Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
We stay silent the rest of the ride while I try to wrestle with my conscience. I need to pull back. No matter how much I want her, we can’t ever be. She’s young, beautiful, and deserves the world. I can’t give myself to her. Not really. I’m not built for it. My job, career, are my great loves, but Raven is still young enough to find someone who will always put her first. Someone who will drop everything just to have her smile. Yeah, my Lolita deserves to have it all. She can make a difference.
I pull into my driveway, looking for Rachel’s car. It’s not there, but she might have put it in the garage.
Raven barely waits for me to stop and swings the door open, sprinting upstairs past a concerned-looking Maria who stands holding the front door open.
“What the fuck?” Sighing, I grab my briefcase, then glance at my phone. Nothing new, just work stuff.
It’s almost four. Maybe I’ll order a pizza if Rachel is gone. Crack open a bottle of red, and Raven and I can watch a movie, maybe take a swim.
Silence greets me as I walk in. “Rachel?”
“She’s gone out.” Maria stands in the kitchen doorway.
“When is she coming back?” I say tightly, not in the mood for Maria’s disapproving stare. I’m trying to have patience since she basically raised Raven, but I won’t put up with her interfering.
“She didn’t say, just that she was going out.”
“Thank you. You can go home.” I toss my briefcase on one of the tables and push on Rachel’s number. Again, it goes straight to voicemail.
“I was thinking I’d take Ms. Raven with me tonight.” She raises her chin, her arms crossed.
That stops me. I look up from my phone. “Excuse me?”
“Yes, I wanted to make her homemade tacos. It’s one of her favorite meals.”
I cock my head. “Well then, you should definitely make them for her. But not tonight.” I toss my phone on my kitchen island and take off my suit jacket.
She hesitates.
“Something else you need to tell me?”
“Yes, I already made the tortillas fresh—”
“Thank you, Maria, but not tonight. You can go. I’m tired.”
I fling open my takeout menu drawer and ignore her as she fidgets. I glance up at her from the menu.
“I can wait until Ms. Rachel comes home.” She raises her chin. Again, anyone else would have been fired, but since she’s trying to protect Raven, can I blame her?
That being said, I’m ordering pizza and going upstairs to fuck.
“No need, I’m home.” Smiling, I pick up my phone. “See you tomorrow.”
She nods, looking miserable, but I’ve never seen her look happy. She picks up her purse, mumbling as she walks out. At least Raven has one person in her corner.
While ordering the pizza, I hear the front door shut. After I grab a bottle of my favorite red, I take the stairs two at a time, going straight to my Lolita’s room.
JETT
“Pizza’s here.” Raven leans against the door frame in my white robe, one leg peeking out of the opening. Her hair is up, and small ringlets cascade around her neck.
I step out of the shower and reach for a towel. “Where do you want to eat?” I grin at her as her eyes dip to my cock.
“How about the backyard?” She stares, my dick hardens, and her eyes meet mine as I dry myself off with the towel.
“Perfect.” I look down at her. “You okay?”
She nods.
“Words, Raven.” I tilt her chin up, losing myself in her pools of sapphire.
“I’m fine.” She sighs, her finger tracing a droplet of water running down my chest.
“To be honest”—she takes a breath—“I despise being reminded that you’re with my mother.” She spits out mother, then turns to leave.
“I don’t think so.” I grab her and pull her into my arms. “Look. I’m a bastard. But I had no idea this was going to happen.” It’s as close as I will admit to myself, or her, that this, us, is something.
She looks at me, her eyes showing me everything that she’s not jaded enough to hide.
“When we’re together, it feels right, you know? And…” She shrugs, staring at my chest rather than my eyes.
“I think… I might be falling for Mr. Powers.” She grins and bites her bottom lip, peeking up at me. My chest thuds, almost aches. Christ, just looking at her almost hurts.
“Well, don’t. I’m not the right man for you, baby.” I kiss the top of her head, step around her, and walk out into her room, wrapping the towel around my waist.
“Why?” she demands.
I look over my shoulder, and for the first time in a long time, I hesitate. Which is insane—I just had this very conversation with myself.
“I’m too old for you, and I’m married to my job.” I lift up the lid to the pizza box and smell the pepperoni and jalapeños. Raven loves spicy food. If you’d asked me what kind of pizza Rachel likes, I wouldn’t have a clue.