Chapter 13

Vivian

I cry out, try to grab hold of the short strands of his hair, and when my fingers slip, hold onto his head, as he flicks his tongue in and out of my pussy.

What's he doing to me? How can I let him suck and lick and slurp on my core like it's the tastiest dessert he's ever eaten?

I'd been worried about people seeing me, but the heaven of his tongue inside my weeping slit overpowers my inhibitions. Who cares who sees us, all I want is for him to continue what he's doing.

I dig my knees into the back of the car-seat, and the reason I'm able to balance myself here is because he's holding me up, with seemingly no effort. He keeps going, without a break.

He drags his tongue up my cunt, then around the swollen nub of my clit, and I'm ashamed to say that's all I need to feel the first stirring of my climax. My orgasm shivers up my thighs, around my core, swells up my spine.

"Oh, god, Q." I throw my head back.

He thrusts his tongue inside my slit and twists it. That sends me over the edge. I cry out. The orgasm bursts through me, water gushing through a dam, overflowing the banks of a river, pouring down a waterfall. Sparks fire behind my eyes, goosebumps pop on my skin.

And still, he continues licking at me. He's scooping up my cum, and only when I slump, does he slide me down and into his lap. The curve of my hip bumps into the steering wheel but there's enough space for me to coil into his chest. I breathe for a moment and listen to his heartbeat. I savor the comfort of his arms around me as I recover from the orgasm. As I come back into myself, I become aware of the pressing hardness at his crotch, which throbs against my butt. "You're aroused."

"I'm always aroused when I'm near you." He chuckles. The sound vibrates against his massive chest and sinks into my blood, and it's strangely comforting and also, a turn on.

"Q…" I open my eyelids and look up into his. "What's happening between us?"

"Nothing we don't want to."

"But this… is all wrong." I look between his eyes. "Isn't it?"

"It's as wrong as we make it out to be. Or as right."

"You're Felix's father."

"I'm aware."

"And I'm his?—"

"Ex-girlfriend."

"Who he almost married."

"Do you love him, Raven?" His gaze grows intent. "Do you?"

I look away, then shake my head.

"Did you ever love him?"

I shake my head again.

"So why did you agree to marry him?"

"I thought I'd save money if I could share a flat with him, enough to take care of my sister and my father—" I blow out a breath. "I know… My reasoning was flawed. I realized that the moment I was more relieved than disappointed that he didn't turn up for the wedding. But when he proposed…" I shake my head. "At that time, I… I didn't want to turn him down, because what if no one else found me attractive enough to propose to me again?"

"You agreed to marry him because you were scared of ending up alone?" He scowls.

"People marry for less." I'm sounding defensive, probably because he's right, but I'm not going to admit it.

"You're not people." He notches his knuckles under my chin, forcing me to look up into his face. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and you deserve everything. You deserve all your dreams to come true."

I laugh. "You don't know me."

"I know enough."

"In only a few days?" I scoff.

"I know you're generous and kind. That you'd sacrifice your happiness if it means you can take care of your family."

"And you'd sacrifice your son's happiness by marrying me?"

His features close. A hardness creeps into his eyes. I curse myself. Why did I have to say that? But we can't tip toe around this thing that stands between us. Can we?

I press my palm into his chest for leverage and begin to move away. He winces. I pull my hand away and take in the blood stain on his T-shirt.

Oh no! I was so distracted by the chemistry between us that I forgot how hurt he was. "You should see a doctor."

"I don't need a doctor," he says in a dismissive tone.

"You took a lot of hits."

"And I survived," he scoffs.

"Why didn't you fight back?"

"I did."

"Not when I arrived at the fight. You were getting beaten up and making no move to defend yourself."

His features close even more. He grips my waist and lifts me over the console and back into my seat. The fact he can maneuver my body any way he wants means he can also do so to put distance between us when he wants. But I'm not giving up yet.

"When I yelled your name, you seemed to come to your senses and decide to fight back."

His jaw clenches. A nerve pops at his temple. He squeezes those thick fingers around the steering wheel and stays silent. The tension in the car skyrockets. Sweat beads my forehead. His shoulders swell; those biceps stretch the sleeves of his shirt.

A buzzing sound cuts through the space. I reach down and snatch my cross-body bag and slide my phone from it. I notice the missed calls —five of them, all from Zoey. She and I exchanged phone numbers before she left my place yesterday. Now, a message pops up on the screen.

Zoey: OMG. OMG. Are you okay?

Me: I think so

The phone buzzes with an incoming call from her. I decline it.

Me: I'm fine... Honest

Zoey: Are you with him? It seemed so intense between the two of you, I thought it best to leave. Are you sure you're okay? *Eggplant emoji. Sweat emoji. Hot face emoji.* I can come and get you wherever you are

Me: *Laughing face emoji. Rain emoji.* No, don"t worry. I"m good. I promise. I'll call you later

I slide the phone back into my bag. "That was Zoey."

He doesn't reply.

"Your friend Zoey. She came to see me yesterday. With Summer. That's how I found out about the fight, in case you were wondering."

He stays silent.

"They're good people. I like them."

Some of the tension goes out of his shoulders. He angles his head in my direction. "I hope you don't mind I asked them to check on you and gave them your address."

I shake my head. "I don't. It was interesting to talk to them. They're lovely and so genuine. I enjoyed meeting them. It must be nice to have a circle of friends you're close to." A hint of wistfulness slips through my tone, and I cringe. That was unintentional. Enough with the woeful Orphan Annie act already. But once more, Q doesn't seem to notice.

"I met Summer's husband Sinclair during a work meeting, and we hit it off so well, he introduced me to Summer. She, in turn, introduced me to her sister Karma, Karma"s husband Michael, and Zoey.

"She mentioned." I nod.

"When I returned from the Marines, I didn't have many friends left in London. My military buddies are from around the country. But thanks to Sinclair, I found a circle of people I get along with."

"You have your family," I point out.

He barks out a laugh. "You saw how Ryot and I fought. My family isn't known for their ability to forgive or forget," he says in a wry tone.

Seeing the opening, I have to take it. So I ask, "What... What happened between you and Ryot?"

Instantly, his features shutter. Guess it was too soon for me to ask that question.

He starts his car, does a U-turn and drives out of the parking lot.

I pull up my panties and set my clothes right. We drive in silence for a few minutes. I glance sideways at the cut on his forehead where the blood has dried. "You really need to see a doctor," I insist.

He falls silent once more and doesn't say a word for the rest of the half-hour drive. When we reach my apartment block, I turn to him. "Please, Q, come inside so I can, at least, clean your wounds."

He hesitates, then nods. He turns off the engine, engages the handbrake, then gets out of the car. By then, I'm standing on the sidewalk. He follows me toward the main door, which I push open, then scowls. "There's no lock on this door?"