I watch as Raven looks around at everything that isn’t me. Her hair’s swept up, showing off the pale skin of her shoulders and neck, flushed. It makes me wonder what other parts of her body go red when she blushes.
Shaking my head from my errant thoughts, I ask, “How’s work?
“Fine.” Raven shrugs, still avoiding eye contact.
“I might not know a lot, but I do know that when a woman says she’s fine, she’s anything but,” I chuckle, sitting forward, trying to get her attention. For some reason, I don’t like the fact that her eyes aren’t on me at all times.
Raven’s head whips towards me as she gasps and clutches at her chest. “James Smith knows something about women other than how to give them an orgasm? I’m shocked.”
A devilish grin forms on my face. “Oh, pretty girl, I know how to give those in spades.”
She rolls her eyes, clearly unimpressed. “I’m well aware.”
Realizing that we’re getting into dangerous territory, I move the conversation to a less flirtatious conversation. “What do you plan on doing when you finish college?”
Taking a sip of her soda, Raven swallows before saying, “I honestly don’t know. Being a physio was something my mom did. I’d always dreamed of following in her footsteps, to feel closer to her, you know?”
I don’t know. I’ve never had that type of relationship with my parents. My mother was always doped up on enough pills to sink a battleship, and my dad was an overbearing cunt with a fist he liked to use often. I admire Raven for wanting to be closer to her mom. I wish I’d had someone love me like that.
“I’m just not feeling it.” She shrugs as she continues. “Everything’s so hard. Should it be this hard?” she asks, her big doe eyes looking at me like I know all the secrets to life.
I reach over and place my hand on hers. “Nothing in life that’s worth it is easy, pretty girl. You just have to figure out what’s worth fighting for and roll with it.”
She entwines our fingers together, looking at them. “Is that what you did? Rolled with it?”
Laughing, I reply, “Not a chance. I wanted to be an artist, most probably a tattooist—not sure if you’ve noticed, but I kinda love ‘em.” She chuckles, and I rub my thumb across the back of her hand. “But it wasn’t in the cards for me. Do I wish I could go back and change it? Hell yeah, but I’m too old now, so I’m going with the life I have and enjoying every minute of it.”
Raven scoffs, lifting her head, and I raise an eyebrow. “You’re not too old, pretty boy. You’re in your prime. Haven’t you heard? Silver foxes are in.” She winks, and my dick goes rock hard.
“Shouldn’t you be worrying about boys your own age?” I question, but even the mere thought of her with someone else makes my jaw clench.
“There’s only one man that I’m interested in and he’s… older.” She rubs the back ofmyhand this time and peers up at me, heavy emotion clear on her face.
This woman has me in a chokehold, and I need to get it back on even footing before I fuck her pretty mouth. I have to shut it down. Wecan’tdo this.
“Ah, that’s a shame, Raven. I’m sure you’ll find someone someday,” I choke out, emotion I’m unfamiliar with settling in my chest. “I’m sure he’ll be a great guy, and your dad will love him.
Her face shuts down immediately, the hand holding mine releases from my grip and settles on her thigh. “I’m confused here, James. You want to ram your dick down my throat, or you want me to date guys my own age? Which one is it? Because you’re kinda giving me whiplash here,” she snaps.
Fuck! Why do I have to be such an asshole?
I don’t have much to go on with women, so I thought it would be the best thing to say, but I guess not.
Reaching for her hand again, she moves it away. “Raven, I?—”
“Can we not?” she mumbles under her breath before adding, “I’m going to the ladies' room.”
I sit up straight, my chest aching that I’ve upset her. “Raven, that’s?—”
“Save it,” she interrupts, grabbing the napkin from her lap and aggressively throwing it onto the table.
All I can do is nod as I watch her walk away, her ass swaying seductively in her green dress, and I don’t think she even notices what she’s doing to me when she walks like that.Ishouldn’t even notice, but for the life of me, I can’t look away. I finally drag my eyes away from her when she turns a corner, and I glance around to see I’m not the only one who’s been watching her.
I clench my jaw and take a swig of my drink, trying to calm my murderous thoughts because Raven might not be mine, but I’ll be fucked if anyone else has her. Has her smiles, her laughs. And it’s not because I want them for myself, nope, I don’t want themat all. I’m just protecting her, making sure she’s safe.
Yup, that’s one hundred percent why I’m doing it.
Chapter Twenty-One
