I'm so excited to post this chapter! One of my favorites.
21
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The Revelation
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Glad Tidings IPA
Ore Dock Brewing Company
A Dickens tale in a bottle. Beautiful, but too short.
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The room was enormous. Spencer liked the open space, but reminded herself it will soon be filled with furniture. The bed was the first piece, delivered by the warehouse worker in the very morning. How foolish she was to insist she could put it together on her own! But the challenge made her occupied, and she acknowledged that for the good it did. No point thinking of Bane and their awkward goodbye.
Yesterday she just shook his hand and said goodbye. Just like that. The truth was, she was unable to go another minute without making a complete fool of herself. The tension of holding herself back, plus his increasing familiarity and even just the way he looked… Spencer couldn't bear it.
So she decided its best to just part ways. Since Bane wasn't meant for her anyway, no point in dragging the inevitable out.
But she was restless.
There weren't any instructions included in any of the boxes, she double checked, so she ended up cross legged on the floor, looking at the ceiling and wondering how was she supposed to put that monster of the bed together.
Trial and error, I guess.
Then an odd detail caught her attention.
Funny, for all the professed thoroughness, Bane's men left the masking tape by the ceiling.
She sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead. So now she had to find a ladder and get it off herself. What a treat.
Sound of the buzzer startled her slightly, her face scrunching up in a frown. She didn't expect a soul, now that the workers were gone, so who could that be?
She picked up the receiver and sternly asked who it was.
"It's Bane, Ms P. I'm afraid there is a thing my men neglected to finish."
"Come on in."
How random was that? She couldn't believe her luck.
Okay Spence, second chance. Don't you fucking ruin it!
She fiddled with the end of the scarf hanging off a rack, waiting for Bane to come upstairs. Still, she jumped with surprise when the doorbell rang.
"Hi," she smiled at him when she opened the door and immediately moved to make way.
"Mornin'," he replied. His voice was oddly breathless, as if he rushed the stairs instead of taking the elevator. But of course, the notion was ridiculous. Why would he ever do that? He was carrying a ladder with him, for Goodness sake.
His hands moved swiftly when he unzipped his jacket and hung it by the entrance, the movements precise and familiar. Spencer let herself just watch him, for once ogling him with a little smile and no remorse.
I do have to wait for my guest, so it's only natural.
"I apologize for my men, it rarely happens that they leave anything unfinished. I must have been distracted yesterday, seeing as I omit the tape myself."
"Oh I didn't notice until just now. No wonder, since it's covered mostly in paint."
"You're too nice," he remarked looking up. Hands resting comfortably at his hips, the collar of his henley exposing his throat, he was the picture of confidence and masculinity.
"Whatever you say."
Spencer wanted nothing more in that moment than a temporary amnesia to overcome her, so she could forget about his family and just give in to the urge to lick her way from his collarbone to the messy scruff of his beard. She'd bury her fingers in his sideburns, and then slide them to the back of his head and press his lips to hers, licking across them and tasting that flat, pale scar that bisected them, and then…
Bane cleared his throat, making her gasp slightly.
"I see you have a 3D puzzle going. Need any help with that?"
"What?" For a moment she couldn't refocus, spiralling down into the simple pleasure of watching him smile. Her own lips stretched to mimic his expression. "Oh, you mean the bed. Well, if you have time that would be a tremendous help."
"Let it be my penance."
"Don't worry, if it's any problem I can manage myself."
He nodded solemnly and picked up one of the parts. It looked weightless in his thick arms, but Spencer knew that wasn't the case. Far from it.
"How did you manage to bring it here? "
"A guy from the shop brought it."
"And why didn't he assemble it?"
"I asked him not to."
"Why?"
"You said that would be your penance, remember? So, get to it." She chided, folding her arms defiantly for good measure.
He chuckled and briefly raised his hands in mock defeat.
"I'm sorry, you're absolutely right. Habits from my previous occupation are difficult to forget."
"And that was?" she tried, interest piqued. Never before had he volunteered any other personal information.
"You could say I was in security."
"Like, um, a soldier?"
"Something of the similar kind, yeah."
The admission left Spencer with a stupid grin.
"I just knew it!"
"Well, there you go." Bane murmured from above her. She watched him taking the tape off. The most arduous task in the job was constant need to adjust the placement of the ladder, but his long arms helped making a quick work even faster with the enormous distance he could safely reach out to. All in all, in five minutes Spencer had her bedroom finally perfectly finished.
"To the main event now?" She asked.
"Indeed." He rubbed his hands together, eager to set in his task. "Do you have instructions?"
"Nope."
"Of course. Well, nothing we can't overcome."
Unless I die of spontaneous combustion because I'm burning for you.
oOo
Half an hour later he was done.
"Well, now all I need to do is to check if it won't fall apart." Spencer shoved at the foot of the bed. It didn't move an inch. "That looks sturdy enough."
"That was pathetic." Bane threw from behind her.
"Well, be my guest, see for yourself." She scoffed and shook her head. There was nothing that would move this monster of a bed, she knew it.
"Don't mind if I do."
He came up behind her and grabbed the railing on either side. The yank he gave it rattled the whole frame, but it held through. Spencer on the other hand nearly came apart, trapped between sturdy metal in front and solid mountain of muscle at her back. Before she decided to do anything rash, like leaning back, he moved to the side and methodically tested the tension in all joints.
