The Bucket List (4 page)

"Hi
Irving," she said awkwardly.

She had never called him dad. She knew it hurt him that she couldn't but for sixteen years, she had believed another man to be her father. All her life she had loved and respected Greg Taylor, his revelation on his deathbed had not changed that. She could never call another man her dad, not when she felt it would be disloyal to Greg's memory.

"Hello, Rachael," Irving answered. "Did you sleep well?"

She knew he was as uncomfortable as she was. Truth be told, she had never made it easy for him to get to know her and she had never been interested in knowing him.

"Yes, very well."

She wondered what he would make of the life she led if he ever found out.

"I'm glad you're here. I've been looking forward to seeing you for a long time," he smiled. "How have you been?"

Rae remembered the reasons she was there and looked away.

"All right," she lied.

"Are you, really?"

She knew what he was referring to. Although her mother had been gone over a year this man had witnessed it when she had fallen apart. Corey had been her rock throughout the whole ordeal, being there for her even with his busy schedule until they had buried her. He had loved Rebecca, her mother, like his own so she knew her pain had been his. On the day they had buried her, it had been John who had held them both up. She owed John a lot for that. And she owed this man in front of her as well. On that rainy day they had all paid their last respects, Irving had been a comforting presence, too. She had realised he was suddenly the only real family she had.

"I still miss her. I always will," she answered. "But she's in a better place now."

Irving nodded and signalled for a waiter so they could order.

"I'm here for you if you need anything, you know,"
Irving said. "I don't want you to feel like you're alone."

"Thank you," she smiled.

The waiter brought their food. She'd ordered herself a lot of greasy food; sausages, bacon and eggs all fried. What the heck? She was dying anyway, clogged arteries were the least of her worries.

"My work is doing
all right," she said.

Actually, as of two weeks ago, she was unemployed.

"Yes, I've noticed. I'm real proud of you, Rachael."

For some reason, that warmed her heart.

"Can I ask you a question? It's been almost ten years and I've been a total bitch to you more often than not. Why do you still bother with me?"

Irving
looked up from his breakfast, straight into her blue eyes.

"I never give up on the things I love."

She looked away from the intense gaze because she saw the proof of his words. The man did love her, she had known that for years. She knew, if she ever needed him, he would be there like a shot just like he always promised. And she was positive, in a few months, she would need him desperately.

"How's Sara?"

She never asked about his family. Actually, she never asked any questions period. But things had changed now. She had to make amends.

Irving
looked at her and seemed to realise he had gained another inch.

"She's fine. She'll be here tomorrow for
Riptide Rumble."

As they finished their breakfast Rae thought how her mother had long since forgiven this man for walking away from her when she was pregnant and only seventeen. She had said, if he hadn't she would never have met her soul mate, the love of her life. It was her turn now to learn a little forgiveness. She owed him that much, at least. At least when she was gone, he would have something of her to keep, a few fond memories.

"Maybe... maybe we can have lunch tomorrow, just the two of us," she said.

Irving
smiled at her. She had never initiated a meeting before.

"I'd love that."

"I'll let you know where and when," she said as she stood up.

Irving
, ever the gentleman, stood up as well. Rae smiled at him a bit awkwardly then walked out of the restaurant.

Dave was waiting for the elevator when she walked up to him.

"Hey handsome," she smiled.

Dave turned and gave her the smile that had weakened her knees earlier. Damn, the man was hot! His sculptured body and dark looks made him the perfect model to base any Greek god. She was already imagining his big, muscular thighs pressed up against hers and prayed that they didn't call him an animal for no reason. She was in the mood for a hot, sweaty fuckfest. She could always start with the dating thing tomorrow.

"Hey. Didn't think I'd see you again so soon."

The doors opened and he let her in first. She felt his eyes on her butt and smiled. This was going to be so easy.

"So, Dave," she started when the doors had closed. "What do you do for fun."

"I do a lot of things, Rae," he smiled slowly.

She knew that had a double meaning.

"And I bet you do them so well," she said with a wicked smile of her own

"I have my moments," he admitted. "I was watching you last night. Couldn't take my eyes off you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. You've been on my mind since. I've never seen anyone more beautiful."

"Thank you," she smiled.

Maybe she could fuck him and still get to know him. That seemed like a better plan. Maybe he wouldn't bore her after just the one time, like so many men before him.

"So, what do you do for fun?" he asked after a brief pause.

"Oh... I'm quite fluid, too. A lot of things excite me," she said with a little smile.

"Are you excited right now?" the animal asked, moving to stand right in front of her.

She looked into his brown eyes and saw the need in them, saw the way his breathing changed.

"Very excited," she whispered.

The next second the animal descended on her hungrily, his hot lips on hers as his large hands cupped her bottom and lifted her so she was pressed against his manhood. Her eyes widened in pleasant surprise at the size of him as his tongue delved deeper into her mouth. She let out a groan as the heat in her core intensified and she wrapped her legs around the beast and pressed herself closer to what he so easily offered. She needed it, needed to take her mind off the load of shit that life had just dumped her way.

Vaguely, she heard the elevator doors open then Dave groaned as he reluctantly released her mouth. He didn't put her down; not that she minded
, she had no intention of letting go. As he walked out of the elevator she gently sank her teeth in his neck and sucked, making Dave release a primal groan of pleasure. She heard a few whistles and dirty remarks as Dave struggled with his key card but that didn't divert her attention.

