21. Chapter 18 #2
But back to Zoe… It’s some kind of strange obsession, and I’m sure it’ll pass soon. There’s no other option.
She fills my thoughts until the moment I enter her building. Rather than waiting for the elevator, I take the stairs, two at a time. The key is ready in my hand.
A few minutes later, I slam the door behind me.
Zoe comes running out from around the corner of the kitchen. Her enormous eyes are filled with fear when she freezes in a position to attack me, a knife in her hand.
A grin spreads across my face.
My dangerous, feisty Raven. Finally home. Wait. Since when has this been my home?
“Are you fucking crazy? I thought I was going to have a heart attack! You scared me. How did you even get in here?”
“With a key,” I answer, showing it to her as I hold it between my fingers.
“Where did you get the key to my apartment? Give it back right now!” Zoe takes a step forward but stops again. Her hand slowly drops.
“You didn’t give it to me, so I have nothing to give back.”
Anger brings a flush to her cheeks. I love it when that happens.
My smile widens. Slipping the key into my pocket, I approach her, grab her waist, and pull her close.
That’s exactly what I needed.
“I’ll change the locks,” she threatens, but her eyes no longer hold any anger. She melts in my arms, fitting perfectly against me.
“Do what you have to do.” Bowing my head, I kiss her.
She responds. Every time. She parts her lips, slides her tongue into my mouth, and the knife she’d been holding drops with a clatter to the floor. Now free, her arms snake up my back, then wrap around my neck.
But this moment is too short. The sound of a message breaks us apart, and Zoe glances over her shoulder at the evil device. Grumbling something under her breath, she slips out of my arms.
Those few steps between us seem too much as she sits on the couch reading; it annoys me.
“Is something wrong?” I ask when she says nothing, tapping her nails on the screen. She wrinkles her nose in a funny way as she does so.
“It’s Damien. He’s inviting me over tomorrow.”
“Over my fucking dead body!” I explode, though I didn’t mean to. My heart is pounding erratically. “He’s inviting you over because he wants to fuck you.”
Confused, Zoe puts down her phone and stares at me. “What? I have to meet him. You know we need to be sure about Ryker’s sister. This is the perfect opportunity to snoop around. What are you talking about?”
“The plan is to end this soon anyway, so we might as well do it today.”
Fidgeting, I run my fingers through my hair because I need to keep my hands busy. Staying calm feels damn hard right now. I head into the kitchen and pour myself some water.
“What does that mean?” Zoe follows me in. “How are we finishing this? We can’t finish it now.”
With a sigh, I turn to face her and lean against the kitchen counter. “We can, and we’re doing it. Ryker is almost sure that we’re wrong. Aisling isn’t being held against her will at all. She’s there by choice.”
“What about everything I heard?”
I shrug. “Maybe he was talking about someone else.”
“Maybe, maybe, maybe… Maybe so, maybe not.” This time she rolls her eyes, turns away, and starts walking toward the bedroom.
She’s begging to be bent over my knee and spanked a few times on her naked ass. So close...
The glass clinks against the counter, and I follow her like a lovesick puppy would.
“You won’t be meeting him at his place tomorrow, so you can spare me the sarcasm,” I warn her back. Though she can’t see it, I emphasize my command with a pointing finger.
That’s what really makes her anger boil. She appears like a ninja ready to attack, standing face to face with me. “I’m a grown woman, you know? I don’t need your permission! What’s your problem, lover boy?”
“Can’t you see he’s trying to get you into bed? That’s why he invites women over to his apartment for dinner. He wants to sleep with you!”
Zoe freezes. She opens her mouth but nothing comes out, then blinks a few times.
Is she even breathing? I’m not sure. As for me, I’m panting like a beast chasing its prey.
“Is that what this is about?” she whispers. “You’re worried that he’ll want sex?”
A bitter taste appears in my mouth. I grimace. “He wanted it from the start. If it were any other way, he’d be a complete idiot, blind and unable to get a hard-on. You’re a phenomenon no one can pass by without noticing. And he knows it.”
Her eyes wander slowly across my face, over every inch. When our gazes meet, their color vibrates.
“You’re jealous. Again.” It’s not a question.
I know exactly when the last remnants of my composure slip away. It happens despite my iron will. Or maybe it isn’t so strong after all with this woman.
I attack her swollen lips with brutality. Kiss her with all of me. My arms wrap around her, pressing her soft body against me, and a second later, I push her against the wall. But our lips don’t stop this battle.
Her teeth grab my lower lip and pull. Hard. In response, I kiss her even more greedily because fuck, I can’t stop.
With my hips, I press her against the wall. If she had any doubts about what she’s doing to me, this is her answer. I’m hard as a fucking rock.
Only when we’re both out of breath do I pull away from her, but not too far. With my eyes closed, I rest my forehead against hers. She’s burning up, similar to me. Breathing just as fast.