Page 2 of Always
“I haven't grown tired of you, either, you know?” Sabrina coaxes me back to our conversation and away from the tentacles waiting for me. but I can feel them already wrapping around my ankles.
I blink at her and groan. “W-we haven’t h-had real ss-sex s-since June.” I admit out loud. “Just qui… quickies.”
Sabrina giggles. “You had me worried there for a second. Raven… I promise you. I highly doubt those men could ever be bored of you. Have you talked to them about this?”
I shake my head again. How can I talk to them about this? I'll seem… clingy. I'll be one ofthosegirls. But I miss crawling to Maverick. I miss being silly with Jonas. And I miss Damon caring for me. Oh great, I'm crying again. Why am I so moody?I lean forward and put my face in my hands.
“Parker-” she calls out slightly panicked- “to the parlor. I think we need ice cream and cheesecake. STAT.”
I let my lips tilt with a weak smile. I think it's a great day for ice cream.
Chapter Two
Damon.
Once I get home, I find my sweet girl asleep on the sofa, cuddling Kronos. Lucifer, as always, is nowhere to be found. Kronos looks up at me, lifts his head for me to pat, then rests it back on Raven's hip.Protecting.
I take the new Verity Huntington book that's on her chest and place it on the coffee table, only to kneel beside her and brush her hair away from her face then plant a soft kiss on her temple. Her brows pinch together for a second. She is breathtaking, even in her sleep. She hasn’t had a night terror in weeks. But she has been…quieterthan usual. I rub my thumb over her cheekbone, just beneath her lashes. "Hello, Amourette. I'm home."
She hums happily and lifts her arm. Her hand flies to the nape of my neck, as she plays with the short hairs there, running her fingers up to the longer parts. She pushes up to kiss me, placing a chaste kiss on my lips. "Missed you."
My heart stutters with emotion. I run my nose along hers and move it to her jaw, inhaling her spicy, floral scent. "I missed you more, little bird. Are you hungry?" The question is rhetorical.
Removing her hands from me, she sits up and shrugs, then… she shakes her head, not meeting my gaze. “No.”
Huh.I guess itwasn’trhetorical.
I keep my brows from furrowing in concern. "I was thinking of making your favorite? Creamy Tuscan Chicken?"
"Okay," she complies softly, but she doesn't meet my eyes. Kronos shifts and places a large paw over her thighs protectively and she rubs at his ears. Kronos does meet my gaze. Unafraid and a bit unsettling, like he’s silently warning me to stop touching her. Oh no. "Can I... go b-back t-to s-s-sleep?"
My own brows knit together as I look her over but her expression gives nothing away. "Long day?"
She nods and holds up her other hand to show me her bandaged fingers. I take her hands and kiss each one, remembering a time I did this for her after she took a life. Beautiful, dexterous, murderous little hands. "Take your nap. I'll wake you up when it's ready."
She nods dismissively, sinks beneath the throw blanket, and holds onto Kronos again. He sniffs in my direction, chilling blue eyes follow me as I stand and take my leave, feeling… perplexed.
I'm in the kitchen pulling out my cast iron when Jonas comes in, placing his helmet on the closest counter by the door to the mudroom that connects to the garage, hanging up his keys. "Hey, babe. Where's our soon-to-be fiancée?" He kisses me quickly, then his eyes go to Raven’s usual spot to perch on the counter while I make dinner.
I jerk my chin in the direction of the living room. "She's taking a nap on the couch."
His dark brows shoot up. "This late?"
I nod. "She also didn't seem interested in dinner."
Autumnal eyes widen in a soft panic. "Is she sick?"
After washing my hands, I lean against the counter and fold my arms over my chest. "No. I checked her temperature after I put the chicken in. She hasn't moved. Kronos has been with her this entire time. I fear somethingelseis wrong if he hasn't left her side."
He knows what I mean. After everything that happened with Axel, Kronos was a constant source of letting us know her emotional stability. He is worth every penny we paid for him, and more. Lucifer, as well,when he's nice. But Kronos hasn't had to be her guard dog in a very long time.
"I... what do I do?" He asks.One thing I love about Jonas is that since we’ve moved in together, I have never had to guess what or how he feels. He wears every expression, and the tone and pitch in his voice is always a dead giveaway. And when it comes to my little bird, he and I are always in sync with the other.
I thought Raven was done with the impenetrable cool façade around us, but it seems I was sorely mistaken. This irks me.
"Wake her for me, but gently. Dinner is almost ready. Mav called and said that there was a bit of traffic, but I just checked his location and he's down the street."
Jonas nods. "Okay. I can do that." He plants another kiss on me, then heads in the direction of our sleeping beauty. I can hear him speaking softly to her, just as the door to the mudroom opens again and Maverick steps through.
