Page 44 of Raven

Shock doesn’t describe my feelings at his blunt, unfazed ultimatum.

“That was the deal, Mila. I let you go to university, and you let me handle everything after that.”

My life.

Of course, I was an asset too.

I see how Raven is similar in this way. The everything-is-a-deal mentality is very common, even more so among women who marry for children, stability, carrier, protection, and a good house. Except, I refused to play that game. But I chose to go along with this, him. Raven thinks he is in charge of this deal. We will see. For the first time, I get to play my own game. And it feels good. Even more so when I am so intrigued by him.

I am unmoving as I stand in the center of the room while he is studying my body in just my underwear and socks.

“Keep going, Milena,” he orders. “Show me yourself.”

Milena…

Maybe that’s what I needed all along, to remember who I am.

Milena was unapologetic with men. She loved her body. She loved to show it off.

I wonder if Raven intended to intimidate me. His gaze takes in every inch of my body. But it’s also empowering, reminding me how I used to feel around men—confident.

“Go on,” he encourages me in a soft, husky voice that is sexual and unlike him.

I bring my hands behind my back and unclasp my bra, then wiggle my shoulders and let it fall onto the floor.

Cool air grazes my skin and nipples, making them hard. His gaze drops to study them, then meets mine, making me shiver, though I can’t figure out if it’s from slight shyness or excitement.

I am turned on. I shouldn’t be, considering he thinks I am “forced” into this. But the want in his gaze is unmistakable.

His eyes drop to my panties, then meet my eyes. He nods in a silent command.

With intentional slowness, I slide my panties down my hips, and before they even hit the floor, Raven’s eyes are below my waist, his gaze hardening.

I step out of my panties and stand in front of him, naked, only in my ridiculous white socks.

Already, I feel my core throbbing. My mind reels in surprise—I want this a lot more than I thought. But something else excites me. Confidence surges through me as I watch Raven forget himself as he studies me, and his body language hints just how much he reacts to the view.

Raven’s thighs straddling the chair shift just a little.

Are you hard, Raven?

A smile tilts my lips—I’m sure he already is.

Slowly, he rises from the chair, pushes it away, and approaches, his gaze never leaving my nakedness.

He is so close, inches from me when he stops. Just like back at the hospital. I’m trying to distract myself from the thought that I am naked before him. I’m already aroused, waiting for what’s to come. But he shouldn’t know that, though he soon will.

I’m nervous, sure. I don’t know what he wants. Not just sex, because it’s been a week, and he barely touched me. I’ve had club hookups happen faster than this one. But I’m burning with anticipation. I want to know what makes his cool dissipate. What makes him lose control with a woman. What turns this subtle hunger in his gaze into scorching lust. For that, I want him naked, too.

Milena was a party girl, careless and reckless while drunk. Maddy has too much at stake.

Except for right now. Right now, without realizing it, Raven gave me the freedom to be whoever I want.

His hand reaches behind my head, undoes the clasp holding my hair, and lets it fall to my shoulders.

“So pretty,” he murmurs.

His hand slowly reaches my collarbone, brushing against it, then wraps around my neck gently. His fingertips move just slightly—he’s feeling my pulse. And it’s raging.

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