Raven's Seduction

by Yvonne Nicolas

  He moved his arm from over his eyes to gaze up at her. The light that beamed through the glass door reflected off his irises, making them look like they were glowing.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He lifted his arm and held his hand out to her.

  She slipped the bottle into his grip.

  His brows bunched, then he tossed the bottle across the room.

  Sucking her teeth, she glared down at him. “Someone’s in a bitchy mood. All you had to say was no thank you, I’m not thirsty.”

  “But I am.” Again, he lifted his hand, stretching his arm toward her.

  “You know it’s bad when you need my help getting off the floor?” Reaching down, she wrapped her hand around his forearm, and he did the same to hers. She braced her footing wide, and pulled.

  But, he pulled harder!

  Screaming, she toppled down on top of him. Immediately following the fall, she tried to get back onto her feet. It was a reflex move.

  He hooked his arms around her, holding her against him.

  Panic seized her. “Raven, oh God…” she cried out. “What…”

  He rolled her over onto her back so fast, she still felt like the world was spinning around her.

  “…the hell?” she finished on a gasp.

  With one knee planted between her legs, inches from her crotch, he straddled her thigh. His hands were planted on the mat on either side of her head as he hovered over her. He looked deeply into her eyes, his gaze boring into her soul. His messy ponytail hung over his shoulder.

  Stunned speechless, she lay there beneath him, no longer eager to get up. The scent of his musky sweat filled her senses, arousing her need to feel him inside of her.

  They both breathed heavily. Their chests rose and fell at the same pace.

  Should I tell him now that I want to be with him? Should she just show him? But what if…? Frantic thoughts shot across her mind like out of control boomerangs. What if this was just a moment, like the kiss? What if this was a onetime deal? What if they couldn’t move forward with their friendship after this?

  Rihanna’s voice sailed through the room as she sang about Wild Thoughts. The upbeat and sexy groove vibrated through them.

  She moved her leg a little. Something hard brushed across her thigh when she did. Her eyes cut downwards only for a second. She couldn’t see it past the shadow looming between them, but dammit, she could feel it. And he was fuckin’ ready! Shudders coursed through her. She was swarmed with anxiety and excitement. Her breathing accelerated, no longer matching the rhythm of his.

  The words ‘fuck me now, Raven’ played on her tongue.

  Eyes still locked on hers, he reached down past her hip and slipped his hand over her thigh, where he grabbed her. His fingers bit into her flesh so passionately, drawing a strangled moan from her, a moan she tried to suppress but failed.

  That devilish smirk tilted his lips as he pulled her leg up to his hip, forcing her knee to bend. He reached under her robe. There was a tug on her boy-shorts. Soon the slow sound of fabric being torn reached her ears. The walls of her pussy contracted and gushed.

  Oh, fuck yeah! Please take it, Raven!

  He yanked his hand outward with a quick movement and the tugging ended. He dangled something in her face.

  Took her a few seconds to see past the blurriness of desire to see what he was holding. Once the cloudiness faded, she saw that it was a long thread.

  “Had a little something hanging from your shorts,” he said.

  “What?” she breathed out, flustered.

  In one fluid motion, he pushed to his feet, and pulled her up with him. He placed the thread in her hand, gave her a quick peck on the forehead, then walked away with a smooth swagger. He found the bottle he’d tossed earlier, twisted the top off and took a swig. “Mmm.”

  She blinked several times. What just happened? Her breathing remained erratic, her body continued to tremble. Did he do this deliberately? Did he just get her all worked up, only to leave her winded and confused?

  “What the actual fuck, Raven Chan?” she heard herself growl.

  Raven glanced over his shoulder, but didn’t slow his cool ass retreat. “C’mon now, what kinda friend would I be if let you walk around with threads hanging from your clothes.” Lifting the bottle, he nodded to her. “Thanks for the drink. I was parched.” Then he dipped out of the room.

  Chapter 10

  You’ve Already Stolen Mine

  “I went too far.” Raven tossed himself on his bed and sprawled out in the same spot Naturi occupied only moments ago. “What the fuck was I thinking?”

