"Raven, you're here! Surprise!" Her four friends crowded her as soon as she walked in the door. Almost as though to shield her. But it was too late. She had seen. Nothing could save them now. She raised a brow as she looked over their shoulders at the moving backdrop of people, and the loud music in the background.
They attempted to salvage it anyway.
"Happy Birthday!"
She let herself be pulled into a bear hug.
"Hello...guys." She looked around in concern. "And... why are there random people here...?" Their house was certainly not meant to contain all these...bodies. What were her friends thinking? They smiled, huge conspiratory grins.
"We wanted to -"
"Not we. It was Kori and Karen!" Tara interjected.
"Well I wanted to," said Jinx.
"Right," Karen resumed her explanation for all the chaos. "We wanted to throw a little casual get together for your birthday, since we know you'll never celebrate it on your own. So..."
"You can try to have fun, stop working so hard - " Kori interjected.
Before Jinx cut her off with: "- and maybe you can meet a cute guy or two!"
Raven shook her head and sighed. But then, she gave them a little smile. They cheered and clapped. They meant well. She knew that. Even if they could be a little much. So much for her quiet evening at home. And the nice little dinner she thought they had decided on. The truth was, her friends had been dying for an excuse to party. She could tell. They had all been working hard the past few months. She didn't have the heart to deny them this.
So, she said the words she knew she would live to regret. "Fine, we'll...party."
They whooped and high fived. "But, no cake and no candles. Or singing. Keep it as casual as you can, considering." She gestured to the room.
"You got it." Tara smiled widely.
"One more thing, you didn't tell any one of these strangers that it's my birthday, did you?" She placed a hand on her hip.
"Of course not." Jinx put an arm around her, reassuringly. "What do you take us for?"
"Good. Please don't. I have to draw the line somewhere." That line had to be about fifteen people ago, but she ignored the voice in her head.
Karen mumbled something about not looking in the fridge. Kori was not one to mince words. She was always known to be direct, she grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to the crowd.
"Do a lap around. See if you find anyone nice! I have invited some acquaintances, who were told to bring friends..." She winked and pushed her from the foyer into the living room.
Raven sighed again. She had given into her fate this time. Things could be worse.
Or not.
What was that? On the table?
The book she was rereading and it was being used as a coaster? No one should ever use a book by Ishiguro as a surface to rest their drinks! She leapt in to rescue it from the red solo cup. Nearly bumping into a tall someone. She wiped off the cover. Thank goodness. She had half a mind to give whoever did that a piece of her mind. But she thought better of it. Maybe she would begrudgingly do a quick lap, like Kori suggested? Then see if she could find a snack, since trying to make a cup of tea was clearly out of the question. And then finally go upstairs to get a jump start of the manuscript she received earlier that week. It looked rather promising. After looking around the party quickly, she sat on the couch. Not one person called out to her or really caught her eye. She figured as much. Oh well. She hadn't been holding her breath or anything. Raven was probably safe now. Home free. Maybe she could just sneak upstairs and no one would notice.
A shadow appeared and loomed over the pages of her novel.
Raven simply tilted the book. She didn't think much of it, until the owner of the shadow began to speak. No one had called out to her before, but she did not want anyone to do so literally.
"You clearly don't want to be here." The words were emitted from a deep voice. Her eye twitched. Was someone really interrupting her?
"Really, how did you guess?" she asked sarcastically. She moved away, further down the couch. The nerve. She didn't bother to look up from the book. If she ignored him, he would go away.
But he didn't. She felt the seat shift as someone sat down. Not far from her. She looked anywhere but him. She didn't want to encourage this. Not that it mattered. He seemed to come by this overconfidence naturally. And so, he continued to try to talk to her. While she was so obviously not interested. There was no way she was giving him the time of day.
"Reading at a party? Well, it's a dead giveaway, for one." She could just hear the smile and smugness in his voice. Just what was with this guy? Who did he think he was?
"How original. Excuse me." She moved further away, now scoffing. Willing him again to get a clue.
He clearly couldn't take a hint.
"Maybe you're too good for this kind of thing. It's a shame. You're breaking a lot of hearts tonight. But...you do look like a heartbreaker to me."
Her temple pulsed now. What an arrogant ass. She closed her book and stood up. That was enough. She had tolerated him and this party for longer than she should have.
"Yeah, you're definitely a heartbreaker. You're breaking mine. Most women at least have the decency to look me in the eyes before they run away screaming."
She dropped her shoulders and exhaled. In spite of herself, Raven turned around. "And exactly who do you think you -"
Her breath hitched in her throat at the sight... Of this man. His henley shirt had the first few buttons undone, revealing slivers of a hard chest. His very red hair was tousled to perfection. He had a sexy smile playing on his face. His eyes were sparkling and clear, kind of how one imagined the waters that lapped up the shores of the most idyllic private beaches of the wealthy. She could see mysteries and danger swirling in their depths. She had seen him finally, and suddenly she couldn't look away.
