost suffocating me. Pulling back so I can stare at him, he doesn’t offer me a smile or tell me it’s all going to be okay, because I obviously know it’s not. But I still feel bad. Bad that I thought of Tom as an asshole, and even worse, that I didn’t get to say goodbye.
Death is never easy. Some know how to work through the pain, some hide from it, and some suffocate in it.
“You didn’t have to like him to feel sorry or sad about his death. You knew him. You’re sad h
e’s gone. It’s natural.” I lean in and kiss his words so I can take the strength they give. Being with him helps. He helps. Falcon was our warrior growing up—Tracey’s big fearless older brother. Now, I have my hands on his face, tasting his lips. If you would have told me years ago I would be doing this, I would have told you you’re mistaken. If you’d have told me this when I was a teenager, I would have clapped for joy. Now, I don’t know what to do. I tell him to leave me alone and he turns up everywhere. I try to escape him but I crave him. I’m not sure who’s winning in this situation, but I know for sure who won’t.
Pulling back, I look at him. The curve of his perfect jaw with no stubble, it’s almost as if he was born to be perfect. His full lips that I know are flawless and made for kissing. His hands that trace my body and scream for me to give him more, I can’t say no once they’re on me.
I’m a slave to his desire.
Lock me up and throw away the fucking key.
“Tell me you’ll date me? We can do it. I’ll be good, I promise.” I watch his lips move then look up into his dark eyes. They’re pleading and I can tell he’s speaking the truth. He wants me to try.
“My first instinct is to tell you, no.”
His hands grip me harder.
The door flies open and my boss stands there. She looks to me in Falcon’s arms.
“Go home for the day, Ariel. I’m sorry about what happened.” She closes the door with a smile on her face. I know the effect Falcon has on a woman because I had the exact same reaction, so I smile when he turns back to me waiting for an answer.
