Page 39 of Finding You
“It looks like the two of you are quite chummy,” Teresa said, a wicked grin spread across her face. She propped her hip against the counter and folded her arms across her chest. “I love Zion for you, but are you sure getting serious with him so quickly is a good idea? You barely know him.”
Her friend wasn’t being negative or doubting Raven’s judgment. She had asked the same thing when Raven started dating Maximus. Except this time, despite her mini freakout a moment ago, Raven was a hundred percent sure Zion was the one for her.
Yes, she questioned whether what she was feeling was love, but deep down in her soul, she truly believed she was in love withhim. It wasn’t just because of the connection she’d felt the first time they met. It was so much more now she’d had a chance to get to know him.
No, she didn’t know everything about him, but she knew the things that were important. He was honest, dependable, and he loved the twins. Besides that, she knew he seriously cared about her. It might not be love, but it was close. No way her feelings would be this strong for someone who wasn’t feeling them too.
At least she hoped.
“I think I love him,” she blurted, bracing herself for the fallout of that statement. When Teresa said nothing and just watched her, Raven continued. “He’s nothing like Maximus. In case you were wondering.”
“I know. I picked up on that the first time we met him. Back then, there was no hint of arrogance, no signs of narcissistic behavior, and he genuinely seems like a good guy. I also believed him a few minutes ago when he said he’d always be there for you and the twins.”
Raven shrugged. “But?”
“There’s not really abutbecause, from what little I know, I really like him. However, you’re my best friend and like a sister to me. I just don’t want you to get hurt. Also, you were originally concerned about the age difference—afraid Zion might still be at the stage in life where he needed to sow his wild oats. Are you sure you can trust and depend on him?”
“Yes,” Raven said with confidence. “I’m sure he’ll always be there for the kids, and I trust he’ll be there for me too. I know it sounds irrational, but he hasn’t given me a reason not to trust him. Also, I believe what he told you earlier—that he’s in this for the long haul.
“Teresa, I don’t have some magic eight-ball that can tell me what the future holds, but I believe in my heart that Zion and Iare meant to be together. I know I was concerned about being older than him, but that doesn’t matter anymore.”
Raven might not necessarily trust in fate, but what were the chances of her and Zion running into each other in Chicago? Very slim. The timing had been mind-blowing. There was no doubt that their reunion had been divinely orchestrated, and that’s what she told Teresa. Everything had been too perfect for it to have not been.
Yeah, they were meant to be together, and Raven was standing on that belief.
“He’s everything I ever wanted in a man, and I also love his big family.” She reached for her friend’s hand. “Just trust that I know what I’m doing.”
Teresa sighed and pulled her into a hug. “I do trust you, and I’m thrilled for you and our babies. But if Zion hurts you or abandons my godkids, and if he doesn’t keep putting it down in the bedroom, I’m kicking his ass,” she said, and Raven laughed. “You might want to warn him about how fierce I am when it comes to my family.”
Smiling and giving her friend a tight squeeze, Raven said, “I’ll make sure he knows, and you’ll be my first call if he gets out of line.”
Thirty minutes later, Raven said her goodbyes to Teresa, promising to stay in touch. They’d both shed a few tears, and though Raven was going to really miss her friend, she was excited about the future. She was looking forward to what was to come.
Raven locked the door, then turned around, and leaned against it. She smiled, and her heart leaped when Zion stepped out of the bedroom shirtless. His smooth chiseled chest and flat abs were downright lickable.
Oh yeah, she was definitely looking forward to what was to come. The man was so beautifully and wonderfully built, shewondered how she got so lucky. Add to the fact that he was a great guy, and she felt like the luckiest woman on the planet.
“Finally, I thought she’d never leave,” he cracked as he walked toward her smiling, and Raven laughed.
“I figured as much considering how fast you loaded everything into her car.” Raven pushed away from the door and met him in the center of the living room. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Now, where were we?”
“Here,” he said, and scooped her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Then he headed to her bedroom. “Let’s give your mattress a workout before you say goodbye to it tomorrow.”
Raven laughed. “Sounds good to me.”
Chapter Eighteen
They were out of their clothes and on the bed within minutes, and Zion allowed his gaze to take in Raven’s gorgeous naked body. Her sepia skin held a tinge of red on her cheeks as she demurely watched him through her long lashes. When her gaze finally met his, he smiled as he stared into her expressive, light-brown eyes.
He pushed a few strands of her long braids, that hung loose around her shoulders, out of her face. “You are so damn beautiful,” Zion said and lowered his mouth to hers, nipping on her top lip, teasing it before nibbling on her bottom one.
She was his. When he’d asked her to be his woman, the words had spilled from his mouth before his brain had been fully engaged. But his heart knew what he wanted before the idea had fully formed in his mind.
Mine.
The word bounced through his head as he kissed her fully, and a passionate heat spread through his body. Raven was his, and Zion was looking forward to what all that entailed. He looked forward to spending a lifetime with her because he was playing for keeps.
He moved his mouth from hers and kissed his way lower to the pulsing hollow at the base of her scented neck. Despite them packing up her apartment since arriving in Houston, Raven still smelled fresh and enticing. The heady scent of flowers and vanilla made his body stir, and his desire for her amped.
