Chapter 14 Raven
FOURTEEN
RAVEN
Awhole two weeks had passed since I ran into the Callahans torturing the mayor and had been forced to marry Aiden, and my mom was still oblivious.
Yesterday, we’d agreed to visit with every intention of letting her know what had happened and that I was now a married woman.
But things hadn’t gone according to plan. We’d found her drunk on her living room couch—even more than usual—and when we tried to help her sit and drink some water, she started mumbling incoherently. And then proceeded to throw up all over herself.
“Come on, Mom.” I’d sighed, my chest twisting and my embarrassment growing. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”
I went to take her arm gently, but Aiden was quicker, scooping her up and carrying her into the bathroom.
“Shower or tub?” he asked.
I eyed the shower, knowing it’d be a more sensible option. But there was no way I could hold her up and wash her on my own. And there was no way in hell I’d ask Aiden to help. He shouldn’t be subjected to something like that.
“Tub, please.”
He lowered her with surprising gentleness, then nodded at me once and made his way out of the bathroom.
When he reached the threshold, he glanced over his shoulder and said, “Just shout if you need help.”
“Mom, I really wish you’d stop this,” I rasped when it was just the two of us, working her out of her vomit-stained shirt, then pants. “You’re killing yourself.”
“Already dead,” she mumbled, her body tilting forward. “Love kills, baby.”
I swallowed and got to washing her. There was no point in arguing with her or trying to make her see that she was only harming herself. This wasn’t the first time I’d found myself in this situation, and it wouldn’t be the last.
After her bath, I dried her off and then got her dressed in clean pajamas, although it was only two in the afternoon. Considering how much she’d had to drink, she’d probably sleep right through the night and into tomorrow.
I held her upright as we came out of the bathroom, stopping abruptly at the sight before us.
My eyes traced every surface of the gleaming bedroom, and through the open door, I could see the living room was just as spotless.
There was no trace of vomit, the clean disinfectant overpowering the stench of alcohol.
I blinked, my eyes burning with emotion.
Aiden had sat on the couch, tapping away on his phone, probably handling some mobster business that he wouldn’t discuss with me, when he lifted his head and found me standing in the middle of Mom’s bedroom.
Our eyes connected while I blinked profusely, trying to stop any tears from making an appearance.
He flashed me a warm smile, winked, and then went back to work.
After I’d fed her broth and dry toast, I eased her into bed. Not two minutes after her head hit the pillow, she was snoring.
On the way home, neither one of us spoke.
Now, as I waited for him to wake up, I stared at his peaceful face, stroking his hair and wondering how I’d gotten so lucky amidst the chaos of recent events.
I blamed my newfound obsession on Athena. Ever since she’d started recommending romance novels (okay, smut), I’d developed a fascination with romantic gestures. And Aiden’s actions yesterday were some of the nicest anyone had ever done for me.
It might also be the fact that this man had been nothing but kind since he dragged me into his fancy penthouse. And his expert mouth and touches that made my flesh burn in the best way possible sure didn’t hurt.
Although I was still a virgin, I had no doubt he’d see to it that that was no longer the case. Soon, I hoped.
My husband’s arm was wrapped around my middle, my face buried in his chest, and I inhaled his unique scent. It was rich, deep, and warm, with a hint of leather. In the span of two weeks, it’d become my favorite fragrance.
I ran my fingers over his rock-hard chest and paused as the wedding ring diamonds glimmered under the morning sun. For the hundredth time, I struggled to come to terms with the fact that I was married.
I didn’t know how to move forward.
He’d given me his credit card, but I didn’t know what to do with it. My plans had gotten derailed, and a part of me resented destiny. My friends were halfway across the world, already closer to France, and I was here. My nineteen-year-old heart wanted to go to Paris, and—
“Mmmm.” Aiden’s sleepy, husky voice caused me to lift my face and meet his blue eyes. “This is my favorite way to wake up, wife.” He smiled.
I had to fight the urge to look behind me when he said wife. Surely it couldn’t be me, but it sure as fuck was.
“M-morning,” I stuttered, still not quite able to refer to him as husband. “Sleep well?”
He paused, searching my face. “You didn’t?”
I shook my head.
“No.” His brow furrowed and I quickly corrected. “I mean, yes. I slept well.”
