Chapter 18 – Ravyn
It had been a few days already since we arrived at the mansion, and I still couldn't fill this giant pit in my stomach. There was a lot I needed to get off my chest, and in order to do that, I needed his audience.
However, I hadn't been courageous enough to meet him and lay out my demands. I was nervous and afraid, unsure of what would happen if I met up with him.
The last time we were alone in a closed space, I almost lost my cool and gave in to temptation. But beyond my fear of once again falling and giving in to lust, I was in desperate need to talk to him about the present situation of things.
I felt so suffocated, unproductive, and useless. All I did all day was stay home and take care of the kids. For five years, I worked by a set of principles I'd designed, principles that created a balance between my work life and family. And until now, those principles had been working out just fine.
Lev had stepped back into my life like a thief in the night and was destroying everything I'd worked so hard to build. He'd turned me into a housewife, and I hated that. I was a grown woman who knew how to take care of herself and her kids. But it was as though he thought I was incapable of doing my job as a mother and still pursuing my dreams.
I was doing just fine for five years until he showed up out of nowhere and literally kidnapped me. My life and my business were suffering because he decided that I should sit idly in his house all day, every day.
Well, I'd been idle long enough, and I wasn't going to just sit back, cross my fingers, and watch him ruin my life. No. I was done taking his bullshit. I was done being afraid and nervous. What's the worst thing that would happen if I spoke? I didn't care. I was going to confront him regardless.
In the hallway, I drew a deep breath, rubbing my sweaty palms over each other as I steadied my reserve. “You've got this,” I whispered to myself, my heart hammering in my chest. “He's a man. Not a god. He can be spoken to.” I let out a sharp exhale and headed toward his room.
It was almost midnight, and maybe I should wait until tomorrow to do this, but I couldn't keep in any longer. It was now or never. He might be asleep, but that wouldn't stop me; he'd wake the hell up, and he'd listen to what I had to say.
I halted outside his room, taking a moment to rethink my decision, but my mind was already made up. All I needed was more courage. I smoothed my hands down my nightgown, my heart skipping a beat. A warm, golden glow seeped from the narrow opening between the door and its frame, a clear indication that he was awake and stirring.
Good. At least we'd have this conversation while he was clear-headed and not sleepy. Without knocking, I pushed the door open and barged in like I owned the place, driven by a wind of confidence.
Seated by the window with a glass of whiskey in his hand, he turned in my direction, a brow raised in surprise. “Something happened to your knuckles?” he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.
“We need to talk,” I said, my tone stern and unapologetic, my expression stoic. “Now,” I added, leaving no room for debate, arms folded across my chest.
His second eyebrow rose to the height of the other, astonishment flickering in his gaze. He obviously found my courage amusing, considering the faint smirk playing on his lips.
It took a lot of effort not to drink in the sight of his masculine physique—his chiseled abs, broad shoulders, and hard nipples. My eyes were locked on his despite the way his gaze unnerved me.
I swallowed, maintaining eye contact, my willingness to see this through amplifying by the second. He could see the seriousness in my eyes, and he knew that I wasn't leaving here until I said what was on my mind.
Lev sipped his whiskey, then set the glass on the side stool and leaned back in his chair. “In case you haven't noticed, it's almost midnight,” he said, his voice smooth and husky.
“I'm aware, but this can't wait,” I replied, retaining my blank expression despite the chills his voice had sent down my spine.
He crossed his legs effortlessly, one over the other, as he adjusted in the chair. His movements were graceful, economical, and precise, exuding an aura of confidence and calm self-assurance. “Humor me,” he said, pinning his gaze on me.
For a second there, I almost lost my cool, but I was quick to get a grip of myself. “I'm tired of sitting home all day doing nothing; it's daunting and frustrating. It feels like I'm not living up to my full potential, and it sucks,” I explained, my hands flying around as I spoke, my voice dripping with fatigue and a hint of pain.
He watched me in silence as if wondering where I was going with this, his eyes never leaving my face.
I paused, summoning the courage to spit out the real reason I was here. He stared at me, anticipation coloring his eyes like he was waiting to hear what I had in mind.
“I wanna resume my business,” I blurted out, holding his gaze, regardless of how intimidating it was. “I wanna move my boutique to the city.”
