Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
R aven’s body was all twisted up inside as she hurried into her shirt and rushed to the door. Part of her appreciated the release that Zion so graciously gave her, but the other part of her needed so much more. Besides that, she hated she didn’t get the chance to take care of him before they were interrupted.
He said they’d pick up where they left off. Yet would they have time? After they got Teresa’s car loaded up, Raven wanted to go and see G-Pop, Maximus’s grandfather, Christopher, before she left town.
But first things first .
Raven peeked through the peep hole and smiled. Teresa, her silly self, had stepped back from the door and was striking a pose. One hand tugged on the brim of the floppy hat she was wearing, the other on her hip as she smiled demurely.
She looked as if she should be lounging on a beach somewhere. Her eyes were shielded by oversized sunglasses, and her slim body was encased in a short red sundress.
Like usual, the woman was camera ready but probably had no plans to go anywhere else but to the shelter and maybe the grocery store.
“Well, don’t you look cute today,” Raven said after opening the door. She gave her friend a tight hug, then ushered her farther into the apartment. “Are you still planning on dropping off my donation today? Because you look like you’re going to the beach or maybe even a photo shoot. Love the dress.”
Teresa laughed and set her sunglasses, handbag, and hat on the sofa. “Thank you, and yes, ma’am. I plan to drop off the donation once I leave here. I had brunch with my sister-in-law and her friends earlier and didn’t bother changing clothes before coming over here.”
Teresa followed her into the kitchen while telling her about the new restaurant she’d brunched at a short while ago. Raven’s mouth watered as her friend described the delicious dishes, making her realize she was getting a little hungry.
“Hmm,” Teresa said and studied Raven before narrowing her eyes.
“What?” Raven asked, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator. She held it up, silently asking if Teresa wanted one.
“No thanks, and don’t what me. Did I interrupt something?” she asked, a frown marring her fair complexion.
Raven twisted the top off the water bottle. “No,” she lied, not wanting her friend to ask personal questions, something she was so good at doing. “Why do you ask?”
“Because your face is flushed, your lips look as if you’d been thoroughly kissed, and your shirt is inside out.”
The bottle was halfway to Raven’s lips when she glanced down at her shirt. Not only was it inside out, but it was also on backwards.
She closed her eyes and huffed out a breath before setting the bottle on the granite countertop.
“ Ohhhh , I did interrupt!” Teresa whisper-shouted enthusiastically, and when Raven reopened her eyes, her friend was in her face. “How was it? I didn’t know you guys were at this stage in your relationship, but I guess living together would speed things along. I want details. Was he everything you remembered? How many orgasms did you have? Is he still big in all the right places?”
“ Shhh . Not so loud,” Raven said, trying not to laugh because if she did Teresa would keep going with the questions. Knowing her, she still might.
“He’s here,” she whispered.
“Well, I figured that much.” Teresa laughed, her voice still a little too loud, but she didn’t seem to care. “I just want to know if the man still knows how to use that big di—”
A throat cleared from the doorway, and they both startled apart.
Raven’s gaze darted to Zion, noting the humor in his eyes, though she wanted the floor to open and swallow her up. Heat rushed to her cheeks. Clearly, he’d heard the questions or at least part of the conversation because his lips twitched as if trying to hold back a grin.
This was so embarrassing. Now he’d know she’d given her friend a few details about his impressive anatomy. Normally, she didn’t kiss and tell, but her time with Zion in Vegas had been such a wonderful surprise, she’d shared more than she normally would. Especially since she hadn’t expected to see him again.
But there’d been plenty that she’d kept to herself. Like the fact that his dick had been a work of art—long, thick, hard, and he’d known how to use it.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Zion said and extended his hand. “Nice to see you again, Teresa.”
Raven rolled her eyes at the huge grin on Teresa’s face. She also recognized the look she was giving Zion. One of female appreciation despite being happily married to her high school sweetheart.
