Reyna braced herself for the chill as she stepped outside and was not disappointed. The temperature was frigid. Snow dusted the rooftop and was falling gently from the heavens. The view into the city was stunning with everything coated in a layer of white powder. But it was the rooftop garden that really caught her eye this time. Lights decorated the winter plants and a fire was crackling in the center of a fire pit. Heaters had been added to help with the extreme cold. And the bench where they had first gotten intimate was clear of snow, and holding blankets and a tray of food.
“Is this a date, Mr. Anderson?” she asked coyly.
“And suddenly, I’m no longer Becks.” His eyes were teasing and she was certain she would never be able to get enough of it.
She giggled. “I didn’t even think you liked the nickname.”
“I like it when you say it,” he admitted.
“My Becks,” she said, standing on her tiptoes and dragging him into a kiss.
“My Little One,” he said just as fiercely.
“I like that too.”
He flashed her a rare real smile and then escorted her through the rooftop garden. They took a seat in front of the fire. Beckham wrapped blankets around them to keep her warm and put his arm around her shoulders.
“I figured you didn’t eat,” he said, gesturing to the covered tray.
“How do you know me so well?”
“You lived with me for some time.”
“True. I sometimes forget to eat. But then again…so do you.”
He laughed softly. “Not anymore. I am more careful now. More careful around you.”
Reyna arched an eyebrow at him but he removed the cover from the tray to reveal all of her favorite foods from the restaurant they used to go to across from his penthouse. Her stomach grumbled as she took in the delicious foods she thought she would never eat again.
“Oh my God, this is the best.”
“I’m glad that I got the order correct,” he said. Though he honestly sounded a little…nervous. Beckham could never be nervous.
“It’s perfect. Now, while I eat tell me more about this investigation.”
“It’s nothing really. Harrington redid background checks. The penthouse was raided after they took you and then again when you escaped him. As if I would be stupid enough to bring you back there if I had gotten you out.” He fumed at the audacity that they would think him so stupid. “I had to get a new permanent.”
“What?” Reyna asked, covering her mouth.
“Yeah. Part of the cover, I’m afraid. I couldn’t look like I was disagreeing with Harrington when it might jeopardize finding you. I hate having to keep up appearances.”
Reyna could see that he thought it was beneath him to follow all of Harrington’s orders. She didn’t blame him. She hated following them too.
“Do you…drink from her?” Reyna couldn’t help asking.
“Would you rather me drink from Penelope?” he asked, his voice low.
“No,” she snapped. “How could you even suggest that? I’m still pissed about the last time you did it in the Vault.”
“I couldn’t drink from you and I was starving. I no longer drink from Penelope if that makes you feel better.”
“It does,” she admitted. “But you could have drunk from me.”
“I could. But a true blood type match is always preferred. At least that was what I thought before I drank your blood.”
Reyna put down the sandwich she’d been devouring. “What do you mean?”
“Your blood is preferable to any other,” he said, staring directly into her dark eyes. “You are preferable to any other.”
She flushed. That sent heat straight between her legs, and suddenly she felt very, very toasty. She unwound the scarf from around her neck. Not on purpose. She wasn’t enticing him. Or…maybe she was.
“I think Harrington must feel the same way,” Beckham added. She could tell the thought infuriated him.
“Uh…why?” she asked, shrinking back at the thought of Harrington.
“The fact that there was a security breach is only known to top-level employees. And even then, they don’t know what was breached. Or more importantly, whom. No one knew that he had found a match, but we guessed. Well, I knew, but I had to act as if I did not. Then he tried to put on airs that he wasn’t doing any better than normal, but he was.” Beckham turned back to look at her. “And now he’s not again.”
“Good,” she spat. “I hope he shrivels up and dies.”
“I’m not sure which scenario makes him more dangerous though,” he said, considering. “When he had you, he could take on the world. Without you, he’s…much more desperate. Desperate men do desperate things.”
“You sound as if you are speaking from experience.”
“I am,” he said flatly without explanation.
Reyna finished the rest of her dinner and then snuggled into Beckham’s side. His hand wove through her hair absentmindedly. Her side was pressed against his strong body. He reached across her and laced their fingers together. They sat there in the stillness of the night as the fire crackled before them. She didn’t care about anything else that was going on outside of this moment. She had everything she wanted right here.