He raised his eyebrows, creases forming on his forehead as his eyes bore into mine. Lev hesitated for a moment before giving a blunt response that shook my nerves. “No,” he said.
“No?” I leaned forward, eyes widened in disbelief, a pang of irritation swelling up within me.
“Yes. No,” he replied, unapologetic, reaching for his glass.
I didn't think it would be easy, anyway; I expected some resistance, considering the kind of man he was. But I wasn't going to back down, at least not without a fight.
I scoffed, swiping a palm across my face, struggling to suppress my rage. “Why? Why can't I resume work?”
He looked me dead in the eyes and replied, his tone calm but authoritative, “Because I said so.”
My eyes narrowed at the condescension and dominance in his voice. I clenched my jaw, daring to take a step forward. “Because you said so?” I demanded, brows furrowing with a glare, as if challenging him to repeat the words.
He sipped his whisky, a wry smirk playing on his lips. Clearly, he enjoyed seeing me frustrated and annoyed. Perhaps it gave him some sort of dark comfort.
“You seem to forget that I'm a grown-ass woman, capable of making her own decisions!” I sparked, my voice rising a little higher than normal.
Maintaining his composure, he said, cradling his glass in his hand. “And you seem to forget your place…‘grown-ass woman.’” The sarcasm in his last statement couldn't be any more glaring.
“You can't decide what I should or should not do with my life, Lev,” I insisted, ignoring his subtle warning.
“You mean like you decided five years ago to run away with my kids and keep them from me?” His brows arched, his words striking my heart like lightning. “Ironic, isn't it?”
I see what you're doing there, I thought, unable to argue, given the point he was driving at.
He uncrossed his legs, set the glass back on the side stool, and rose to his feet. “Tell me,” he began, taking slow steps toward me. “What makes it right for you to make a decision you knew would affect me in more ways than one?” Lev stopped in front of me, his imposing height making me look little in my own eyes. “And what makes it wrong for me to do the same? Hmm?”
He had me in a tight spot, bringing my hypocrisy to my notice. There was hardly anything that I could say because, apparently, I started this, and he was only tearing a page out of my own book.
I opened my mouth like I was about to give a response, but I found no words. I was speechless. Not just because he had proven what a hypocrite I was but also because he was too close, and I could feel his breath on my skin.
His presence was awakening feelings I'd buried for a long time, causing my breath to lodge in my throat. I jerked my head; my eyes locked to his as I fought back the illicit thoughts seeping into my mind.
I could smell his cologne and the scent of the whiskey lingering on his tongue. Alcohol wasn't my thing, but at the moment, a part of me longed to taste that whiskey—to lick it off his lips.
Goddamn it, Ravyn, focus! I cautioned myself, slightly trembling at the sight of his broad torso in my face. This was a very important moment; I shouldn' t be swayed by his magnificent physique.
“You don't need a boutique,” he said, his husky voice cutting through my thoughts like a knife.
I was so distracted by the feelings his smooth, deep voice and shirtless body were stirring up in me that it was almost impossible to stay focused on the task at hand.
“The only reason I haven't punished you yet is because the kids need you,” he added, his expression flat and nearly unreadable. “I brought you back to raise them under my supervision…to be their mother.”
My stomach knotted at his words, my tear glands charging up. “You're essentially asking me to play house?” I asked, my voice dropping to a low whisper.
His dark eyes roamed my body, lips subtly twitching at the corners. “Consider it mercy,” he said, holding my gaze. “People have died for far lesser crimes than what you did.”
I hardened my heart, clenching my jaw as I remembered that the plan was to stay until I had my way. “I'm sorry, but I can't do what you're asking,” I said, my tone laced with defiance.
His eyes narrowed, boring into mine, but I wasn't going to be intimidated by him.
“That boutique is life, Lev,” I began, my voice firm and audacious. “I built it from scratch, brick by brick—me.” I beat my chest, a glimmer of pride seeping into my tone as I spoke up. “I can't throw away everything I worked so hard to build over the years just because you want me to. No. I can't.”
His expression darkened, mirroring his displeasure at my defiance and maybe the arrogance in my tone. “You live under my roof, so you'll obey my rules.”
I folded my arms across my chest. “Well, mister, your rules don't sit well with me. You're caging me like I'm some kind of pet you own. But newsflash, I'm not. I'm a human being just like you, and I've got rights.” The words tumbled out of me in a rush.