  The erotic encounter continued to spiral through his thoughts, making his erection throb painfully. He marveled at how soft her skin was and how delicious she smelled. The glassy look in her eyes stained his memory. It was a combination of desire and fear.

  He was close… He was so close to tossing his reservations aside and taking her right there on that yoga mat. Like a dream, it played out behind his eyes. Bodies intertwined, heavy breathing, moaning, and screaming in pleasure.

  She wanted him. He could feel it and see it in her pleading gaze. But the things she said… She made it clear that although she was sexually attracted to him, she could never be with a man like him. His free-love lifestyle was a deterrent for her.

  After all this time, he thought he had done enough to show her how devoted he was to her, that he would cast everyone aside, if only she’d just let him love her. Apparently, the message he’d been sending got misconstrued along the way.

  A soft knock sounded on the door.

  He turned his head toward the sound, but said nothing.

  A shadow swayed beneath the door. “Raven?”

  “Yeah?” he finally answered.

  Naturi poked her head in. “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “You know that was fucked up, right?”

  “What?”

  “You know what.” She slipped inside and leaned against the wall. She wore the same expression she had when she was trapped beneath him. “What are we doing, Raven?”

  “I don’t know.” Gaze focused on her, he pulled upright to a sitting position. “What do you wanna do, Naturi?”

  “I wanna talk about what happened, after the funeral. That shit you just pulled in the gym back there… You only did it ‘cause you’re still mad at me. Admit it.”

  Shaking his head, he pushed out an airy chuckle.

  “I know you are. You have to get it out. We have to talk about this, or we’re gonna be stuck in this weird place for the rest of our friendship, for however long that is.”

  “For however long that is?” he damn near hissed. Geez, this woman…

  Suddenly, he had a headache. Briefly closing his eyes, he rubbed at his forehead then pinched the bridge of his nose. Despite his reluctance to discuss the incident, she was right. They should talk about it. They had to. However, he couldn’t help but be afraid of where that conversation would lead them. Friends, lovers or neither? His jaw clenched, intensifying the pain behind his eyes. He couldn’t handle the latter. Not having her in his life wasn’t an option.

  “Okay. You really ready for this?” He rose to his feet and approached her.

  Her eyes widened and her body stiffened.

  Pausing, he sighed. “You see that? That reaction right there tells me everything I need to know. You’re not ready to have that conversation with me yet.”

  “Ohh please, negro!” she snapped. “You’re just trying to swerve me ‘cause you’re just as scared as I am.”

  He closed in on her so fast, he surprised himself. The sudden advance made her gasp, but she didn’t move when she could’ve.

  Mere inches separated them. “I’m not swerving you. I’m right here. So, let’s talk.” He slid his hand within hers.

  His first thought was to strip out of these sweaty clothes, and lead her to the bathroom with him, where he could make love to her in the shower. That would be drastic. They weren�
�t there yet. Will we ever get there?

  “Seduction is your superpower,” she said softly.

  He chuckled as he slipped his fingers in between hers, joining their hands.

  “You not only use it to mind fuck me on a regular basis, you also use to throw up barriers, as if you should be the one afraid.”

  “You calling me out?” Pressing his body to hers, he lifted her hand above her head and pinned it to the wall. With his free hand, he trailed his fingertips over the curve of her shoulder and down her arm. “According to you, I seduce everyone,” he whispered, brushing his cheek against hers. “I make everyone my prey. Does that mean I give all my prey this kind of attention? What was the term you used? Community dick.”

  “Raven,” she heaved out on a breathy whimper. Her body shuddered as she bowed against him.

  He looped his arm around her waist, keeping her close, refusing to allow any air to past between them.

  She curled her fingers over the hand he used to pin her to the wall. Her nails dug into his flesh. “Don’t go there.”

  Jesus… She smelled so fucking good, she felt even better. Every muscle in his body strained and pulsated, mainly the one bulging between his legs. “Too late. We’re already there.”

