Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
“God, yeah, Raven,” he groans. “I feel you coming all over me. You like soaking my cock, princess?”
“Yes,” I sob, not lying. Nothing has ever felt better than I do when I’m coming with him deep inside me.
His grip on my hip tightens, my name leaving his lips on a moan.
I squeeze my inner muscles, trying to pull him over the edge with me.
It works.
“Jesus,” he growls. He thrusts deep and stills, holding me hard as his cock pulses inside me.
As soon as I feel him coming inside me, I come apart again, helpless to stop it. In this moment, we’re not two disparate people, unalike in every way. He’s not my dad’s best friend. He isn’t keeping secrets and I’m not leaving for Boston at the end of the summer. Nothing between us is complicated or fragile. We’re not Rhys and Raven, but one powerful being, locked in ecstasy and drowning together. In this moment, the only thing that matters is this…us.
I slump against the wall as the waves slowly retreat.
“Please don’t let me go,” I whisper, vulnerable in a way I have never been before. Exposed in a way I have never been before. I’m not asking for him to hold me now, but to hold me forever. To stay inside me, holding me together for the rest of my life and whatever comes after. I think I may need him that long. I know I’ll love him that long.
“Never,” he vows, pressing his lips to mine. “Never, princess.”
I think he means it.
God, I hope he means it. Because when summer ends…I don’t think I can leave him.
“I love you, songbird.”
I gasp as his soft confession reaches my ears and overflows my heart. Tears spill down my cheeks. I was wrong earlier. This is joy.
“I love you,” he whispers again.
“Take me home, Rhys,” I demand, needing to be alone with him. I don’t care about the contest anymore. I don’t care about the job. Everything I care about is right here.
Chapter Nine
RAVEN
“Wake up, songbird,” Rhys whispers, his hand drifting down my side.
I groan, rolling away from him. “It’s too early.”
“I know.” His lips brush my naked shoulder. “There was an incident out at one of the farms. I have to go.”
I crack one eye open. The bedroom is still dark, light barely peeking over the horizon outside. It’s not even fully dawn yet. Way too early. “What kind of incident?”
“A shooting,” he says with a sigh. “Looks like it was self-inflicted, but I have to go check it out.”
“Okay,” I whisper, wishing he didn’t have to go. He didn’t get much sleep last night. Neither of us did. We made love over and over. The things he did to me…the things I did to him. When I die, I want those memories to be the last things that play through my mind. Every muscle in my body is deliciously sore. I’m exhausted. It’s perfect. Perfect.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Get some sleep. I’ll be home as soon as I can,” he says, brushing his lips across my forehead.
“’Kay.”
The bed dips…and then I’m out.
My phone wakes me up at a little after eleven.
“Hello?” I mumble, not even looking to see who it is.
“Raven? It’s Tawnie.”
“Oh.” I sit bolt upright in the bed, the blankets falling from around me. “Hi.”
“You wowed everyone last night,” she says. “They’re still talking about you this morning.”
“Really?”
“You snuck out before I could give you the tips you made last night,” she says with a laugh. “Not that I blame you. I didn’t realize you’re dating Detective Flannery.”
“Um…” Am I supposed to tell people we’re dating? We haven’t exactly been discreet, have we? “Yes, he’s mine,” I say, deciding I’m not going to hide it. We’ve been hiding for too damn long already. I can’t do that anymore.
“Good for you,” she says with a laugh. “He’s a good man.”
“The best,” I whisper.
“If you want to swing by this weekend, I have your tips for you. And we can discuss your availability. Obviously, you stole the whole show.”
“What? Seriously? I won?” I gape in shock.
“You won.” She laughs. “I’m pretty sure half of the other performers voted for you.”
“Oh, wow.”
“Swing by this weekend and we’ll talk.”
“I will. Thank you so much!”
I disconnect and then jump up from the bed and squeal, dancing around the room like a crazy person. I can’t believe I actually won the slot in the schedule.
A childish part of me wants to rub it in Marnie’s face. I’ve tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I think Rhys is right. She didn’t do anything to help me. She did everything to hurt me. She hates me because my dad loved me, and nothing I do will ever change the way she feels about me. So I’m not going to try. I’m going to celebrate my success with the man I love and leave her out of it.