My lips quivered, my heart racing with anticipation as I felt the urge to let out just how frustrated I was. “You're just like my parents: controlling, demanding, and exasperatingly difficult to handle,” I began, feeling the nasty sting of tears in my eyes. “You only care about yourself and don't give a shit about how I feel, as long as you have your way…everything else be damned, right?”
He was quiet, watching me rant, his expression softening ever so slightly.
I shook my head, wiping the tears streaming down my eyes. “You don't take me seriously. My parents never did, and ironically, the best part of my life was when I was away from all of you.” My voice broke, my lips trembling as I let myself feel the pain I'd bottled up for so long. “And—and just when I thought my life was going well, just when I started to figure myself out, you showed up and whisked me away.”
He tilted his head, squinting as though he was studying me.
“I can be a mother to our kids and still run my business. Why can you not see that?” I continued, sniffling, fighting back my tears. “I've done that for four years, being a mom and working at the same time. This isn't uncharted waters for me. But you're hell-bent on having things done your way.” My chest heaved slowly, eyes locked on him.
A chunk of that pain dissolved as my bottled-up feelings finally found an expression. I felt a little lighter, like a burden had been lifted off me.
His jaw clenched, eyes narrowing as he closed the small distance between us. My breath lodged in my throat for a moment, thinking I'd struck a nerve and he'd say or do something violent. So, I steeled myself, expecting the worst the minute he raised his hand.
But what did Lev do? He gently pushed a loose strand of my hair behind my ear. This gesture was so unexpected, smooth, and tender, leaving me both shocked and skeptical.
I raised my eyes to meet him, brows furrowing a little as I studied his sudden change in countenance. The feeling of his thumb brushing against my skin as he wiped a stream of tears rolling down my cheek caused my body to tremble.
It had been ages since I'd been touched this way, since a man had looked so deeply into my eyes. I'd closed myself off from feeling anything for any man after the incident years ago. However, his intimate gaze and softened expression melted my reserves.
I'd wanted him so badly since I arrived, and now it was almost impossible to fight back my desire to get laid. Here we were, alone, under an intense atmosphere that had shifted from bad banter to something more sensational.
He wiped the tears streaming down my other cheek with his second thumb, his eyes never leaving mine. There was something in their depths that reminded me of the good times we used to have—the moments we once shared.
The silence between us grew more and more deafening by the second, my heart racing, my lips and body quivering at his touch. Despite his dark aura, I craved to have him buried deep inside me.
“You haven't changed,” he said, his finger traveling down the nape of my neck. “You're still stubborn and defiant.”
I jerked at the electric spark jolting across me, my thighs brushing against themselves in reaction to the tingling sensation between my legs.
“And you're still dominating. Still controlling,” I said with a tone as low as a whisper. My voice faltered, gradually trailing off at the effect of his touch.
A faint grin flashed across his face, his hand daring to travel down my chest. I could literally hear the sound of my own heart beating like a loud drum, my breath difficult to catch.
He locked my gaze, watching me struggle to mask my nervousness. Yet, I never pulled away, nor did I ask him to stop. Why would I do that? He obviously wanted me as bad as I wanted him.
His eyes dropped to my lips, desire shining in their depths.
The sexual charge between us was off the charts, and as the tension continued to hover, the ignited flame within me sought to find expression.
Like two unlike poles pulled by a magnetic force, we both rushed at each other's lips, claiming and devouring them in a fervent kiss. His arms possessively wrapped my waist like a man aware that he owned his woman. Deep down, I loved it.
My hands flew to his face, cupping it as the kiss deepened, tongues twirling in our mouths. I could taste the whiskey lingering on his lips and tongue, and that fueled my desire. Our heads tilted together in desperate harmony, driven by pure, undulated passion.
I felt so alive with his hands roaming my body, caressing my curves and contours. Was this how much I missed him? Damn!
He moved his hand to my chest and fondled my breasts, delicately squeezing them one at a time. His other hand was still around my waist, pulling me closer as if seeking a deeper connection.
The heat was growing, the flame burning so intensely that it threatened to consume us both. We devoured each other's lips like hungry beasts, and boy, was I starving!
