Page 147 of Raven

“Maddy, look at me.”

She purses her lips and meets my eyes.

“I haven’t been with anyone in over a year.”

“Not even with Siena?”

Maddy is perceptive. I shake my head. “No. Me and her, we have a business deal.”

She snorts. “Like ours?”

I grit my teeth. That’s what fucked up deals do—they make people think that’s a regular thing.

“No. Not like ours. I’ve never blackmailed anyone before.”

“I feel special.”

Fuck. I stay quiet, letting her irritation fade.

“So, you and her are a no? Just clearing it up.” Maddy’s feistiness is back.

“Anyone but you is a no,” I say and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, letting the words sink in.

Maddy nods and looks down at my chest, a little smile twitching her lips. “I should’ve kissed you much sooner then.”

Her smile grows, and I can’t help but smile in response, though she’s avoiding my eyes again.

“You were jealous? Is that what it was?”

There is nothing stopping me from claiming that beautiful smile, so I take her chin between my fingers and kiss her.

Fuck… This is more complicated than it ever was. I’m talking about my body reacting to hers. My hard-on that springs back to life at the mere kiss. I pull away but keep stroking her cheek so that she doesn’t look down and see that my cock gets his own ideas while we are having a serious conversation.

Her smile fades. “I was mean when I said what I said to you after Archer’s meeting. I wanted to hurt you. I hope you understand this. I was angry that you wanted to use me while it could be different. Angry that you never gave me a choice. Angry that we made a deal and then you went behind my back and talked to my dad.”

“I didn’t go behind your back, Maddy. I was trying to navigate the situation in the best way for you. Trust me.”

“You could’ve talked to me.”

“No, I couldn’t. I played out many scenarios in my head, and the one we went with was the best option. I also knew that you wouldn’t take it well. And I’m the sort of guy who would meet the most beautiful girl and fuck it up right from the start. I always knew there was a very slim chance you would want to have anything to do with me if you weren’t forced, so I went with the best scenario for you, despite my own interests.”

“Not true.”

“Look at us, Maddy. Someone like you is too good of a person to be with someone like me. You ran from that. From people like me. As far as you could.”

“I ran from different things, Raven. From circumstances, not people. And please stop talking about yourself like you do. You just never let anyone close, so you don’t have anyone besides Mac telling you that you deserve good things. Good things happen to everyone. You don’t always have to earn them or be a saint. If Emily were here, she would’ve told you that.”

“Please, don’t,” I whisper, feeling the stab of her words.

“Sorry.”

I summon all my courage and lift my hand to cup her face. It’s a tender gesture, I know. But I don’t know how else to show her that I don’t want this to end.

Maddy’s eyes immediately flick up to meet mine.

My phone beeps with a notification, then another. But I can’t get distracted from what’s happening right now.

“You and me,” I say, “what happens tomorrow? What would you like to happen next?”

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