Page 19 of Daughters of Chaos

I'm not sure if there's something real brewing there or if it's just a fun flirtationship between my sister and Jesse. I wouldn't put it past her to do it to drive our dad crazy, and Jesse is a huge flirt. I've seen him unleash his charm on the rare group of female bar patrons that stumble into the MC's watering hole. He's a natural in the art of charm, and he's blatant in his efforts.

Raptor, on the other hand, is more subtle. Though, ever since our road trip, he's been more talkative around me, and the number of smoldering looks he sends my way has increased tenfold. The longer we're here, the more drawn to him I become, the more I want him.

The fantasies I've been having won't be possible if Raven and I are still living at the clubhouse. So, finding new accommodations and finishing up my school prep are the top things on our to-do list.

True to his word, Dad dished out the funds for me to register for the nursing program at the local community college. Lucky for me, they were still accepting new applicants for their fall semester. I slid right in with no problem. The only thing left to do on that front is buy my books and find some way to distract myself from my school-centric anxiety. That shouldn't be too hard, especiallywith Raptor nearby.

As if I summoned him with my hormone-addled thoughts, he strides through the front door. His eyes find me immediately,and I'm graced with one of his sexy smiles. I melt into the couch as he comes closer, claiming the empty seat next to me. Our knees meet as he relaxes into the cushions, resting his arm on the spot behind my neck.

I grin at him. "Hi."

"Hi," he parrots.

"Fuck it," Raven exclaims, slamming her computer shut. "I'm done with this shit."

I'd almost forgotten she was there since Raptor showed up and made me go all dreamy. She stomps upstairs with her laptop, cursing the housing market as she goes. While she does, I turn my attention back to the sexy man at my side.

"Hi," I repeat.

He lets out a low chuckle, rubbing his fingers against my shoulder. "Hi." He casts a glance toward the stairs. "What was that all about?"

I sigh, leaning into him. "We've been house hunting, and so far, no luck."

Raptor nods sympathetically. "Well, I can't say I'm not happy to get to see your face every time I walk through that door, but I hope you find something soon. It would be nice to hang out with you without worrying that Viper's gonna walk in and rip my head off for it."

I can't help the blush that appears on my face. "Yeah. It would be nice to have our own space. Something more . . . private."

His nostrils flare at my audacious suggestion, and I swear I hear a low rumble in his throat. One that makes me quake. "That would be very—"

A loud thud silences him, and we both look up to find the last person I want to see standing in the living room. Misty Ann, the blonde sweetbutt who has her eyes on Raptor, is eyeing us from the threshold.

She's shown up a few times this week, hoping to find him, but her timing has been terrible. Each time she's appeared, he's been out on club business, much to my delight. She hasn't had the chance to sink her claws into him again. Now, however, she's staring at him like a dog who's found her bone.

"Raptor, baby, I've missed you," she coos, sashaying over to him.

His arm vacates its spot behind my head, lifting to a protective stance in front of him. As she goes to sit on him, he shifts, dodging her to move to a standing position. I watch with barely concealed amusement as she scrambles to catch herself before falling to the floor.

A giggle escapes my lips before I can stop it, grabbing her attention. She spears me with hate-filled eyes as she rights herself. "Oh, you're still here,Feeny?" she seethes.

"It's Phoenix."

Her overly-mascaraed eyes nearly roll out of her head. "Whatever."

Misty shifts her attention back to Raptor, stomping over my legs to get closer to him. "When are we gonna get together again, baby? My bed's been so cold without you." She casts a smirk my way, making sure I heard her.

Bitch.

Raptor backs away, adding distance between them as he firmly replies, "We're not. We," he gestures between them, "areneverhappening again. Never, Misty."

Pride bubbles up inside me at his words. We've talked about his past, which sadly includes Misty, but he's assured me that he's done making those mistakes. He told me he'd been with sweetbutts before, in moments of weakness, and those days were over for him.

Those words were great to hear at the time, even if I took them with an err of caution. But hearing him state them so clearly toherright now? That makes my heart soar.

Misty scoffs, "You aren't serious."

The look he sends her could level an entire city. "I'm dead serious. I don't want anything to do with you ever again."

Her jaw drops to the floor as she stands gaping at him. She shakes with rage as her hands curl into fists. For a second, I think she's going to throw a punch. Instead, she redirects her wrath at me, pointing a sharp nail at my face. "This is all your fault, you stupid little whore!"

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