Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
R aven brought the wine glass to her mouth as she watched Zion by the stove sautéing the shrimp. She was trying not to stare, but with every move he made, his corded muscles contracted. Though his back, as well as his chest, were fully covered, flashbacks of how he looked naked kept popping into her mind.
And his biceps… Good Lord, the man’s muscular arms seemed even bigger than they were that night they’d spent together. If that weren’t enough, the way his worn jeans hung low on his hips and hugged his huge thighs was better than watching porn. Not that she had ever watched porn, but still…
Raven sighed silently and took another sip of her wine as she watched him expertly cut up cilantro for his salsa. With her gaze following his every move around the kitchen, she was reminded of how long it had been since she’d been with a man. Actually, he was the last man she’d been with, and what a treat that had been. So much so, that she wanted to experience him again in every way possible. Against the wall, in the shower, in the back seat of his truck, heck, she’d even be okay with them…
“You need to stop looking at me like that.”
Raven’s gaze leaped up, and her eyes met his before she cleared her throat and straightened. “Umm, like what?”
He smirked. His dark eyes were filled with heated lust as he watched her. “Like you’d rather eat me instead of this meal that I’ve been slaving over the stove preparing.”
Raven laughed. “Dramatic much? And I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mmhm, I think you do, and for the record, I’d be totally cool with that. Feel free to have your way with me. You don’t even have to ask. Just take any part of me that you want,” he said and went back to putting the finishing touches on their meal.
Tempting. Oh, so tempting.
Raven could only stare at his back, wondering how he’d nailed her thoughts so perfectly. Sure, she’d love to be in his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist while he drove in and out of her, but she needed to stay focused. This visit wasn’t about her getting her groove back and her sexual needs met. Even if she did have needs and wanted him to fulfill every single one of them. No, this was about them making plans for co-parenting the twins.
Would he want visitation rights? Or would he want to keep them weeks at a time? This all was uncharted territory, and Raven wasn’t sure where to start with the planning.
And what about that nursery? Zion had told her if there was anything she wanted to change to go for it, but it was gorgeous. His family had been nothing but generous since she arrived, but that room was everything. It was enough that they’d set up a nursery, but they’d taken it so much further. Zion was all set for when the twins visited him, and it was the sweetest thing they could’ve done.
“Food should be ready in a few minutes,” he said, cutting into her thoughts.
“Good because the aroma is making my stomach growl.”
The sweet, tangy, and potent scent of ginger, soy sauce, garlic, and a host of other spices had her mouth watering. When he’d told her they’d be having a taco bar, she hadn’t expected the spread he was planning. Orange chicken, mahi-mahi, and shrimp were the proteins, and there was a host of toppings and sauces. Good thing she was hungry because she planned on tasting everything.
When she stood from the table, Onyx stood too, probably wondering what she was getting ready to do. He’d been so quiet, lying on the floor near her, that she had temporarily forgotten he was there.
She moved across the kitchen to the cabinet that was over the dishwasher and pulled out plates. “Did you invite other people over for dinner?” she asked, wondering if he was expecting others.
“Nope. Just you and I,” he said, flashing her a crooked grin as he eyed all the dishes he’d created. “I enjoy cooking, but with my schedule, I don’t get to do it that often. Which is why my mother and sisters are always feeding me.
“However, I figured I’d do a little extra since this is a special occasion for us, a celebration of sorts. One: I found you after thinking about you for almost a year. And two: you’ve given me two incredible gifts.”
Raven was glad he felt that way. Him finding out the truth about being the twins’ father could’ve gone several ways. She appreciated him looking at their babies as a gift.
“That’s how I felt when I laid eyes on them for the first time. It was hard to believe I played a part in creating two beautiful humans. Growing up an only child who had always wanted siblings, I vowed to have a big family of my own. But once I hit my mid-thirties, I didn’t think marriage and having babies was in the cards for me. Embracing the idea of being single for the rest of my life, I had still planned to adopt one day, but I wanted to be more settled into my career. I also wanted to make sure I could financially support a few children.
“Having babies outside of marriage hadn’t occurred to me, especially with how conservative I’d been raised.”
She couldn’t help thinking about the conversation with her aunt, and what she’d said about Maximus and Zion. Talk about having it all wrong. If her aunt could’ve been there for the last hour, she would’ve witnessed how committed Zion was to being a father.
