by Riley Scott
Raven closed her bedroom door behind them and offered a sideways grin as she looked Chris up and down. “You’re so sexy,” Raven said, leaning in to kiss her softly. “Do you want to sleep in here?”
“I wouldn’t have followed if I didn’t,” Chris said, laughing. “This is far from my first rodeo.”
Raven winked, the gesture so commonplace, yet undoing Chris completely. No longer waiting for orders, Chris stepped forward boldly, throwing Raven against the wall and kissing her with unapologetic fury. She looped her fingers through the hem of Raven’s shirt and expertly pulled it off with one smooth movement. Fueled by her lust, she unclasped Raven’s bra and let it fall to the floor. She quickly removed Raven’s pants, not taking her mouth from those delicious lips, until Raven stood naked in front of her.
Pulling back briefly, she assessed the sight in front of her, taking in every curve, every angle of Raven’s body. Her full breasts displayed hardened nipples. Chris couldn’t resist the urge to have them. She wrapped her lips around one of them and used her tongue to tease the tip, eliciting a series of low moans from Raven. Encouraged by the response, Chris sucked gently and let her teeth glide over the tip.
Clearly wanting to be in control, Raven moved to pull Chris’s face back up to hers, but Chris wasn’t about to let that happen. Reaching up, she used one hand to secure Raven’s hands and press them up against the wall and the other to reach down and slide inside Raven.
Raven let out a loud gasp as Chris slid in with ease. Pumping her fingers in and out, she brought her lips back to Raven’s and kissed her deeply. As she picked up the pace, Raven groaned loudly, grinding her hips and letting Chris get even deeper. When Chris could feel Raven tighten against her fingers, she slowed and pulled out, teasing and making the experience last longer.
“Please,” Raven begged, breathlessly. “Don’t stop. Please don’t fucking stop.”
“Beg for it,” Chris said, grinning.
“Please fuck me,” she begged. “Please I need it.”
Needing no further invitation, Chris plunged back inside Raven’s wet vagina, enjoying taking complete control. She picked up the pace and expertly pounded her until Raven screamed and arched her back, finishing with a shudder. Panting open-mouthed, Raven looked Chris in the eye, a mix of wonder and amazement dancing in her half-closed eyes. “Where did that come from?” Raven asked, trying to settle her breathing back to normal.
“From wanting to fuck you since the day I first met you,” Chris said, pressing her lips against Raven’s once more.
“This is far from over,” Raven said, picking Chris up and throwing her on the bed. She stood over her and smiled. With her blond hair streaming across the blankets and her eyes sparkling despite the dull lighting, she winked at Raven. Raven’s breath caught in her throat and her hands trembled, even though she had been in this very spot with plenty of women before. This was different. She climbed on the bed, straddling Chris and leaned in for another kiss, before pulling at the hem of Chris’s shirt. She worked it up Chris’s body, kissing every inch as she exposed bare skin.
She knew she was playing with fire, her movements far more intimate and slow-moving than usual, but she didn’t care. Too absorbed in the beautiful sound of Chris’s moans to pull away, she traced her fingertips along Chris’s bare body.
When she pulled back, Raven could see the questions in Chris’s eyes.
“Don’t worry,” she whispered. “I’m just taking my time, savoring every second.” Her words were raw. She needed to savor the moments, her desire growing with each passing second. Chris arched her back and raised an eyebrow, seductively inviting Raven closer. When Raven didn’t comply immediately, Chris’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
“I’ll get started without you then,” she said. Without wasting another second, Chris slid her hand inside her own jeans and undid the button to pleasure herself.
Raven’s jaw dropped open and her eyes widened. She sat propped up on one elbow, lost in the incredible display of lust unfolding before her eyes. As Chris moaned, Raven’s body convulsed, overrun with passion. She moved back in front of Chris, slid her jeans to the floor and dropped to her knees in between Chris’s legs.