It was as though every dead cell in my body had jerked back to life; every molecule, every fiber of my being, longed for him. I couldn't get enough. I wanted more. I wanted sex!
He whisked me into the air without breaking our kiss, and I locked my feet around his waist. Being inches higher, I lowered my face, sliding my tongue into his mouth, his palms supporting my ass, fingers digging into my skin.
I pushed the loose strands of my hair behind my ear as he headed toward his king-sized bed. Lev lowered me on the mattress, his hands squeezing my breasts, fingers pinching my nipples over the fabric of my nightie.
He broke the kiss, leaving me breathless, unsatisfied, and in need of more. He mirrored my face, watching my chest heave slowly while I lay beneath him. I could feel his erection, hard as a rock, brushing against my thigh.
My body quivered at the electricity surging through my veins. With his thumb, he traced the curve of my mouth with a deliberate slowness that made my lips tremble.
The desperation and longing in my gaze couldn't be any more glaring. He knew I wanted him; he could see it in my eyes, but he was toiling with me, teasing me with his hard boner. Every touch, every kiss, awakened the sleeping lioness inside me.
“Has anyone else…?” he whispered, looking into my eyes, voice trailing off as he chose not to complete his question.
He wanted to know if another's hands had touched me. I wasn't surprised, considering that he was the jealous type.
I shook my head, too numb to speak, thanks to the insatiable desire coursing through me. A glint of pride flickered in my gaze for no reason, and I wondered why I was glad that I hadn't been with someone else despite our history.
Maybe I should ask the same question since we were being honest, but I wouldn't. He was a man who could get whatever and whoever he wanted. It was possible that he'd been with multiple women over the past few years. Five years was a long time, and I wasn't expecting any form of loyalty from such a man.
However, I wouldn't entirely rule out the possibility that he might not have been with another woman. It would explain why he asked me. Lev might be the devil, but he was a devil with a code of honor—he wouldn't have asked if he was fooling around.
His lips curled into a self-satisfied grin as he kissed my neck through to my chest and then eventually between my legs. He raised the hem of my dress and positioned himself to go down on me.
Lev sniffed my mound with a deep, long breath and an enjoyable look on his face, a testament that he loved the scent of my arousal.
My body trembled as I steeled myself, waiting to feel the chill of his tongue on my pussy. His hands grasped my thighs, caressing them and sending jolts of electricity through me. His gentle tease was killing me, and my heart wouldn't stop hammering as if it was about to jump out of my chest.
He pulled my panties off, jerked his eyes to meet mine, and said, his voice soft and tender, “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
Nothing in the world would make me tell me that right now. I hadn't felt this way in ages, and I wasn't going to give it up for anything at all. Nothing mattered in this moment; all that existed was two horny adults, sex-starved for half a decade.
I grasped his head and pushed it down between my legs, his tongue settling on my entrance. “Oh, my God!” The words fell off my lips. I didn't plan to moan out, but it felt so good that I couldn't hold it back in.
My fingertips grabbed the sheets and squeezed against them, releasing a series of soft purrs. This was the first time he was going down on me, and he was killing it. The time we’d had sex, the flame burning between us left no room for such luxury. However, tonight, we had all the time in the world, and Lev was utilizing it well, exploring the depths of my pussy in ways I hadn’t known was possible.
I arched my back, bucking my hips, longing for a deeper connection. My eyes widened when I felt his finger slip in through my wetness. That instant, my hand flew to my mouth, muffling the pleasured cries escaping my lips.
He licked my clit, sucked on it while simultaneously fingering my pussy. I thought I was losing my mind—he was so good at this, and I could feel my anxiety dissipating, my muscles relaxing.
He did this thing with his finger inside me that triggered my orgasm—a come-hither gesture.
“Oh, God, yes!” I moaned, writhing beneath his mouth. “Right there. Don't stop,” I whispered, a hint of plea seeping into my tone.
He continued the technique, his lips relentless on my clit. My legs shuddered in the air, and my grip tightened around the sheets, my moans growing louder by the second. Yet, he wouldn't stop or slow down. I liked it. I loved the sensation it gave me.
My back arched higher, face contorted in pleasure as the feeling overwhelmed me, and that was when I felt the orgasm. “I think I'm gonna cum,” I announced, pressing against his head.
