Romane von XoxodrowningSea

RaquelThe path forward lies over your heart.It’s clearly another one of Dad’s coded messages, but I don’t have a sweet clue what he means.Montpellier is a beautiful city near the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s one of those amazing places where the old and the new weave together —where the shiny and efficient tramway network that zips past old buildings left over from the Reformation. Several storefronts are heavily decorated, some of them still sporting pumpkins and fall leaves while others have already moved on to festive Christmas paraphernalia.There’s a university nearby, which means the city’s center square is bustling with activity. You’d think I’d learn to avoid big crowds, but in truth, hiding amongst a sea of people is the best way to disappear altogether. Dad’s first lesson when I joined the Red Ravens was that there’s no better way to hide than in plain sight. The trick is to blend in.Don’t walk too slow, but don’t wal

Gabriel She rotates her hips against me with a moan, the sound of her heady cry making my cock strain that much harder. I can feel the heat of her pussy through our pants, the friction so delicious and overwhelming that I find myself disarmed. My first instinct is to put a stop to this nonsense, but the rest of my body strongly disagrees. I’ve craved her since the moment she crashed through my front gate, and now that I have a taste… I’m insatiable. She kisses me sweetly, timidly. If it weren’t for the flush of her cheeks, those delectable sounds coming from her mouth, and the fact that I’m letting her be the one on top, I might worry she’s not into this. Raquel kisses me like she’s unsure. Inexperienced. Is she… a virgin? Something possessive comes over me at the thought. I have no proof, of course, but I’m quite good at reading people. Raquel is no exception. She may hide behind a smart mouth and her confid

Raquel A cold chill washes over me. Do you think someone set us up? I posed the question in the midst of the adrenaline and my confusion, but never revisited it because I was more concerned with my escape and subsequent meet-up with Dad. Now that I hear Lucius’ voice on the other end of what’s supposed to be a secure line, I know the truth. Our failed heist, the bomb going off, our lack of a getaway vehicle… all intentional. What better way to foil a perfectly executed plan than to have someone sabotage it from the inside? This whole time, I was worried about the police finding me. I feel stupid for not looking inward. It’s always those closest to you that you expect the least. “Where the hell is Chet?” I snap. “I swear to God, if you’ve hurt him—” Lucius clicks his tongue. “Would you relax, Rocky? You know I don’t have a taste for violence. There’s a reason I’m the getaway driver, not the muscle man. Chet’s just chilling out beside me.” “Let him go.” “Man, you really don’t u

Raquel Three days. Three more days pass and I still don’t hear from Dad. Three days since my almost kiss with Gabriel in the kitchen. Three days since he turned on his heels without further explanation, leaving me both confused, curious, and horny as hell. He may be a handsome fucker, but his inability to finish a complete conversation is really starting to grind my gears. I pace around the bedroom in endless circles, both because I’m growing restless and because I figure the exercise will help my body recover faster. My joints still ache, and my bruises are still tender, but overall, I’m feeling right as rain. I give up and sit on the edge of the bed, my mind spinning. There’s so much for me to unpack about my run-in with Gabriel, and by the looks of things, I have more than enough time to do so. I lie down on the bed sheets, quietly stewing. The Red Ravens were mine until I let him take over. I don’t believe what Gabriel said was true. Dad’s been the leader of the Red Ravens

Gabriel“Three suspects were confirmed dead at the scene,” the late-night news anchor says robotically to the camera. Three unflattering mugshots pop up on the television screen.I recognize every single one of them.“Martin Jones, Harry Lim, and Laura Ortega are known to police,” the news anchor continues, “and were considered persons of interest to Interpol for several prolific heists spanning the last twenty-five years.”Poor bastards, I think quietly to myself as I sip red wine. If only they had the good sense to quit while they were ahead like I did, maybe they wouldn’t be six feet under.Penelope approaches from behind, clicking her tongue in disapproval. “Serves them right, I say. Honestly, what is the world coming to?”“Is Odette asleep?” I ask her, paying her comments no mind.“Out like a light, sir.”The images on the television screen flash, a new picture coming into view. The image is grainy, but it’s very obviously of a young woman. It’s not just any young woman, either.

RaquelWhile I’m glad I’m not dead, the raging headache makes me wish I was. The pounding pressure behind my eyes is so overwhelming that I’m nauseous. Gulping air, I summon all the strength I can muster and sit upright in bed. The blanket slips from my shoulders and bunches around my stomach. It’s then, and only then, that I realize I’m wearing nothing but a man’s oversized shirt. I don’t even have underwear or pants on.Someone undressed me.Heat floods my cheeks, my rabbit heart racing like it has a marathon to win. Embarrassment weighs heavily in my chest as questions race through my head.Where am I? Where are my clothes? Who undressed me?“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”A man’s deep voice rumbles straight through me. I crane my neck to the side, startled to find a man seated casually in an armchair next to my bed. I have half a mind to scream, but then my memories rush back in with the force of a tidal wave.The explosion. My getaway. Crashing through someone’s front yard beca