16. Raven

"Isit weird that I'm nervous?" Blair asks, walking up the stairs to the opera house.

"No, because I am too."

"They wouldn't have asked us to get here early if it wasn't a good thing, right?"

"That's what I keep telling myself. God, it's so close I can almost taste it."

"Tonight is going to go off without a hitch. I know it." Blair gives my hand a reassuring squeeze as the doors to the opera are swung open for us.

"Wow. This is stunning." Blair's eyes are wide as she takes in the ornate lobby of the State Opera House.

Waiters are clustered around tables with trays of champagne and canapés. Old portraits hang from the walls. A crystal chandelier hangs down, sending prisms of light through the entire space. Heavy velvets drape through the space, absorbing the sounds of the theater beyond.

It's glittering in its opulence.

But nothing in this places holds a candle to Blair.

"Not as stunning as you." I press a kiss to her neck.

"Stop it."

"I'm serious."

The minute she walked out of that dressing room today in this dress, it took everything I had to keep my hands off her.

Blair doesn't know how sexy she really is. The way her hair curls down one side of her shoulder. The smoky eyeshadow that brings out the blue in her eyes. She saved the purple dress for the final gala and chose a gold dress for tonight. She looks smashing in it. The corset top clings to her curves, and the gold sequins shine in the light. It stops just above her knees, showing off her long legs.

Her neck is bare.

"I forgot to give you this earlier."

I was so blown away by her beauty at the hotel that I had to kiss her. To the point we both needed to reapply our lipstick and then hurry over here.

Opening my clutch, I pull out a small sapphire on a gold chain.

"Raven. I can't accept this."

"You can and you will."

I loop the necklace around her neck and fix the clasp.

It's small, but it reminded me of her. The sapphire captures the blues of her eyes that sweep me away. What I don't tell her is that it was mine. Given to me by my grandfather when I graduated from college.

It's always been my favorite piece, but I want Blair to have it. To see her in this makes my heart swell and butterflies dance in my stomach.

I'm falling too hard, too fast. But I can't seem to stop myself with her.

For her? I'd give it all up. Everything I've worked for and everything I want just to spend another day with her.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you." Blair pulls me in for a sweet kiss. Nothing passionate or heated, but it tells me everything I need to know about how she's feeling.

"Sorry, are we interrupting?" Eden pulls my attention away from Blair.

Damn it. The one time I wish she wasn't here.

"Not at all. It's wonderful to see you both." Blair slides right into the gracious person she is, smiling at Eden and Laney. Both of them accept her kisses on the cheek.

"Blair. Raven. I'm thrilled you could join us tonight." Eden looks fabulous in a red ball gown. Laney looks equally stunning in her own strapless black dress.

"I'm glad you were able to organize this. I've never actually been to the opera."

Eden hands Blair and me a glass of champagne each. "You haven't? We love it."

"Do they have the opera in Seattle? I don't know if football fans would enjoy that as much." I laugh.

"Are you football fans?" Laney asks.

"Soccer. But not Raven. I have to drag her to the games back home," Blair responds with a grin.

"Sweaty men running around on a field? Never really been my thing. Now women…" I tell them.

That gets a laugh out of all of them.

"What made you interested in traveLLin'?" Eden asks. "It doesn't really seem to fit in your business portfolio."

Of course she did her due diligence on me. But if she had really dug deep, she would know the types of businesses I help fund.

Small businesses, especially women-owned, are my passion.

"I've been following traveLLin' since I left school. I knew I could travel anywhere as long as they had your seal of approval. Why wouldn't I want to be a part of something so…"

"Life changing," Blair finishes for me. Wrapping an arm around my waist, she pulls me in closer to her. "We still use it to this day when planning our adventures. It's how we planned this trip."

"What's been your favorite part so far?" Eden asks. She carries the conversation while Laney studies us.

The more time we spend with them, the more I learn about them. Eden is the more outgoing of the two while Laney seems to stay in the shadows.

Almost like Blair and me.

"The Duomo. How could it not be?"

"It takes your breath away," Eden says. "I had to include it before leaving Milan behind. Have one last adventure before I turn the company over and explore other parts of the world."

My ears prick up at her words, but I don't let on how much I want this company. I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

"I only wish we had more time to explore," Blair says, regret in her tone.

"Hopefully you'll be able to come back again in the future. Maybe do some scouting?"

"We would love that."

The doors open again, and this time, swarms of people enter.

"Ladies. That's our cue. Enjoy yourselves this evening."

My jaw is on the floor as they greet the rest of the guests.

"Did she say what I think she said? Scouting, like travel locations?" I grasp Blair's arm, needing her to steady me.

"Holy shit. Do you think that means you're in the running?" Blair whispers.

Her eyes are as wide as mine.

"She wouldn't just say something like that to say it, right?"

Blair shakes her head. "A woman like Eden? No. Everything she does is calculated. That's a good thing."

I swallow back the gulp of champagne in my glass, immediately needing another. "Holy shit."