Engaging in what she deemed the most intimate act possible between two people, Raven dove in and tasted Chris’s wetness, teasing Chris with her tongue. Chris threw her head back and grabbed the back of Raven’s head. Encouraged by Chris’s increased moans, Raven sped up, working her tongue into overdrive.
Chris tangled her fingers in the sheets and her body tensed. “Oh god!” she shouted as Raven gave her what appeared to be an earth-shattering orgasm.
When Chris’s body stopped convulsing, Raven pulled her in closer for a kiss, letting her taste the remnants of what had just occurred. Breathless, the two collapsed back onto the bed.
“How do you like the new job now?” Raven asked, nudging Chris with her arm and leaning over to kiss the top of her head.
“Best fucking job I’ve ever had,” Chris answered honestly, feeling at ease in Raven’s embrace.
They shared a laugh before Raven turned to face Chris. “Thank you,” she said, her voice lighter than usual.
“What for?”
“For this,” Raven said, running her fingers through Chris’s hair. “For everything. For making me open up, even if just slightly, and for making me feel comfortable. It might come as a shock to you but you have seen more of the real me than a lot of people have. I’m in the spotlight all the time and typically only show people what I want them to see. You are different somehow. I can’t nail it down but you’re different. You make me feel like I can show you some of the other parts of me. Thank you for that.” She paused for a moment. “And also for getting me off so well,” she added with a grin.
“You’re welcome,” Chris said, reaching up to trace the outline of Raven’s breasts. “Thank you too.”
“It’s Erin, by the way,” Raven said softly.
“What?” Chris asked, leaning in closer, with her head on Raven’s chest.
“My name,” she said, looking away briefly before bringing her full attention back to Chris. “My name is Erin. You asked earlier, and if anyone deserves to know, it’s you. I prefer Raven. It’s who I am. Erin is an old identity and she’s long gone. I don’t identify as that girl any longer. I haven’t in a long time. To me, I’m Raven. To everyone else, I’m Raven. Raven is who I am, who I’ve become. I no longer respond to Erin and even those who know it, know better than to call me by that name. It’s irrelevant to me. That’s why I keep it so under wraps, so hidden, but I wanted you to know.”
Touched by the tenderness of the statement, Chris wrapped her arms around Raven and kissed her once more. “Thank you,” she said, nestling closer as they drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Eight
“Why the long face?” The question from one of her staff pulled Susan from her morning tasks.
She looked up over the rim of her glasses and shook her head. “Just a busy morning.”
“Do you need help with anything?” Brynlee, her youngest employee, stood in her doorway, smiling and exuding an enviable eagerness.
For a second, she considered the thought. The girl was an untested assistant who hadn’t been in the industry long enough to help with most of the tasks on Susan’s plate. She shook her head. “Check with one of the account managers. I can handle my projects. But thank you.”
Though the words had clearly been a dismissal, Brynlee didn’t budge.
“Are you okay?” It was a good-natured question but she wasn’t in the mood for small talk. Nor did she make a habit of opening up to new employees.
“It’s not a good time for chitchat, Bryn,” she said.
Quietly Brynlee nodded and walked away. Frustrated, Susan removed her glasses, relaxed her eyes and massaged her temples. “Too much to do,” she whispered, spinning in her chair to face away from her computer for a moment.
It wasn’t necessarily the workload. It was becau
se she had been operating without her right hand for a month now. She had lost her confidante. Letting out a heavy sigh, she turned back to her computer and readjusted her glasses. She typed out a quick email to touch base with Chris. After she hit the send button, she caught sight of her niece’s photo on her desk. A slow smile spread over her face. Her sister was the lucky one—so much love surrounding her every day. Susan surveyed her office. Her sister had all the love in the world, and Susan had this. She tried to take a deep breath but the air felt heavy in her lungs. Standing, she pushed away from her desk.
Desperately needing fresh air or a fresh start…or something, anything, she called out to her staff. “I’ll be back in a while.” No one batted an eye as she strode out the front door. Perks of owning your own business, she thought as she got into her car.