Just who was he really?
"So, now that I've got your attention, I can finally ask you. Would you like to dance?"
"I'm sorry, to what?"
"Dance."
"But I don't really..." she tried. How could she put this?
"You don't really...? Like parties? Yeah, I gathered that." He smirked. Ruffling his hair just so. It still looked annoyingly touchable. Her fingers betrayed her when she felt them twitch. "So what? Not into redheads? We are nice people. Don't believe everything you hear."
"Excuse me?" she glared at him. He was testing her patience again. "That has nothing to do with it." Really? Not that she ever would, but with her hair color alone she could never judge another soul.
"So then do it. Dance with me." He was daring her. Challenging her.
"Oh. That. I don't - know. I..."
He smiled at her. Finally letting her off the hook. "I see you're nervous. Maybe... a little shy."
"I'm not - shy, I just -" A knowing smirk peeled across his cheeks now. She huffed, as her eyes slowly returned to his. "Well, maybe a little. I don't know what I'm even doing here..."
"Don't worry." He brushed her shoulder. "It's okay, if you're nervous." Nervous? Raven had very nearly jumped at the physical contact.
She shifted her weight. "No, I just... Don't really do things like go to parties. I didn't ask to be a part of this." Another knowing glance flashed in the aquamarine eyes.
"It's okay. That's perfectly fine. Maybe we can just talk... How about some place...quiet and more private?" She nodded in disbelief. Still holding herself up just barely. Sequestered somewhere with him. She kind of wanted to be. "So we can get away from all this?"
"That...kind of sounds nice actually."
"Lead the way?" She let him take her hand. She would just try to sneak off. Before...
Too late, Karen had seen this. All of it. She made sure to glance up and down suggestively at her. She was shameless. She even elbowed Jinx, whose eyes bugged out of her head. She gave her a huge thumbs up. Nice job she mouthed. Raven turned red and shook her head in dismay. Honestly. She led him behind her up the stairs.
He followed her. The heat from his hand on hers as she guided him. His rather large hand. She felt her cheeks aflame as she tried to calm her less than innocent thoughts. He just wanted to talk anyway. Even though they were going off...
To be alone.
Just the two of them.
In a bedroom... Her bedroom.
"This is actually my room."
He seemed quite interested when she divulged this particular tidbit. He looked around, turning, with that casual, confident gait. Loose in the hips. He clearly was fascinated. By what, she couldn't say. Was it the blue walls? Her yoga mat, perhaps? Her desk with the manuscripts strewn across it. Maybe he liked candles. Or all her shelves with rows upon rows of books.
She waited for the verdict. His assessment, "Very nice."
"Thank you."
"Yeah. Great room you have here, Miss... What is your name?" She just realized she didn't get his either. "See...I like to find out someone's name before I go to their room." Pale skin prickled anxiously at his words. At what he was insinuating...
"Oh. Right, I never introduced myself." She hadn't even cared who he was. She had just gone off with him. A stranger. A perfect stranger.
"No, you didn't." That smile tugged at his lips again. "So... what is your name, mystery girl?"
"Raven."
"That's a lovely name you have. I guess then it's true. I should have known." He rolled his eyes to the ceiling and chuckled, at something unbeknownst to her.
"Um, what's true?"
"That thing. You know?" he paused at this and turned to her. She didn't. She really didn't. "About...beautiful women having beautiful names." Oh. She was not expecting that. Purple eyes softened and traced the floor, as she flushed. He was really good at this. It was actually almost irritating. Raven cleared the tickle from her throat.
"So what's yours?"
"I have been called many things, but you can call me Speedy."
"Okay. Wow." Just what kind of name was that supposed to be? She wasn't one to judge, given the obvious, but...
"Yeah, wow. I bet you'd like to find out why." She paled and swallowed. Oh my God. She felt her heart pound. Faster than it already was. "I'm just kidding. Only kidding. Mostly..." Speedy shook his head and carved a hand through his flaming hair. "Do you guys do this kind of thing a lot? Because it definitely doesn't seem like you guys do. Although..."
He nodded over at the door which was ajar. Where someone, probably Jinx, had just screamed for: "Shots. Shots!" She was leading the chant now. It was definitely her, alright. Raven shook her head at the antics. It seemed as though she had been doing that all night. Feeling agitated with the party. Until now... She reminded herself. He gently closed it. Suddenly, it got a lot quieter. And it was very clear it was just the two of them. In her room.
Alone.
"This is their idea of a celebration. It was Jinx or Karen's idea." Raven shrugged. She really was just along for the ride as usual.
"I see. I didn't get the vibe that you had anything to do with it... I saw you reading that book. You know I've never seen anyone dodge a six pack of beer like that." He laughed, bracing himself against the wall. He hadn't been lying. He did want to talk. This guy seemed genuinely interested in talking to her. It was a surprise. But a welcome one.
