“Gage!”

He forces me against the wall and buries his face in my neck.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, it was just...a little intense.” Intense enough that it’s clear something’s bothering him. I knew it the moment he walked through the door. “What happened today?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re off. What did you do today?”

He moves to the living room, sitting on the couch with me astride him. He looks at me carefully as if deciding if he should talk to me or not. I wish he would. I can never tell what’s going on in his head. I need him to trust me, too, to know I’m here for him when he needs me.

“You can tell me anything, too, you know.”

“I can’t, doll. Not this.”

I cradle his face in my hands and stare into his beautiful, blue eyes, now dull with the weight of his troubles. I need to see the brilliance returned. “I trust you with my life, Gage. You can trust me.”

He closes his eyes, sinking his fingers into my hips. I place my forehead on his, pleading, “I’m here for you. Trust me. You can trust me.”

“I do trust you, Raven. My world isn’t pretty. I need to shield you from all the bad shit I do.”

“And I love that about you...that you want to protect me. But I hate seeing you like this. I wanna help.”

“You can’t.”

“How do you know? Sometimes, just talking can help. You don’t have to give me specifics.”

“You sure you want to go down this road? There’s no turning back, Raven.”

I nod and settle into his lap, clasping my hands at the back of his neck. He takes a deep breath.

“Those guys from the other night. I found out who they were and why they were after me. We found the rest of the crew and took ‘em out today.”

“You mean…?”

He looks directly into my eyes, his expression stoic. “Yes, Raven. I killed them.”

***Gage***

She watches me intently, her head tilted to the side. I’m anxious to see just how she’ll absorb that piece of information. Her face is betraying nothing, though, so I have no idea what’s going through her mind.

“So…there’s no one else to come after you now?”

“Yeah. Well, no one from that crew.”

She nods, chewing on her bottom lip. I watch her as she mulls it over in her mind, not looking at me.

“Okay,” she finally says.

“Okay?” I raise a surprised brow. “That’s all you’re going to say?”

“What do you want me to say? You were in danger, and you took care of it.”

“It doesn’t bother you?”

“I’m not saying it doesn’t, but…you’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

It’s like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders. All the shit that was dragging me down before I got here seems light-years away. I’ve certainly never done anything in my life to deserve a woman like this, but here she is. Everyone needs someone who can handle their dark side. I’m as dark as they come and she’s handling it like a champ. There’s only one thing to do when you find a woman like her – you keep her. No doubt about it. I’m going to make her my woman. She’s mine.

“Come here.”

She eagerly presses her lips to mine. I pull on the knot holding her robe together and push the sides apart. She lets out a little whimper as my tongue touches hers. God, I’ve never tasted anything sweeter than these lips. I could kiss her all day, every day, and tell the world to fuck off. I slide my hands up her thighs and she quivers. Her skin is like the finest silk; I just want to touch every inch of her. I think back to yesterday and the sensation I got from feeling her coming under me. I can’t wait for the day she comes around me when I’m deep inside her.

She pulls away and rests her forehead on mine, her breaths coming in little puffs.

“I have…a favor to ask you.”

“Anything,” I say, while trying to bring her lips back to mine.

“Next weekend is Chrissy’s birthday.”

She whimpers when I snag her bottom lip and pull on it.

“Could you just stop for a second?” She moans.

“Okay, okay.”

I stare at her lips, swollen from my kisses, and make small circles on her thighs with my thumbs. Her eyes glaze over.

“You’re…you’re distracting me.”

“Chrissy’s birthday?”

“Oh…she…she wants to go dancing.”

“Mmhmm.”

I trail my nose up her neck, inhaling her sweet scent. “You smell good…like…cinnamon and apples.”

She shivers, her head falling back as I kiss along her carotid. Her thighs tremble underneath my fingers as she slides hers through my hair.

“Dios…”

I chuckle against her skin. Despite the fact that my dick is trying to burst through my jeans, I can’t help but find it funny how easily distracted she is.

“Dancing, baby doll.”

“Mmhmm…at your club.”

“Okay.”

She pulls my head back by my hair and shakes her head as if to clear her thoughts.

“I was hoping you could get me in…since, technically, I’m not eighteen yet.”

“That’s all?”

“Yeah. What did you think I was going to ask for?”

I don’t know…shit women usually ask for – money, jewelry, to go shopping. Then again, this is the girl who got excited over a few books. I should have known better.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

“Cool. Now…your lips were doing something right about here…” She motions to her neck, “...that felt really good. So…continue.”

“Is that an order?”

“No. Just a strong request.”

I smile as she bats her lashes, feigning innocence. The words slip out before I know what’s happening. “Come home with me.”

“Back to the clubhouse?”

“No. To my place. I just need to hold you.”

“Okay. I’ll get my stuff.”

Her words lift my spirit even higher. More than anything in the world, I want to fall asleep with her in my arms. Maybe it’s the shit day I’ve had, but she makes me forget. That’s just what I need. To forget everything that’s bad and wrong in my life. Everything that’s dark. I need her innocence. I need her to make me not feel like an evil motherfucker. I need her to...fuck it.

I just need her.

CHAPTER 7

***Raven***

G: Don’t have too much fun without me.

I get the text while I’m doing my makeup, getting ready to go to Scythe with Chrissy. I tap out a reply and set the phone back down.

R: You don’t dance, so you’re just going to have to deal with it.

G: As long as no one touches your sexy ass, I’m good.

R: So only ass is off-limits?

I can just imagine the vein in his forehead popping out. The man takes jealousy to a whole new dimension.

G: RAVEN.

R: Ooooh...all caps. You know I’m just playing! All this sexiness is yours.

I add the little smiley with his tongue out and hit send. He replies right away.

G: Damn straight. Text me when you need me to pick you up.

R: K.

I finish my makeup and slip into my mini-dress – a teal bodycon with a deep V neck and spaghetti straps, which matches the new streaks in my hair. I finish with black, caged platform heels. I check my reflection in the mirror. Damn, I look good. Thanks to Gage. Or Papi Chulo, as Chrissy now calls him. He even paid for her outfit, too, as a birthday present. After a few spritzes of perfume, I grab my clutch, jacket, phone, and the twins’ gifts, then head outside to wait for Ron. I pass Lonnie sitting on the couch, watching TV. I don’t know what’s got her at home tonight.

“Where you off to all dressed up?” She asks.

“Out.”

“Out?” She raises a brow.

“Don’t pretend you care.”

“I don’t.”

“Good.”

“Heard you been spending a lot of time with the prospect.”

“You heard right.”

I don’t need to explain anything to her, especially about Chrissy’s love life. Having had enough of this conversation, I turn away, but her voice stops me again.