LOGINRavenRoman stands in front of the mirror in the dressing room, methodically strapping his holster into place beneath his jacket, in a way that tells me he’s done this more times than I’ll ever know. His phone is pressed between his shoulder and his ear.with cleaner punctuation and dialogue:“We move before midnight,” he says into the phone, his voice flat and certain. “Not a minute later. Gerald’s people rotate shifts at twelve fifteen, and I want us inside before that window closes.” He pauses, listening. “Get the lineups ready. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”He ends the call and slides the phone into his pocket, checking his reflection one last time, and that’s when he sees me in the doorway.I watch his eyes move over me, the leather jacket, the fitted holster strapped along my thigh, the look of a woman who has stopped waiting to be protected and started preparing to fight.“I’m coming with you,” I say.“No.”“Roman…”“It’s far too dangerous, Raven.” He turns to face me
RavenMy wrists are bound tightly above my head with my own panties, the silk biting into my skin as Roman carries me to the bedroom. I am already aching for him, soaked and trembling from everything that happened downstairs.“Lie back,” he commands, voice rough.I obey instantly, giving him everything. “Are you sure?” he asks again. I can hear the hesitation in his voice. He’s making sure I fully consent.I nod. “Yes. I’m only yours, Roman. Do whatever you want to me. I want this.”That was all he needed. He gently lifts my leg, resting it against his chest before leaning down to press a lingering kiss to it, his gaze never leaving mine. Then he carefully lowers my leg back onto the bed and follows, lowering himself until his mouth is hot on my foot. When he sucks my big toe into his mouth, a sharp moan tears out of me. He takes his time with every toe, sucking, licking, his tongue sliding wetly between them. The sensation is overwhelming—tingly, sweet, almost too much. I sq
RavenI walk into the quiet house and find Roman in the bar just off the main hall. He’s pouring himself a glass of whisky, still wearing the shirt from the press conference. His tie hangs loose around his neck, and his sleeves are rolled up to his forearms, like he stripped off the armor the moment he stepped through his own front door.He pauses when he hears me, but he doesn’t turn around immediately.“Did you really mean everything you said out there?” My voice comes out smaller than I intended.He finally faces me, lifting the glass to his lips before taking a slow sip. His eyes never leave mine over the rim.“What do you think?”I swallow.“You gave up your company. On national television. For me.”“I gave up a title.” His thumb traces the side of the glass. “I would’ve given up considerably more than that.”God.My eyes sting, tears rushing up so fast I can’t stop them. Not from heartbreak this time, but from the overwhelming realization that I have this man. A man who
RavenThe television plays low in the background, some evening anchor running through the day’s headlines in that practiced, unbothered tone, and I sit curled into the corner of Anaya’s couch with a mug of tea going cold in my hands. I haven’t touched it in twenty minutes.“I think you’re overreacting,” Anaya says.I look up at her.“He was protecting you, Raven.”“He should have said something to me.” My voice comes out rougher than I mean it to. “Eighteen years, Anaya. Eighteen years of birthdays and dinners and every single time I asked about my father, and he just let me believe I came from nothing.”“But he did say something to you.” She sets her own mug down on the coffee table, patient in a way that makes my chest tighten. “He waited for the right time. And this is how you’re reacting?”“Please don’t take his side.”“I’m not taking anyone’s side.” Her voice softens, but she doesn’t back down. “I’m asking you to actually listen to his reasons. You were in danger, Raven. Your ver
Roman The building feels different walking into it this afternoon. Same glass, same marble, same security nodding me through like any other day, but I can feel it in the air before I even reach the elevators. The way people’s eyes drop half a second too fast. The way conversations stop when I pass. Marcus falls into step beside me, phone already in hand. “Statement’s out,” he says. “Buys us the forty eight hours you wanted. Barely.” “Good.” I press the button for the top floor. “I want a press conference after this meeting.” He glances at me. “Tonight?” “Tonight. Get everything set up. Podium, cameras, the works. I want it ready the moment I walk out of that room.” “Roman, we haven’t even agreed on what you’re going to say.” “I know what I’m going to say.” The doors open. “Just get it set up.” He nods, then hesitates, phone still in hand. “Where’s Raven right now?” I ask. “Security had eyes on her.” I check my watch. “Last I heard, she left the estate on fo
RavenMy phone rings again.Anaya.I let it ring out and keep walking. Gravel crunches under my shoes, the estate gates still a distant blur through the tears I can’t stop. My chest hurts in a way that has nothing to do with the cold morning air.Roman should not have done this to me.He really should not have betrayed me like that.A text comes through. I don’t look at it yet. I can’t. I just need to get off this property, away from that house and everything buried underneath it, away from him.I’ll call a cab. Check into a hotel somewhere the cameras haven’t found yet. Somewhere I can breathe.There was a time I would have run straight to Anaya with something like this. Now even that door feels closed. Now everyone I trusted has turned into someone I don’t recognize.No Roman.No friends.No one.My baby kicks, hard, right under my ribs, and it startles a laugh out of me even as the tears keep falling.“Hey, little one.” I press my hand to my stomach and slow my steps.
Roman I have been in rooms with presidents. I have negotiated deals that made grown men sweat through their suits. I have buried a woman I loved and kept my composure at her graveside because my daughter needed me to be steady and I was. I am not steady right now. I knew she was coming. I had
Raven In a few minutes, I’ll see Roman again after three years apart, and God help me, I might lose my mind just thinking about it. James drives smoothly and unhurriedly, as if there is no such thing as urgency in the world. I’d forgotten that about him. I’d forgotten a lot of things about Boston
RavenHis hand closed over my wrist and guided it gently away. Then his fingers were there instead, and the difference was immediate — the difference between trying to tickle yourself and someone else doing it. He found my clit with easy, unhurried pressure and I gasped so hard I almost choked on i
RavenI pull out my phone.Her name is Vivienne Cole. I’d known the name long before Roman ever did, everyone knew Vivienne Cole. She was Miss America at twenty-two, she has the kind of beauty that didn’t seem real, the kind you stared at as a little girl and genuinely wondered if she was a differe