  Yet again, he was pushing his limits with her. If it were anyone else, he could restrain himself. He wouldn’t let it go this far, but since it was Naturi…

  “See, why you gotta…?” Mewls laced her erratic breathing. “Why are you like this?” she whimpered. “I can’t… I didn’t mean… Damn baby, you’re getting outta hand with this shit. I can’t even think straight.”

  “And I haven’t even gotten started,” he crooned, rubbing his lips along the shell of her ear.

  “Do you see what you’re doing to me, Raven? Do you even realize how hard this fucks me up?”

  “I can do more if you want me to.”

  “You doing more isn’t the issue here.”

  “If you want me to stop, then say stop.”

  “No, Rave, I only want you to listen.”

  He pulled back to look into her eyes. They were glazed in need and worry.

  Please baby, don’t kill me with that gaze. Can’t you see how crazy I am about you?

  “I only try to steal yours because you’ve already stolen mine.” It was an admission of love, but would she see it that way? Probably not. It didn’t come out right.

  “What?” Confusion swept across her face. “What does that even mean?”

  Should I just tell her? Should I just spill my guts about how scared I am of losing her? Why the fuck is this so hard for me to do?

  Tilting his head, he leaned in to claim her lips. She didn’t move, she didn’t even blink.

  His phone dinged.

  He paused. His mouth was so close to hers, he literally breathed in the air that she exhaled.

  After a few seconds of holding her pleading gaze, he pulled back from her. He made his way to the nightstand and peered down at his phone. “Remi’s here.”

  Breathing out a heavy sigh, she palmed her chest. Her eyes danced, her lower lip quivered. “To be continued, I guess,” she said, her voice shaky.

  He headed for the bathroom. “Yep, to be continued. I’m gonna go shower.”

  Naturi didn’t respond.

  When he glanced back, she was gone. “Shit.” He’d done it again. He’d gone too far. “Why am I such an idiot?” He stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the shower.

  The water was icy cold and refreshing on his simmering hot skin, so he left it there. Another cold shower to clear his mind and rectify his massive erection.

  His thoughts wandered back to their first date. Naturi wouldn’t call it that because she was with Luca, but that’s what it was. After the accident, they talked almost every day. She would sneak and call him when she was feeling lonely, which happened a lot. He didn’t mind. He knew those phone calls would lead to so much more.

  Chapter 11

  Friend Zone

  Two and a half years ago…

  The beginning of their friendship…

  “You were right, it was good.” Naturi tossed a cute smile back at him as they strolled out of the restaurant.

  “Told you.” Raven watched the sway of her peach-shaped backside as she strutted ahead of him.

  Today, she wore a teal pants suit, a light pink silk blouse that layered her body just right. She completed the ensemble with a pair of leopard-patterned heels. She didn’t have a thin or athletic shape, like many of the women who’d garnered his attention in the past. She carried a little extra weight in all the right places, which made her figure perfect. Despite what he thought, he could tell she was conscious about her body. Most women were. He wanted to make it his goal to show her how incredibly beautiful she was. Every curve, every arch… He wanted to run his hands and mouth over every inch of her until she cried in pleasure.

  “Middle Eastern cuisine is definitely an acquired taste.”

  “That, it is.” He moved up alongside her as they headed to their vehicles. “Takes a while for the taste buds to adjust.”

  She rubbed at her belly and let out a heavy sigh. “I ate way too much. Gonna have to hit the gym after work.”

  “Or…” He climbed onto his V-Rod. “You can hit the road with me.”

  She rolled her eyes and pursed her lips. “Boy, please. I ain’t getting on that bike.”

  “Why not?”

  “‘Cause—I don’t know.” Nibbling on her lower lip, she shook her head. “I just can’t.”

  “That’s not an acceptable answer, m’dear. Why?”

  She sucked her teeth as she fiddled with the strap of her purse, her uneasiness becoming more apparent. “I’m not a biker, Raven.”

  “That’s an easy fix.” Offering his hand to her, he scooted back on the seat and patted the space in front of him. “C’mere.”