“Long time no see, Andrew ,” she said, emphasizing the name Zion had given them at the bar in Vegas.
Zion shook his head and groaned. “Giving my middle name instead of my full name is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made,” he said, his attention zoning in on Raven as he spoke. He moved closer to her, and her heart rate kicked up when he slid his arm around her, his eyes never leaving hers. “Not giving you my phone number was the second.”
Raven leaned into him, unable to stop the delicious shiver from rocking her body.
This wasn’t the first time he’d said that, and each time his admission stirred something deep inside of her. She didn’t want to fall down that hole of what ifs. She refused to allow herself to wonder what it would’ve been like to have him by her side during her pregnancy, in the delivery room, or even the first time she’d brought the babies home.
No, it wouldn’t do any good to wonder what it would’ve been like to have him there during the scariest moments of her life. Instead, she was going to live in the present and enjoy every minute she had with this incredible man who she was falling hard for. Raven was fairly sure she was in love with him, but she was still hesitant to fully admit it to herself, let alone to him. And what she wanted more than anything in this moment was to get naked with him.
“Hmm, I see,” Teresa said, and Raven noted her friend was watching them intently. She wasn’t sure what Teresa saw, but she recognized her momma bear expression. “So, Zion, what do you think of the twins? Shame you didn’t get to—”
“Teresa,” Raven snapped in a warning tone.
“I’m just asking. He missed a few months of the babies’ lives, and—”
“I won’t be missing any more,” Zion interrupted, a fierceness in his tone as he maintained his hold on Raven, his large hand resting against her hip. He stared down at her, and his eyes softened. “I hate that I missed any moment of their lives. I also hate that Raven had to go through so much alone, but I assure you, Teresa, I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere. Raven and the twins are my family, and I will take care of the three of them. So you don’t have to worry. I got this.”
Raven’s heart squeezed at the conviction behind his words. He was so good at knowing exactly what to say and when, and it was what she’d needed to hear.
As if he was sealing a deal, Zion bent down and placed a lingering kiss on her lips before slowly releasing her and stepping back.
“Well, while you two catch up and talk about me,” he cracked with a knowing smile, “Teresa, I can start loading up your vehicle. I’ll just need to know which one is yours.”
Teresa nodded, a smile on her face as her attention went from Zion to Raven and back to Zion again. “Okay. I’ll point to it out the living room window.”
When Zion followed her out of the kitchen, Raven released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. She sagged against the counter. She wasn’t sure why her heart was pounding hard enough to beat out of her chest. Then again, maybe it was because in the last few minutes something had shifted inside of her. Suddenly there was no doubt in her mind that she was in love with Zion.
I’m in love with Zion. I’m in love with my kids’ father.
Raven ran her hand over her mouth not sure what to do with that epiphany. No way would she tell him. At least not yet. It was too soon for these types of feelings, and the last thing she wanted to do was embarrass herself.
What if she said something to him, and he didn’t feel the same way? Just because he planned to be in her and the kids’ lives going forward didn’t mean he loved her. He’d been so kind and generous to her, what if she was mistaking that for love?
And what if it turned out that the strong feelings she was experiencing toward him were caused by loneliness? She had longed to share her life with someone, especially after her parents were killed. She had also wanted to be a part of a large family like the Priestlys. What if these feelings were misplaced, and she was just in love with the idea of being in love with someone who had a large family?
Ugh! She covered her face with her hands, willing herself to stop this train of thought.
Just stop thinking. Stop second guessing everything.
She and Zion were giving their relationship a try, and so far, things were going great. She wasn’t going to second guess every single element.
“Well, well, well.”
Raven’s head shot up, and she dropped her hands. After a quick glance in the living room, she noted Zion wasn’t there, and some of the boxes were gone. She’d been so caught up in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard him walk out or her friend reenter the kitchen.
“It looks like the two of you are quite chummy,” Teresa said, a wicked grin spread across her face. She propped her hip against the counter and folded her arms across her chest. “I love Zion for you, but are you sure getting serious with him so quickly is a good idea? You barely know him.”
