Page 10 of Home Brewed (The Perfect Cup #1)

“Perfect! We got this part handled, and we can do pizza afterwards, and I can run out for more wine!”

“I think I had enough of that yesterday. I’d love to wake up without a marching band running through my head.” Actually, I just want to keep my head on straight around mister tall, dark, and would-let-him-do-me.

“Party pooper,” Nessa sticks her tongue out at me, and Beck smothers the laugh that tries to escape.

“Alright,” he says, making his way to the bedroom. My bedroom. With all my things. Where I slept and keep my mouth guard and my–

“Wait!” I shout, nearly running after him, but he’s already in the room, removing the mattress, and unceremoniously dislodging the vibrator I have tucked in the small space between the mattress and the bed frame. I can feel my entire body turn red as he watches it tumble to the floor.

“Oh god, sorry, let me get that, I didn’t mean for you to find it.

” Words are falling out of my mouth with absolutely no consultation from me.

“Not that female masturbation is wrong or embarrassing, but you know, privacy and all that, and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.

Although female sexuality should never make a man uncomfortable because there’s nothing wrong with it and it’s totally normal-” I gasp for air, praying that a black hole will suddenly appear and swallow me up.

“It’s fine,” Beck cuts me off, “as you said, nothing to be ashamed of, it’s kinda-” he finally looks away from the offending pink silicone and faces me.

“It’s fine. I’ve got it from here.” I grab what I’m sure will be my new best friend for the foreseeable future, quickly nod, and run from the room .

Only to run straight into Nessa.

“Did I just hear what I think I heard?” She can barely contain her amusement, and it makes me want to strangle my new friend.

“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, tossing the offending piece into an end table drawer and glowering at the bags of purchases I have to put away.

“Beck and Hazel sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-”

“I swear to god I will throw you out with the mattress,” I threaten.

“No, you won’t. You’re right, we should get started!” Her eyes sparkle in a way I don’t in any way trust, and we get to work. “So, what exactly is going on between you two? Did something happen?” Nessa sucks at whispering.

“Where do you think these throw pillows should go? Probably the couch, right?” I am not going to answer to an inquisition with the subject in question within hearing distance.

“Alright, keep your secrets, but know that I will discover them!”

Nessa might be the death of me.

Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long for Beck to disassemble my bed frame and bring everything downstairs. He returns shortly after, carrying a six-pack, while Nessa and I are putting the last of the new dishes into the dishwasher—the one luxury of my apartment.

“Alright, I’m gonna stick these in the fridge and get started in the bedroom. I might need a second set of hands, though.” Beck strides confidently down the hall.

“Hazel will help you! I can take care of everything else in here,” Nessa says, grinning smugly .

“Perfect!” Beck says from down the hall before I can protest. I glare at Nessa, who might actually be my nemesis, as I first thought, and trudge back to my room.

I cannot embarrass myself with Beck any further and maintain my dignity.

Not only is he sooooo hot; he is way out of my league.

I need to cool my jets and be a normal person.

That entire train of thought flies out the window as he lifts all the necessary pieces out of the box, my eyes trailing the ripple of his biceps.

Why do I want to lick them?

“If you wanna hold these two pieces together for me, this should be a pretty quick assembly.” He holds them out to me without making eye contact, staring intensely at the instructions laid out in front of him.

Sweet Jesus, a man who reads the instruction manual. I’m starting to believe I might have created him from a fantasy.

“Yeah, sure, no problem.” I get down on my knees to hold what he’s offering me, looking up to see his eyes are already on me.

My breath stutters for a moment before I look back down at the instructions and point with my chin, urging him to continue.

We work in silence, aside from the few directions he gives.

He was right, it’s a relatively quick assembly, and before I know it, we’re tossing on the mattress and the new bedding; everything coming together for my new life as though the old one never existed.

I’ve gone the entire time forgetting that Justin the Jerk had ever been a part of my life.

I stand up at the same time as Beck, giving a deep hum of satisfaction, and his gaze snaps to mine.

Our eyes lock and I can’t seem to tear myself away from his stare, realizing that today his eyes look a little greener in their hazel swirl.

“Pizza’s here!” Nessa says loudly from the kitchen as I practically jump away from Beck like I’ve been caught. “I hope you guys eat pepperoni, bacon, and mushrooms cause that’s what you’re getting!”

“A classic, eh?” Beck huffs out, “Can’t exactly say no to that. You coming?” He holds out his hand as he makes his way to the door .

“Yeah, I’ll be out in a second.” I need a moment to myself.

“Sounds good.” He comes precariously close as he passes me on his way out, “I’ll save you a slice,” he says quietly, and it feels like he almost went to touch my shoulder and thought better of it, but how would I know since I’m refusing to look at him?

After he leaves, I quickly sneak my vibrator back in its place of honour after having smuggled it in on the way to build the bed, hiding it under a pile of clothes that have probably been sitting on my floor for too long.

After the arm porn I just witnessed, I am almost one hundred percent sure I’m going to be needing it tonight.