  She ran a nervous gaze around the parking lot. “I can’t…”

  “Is that something you say often?”

  She swept her hair from over her shoulder, her hand trembling. “No. It’s just that—”

  “Then you can.” He wiggled his fingers at her, beckoning her to come to him. “I promise not to bite. I mean, unless you want me to,” he finished with a wink.

  Folding her lips in, she did the cute eye-roll thing again. “I’m too heavy. I’ll tip both of us over on that thing.”

  He slapped his thigh, showing that his legs were braced so the bike wouldn’t fall. “I got you. Just come have a seat on her. We’re not gonna ride anywhere. I just want you to try her on.”

  After anxiously shuffling in place for a moment, she finally slid her hand into his. “If we both end up on the ground, trapped under this bike, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “You’re good.” He chuckled, pulling her toward him. “Now, just swing your leg over. Easy. You can go slowly.” Holding her waist, he helped her maneuver onto the saddle. “See, that wasn’t so bad. Now, I have to get really close to you, so I can reach the handlebars, otherwise—”

  “You said we weren’t riding—”

  “Relax. I’m just gonna turn her on.”

  “Turn her on, huh,” she muttered with a snort. “You’re good at that, aren’t you?”

  Raven eased closer until his chest was flush against her back and his thighs were kissing hers. “You tell me.”

  She trembled against him. Every exhale she released came out on a shaky pant.

  He took deep whiffs of the alluring scent wafting from her neck as he reached past her and gripped the handlebars.

  Her whole body stiffened, her breathing intensified and her heart pounded erratically. He could feel it through her back. “Raven, I…”

  He turned on the engine and revved it up.

  She jerked and let out a sharp yelp.

  “Yeah, she’s a little throaty and testy, but give her a minute and she’ll grow on you.” He gave his bike another accelerated boost and Naturi body relaxed. “You like that?�
�

  She gave him a faint nod.

  “Feels good, doesn’t it?” he dared to ask.

  Peering over her shoulder, she pinned him with those deep chocolate eyes.

  “It’s okay to say it does.” He revved it again.

  The rise and fall of her voluptuous chest quickened. “Raven…”

  God, I love the way she says my name. It sounded like a sweet song coming from her lips. “Mm-hmm.” Yet again, he initiated the powerful vibration between her legs.

  Her lips parted and her eyelids fluttered.

  The longing to kiss her grew. Slowly, he brought his face close to hers and rubbed his lips across her cheek. “Want more?”

  “I—this is—no, I can’t do this. Let me off please.”

  “Okay—sure.” Cupping the back of her thigh, he helped her dismount his two-wheeled companion. He turned the engine off. “The first time on one of these can be jarring.”

  “It’s not the bike. It’s you,” Naturi heaved out, her eyes stretched wide.

  He smiled. “First time on me can be jarring as well.”

  With trembling hands, she adjusted her suit. She then took several deep breaths. “Listen, Raven…” She swallowed hard before placing those doll-like eyes on him. “I like you.”

  “That’s good to hear, ‘cause I like you too.”

  “You’re charismatic and beautiful, but your sex appeal is aggressive as all hell. You’re so enticing, it’s downright disrespectful. What I’m trying to say is, you are a lot to deal with.”

  “Okay. I admit, I can be a bit intense.”

  “On the real, we gotta chill with whateva this is ‘cause I have—”

  “A boyfriend,” he finished, leaning forward on his bike. “You’ve said it many times.”

  Her eager gaze drifted over his backside, giving him all kinds exciting feels. “I keep saying it more for myself than you.”

  Tilting his head, he grinned. “And why is that?”

  “You’re big trouble in little China, sir.”

  He snickered. “I won’t deny that.”

  She hugged herself as she offered him a timid smile. “I know I should leave you alone but, I just…”

  “It’s kinda hard to shake me off. I get it. Not like I’m making it easy on you.” Raking his hair back from his face, he drew upright on the saddle. “Look, if being around me stresses you out that much, we can part ways.”