Blair pulls me into her arms, taking me in a fiery kiss. I don't care that we're in a room full of people. I sink my fingers into her hair, letting her control the kiss.

I'm effervescent from the bubbles of champagne, flowing directly into my veins, making me drunk off of her.

"You've got this, Raven. I'm so proud of you." She drops one more peck on my lips before pulling me toward a tray of canapés.

People come and go, greeting us as they mingle with the crowds.

"You know, I hate to say it, but you really are the favorite." Blair nods in the direction of Eden. She looks bored talking to an older man and his husband.

"Are they the ones that go boating every spring?"

"No, those are the ones that own a chain of knitting stores."

I laugh over my drink. "And they want to run traveLLin'?" I dismiss Blair with a wave. "No wonder she looks bored."

"Stop it." She elbows me in the side. "I'll have you know I enjoy knitting."

"You do?"

She nods, taking a demure sip of her drink. "It's the one thing I can do where I don't have to focus on anything but what's in front of me."

"Aren't you full of surprises? Maybe you can knit me something."

"Oh yeah?" Blair drops her elbow onto the table, leaning her head against her drawn fist. "Like what?"

"A scarf?"

"And here I thought you'd go for something a little more extravagant."

My eyes sweep up and down her body. "Oh, I'd model it for you. Wearing the scarf, and only that."

She groans, her lashes kissing the tops of her cheeks. "You're just mean."

The overhead lights flicker, indicating it's time to take our seats.

"Guess you'll just have to suffer through for the evening." I throw a wink at her, grabbing her hand and leading her to our private box for the night.

Something I don't mind at all.

We have the perfect view of the stage from here.

"Why is everything so opulent?" Blair traces a finger over the gold, inlaid braiding on the railing of our private box. It's not as extravagant as the lobby. Fresco paintings line the stucco ceilings. Gold coats everything in here, giving it an air of importance. Cushioned red seats make it fit for royalty.

It's everything I'd imagine an opera house to look like.

Sounds are muted this high up. People fill the room, taking their seats before the show starts.

The lights in the hall go down as the curtains open to reveal one lone woman standing on the stage. The high pitch of her voice echoes and stuns everyone into silence.

Her song evokes tragedy and lovesickness and romance all at the same time. I don't have the first clue as to what she's singing about, but it causes a deep yearning inside me.

For the woman sitting next to me.

Is this how the woman felt, pining for her man? Because I'm desperate for Blair, and she's only inches from me.

The show continues, a man now appearing on the stage with her.

"It all sounds so sad," Blair whispers next to me, toying with her new necklace.

"Do you think he broke her heart?" I lean into her, brushing my lips against her ear. I don't miss the way she shudders at the soft touch.

Everything about this woman is mesmerizing. It makes it hard to focus on the stage. Her eyes are filled with the same emotions I'm feeling.

This thing between us started as something fake.

What I apparently don't have to fake?

The feelings I have for Blair.

Turning my attention to the stage, I set my hand on her exposed knee. I drag a finger along her skin.

"What are you doing?" she hisses at me as the singer belts out another morose tune.

Her lover collapses to the stage as she weeps over him.

"They did say to enjoy ourselves."

"I don't think this is what they had in mind." Blair gasps as my hand reaches the heat of her core.

"Yet, I think you want this."

My knuckle grazes the soft fabric of her underwear, already soaked.

"Oh yeah?"

"So damn sexy." Blunt nails dig into my arm, spurring me on. I run my finger past the scrap of material covering her pussy and slide one finger in easily.

"I love that you get so wet for me."

I suck on the pulsing vein in her neck as I work my finger in and out of her at a steady pace. Every time I push back in, she squeezes me harder. Like she doesn't want me to leave her.

"Think you can be quiet?"

Her teeth are digging into her bottom lip. She gives me the smallest of nods. I would've missed it had I not been solely focused on her.

"Good girl."

It's dark in here. With the way the boxes are staggered, no one can see us. The perfect spot for doing naughty things in the dark.

My fingers drag in and out of her, a slow, dizzying pace. Blair spreads her legs, opening her up even farther to me.

"Are you ready?" I tug her earlobe between my teeth.

The music swells around us as Blair whimpers her release. Her head is thrown back in pleasure as I bite down on her shoulder.

Her juices coat my hand as I work her through her release.

She turns a dazed, flushed face to me. "Raven."

Her voice is a prayer. Like she wants to kneel at my altar. I kiss her, pouring as many motions as I can into this.

Voices soften around us as the theater comes back into focus. A woman now lies weeping on the stage.

"Think she died because of an orgasm?" I smile against her cheek.

"I don't think they were doing what we just did back then."

"I should hope not. They wouldn't like us doing this in public."

"You're a bad influence, Raven."

"What can I say? I wanted you to enjoy the opera."

Blair turns a lazy smile on me. Her face is still flushed from coming on my fingers. "I can safely say the opera is my new favorite thing."

I'll sing arias all day long if it means I get to do this with Blair every time.

Thank God for box seats.