Turning up her radio, she rolled down the windows and let the wind and music calm her.
It wasn’t that she was worried about Chris doing her job. Quite the opposite in fact. There was no one more capable of tackling the task at hand than Chris. The young woman was her protégée, her most gifted employee and more of a daughter figure than Susan wanted to admit.
She let her mind drift back to a time when she thought she would have a life and family of her own. She had the perfect man, her Marcus—or at least the one perfect for her. But try as they might, those two pink lines on the test never came. And eventually nothing came but hurt and disappointment. Fighting the reality at home, she had filled the gap and built her corporate empire at the expense of her personal life. She couldn’t shake the memory of Marcus walking out the door of their home, never to return again.
She parked the car in front of Starbucks and steadied herself. Looking around the parking lot, she smiled despite her pain. If nothing else, she had this place and with it the many memories of her long talks with Chris. She had a successful business and she had her own version of a family—even if her family was away for the time being.
She ordered her non-fat soy latte and caught sight of a middle-aged woman sitting at the table across from a young woman who was obviously related.
“The best part of summers are days like these,” the older woman said.
“I like these days too, Mom,” the young woman said, reaching across the table and patting her mother on the hand. They continued in trite conversation—classes, whether or not the girl’s car was in good condition to go back to school in the fall and whether or not the girl’s boyfriend treated her well. When the barista called her name, Susan snapped back to attention. Grabbing her coffee, she made a beeline for the door.
She could feel the sting of hot tears. How was it that she wound up alone? The black hole of despair was never far away. Shaking her head at the harsh slap of reality, she took a sip of her coffee, only to burn her tongue.
“Shit!” she called out as her anger and frustration boiled. She glanced across the parking lot and took in the sight of her shiny BMW and thought back to the office. She had things. She had a business. And she was being ridiculous. Straightening her shoulders and holding her head high, she vowed that this would no longer affect her this way.
* * *
The California sun beamed and Raven could feel the heat permeating her body. Sweat dripped down her face and her legs burned with each step. Even so, she rounded the corner of the street, encouraged by the sound of her footsteps pounding on the pavement.
Morning runs were her time, and she had been neglecting them. Refreshed by the time she stopped in front of the bus, she snagged the water bottle she had left by the tire and took a long drink.
She took her time stretching, enjoying a final moment of solitude for the day. While she was having a good time, it was all a little too confusing. She had started to develop a genuine connection with Chris, and the mere concept of letting someone in was terrifying. But she was helpless to fight it.
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she stretched her neck from side to side and steadied her shoulders. Like she did with most situations, she was going to wing it. Whatever happened was going to happen anyway. In the back of her mind, she considered that it might be stupidity or irresponsibility. But those were just semantics. After going through possibilities of what could or could not happen between the two of them, she focused her attention. With her Ellen interview coming up the following morning, she had to mentally prepare.
With her back to the door, she gave her legs one final stretch, hearing a low whistle behind her.
“Looking good,” Chris called out from the doorway.
“You are aware that catcalls are insulting, correct?” Raven asked, feigning annoyance as she turned to face Chris.
“I’m aware,” Chris said with a wink. “I just thought you should know I appreciate the view.”
Chris’s laughter filled the air and made Raven laugh as well. “You’re something else,” she said, closing the distance between the two of them. Her hair was swept to the side in a messy ponytail and she wore no makeup. Clad in nothing but a tank top and yoga pants, Chris looked like a model. Her eyes lit up as Raven stepped close enough to kiss her softly.
“Yeah. I’ve heard that a time or two.” Chris shrugged. “But you’re the one sleeping with me. I guess you might just be something else too.”
“You might be right,” Raven answered, leaning down and planting a kiss on Chris’s head as she walked onto the bus. “After I shower, what do you say to a smoothie and watching something mindless on my iPad?”