Raven was setting plates and utensils on the table when Zion came up behind her, startling her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind as if he had every right to do so. She didn’t stop him. The sweet thrill that shot through her wouldn’t allow it, especially considering how good it felt to be wrapped up in his powerful embrace.
It had been clear since she arrived at his house that they were definitely feeling each other. It was noticeable in the way his gaze would glide over her body, as well as the way he took every opportunity to touch her.
It all felt good. Too good.
She turned to face him, and her hands automatically went to his hard chest as he maintained a hand on her hip.
“I know you had other options when you learned you were pregnant. I’m glad you chose to keep them.”
She shook her head. “No other options crossed my mind, though I was seriously freaked out when learning about them,” she said on a little laugh. “I planned to keep and love on those babies until my dying breath. There’s no need to thank me.”
He nodded and his hand slid up her side while also easing her close. She knew he was going to kiss her, and though she should stop him, she wouldn’t. She couldn’t even if she wanted to because she had dreamed about kissing him again.
“I know we have things to discuss, and I told myself that feasting on you wasn’t on the menu tonight, but is it okay if I kiss you?”
“Yes.” The word fell from her lips without her thinking about it, and a second later his lips covered hers.
His kiss was gentle, yet commanding as shock waves shot through her body, nipping at every nerve ending. Oh yes. She wasn’t surprised by her eager response. This was what she wanted, what she needed. Just a little bit of loving from him to remind her of how it felt to be desired by a man.
She moaned against his mouth when he nudged her closer, crushing her to his hard body as he deepened their connection. Raven gave as good as she got and slid her arms around his waist. She held on tight, loving the feel of him pressed against her and not wanting to ever let go.
Yeah, this was what she’d been craving. Him, his mouth, and being engulfed in his strong arms was hard to resist. This was bound to happen at some point tonight because a jolt of electricity sparked whenever they were near each other.
It was going to be hard to resist him going forward. She longed to have his big, strong, muscular body wrapped around her while he made love to her.
Okay, if that’s where her thoughts were going, she had to put some space between them.
Reluctantly, she ended the kiss, but Zion didn’t release her. He lowered his forehead against hers, and they stayed that way until he said, “This might sound crazy, but I missed you.”
Raven laughed. “You’re right, it does sound crazy. It’s been practically a year, and it’s not like we dated or anything.”
She eased out of his hold before she did something crazy. Like fist the front of his T-shirt and toss him onto the table and have her way with him. Ha! Yeah, that would be wild.
“That might be true, but it didn’t stop me from thinking about you when I didn’t even know your last name. Ask my sister, Nyla. I told her about you. Well, I told her about the mystery woman I had met in Vegas and basically how that encounter ruined me for other women.”
Raven studied his eyes, wondering if he was being honest. It was possible because she had felt the same way, and it hadn’t been just because of the twins. She and Zion truly had connected on a special level that night.
“How about we continue this conversation over food?” he suggested, and she agreed.
After they made their tacos and loaded up their plates, Zion filled Onyx’s food and water bowl before joining her at the table.
As they ate, they talked about everything and nothing, careful to stay clear of their time in Vegas and dating. Their conversation flowed easily, and she was totally comfortable with him. It felt normal to be sitting at his kitchen table sharing a meal, as if they did it every day.
They discussed the babies even more, laughing at some of her trials and errors that took place when she first brought them home from the hospital. Reading all the books in the world hadn’t prepared her for the enormous responsibility of caring for twins. She could laugh now, but she had shed more than her share of tears back then.
“I don’t know if twins run in my family, but do they run in yours?” Raven asked as she enjoyed the meal.
“Yeah, they do. My father is an identical twin.”
Surprise jolted Raven. “Really?”
He nodded and smiled. “Yup. They look exactly alike, except my uncle has a scar near his left eye. Other than that, it’s almost impossible to tell them apart unless you get them to talking. My uncle is a gangster,” he said on a laugh. “Or at least that’s what I call him. He has no fear of anything. He’s been married three times with three sets of kids. Interesting enough, everyone gets along. Blended family at its best.”
“Wow. He sounds like a character.”
Zion chuckled. “Oh, he is that and more. I look forward to introducing you to him one day.”
One conversation led into another. He even shared some of his cop stories. Though he loved the job, he mentioned again that he might go into private security. He’d said something similar at dinner the other day, but it sounded like he was thinking more about it.
“Did you ever go and see your aunt?” he asked after there was a slight lull in the conversation. “I remember you saying that was part of the reason you were visiting, to check on her and let her meet the twins.”
