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She held up her index finger and disappeared.
I toed off my boots and hung up my black leather jacket, turning on a few more lights along the way. Then Phoebe came out in a long pink sweatshirt with the neck so wide it fell off her shoulder and a pair of black leggings. Seeing her like that, so perfectly edible with her hair up in one of those old-fashioned styles, her red toenails on display, and that bare shoulder tempting me to nibble, I could barely contain myself.
She gave me a pitying smile as she approached me. “So, are you okay? I know you hate forfeiting.”
I let my eyes rove over her body like my hands wanted to. “It’s for the right reasons.”
Her eyes met mine and widened. “Ransom.”
I took a step closer pinning her to the counter. “Raven, I’m right here. And I’m not going anywhere. Just think about how good we could be.”
She licked her lips. “Good?”
I felt a rumble in my chest. “So good. Don’t we deserve a chance?”
Her breath came out in pants. “A chance?”
I pushed some hair from her shoulder, baring it completely and letting my thumb glide over it. “What if the world brought us together for a reason?”
She blew out a breath and played with the rings on her fingers. “You mean it wasn’t to find the best bacon food truck that ever existed?”
She joked. It was the way she handled things when she was anxious. I knew that because I knew her. Every little detail. Everything that made her nervous. Everything that delighted her. Except in one context. I was dying to know her intimately. What made her cry out for me. What made her scream with pleasure.
My heart pounded and blood rushed in my ears until it raced south. I wanted her, needed her. She was my whole life already and I needed to make her mine in every way.
Setting her hand on my chest, she looked up at me with a friendly smile. “You came into my life that day because I needed you. You’ve stayed with me ever since because I won’t stop pestering you. Somewhere along the way, you grew to kind of like me.”
I grabbed her chin and brought it back to look at me forcefully. “Fuck that, Raven! You’re my best friend,” I choked. “And I want you to be more.”
My aggression didn’t scare her. A little smile teased at her lips. “But don’t I just annoy you all the time?”
I lifted one shoulder and let my hand slip down to her neck. “Annoying each other is kind of our thing.”
Her smile grew as she lifted her neck to allow my exploration. “Yeah, it is. So, can we just be us and see where this goes? Leave the possibilities open?”
My heart sped up. “You mean, you’ll consider us?”
She bit her lower lip again and I felt my cock throb. “Maybe if you promise it won’t change anything.”
I ducked down a little to whisper in her ear, my lips barely brushing her skin. “It’ll change us in the best fucking way ever.”
I could tell she had no idea how much strength it took to hold myself back from kissing her right now. As I hovered with my nose lightly bumping her neck, I felt her shiver. My girl was never cold. I knew she wanted me too. But I had to wait until she was ready. She was coming around to the idea, but until then, I had to keep myself on this goddamn leash.
After taking a deep inhale of her rich vanilla scent, I leaned back enough to look into her eyes. Hers were closed for a second, then popped open. Her hand still rested over my heart, so I covered it with mine. Without another word, I lifted her hand to my lips, kissing lightly down her fingers until I reached the top of her hand. Letting my tongue dart out to gently stroke between her fingers, I heard her gasp. Oh, we were definitely making progress. She wasn’t saying no or pushing me away. It was just a matter of time now. And I couldn’t fucking wait.
* * *
It was Christmas morning and I got exactly what I wanted. Waking up entangled in Raven was a delicious torture. Her supple body pressed against mine. Her straps that shifted in the night let me see her mouth-watering cleavage. Her body and mind were completely relaxed, at ease, not worrying or overthinking. She was absolutely breathtaking. And I could stare openly. Since our junior year of high school, I’d endured this agony. Wanting her, drooling over her, but not able to let my fingers glide down her curves. And as much as I wanted to wake her with a kiss, I knew it was still too soon. She was so close to giving us a chance that I refused to screw it up now. I just had to wait a little longer.
When Phoebe got up and got ready, I checked my email planning to send one to my assistant, Dru. What I found was one from her personal account sent last night when she was technically off work.
Bossman, Merry Christmas, and all that. Thought you should be aware of a few things going on, but I feel the need to send this unofficially. There’s a strange tension happening here surrounding J and I’m concerned. You should be too. Pop by sometime. Sooner rather than later. ~Dru
I blew out a sigh. Son of a bitch. I didn’t have time for this right now.
Grabbing my phone, I called Dominic and told him what Dru said.
The wind howled in the background. I heard him open a door and take a few steps and then it was quiet. “Well, bro, I told you. You’re not even playing games, so why not fly to Seattle?”