“That sounds like a plan,” Chris said still suggestively eyeing Raven.
“I’m covered in sweat. What has you so worked up?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Like I said, you look good. And I’m looking forward to getting a little one-on-one time this morning. I’ll whip up that smoothie and see you when you’re done.”
Raven laughed and shook her head. This woman made her life happier, regardless of the confusion. “I’ll be back,” she called, shutting the door behind her.
After her shower, Raven beckoned Chris to follow her into her room. Smoothie in hand, Chris heeded without speaking. Raven dropped her towel once they were both in the room, embracing the intimacy of the moment. Gratefully, she accepted the drink and crawled next to Chris on the bed. She got out her iPad and pulled up Netflix. Relinquishing control as she so uncharacteristically did in Chris’s presence, she handed over the device.
“Pick whatever you want,” she said, taking a sip. “This is delicious by the way.”
“Glad you like it.” Chris smiled and turned her attention to selecting a movie. After a few minutes of comfortable silence, she sat the iPad on the bed. “I have a different idea.”
“Yeah?” Raven asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Not that. At least not yet. Let’s just talk.”
“Novel idea, Ms. Villanova,” Raven said, her smirk growing. She laughed, marveling at how Chris made her feel so peaceful. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Everything. To start, why don’t you fly everywhere? Why take a bus?”
Raven shifted, turning to face Chris. “I like it.”
Chris nudged her playfully. “Come on. Real answers.”
“Fine.” Raven let out a mock sigh. “I like it because it feels authentic. It seems more genuine to me. It also gives me the chance to see parts of the country I’d fly over otherwise. I take flights when my schedule warrants it, but this works just as well most of the time. Aside from that, it keeps me close to the guys. It gives me that family feeling.”
Chris nodded. “I can see that. What about any other family?”
Raven took a deep breath and her body tensed. “No,” she said after a pause.
Chris furrowed her brow in question.
“I don’t know where my father is. And I haven’t spoken to my mom in years. I’m fairly certain you overheard everything I discussed with my friend before Ryland’s visit. After my parents finally divorced, child support payments stopped. That was really my mom’s only r
eason to keep me around. I had seen too much for a kid that age, and all in all, it was pretty dreadful. I ran away at ten—only to be returned. After that, she got into some trouble and I got stuck in a series of foster homes, mainly with people who didn’t give a damn whether I was there or not, and some who knew I was there and physically reminded me I shouldn’t be. There really isn’t anyone to write home to. What else do you want to know?”
“That sucks,” Chris said, reaching out to run her fingertips up and down Raven’s right arm. “At least you have the guys.”
“Thanks.” Raven nodded, thankful Chris hadn’t offered an apology or some sort of ill-directed sympathy. “It is good to have them. They’re my brothers. Paul especially. He was there during the really rough years of my early childhood. Even though he had a steady upbringing, it was one devoid of real affection, so we bonded quickly. He was my best friend and we met again when we wound up at the same high school. He’s the best thing that has ever happened in my life, the one constant.
“And then there’s Joe. He joined up with Paul and me right out of high school and made our little band a trio. We toured around small areas that would let us play our songs. Once we were well known enough in Detroit to start getting paid gigs, we needed to expand. He hit the road with us and never looked back. He’s the guy who will always offer sound insight and joke around with me but who takes music more seriously than anything else. We need him to keep us grounded.
“Then, Pete is a good guy too. He’s like the annoying, pesky little brother I never had. I’m sure you’ve picked up on his lighthearted jabs and silliness. He’s our prankster, but he’s also very protective of me. When he took over for our previous bassist, he completed our family. We’re a successful team and we have a good thing going. I love those guys.”
Her smile grew and she let out a contented sigh. “Next,” she called out in a playful tone. She wanted the mood to stay light.
“Let’s see,” Chris said. She looked off into the distance and jokingly stroked her chin as if she was contemplating the secrets of the universe. “Superman or Batman?”
