Page 36 of Quarantined
Actually, not something. Someone.
There she is. The object of my obsession, in flesh and blood. Raven is standing at the front door, mere feet away from the living room. Her eyes are transfixed on me.
I can’t move. This is not real.
My starved eyes take her in. She’s different.
She has a European sophistication to her. Her dark hair is bouncing around her shoulders. She’s wearing black leggings, with a low-cut top. She has a tan, making her skin look even smoother.
She is wearing more makeup than I remember her wearing before. Without makeup, she is an understated beauty, intoxicating to me. With makeup, she looks like a vixen, which does all the same things for me.
I swallow. Hard. Almost four months since I last saw her. I missed her. I missed her so fucking much. I promised myself that I would be done with these feelings by the end of summer. So why haven’t they stopped?
Raven rolls in her large suitcase. Setting down her backpack, she shuts the door. I stand, ready to gravitate towards her, like a moth to a flame. Stepping out of the sitting area, I walk towards her. I stop short, mere feet away from her.
We stand there, for God knows how long, looking at each other. If I am supposed to be over her, then why the hell can’t I breathe just from looking at her? I told myself that I could handle being in the same room with her since her fast escape after our kiss. I fucking lied to myself. The time apart didn’t decrease my obsession, I confirm in my mind.
Nope. If anything, it’s the opposite. Time has only fed my obsession with her.
Raven looks tense. My jaw goes as tight as possible, as I remember the last time we spoke. I am relieved, but also angry… and in full on lust mode.
“Hello, Milo,” she finally rasps out, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.
Those two words squeeze down into my soul. Her soft voice stifles any resolve to remain strong.
“Rave, you are back.” I try my best to smile. “How are you?”
“Good. And you?”
“I am great. Where is Reid?”
“I… I made a last-minute decision to come home. I took the first available flight back. Reid’s flight was already booked, and he couldn’t change it.”
“Why did you suddenly decide to come home?”
“I was homesick.” Raven pauses, then adds, “And I missed you. I wanted to see you.”
My heart squeezes in my chest one more time. My libido is flaring at the sight of her, the sound of her voice, and at her confession.
“I am glad you are back. You look great.”
“Thank you. You’re looking pretty good yourself.”
Raven gives my body a once over. I know what she sees as she takes me in my physique. I have been hitting the gym really hard, taking out all my frustrations. I am in the best shape of my life. Every part of me is now pure muscle. I have received more female attention in the last couple of months than ever before.
Does she notice it too? Does she like it?
“I’ve been working out a lot,” I say, hearing how hoarse my voice is.
She is silent. I need to hear her voice again.
“Did you like your birthday gift?”
“Yes,” her cheeks turn pink. She stands there, fidgeting with her hands. She finally says, “It was the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me. It defined the word perfection.”
Raven stares at me with glossy eyes. She is looking at me in a way that's so familiar. It’s the way she used to look at me before everything went to shit.
I’ve seen the attraction in the eyes of many women before, but this goes beyond that. The way Raven is looking at me right now surpasses anything I have ever experienced. That look, like I am her whole damn world.
