LOGINRavenI sit up, pulling the sheet around me. “I finally know what was in the envelope.”His hand stills in my hair. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I told you it was yours to handle.”“I want to tell you.” I take a steadying breath. “I’m going to tell you everything.”“Okay,” he says quietly.“But first…” I glance down at my hands. “I need to tell you I did something really stupid. You’re probably going to be pissed.” I force out a small, nervous smile. “It’s okay, though. I probably deserve a little scolding.”I reach for the nightstand drawer, pull it open, and take out the photograph, holding it out to him.He takes it carefully, his eyes scanning the image. I watch his expression change as recognition settles in.“That’s Erica,” I say quietly. “And the little girl with her… that’s her daughter, Roman.”He goes completely still, staring at the photograph as if it might somehow change into something that makes sense.“So… how is this our business?” he asks, flipping
RavenWarm lips against mine wake me from sleep, then another press against my forehead. I open my eyes to find Roman sitting on the bed beside me, already dressed.“The gala’s not until one,” I say, voice thick with sleep. “You’re up early.”“Calls to make before then.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “You should rest a little longer.”I reach up and catch the loose end of his tie, pulling him down toward me before he can stand, and kiss him properly, slow at first, then deeper when his mouth opens against mine, his tongue meeting mine in a way that makes me forget entirely what time it is.“Stay a little longer,” I murmur against his lips.His eyes drop to my stomach, and he lifts the thin fabric of my nightdress, running his palm slowly over the curve of it. “How’s the little one?”“Kicking hard already.” I smile down at him.He pulls back just enough to shrug off his tie and shirt, tossing them aside, and settles between my legs, pressing a soft kiss to my stomac
RavenWe’ve been driving for almost two hours by the time the city finally gives way to open land, and I find myself with my face nearly pressed against the window, watching rolling fields blur past in the fading evening light.“This is so beautiful,” I breathe. “I can’t believe I’ve never seen this part of the country. I’m twenty-three years old and I’ve never once been anywhere that looks like this.”“City baby,” Anaya teases, glancing at me sideways.“I’m serious. I grew up in an estate surrounded by gates and security cameras. I don’t know what to do with all this.” I gesture at the horizon, gold and orange bleeding into the hills. “It’s so quiet out here. No cameras. No staff hovering. Just land.”I watched the endless fields roll past, my gaze lingering on the open land and the quiet beauty surrounding us. Everything felt so peaceful out here. No traffic. No noise. Just nature. For the first time, I found myself wondering what it would be like to raise a family somewhere li
RavenAnaya steps through the massive glass entrance and comes to an abrupt stop, her mouth falling open.“What…” Her eyes sweep from the soaring marble columns to the crystal chandeliers hanging overhead, then to the winding staircase and the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens. “Raven… this place is insane.”A laugh bubbles out of me at the look on her face.“I’ve been to Roman’s estate, and I’ve seen the penthouse, but this…” She slowly turns in a circle. “This is the best one yet. It’s huge. It’s gorgeous. And don’t tell me this belongs to you too.”“It does.”Her head snaps toward me. “Seriously?”“One of my estates, actually.”She blinks. “One of your estates?”“My father left them to me.” I shrug. “Everything. Including the Cole estates you’ve probably heard about.”For a full five seconds, she just stares. “So…” Her eyes narrow, calculating. “Are you richer than Roman?”“I wouldn’t say that.”“You wouldn’t say that because you’re trying to be humble.”
Raven In the kitchen, I’m wearing one of Roman’s polo shirts that barely covers my ass and nothing underneath. I empty a packet of spaghetti into a pot, fill it with water from the sink, and place it on the stove. When I reach up for the salt on the top shelf, the shirt rides all the way up, cool air hitting my bare ass and pussy. I don’t bother pulling it down.Because why should I?I can walk around bare if I want right now. The whole house is now empty, just the two of us.No more distractions in our lives. A nice dinner, plans for the next big move, and cuddling up in his arms for the rest of the night, talking or making out until we’re both spent. The pasta is boiling over by the time I realize I’ve been staring at the envelope on the counter instead of dinner.I turn the burner down, wipe my hands on a dish towel, and pick up the envelope again, running my thumb along the sealed edge for what feels like the tenth time tonight.Roman said it was mine to open. Mine to dea
RavenSteam still clings to the bathroom mirror when I sit down in front of it, towel wrapped tight, damp hair dripping onto my shoulders. I peel back the edge of the bandage over my chest slowly, careful, watching my own reflection do it like I’m looking at someone else.The wound underneath is healing. Not fully, not yet, the skin still pink and tender at the edges, but the shape of it is unmistakable now. No ink. No needle ever touched me. Just a scar in the shape of his name, carved deliberate and careful into skin that will carry it for the rest of my life.It’s beautiful in a way I don’t fully understand yet.I’m still staring at it when the door opens and Roman steps in, pausing when he sees me sitting there with the bandage half peeled away.“Let me,” he says quietly, crossing the room.I let my hand fall away and tip my chin up as he crouches in front of me, his eyes settling on the wound. He studies it quietly, his expression unreadable, before reaching for the fresh g
RavenThe restaurant is warm and softly lit, the kind of place that makes everything feel slightly more manageable than it actually is. We have menus open in front of us. I am staring at mine without reading a single word.“Right.” Anaya closes her menu with the authority of someone who made this d
Raven“Come on Cousin. Don’t embarrass me in front of my potential date. It was one incident—”“There were several incidents.”“The bucket thing was an accident.”I look between them. “The bucket thing?”Anaya’s eyes light up. “Oh, she doesn’t know.”“She doesn’t need to know,” Jack says, pointing
Roman Stepping into the office this morning, I’m reminded of all the problems that has compounded for me. “You actually did it, boss?” Marcus’s voice is low, controlled, but I hear the shock underneath it. He has worked for me long enough to know better than to wear his reactions openly. He isn’t
Raven“Vivienne is home. You will be nice to her.”That was what he called and told me when I was getting into the car.I am going to meet my soon-to-be stepmother. The irony of this whole situation is almost laughable.I am sitting in the back of this black limousine as James drives me to the pent