I bucked my hip, both hands darting up to smooth my hair backward. The sensation was too much to bear, and I felt like something was about to explode from me. “Fuck, I'm cumming!”
He pulled me closer, his mouth eating up my wet entrance like he was anticipating my release.
With a sweet moan, my body trembled, my essence squirting out like water from a fountain. My back dropped to the bed, chest heaving rapidly as I covered my face with palms, embarrassed and amused at the same time. I'd never cum just from oral before, so this was a big win, and I’d yet to process what had just happened.
I looked down, and there he was, smirking, wiping my juice off his mouth. My lips curved into a smile, fascinated by his skills. Lev leaned forward and kissed me, my hands traversing his torso as he yanked down the straps of my nightgown, one at a time.
The strap fell off my shoulder, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of my cleavage. Lev’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he tugged down the fabric to expose my breasts. His lips claimed my nipple while tuning the other, his waist grinding between my legs.
I let out a soft moan, hands reaching down to grasp the waistband of his pants. Without hesitation, I pulled it down, and his hard cock sprung out, his creamy tip grazing my entrance. I wrapped my manicured fingers around that long, veiny cock and positioned it outside my mound.
With a single stroke, he penetrated me effortlessly, a testament to how wet and slippery I was. My eyes widened as my pussy accepted him, swallowing him whole. I hadn’t realized what I'd been missing out until now. I hadn’t realized how much I'd been dying to have him deep inside me until he penetrated me.
It was like I was a woman again, my cells and molecules leaping for joy. Our heads moved together in perfect sync as he devoured my lips with an intense fervency that left us both breathless.
He drove into me with relentless thrusts, his strokes hitting the right spot as I moaned in his mouth. His hands fondled my breasts, fingers deliciously pinching my hard nipples. I felt transported to a different realm—a realm of bliss and sheer pleasure.
My legs hung in the air, and his hand traveled my body, skin against skin. His touch was tender and smooth, and his kiss passionate, as if he'd missed me as much as I'd missed him.
I raked my fingers into his back, driven by ecstasy, my body writhing beneath him. “Go deeper,” I whispered in his ear, yearning to connect on a different level.
It was as though I wasn't myself anymore, and a part of me didn't care. I just craved to be fucked the way I wanted: deep, hard, and fast.
Lev did as I instructed, his cock traveling to the most remote places inside me. It felt so good. So right.
I locked my legs around his waist, my hands rubbing his back, pressing his ass downward. I couldn't get enough. I wanted more and more.
More and more was what he gave, just the way I wanted it, the way I liked it. At some point, it started to feel like we were making love and not just fucking.
This was officially the best sex ever!
As Lev's speed quickened with stronger, harder thrusts and a primal growl, I knew he was climaxing. He deserved it, anyway; he'd done more than enough on me for one round.
I wrapped my arms around him, my legs still locked behind his waist as I anticipated his release. I wanted to feel his warmth. It had been a long time since I felt it, and everything inside me wanted it. “Do it. Cum in me,” I whispered in his ear.
Maybe I'd regret it later; maybe not. But it didn't matter to me at the moment. I just longed for his creampie.
With a deep groan, his body jerked as he pushed deeper inside me, releasing his load. A satisfactory smile spread across my face, my pussy accepting his essence. He filled me up with himself, warm and soothing.
Once he was done shooting every drop, he let out an exhausted sigh and collapsed on me. We were both spent, each panting from the incredible marathon we’d just had. He slid off me and lay on his back, facing the ceiling, his jagged breaths harmonizing with mine.
I turned to meet his soft gaze, my heartbeat steadying as we locked eyes in a passionate silence. Overwhelmed with gratitude and satisfaction, I leaned forward and rested my head on his chest. Ironic how I felt so peaceful and safe when his arms wrapped around me.
However, beneath this bliss, something else lingered—a burden in my spirit to do what was expected of me.
“Are you okay?” His voice, laced with a glint of concern, sliced through my thoughts.
How did he…? Could he hear thoughts or something? Perhaps he sensed my energy.
I raised my head and replied, a hint of anxiety seeping its way into my mind. “It's my parents,” I said, looking into his eyes as searching for support. “I need to reach out to them.”
His brows narrowed ever so slightly, but even though he hadn't said anything yet, I could tell he thought it was a good idea.