"Yeah. Well, blame my friends for that. They mean well. Usually..." She would have been fine with a book or a gift card. But... Her traitorous gaze slid over and she was transfixed by the muscular redhead and his rippling muscles. Large hands and sexy stubble. Burning heat. Kind of like...how she always imagined a really sexy fireman. One that would come and rescue her. Or steal her in the night... Pick her up in his strong arms... And then carry her off... And have his way with her... Oh God. She was doing it again. Raven couldn't believe she just thought that! She forced herself to look away.
"So, what do you do, Raven?" With a wistful expression, he stroked his stubble.
"Like for work? Or for fun?" She kicked herself at the last one. Of course he meant for work.
"For work... But I'd like to hear about that last one too."
"Oh, I work at a publishing house." She really did like talking about her work. But she never got the chance to do it much, some people found books boring.
"Publishing. Hmm? That suits you and it explains the manuscripts. I'm sure you get this a lot, but you must love books."
"I do - love books, I mean, and - I get that a lot."
"I kind of figured you liked to read when I saw your room." He gestured at the shelves. "By the way, were you just muttering something about Fahrenheit 451?"
"Oh. Right. Yeah..." He heard that? Oh no...
"Show me your favorite?" She was actually quite happy to. She wasn't asked to do that much. Raven walked over to the shelf and pulled off a big, worn book. "Anna Karenina? Nice choice. And Tolstoy, too."
"Do you know Tolstoy?"
"Of course. What kind of guy doesn't?" Raven was skeptical. She very much doubted that most guys knew of Tolstoy. And ones who looked like that no less... But she let it go. He scanned the shelves and reached over and grabbed a tattered book. "One of my personal favorites..." He handed it to her.
"Great Expectations?" That was unexpected. Talk about an intense read. He was full of surprises. But was this a clever ruse for him to just hit on her? Or could it be that this was actually his favorite? He plucked the book from her fingers. Wetting his lips. Just what was he planning?
"So... it's your birthday. Am I right?"
"What? How did you...?" Raven tried. But it was too late. She had already given herself away. "Never mind. It... doesn't matter. You got me. I'm her...the birthday girl."
"Congratulations, birthday girl. That's certainly something to celebrate if you ask me. It's a special day." He folded his arms, leaning in her direction.
But she looked directly ahead. "Well, maybe to some, but to me it's just that. A day. One day that's no different from all the others in a year... Besides, if anything was cause for celebration around here it's certainly not this."
"Okay..." He spoke with a little smirk. One that screamed, Try me. "If you insist."
He seemed so at ease with this, with her, it was almost annoying.
"Kori got a new job a few weeks ago... Jinx...got a new boyfriend." He rolled his eyes playfully at her. "But yes...it's my birthday."
"I think your birthday alone is still cause for all this fanfare."
"It is? I still don't think so." It was a trivial life event. Nothing more. Still, if they were going to celebrate, why did they have to do it like this?
"It most certainly is." He sounded rather insistent upon this. "You better celebrate then. Before you go back to your long, lonely hours at your publishing house. What do you say?"
She reluctantly agreed. "I say... Okay...?" What was she getting herself into?
"Okay, then." He reached over to clasp her hand and pulled her in closer. Her hands could just reach out and stroke his hair. It looked even softer now that he was... When had he gotten near her like this without her noticing?
"What are you...doing...Speedy?"
"Giving you your gift." Downstairs she had asked that they leave the gift option completely off the table. Not up for discussion.
"My gift?" But up here, with him?
"Yeah, your gift," he repeated, all the while piercing her with a stare. "Your friends seem to think that this day is pretty special, even though you don't."
"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?" The petite girl shot him a quizzical look.
"I'm saying, why don't we find a different way for you to celebrate? A way that I think you'll find a little more pleasant?"
"What do you mean...?" She could feel her cheeks warming up. She was a little eager to find out what else he had in store for her. What did he want to do with her? Or to her?
"Just...we could humor each other," he murmured. His voice was a little huskier. "With the whole hookup at a birthday party cliché."
"Hookup?" She could see it. His not so innocent inclinations. The danger.
He was... propositioning her. Bluish-green traced her over, scanning every inch. Thoroughly. He flashed a broad smile as he did so, uncaring of her shocked eyes, unashamed of how blatantly he had just checked her out. Almost as if he liked what he was seeing and wanted more.
Just what had she gotten herself into with this man? She barely knew him and yet she was actually considering it. Hooking up with him.
This stranger.
A/N: I just started working on this last week and I don't know, I'm having a lot of fun with it! I started with a random idea, and it just turned into something else. But it was a good thing. Because then I knew I wanted to try it, writing something featuring Speedy. (Not just the fact that there is not enough SpeedyRae out there.) So this story is much more dialogue heavy than I usually tend to do. But it's a welcome change. I really, really fell in love with his character more by writing this. Thank you so much for checking this one out! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I loved writing it! Feel free to check out my other stories! I can't believe this is my ninth one! :)