Raven was slow to speak, not really wanting to discuss her aunt, but she and Zion were trying to get to know each other better. She might as well tell him what her aunt thought of him before they met. There was no doubt in her mind that Aunt Nancy was going to want to meet the father of the babies.
Raven gave Zion the short version of how the visit went, hoping he wouldn’t take offense at her aunt’s comments about him. She even told him about what Aunt Nancy had said about Maximus. Raven made it clear that she didn’t agree with anything her aunt said.
“The only thing I like about him these days is his grandfather. It amazes me the two men are related,” she said, telling him a little about Christopher. Anything to take the focus and conversation off Maximus for fear Zion would say something stupid, and she’d get mad at him.
She had talked to G-Pop the day before, and he sounded good. She didn’t tell him that she was planning on relocating. That was something she’d tell him face-to-face right before she made the move. Raven would have to make sure he didn’t tell Maximus. Then again, it wouldn’t matter. He’d find out eventually. Still, this was a conversation to have in person.
“I didn’t realize Maximus asked you to marry him. When was that?” Zion asked, surprising her by the question. What did it matter that he proposed? Especially since she’d said no.
“He sort of proposed shortly before we broke up. That’s if you call someone saying, ‘ We’re great together. We should get married ,’ a proposal. I didn’t take it seriously, but during my aunt’s last visit to Houston, he mentioned to her that he had proposed. Of course, she thought I was crazy turning him down. I told her she didn’t know the real him.”
Zion nodded. “Just like she doesn’t know me. I might not have planned on having kids yet, but I’m embracing fatherhood now. I’m looking forward to proving her wrong. She’ll soon learn I always take care of my responsibilities, and I always go after what I want.”
He stared into Raven’s eyes when he said that last part, and she found she couldn’t look away. Was he saying he wanted her? Did he want her for more than just a body to warm his bed? Because that’s the only way she’d consider anything with him beyond co-parenting.
Time will tell .
“I have a proposition for you.”
Raven studied him as her heart rate inched up. If he was going to propose they sleep together again, she’d have to say no, even if she wanted to say yes. She wasn’t the one-night stand type despite what happened between them. She wanted forever with a man.
“And that is?” she finally said.
“We get my parents and sisters to take care of the babies while I go back to Houston with you. I’ll help you pack up everything and move you to Chicago.”
Raven’s mouth fell open, and her body stiffened in shock. Startled by every part of his suggestion, she didn’t know what to say. Instead, she just looked at him as thoughts ran wild through her mind.
Of course, he’d want his children in the same town as he, but to offer to help her move to Chicago? That was huge and unexpected. Though the offer was tempting, she couldn’t accept, mainly because of her babies.
It would only take a good two days for her to clear out the rest of the items in her apartment. But she couldn’t imagine leaving her kids. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust his family. No, they had already earned her trust, and she knew Zion trusted the kids with them. It was just that she didn’t know if she could be away from them for more than a day, and that’s what she told Zion.
He countered by pointing out that it would be a lot easier to pack without worrying and taking care of the babies. By the time he was done with his speech, she had to agree. They’d fly there, pack, and have everything shipped to Chicago before flying back. The idea of not making the long drive appealed to her.
“One more thing,” he said. “I want you and the twins to move in with me.” Raven opened her mouth to reject the idea, but he lifted his hands out in front of him. “Hear me out. If you move in, you can take your time finding a place. That’ll give you a chance to learn the areas around town. Also, I have the space.” He shrugged. “You’ll have your own room, and the kids have the nursery. Lastly, you can stay as long as you want, and in the process, save money.”
Okay, now he had her attention. The proposition was great, but the problem was her. There was no way she could live with him and not want to experience being with him intimately again.
He reached over and held her hand, and as if reading her mind, he said, “I promise you nothing will happen that you don’t want to happen.”
She laughed. “Umm, you do remember that’s the same thing you said to me when you invited me to your hotel room in Vegas.”
The corner of Zion’s lips kicked up into a cocky grin. “I remember. I also remember nothing happened that you didn’t want to happen.”
Okay, he had her there.
As Raven searched his eyes, trying to decide if he was being serious about everything he proposed, she couldn’t help but get excited. It would feel good to share some of her responsibilities. More importantly, she trusted Zion.
She took a deep breath in, then released it. “Okay. Let’s do it.”