Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“Damn, girl,” he breathed. “Teachers didn’t look like you when I was little.”
I grinned. “Or maybe you were too young to notice.”
“No. I remember my grade one teacher. She had a furry upper lip. I got sent to the corner the day I asked her why a caterpillar lived under her nose.”
I began to laugh, and he bent down, brushing his lips over mine. “You are so beautiful when you smile.”
“You make me smile.”
“Glad to hear it. Did you have a good day?”
“It’s better now.”
“Can I take you to dinner?”
“Can I have a hello kiss?”
For a moment, he looked startled, but before I could retract my question, he pulled me in, covering my mouth with his warm lips. I wound my arms around his neck, enjoying his gentle caresses. He kept the kisses light, indulgent. A few soft sweeps of his tongue. But he held me close, and I felt his protectiveness. His desire, even as he held himself back.
He released me, taking my hand and kissing it. “Dinner,” he said, his breathing deep. “We need dinner.”
I nodded, feeling slightly off-kilter. “Dinner.”
“More of your delicious mouth after.” He paused. “Please.”
“Since you asked so nicely…”
He grinned.
“I’m a sucker for good manners.”
“I’ll remember that. For later.”
He opened the door, waiting until I slid in. He bent, handing me my seat belt.
“Later?” I asked.
“When I want more than a kiss. I’ll ask so politely, you can’t refuse.”
“Is that a fact?”
He pressed his mouth to mine once more. “Yes, Ms. Raven. Please, Ms. Raven. I’ll do anything, Ms. Raven,” he murmured, his voice low and rumbly. “I’ll be such a good boy, Ms. Raven. I’ll make you feel so good, Ms. Raven.”
Then he stood and winked, shutting the door. I watched him walk around the car, my breathing fast.
I had a feeling he would get exactly what he wanted if he talked that way.
CHAPTER FIVE
Damien
God, she was beautiful. Her hair was incredible, and for some reason, I was fascinated with it. It hung down past her shoulders in a swath of rich, ebony-colored silk. She had it in a long ponytail, and I had to bite back my groan when she released it, massaging her scalp with a satisfied sigh. The scent of it, of her, drifted to my side of the car, and I inhaled greedily. I liked her fragrance. It was light and airy, not cloying or overpowering. I had the constant urge to bury my face into her neck and inhale her where I knew her scent would be concentrated.
As well as somewhere else. Somewhere warm, wet, and musky.
Her voice brought me out of my lust-filled musings. I shifted in my seat to relieve the pressure of my cock pressing against my zipper.
“That feels better,” she murmured.
“Does it hurt to wear it in a ponytail?” I asked, trying to make my voice normal.
“It’s heavy, and by the end of the day, I’m glad to let it out. Not as much as when I wear it up in a bun, though. By the end of the day, my head aches sometimes.”
“It’s beautiful—your hair, I mean. Well, you are too, but your hair, yeah, ah, gorgeous.” Internally, I rolled my eyes. That was so fucking smooth. Not.
But it seemed to delight her. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I said firmly.
“Thank you.”
I smiled. “You like Italian?”
“You mean you?” she teased.
I chuckled. “The food. Or we can do Chinese? Thai?”
“Love them all.”
“Great. We’ll do Italian tonight. Chinese next.”
“You’re so sure they’ll be a next?” she replied, lifting one eyebrow in a sexy, quizzical look.
“Trust me, Raven, there will be.” I pulled into the parking lot of my favorite little bistro.
She smiled, looking pleased.
“What?”
“I like how you say my name,” she admitted.
“It suits you,” I responded as I opened the door of the car and held out my hand to help her.
“It’s really the shortened version.”
“Oh?”
“My full name is Ravenna Jade.” She smiled. “My mom loved the name. My dad added Jade because of my eyes. When I was born with lots of dark hair and my eyes were already green, which is unusual, they decided it was meant to be.”
“I like it.”
“My mom thought it was cool, but she shortened it to Raven. She thought it suited me and would be easier as I went through school.”
“She was right. Your hair—it’s so dark, it reminds me of a raven. I think they are beautiful, majestic birds.”
“You certainly are a charmer, Damien DeSalvo.”
I wound my arm around her waist. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
We had a corner booth and sat beside each other, our thighs pressing together. It felt intimate and cozy, and I liked her close. After making sure she had no allergies, I ordered the dinner for two. Whatever the chef made was what we would eat. I poured us each a glass of wine, and we clinked glasses. I studied her in the candlelight. She wore a pretty skirt and blouse, feminine and lacy. She had a shawl draped around her shoulders. The muted green of her outfit complemented her coloring. Her eyes looked tired, two thumbprints of blue underneath them showing her lack of sleep.