“Are you upset about your mother?” He stared at me. “I saw she texted you.”
Somehow I wasn’t surprised. Little seemed to escape his notice.
I couldn’t tell him she’d texted me asking if I would come by her place alone tomorrow.
Her message was brief, not that her others were ever long, but it set me on edge.
She said she needed to discuss something with me urgently, and I worried whether it was about moving towns or something else entirely.
I didn’t want my mom to move, and I secretly wished that Aiden’s protection could extend to her as well.
Maybe she could put down roots, spread her wings, and find a sense of purpose and even some friends.
Yet I didn’t know how to bring it up, or how much to say.
After all, I hadn’t fully understood why she had been on the move so relentlessly throughout the nineteen years of my life.
“I’m not exactly happy about what happened,” I admitted. “It’s a little embarrassing.”
“Get it out of your mind,” he said, his voice firm as he stroked my cheek. “What our family does or doesn’t do isn’t on us.”
I bit my lower lip, knowing he was right but also realizing it wasn’t that simple.
We were married now, and while everyone would claim that came with trust, I couldn’t ignore the weight it’d placed on me.
I couldn’t bring myself to admit to him that our “marriage” felt like a wall between me and my dreams. And whether it was fair or not, I blamed him for it.
Not a day went by when I didn’t curse myself for showing up to my shift at Velvet Desire early.
And what was worse, every time I regretted the decisions that’d led me down that dark hallway, I was reminded that I wouldn’t have met Aiden had it gone differently.
I would never have felt the intensity of his gaze and the tenderness of his touch.
I couldn’t fathom it.
I chewed my bottom lip. “We could try to visit her again? Or maybe I can go to her alone, prepare her a little for the news?”
He paused, stroking my cheek. “Alone?”
“You could wait outside,” I blurted. “I just think it would be better if I eased her into this… us… the marriage.”
Two heartbeats passed before he answered. “Okay. If you think that’ll help.”
“Really?” It was hard to hide my surprise.
“Yes, really.” He tilted his head. “This is a two-way street, and in order for it to work, it’s important you share your thoughts and feelings. I was going to suggest we find your mom a place closer to the penthouse, but only if you want to.”
I opened my mouth to tell him she couldn’t afford it when he beat me to the punch. “I’ll handle all the expenses.”
“Oh my gosh!” I grabbed his hand and squeezed it. If I talked to her alone, I could possibly make her see that Aiden could help her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Aiden sat up, watching me somberly. “There’s no need to thank me. You’re my wife, it’s my job to ensure your happiness.”
His words squeezed my heart and I couldn’t stop the smile that stretched across my face. “Man, you must be popular with the girls, huh?”
In fact, with such generosity, he probably had women lining up down the street. I couldn’t help but feel a bit jealous.
“Not sure, although it no longer matters,” he said slowly. “You’re the only one who matters now.”
How was a girl to resist? Even though he was much older than me. I meant what I told him the other day; age was just a number.
I leaned forward and kissed him, feeling gratitude and something else I didn’t dare to name.
“Raven.” His voice was soft but laced with a warning. “There you go playing with fire again.”
I rolled my eyes. “I thought I was playing with my husband.”
He winced, shaking his head. “That sounds wrong on so many levels.”
“You’re right. Would it be wrong if I said I’m dying to paint you naked?”
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered. “This is too much.”
“Why are you so shy?” I questioned. “I might be a virgin, but I’m certainly not innocent. I told you, I’ve watched porn before. More than once. So I’ve seen my share of naked men.”
“I might find those men and kill them,” he growled.
My lips parted in protest, but before I could utter a word, his mouth was on mine. Our lips fused together, and he slipped his tongue inside.
A moan bubbled in my throat and he swallowed it, his hips pressing against my hot core, each roll of his hips against my slit sending a shot of pleasure through me.
My eyes rolled into the back of my head from the pleasure that shot through me. Stars exploded behind my eyelids, and I wrapped my hands around his neck, clutching the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. Needing more of him.
He hoisted me into his arms and my legs wrapped around his waist. His fingers dug into my ass as I ground against him, lust igniting in my lower belly.
When he rubbed his length against me, I lost all control.
His body was like marble under my touch.
I moaned, sinking my claws into him, needing so much more.