Her mind was on only one thing; getting this man naked and taking what she needed.

When he eventually got the door open, she wasted no time.

He was beautiful, every inch of him. As soon as he'd shut the door behind him she had ripped his clothes off him, exposing the perfect body she saw every Friday night on
Cage Takedown. She had to push him off her so she could take her time; touch, feel and taste every inch of him. This was what she was good at, making people feel good, and she was going to make damn sure she felt good as well.

Pushing him down onto his bed, she gave him a little smile as she slowly peeled her tight top off, exposing the lacy black bra that cupped her full breasts.

"Wow," Dave muttered, his eyes glued on every move she made.

"You ain't seen nothing yet," she promised him, dropping the top to the floor.

Then she unzipped her tight jeans, her eyes never once leaving his as she watched the play of emotions in his beautiful eyes. Slowly, she peeled them off, bending down to take them off so he could admire her perfectly formed bottom. Oh, she knew it was perfect, she had been told often enough to let it go to her head. It had given her confidence over the years, allowing her to use her body expertly to get the reactions she wanted. She knew exactly how to move to make the people she was sleeping with hot, to make them want her with desperation. And when they did, she was assured a good lay all the time. That was the whole point. She was a generous lover, but only because it served her. She would never do it otherwise.

In her little thong, which she had
lied to Corey about, and bra, she strode over to the bed and knelt down beside him, her eyes feasting on his body. She didn't touch him, she just let her eyes sear his flesh as she anticipated all the things she was going to do to him. She watched as his breathing became more labored and his eyes heavier with his need. She watched as his muscles flexed as if she was actually touching him. Then she finally gave in to her temptation to touch him, but only barely. She used the tips of her finger tips, ran them slowly and sensually down his body; down his chest, his rippled stomach, his thighs all the way down to his feet and then all the way back. He was truly a magnificent specimen, his body reacting just the she wanted it to.

She bent down to taste his bronze skin and found it irresistible. She had to taste all of him. So she rubbed her body against his as her lips and tongue trailed down his body the way her fingers had, leaving in their wake a trail of fire. Dave groaned, fuelling the fire that was burning below her stomach when her lips finally made it to where he desperately needed them. Then watching his face, she took all of him into her mouth, earning a lot more desperate groans.

"Rae... don't stop."

She wasn't about to. Catching his eyes, she swallowed him. The very loud, primal cry he released was the final push she needed. She had to have him. Urgently.

After quickly rolling the protection down his length, Dave ripped the last bit of clothing on her body and she sat astride him. She let out a low moan as she slowly took all of him. He was huge, he filled her up so much she felt like he could rip through her. Just the way she liked it. Hell, she liked it any which way but in that moment in time she couldn't imagine anything better. His large hands cupped her breasts as she started moving on top of him, every little movement he made sending her closer to her climax. His strokes quickly became harder and faster and his hands urgently gripped her hips so he could go deeper. She had known from the beginning the first round would be quick, she had been more than ready for him before he'd even kissed her in the elevator. Even so, when the end came, it took her completely by surprise.

"Now, Rae," Dave groaned.

At his command, she reached the peak she had desperately sought at the same time he reached his climax. She collapsed breathlessly on top of him as they floated down from their cloud together, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.

"Wow," Dave mused.

"Yeah," she agreed.

Round one done.

Nate
had been waiting for the elevator with Matt and Ricky when Dave had burst out of it with that blonde bombshell wrapped around him and practically eating him up. Matt and Ricky had called out a few things but he'd ignored them and stepped into the elevator straight away. They had a lot of things to do that afternoon in town, speculating on Dave's sex life was not one of them.

That had been at least three hours ago. Now they were back and as they passed by Dave's room on their way to their own, they heard the unmistakable cries from behind the closed doors.

"What a freak!" Ricky laughed. "She's still in there."

"Dave is one lucky dog," Matt added. "I wouldn't mind taking his place right now."

"How could you want to go where someone else has just been?" Nate asked with disgust.

"Just because you've sworn off women, doesn't mean I have to," Matt laughed.

"Even if I was dating, that woman would be the last person I'd pick."

"Why? She's hot! If she called me I'd go running,"
Ricky said.

"I know you would. You can't tell the difference between class and trash,"
Nate sneered.

"That girl is class with a whole lot of trash thrown in!"
Ricky said. "If you ask me, I like the trashiness better."

Nate
just rolled his eyes as he pulled his key card out of his pocket.

"The car will be downstairs in about half an hour to take us to the signing. Don't be late,"
Nate told Ricky as he walked into the room he was sharing with Kendrick.

"Yes,
Daddy!" Ricky teased. "Come on, lighten up. You've been walking around like a zombie for months. Forget Beth, man. I always told you that girl as no good."

"I've told you before that I don't want to talk about it,"
Nate said as he closed the door on the other men.

"Is he
all right?" Ricky asked Matt.

"He just needs to get laid," Matt said, brushing it off.

The truth was, after catching Beth cheating red handed, his brother had sunk to a new low. He was really worried about Nate, all he wanted to do now was lock himself away and blank everyone out.