"That looks good enough." He nodded with some degree of respect.
Oh, Good Lord...
"Will you help me put the mattress on?"
"Of course."
It was compressed in a cylinder, which sprang out as soon as Bane cut through the thick plastic guarding it. Spencer giggled and tried to hold up her end, but it practically flew away from her hands, carried away by Bane's capable arms. He sent her a pointed look and left the springy mountain of foam and cloth on the bed.
Then, he theatrically dusted his palms off with a broad grin.
"All done," he announced cheerfully.
"Yes, it's all finished, finally." Spencer looked around, twisting with hands on her hips.
The room lacked all furniture, and the cardboard from the bed streaked throughout the floor along with the masking tape. It was brighter than ever before, the difference in levels made it look more spacious as well.
"I hope it will be comfortable at last."
She twirled towards Bane with a grin. He sat hunched down on the edge of the bed now, still smiling, looking perfectly in place. Something tightened in Spencer's chest, and then immediately gave.
"Thank you."
She tried to look casual as she strolled over and sat beside him.
"You should test the mattress as well," he noted, looking straight ahead.
"You're absolutely right. One third of our lives is spent sleeping, it would be a tremendous mistake to get the wrong type of mattress." She plopped on her back.
The bed dipped to her side, but not enough to make her roll Bane's way.
"You've tested it before, haven't you?"
"Sure I have. I'd never buy anything without checking it out first, as you could observe with the bedframe. But," she turned to her side and propped her head with one hand, "I admit it makes more sense to check the give under more than just myself."
He had his hands spread palms down, pressing lightly around himself to check the level of softness.
"Well, did you remember to test the spring too?"
"The spring? What do you…?"
With astonishing agility he turned and twisted, slid close and put his hands on either side of her hips before she managed to finish the sentence. She looked up at him a bit breathless and genuinely surprised that he just rolled her over on her back. Heat poured off him in waves, but even if it hadn't Spencer's cheeks would gain the same deep blush.
"It's important to be sure no exercise would disturb your neighbours," he murmured, his deep voice washing over Spencer like a physical caress, echoing in her extremities with an excited tingle. A strong push down made her squeal in surprise and grab Bane's biceps for stability.
"If anything squeals it won't be the bed," he joked, mirth soaking his tone and turning his words a bit guttural.
"Oh, that pathetic push? I don't know, might not be enough," Spencer parred, breathless but smiling confidently against herself. Her chest was nearly brushing his and she was all set on his next words, perfectly still, taut with thrumming tension of muscles prepared for anything.
"Made you squeal," Bane joked. The crow's feet beside his eyes deepened, his lips, so impossibly beautiful, stretched in a smirk.
This is it.
All thoughts of keeping away and respecting his family, and protecting herself evaporated like steam rising from a cup. There were taut muscles under her fingers, and even though he didn't look directly at her his eyes crinkled in a way that made her heart ache. His lips were so achingly close, still turned up in a smirk, perfectly shaped and slightly moist as if he licked them just a moment before.
Who could resist this kind of temptation?
She tried. God knows she did, forcing her eyes to move away from his face. But then it didn't help, because it only made her feel more acutely the position they were in.
Bane did that. Does that mean he doesn't care about his wife and kid, or is he just bored? Or am I too easy?
She refocused on his eyes and stilled. He watched her avidly now, like a great big cat hovering over his prey. His breath caressed her lips in a warm gust and he inclined his head down. Feather light touch along her cheekbone sent shivers down her back. Hair of his beard tickled, the hair longer than stubble and not as prickly, smelling of spices and cider.
Spencer's palm automatically stroked up his arm, to the shoulder, and further to his neck, fingers sliding through short hair at his nape.
Just a little further, lower your head just a little more...
Muted sound of a temple bell tolled gravely nearby.
Is this a sign?
Bane sighed and got up, fishing out his cellphone and looked at it with an annoyed expression, which quickly turned into a pensive frown. He excused himself and went to the living room to take the call.
Spencer was left on the bed, slowly letting out a shaky exhale. She caught a glimpse of his screen. There was a picture of someone feminine and dark haired. It was probably Dr. Tate.
How stupid are you, woman? He's taken! And way out of your league...
Before she had a chance to self-flagellate too much Bane came back.
"I apologise, it was my sister. I will have to go now."
Spencer's mind blanked. It was rather blissful. For once in her life, on the inside of her head there was the absolute tranquillity of a vacuum. An endless white expanse of perfect nothingness.
Save for, perhaps, one word.
"Sister?" she asked breathlessly, rising to sit and frown at him.
Meanwhile he was taking the ladder to get it with him to the door.
"Yes, she needs someone to take care of my nephew and her babysitter can't come. She has a demanding career, I'm afraid."
"Oh I see. That's a shame," she babbled lamely, following Bane down the corridor.
"It is," he nodded, putting on his jacket. "Call me if you need anything."
One last glance over his shoulder, a shadow of a smile, and he was - gone.
Just like that.
Spencer didn't really smile back at him, only mechanically closed the door and turned the lock. Then, she leant her back on solid plane of wood and slowly slid all the way back to the floor.
His sister!
Fuck.
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