Her friend wasn’t being negative or doubting Raven’s judgment. She had asked the same thing when Raven started dating Maximus. Except this time, despite her mini freakout a moment ago, Raven was a hundred percent sure Zion was the one for her.
Yes, she questioned whether what she was feeling was love, but deep down in her soul, she truly believed she was in love with him. It wasn’t just because of the connection she’d felt the first time they met. It was so much more now she’d had a chance to get to know him.
No, she didn’t know everything about him, but she knew the things that were important. He was honest, dependable, and he loved the twins. Besides that, she knew he seriously cared about her. It might not be love, but it was close. No way her feelings would be this strong for someone who wasn’t feeling them too.
At least she hoped .
“I think I love him,” she blurted, bracing herself for the fallout of that statement. When Teresa said nothing and just watched her, Raven continued. “He’s nothing like Maximus. In case you were wondering.”
“I know. I picked up on that the first time we met him. Back then, there was no hint of arrogance, no signs of narcissistic behavior, and he genuinely seems like a good guy. I also believed him a few minutes ago when he said he’d always be there for you and the twins.”
Raven shrugged. “ But ?”
“There’s not really a but because, from what little I know, I really like him. However, you’re my best friend and like a sister to me. I just don’t want you to get hurt. Also, you were originally concerned about the age difference—afraid Zion might still be at the stage in life where he needed to sow his wild oats. Are you sure you can trust and depend on him?”
“Yes,” Raven said with confidence. “I’m sure he’ll always be there for the kids, and I trust he’ll be there for me too. I know it sounds irrational, but he hasn’t given me a reason not to trust him. Also, I believe what he told you earlier—that he’s in this for the long haul.
“Teresa, I don’t have some magic eight-ball that can tell me what the future holds, but I believe in my heart that Zion and I are meant to be together. I know I was concerned about being older than him, but that doesn’t matter anymore.”
Raven might not necessarily trust in fate, but what were the chances of her and Zion running into each other in Chicago? Very slim. The timing had been mind-blowing. There was no doubt that their reunion had been divinely orchestrated, and that’s what she told Teresa. Everything had been too perfect for it to have not been.
Yeah, they were meant to be together, and Raven was standing on that belief.
“He’s everything I ever wanted in a man, and I also love his big family.” She reached for her friend’s hand. “Just trust that I know what I’m doing.”
Teresa sighed and pulled her into a hug. “I do trust you, and I’m thrilled for you and our babies. But if Zion hurts you or abandons my godkids, and if he doesn’t keep putting it down in the bedroom, I’m kicking his ass,” she said, and Raven laughed. “You might want to warn him about how fierce I am when it comes to my family.”
Smiling and giving her friend a tight squeeze, Raven said, “I’ll make sure he knows, and you’ll be my first call if he gets out of line.”
Thirty minutes later, Raven said her goodbyes to Teresa, promising to stay in touch. They’d both shed a few tears, and though Raven was going to really miss her friend, she was excited about the future. She was looking forward to what was to come.
Raven locked the door, then turned around, and leaned against it. She smiled, and her heart leaped when Zion stepped out of the bedroom shirtless. His smooth chiseled chest and flat abs were downright lickable.
Oh yeah, she was definitely looking forward to what was to come. The man was so beautifully and wonderfully built, she wondered how she got so lucky. Add to the fact that he was a great guy, and she felt like the luckiest woman on the planet.
“ Finally , I thought she’d never leave,” he cracked as he walked toward her smiling, and Raven laughed.
“I figured as much considering how fast you loaded everything into her car.” Raven pushed away from the door and met him in the center of the living room. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick peck on the lips. “Now, where were we?”
“Here,” he said, and scooped her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. Then he headed to her bedroom. “Let’s give your mattress a workout before you say goodbye to it tomorrow.”
Raven laughed. “Sounds good to me.”