★ C H A P T E R 30 ★ No Words Left

Raven's Point of View

By the time I reached my apartment, I was sore in places I didn't even know could be sore. Every step sent a sharp ache through my thighs, and my legs felt like they weren't even mine anymore. I was completely and utterly ruined.

I barely had the energy to turn the key in the lock, pushing the door open with my hip. The warm scent of takeout and the sound of laughter immediately wrapped around me.

Jamie and Lila were curled up on the couch, in the middle of some dramatic conversation-no doubt about work gossip or some ridiculous reality show. But the second their eyes landed on me, the entire room fell silent.

I didn't say a word.

I didn't need to.

Lila's gaze dropped to my legs, narrowing in suspicion. Her head tilted as she took in my sluggish steps, the way I was practically waddling across the room like I had been hit by a freight train.

And then-

Jamie gasped so loudly you'd think he'd just witnessed a murder. "Oh my GOD." He clutched his chest like he was having a heart attack. "Raven, did you get hit by a bus?!"

I groaned, kicking off my boots and shuffling toward the couch. "Something like that."

Lila's eyes sharpened, studying me like a detective solving a case. "Wait. No. This-this is not a normal injury." She pointed at me, slowly standing up. "This is... sex-walking."

Jamie nearly dropped his soda. His mouth fell open. "SEX-WALKING?!"

Lila knocked over the popcorn bowl as she launched off the couch. "Raven. Look me in the eyes and tell me you did not just fuck Dominic Derveaux."

Jamie choked. He started wheezing dramatically, clutching at his chest like he'd been personally victimized by my life choices. "DOMINIC. DER FUCKING VEAUX?!"

I winced.

Lila's jaw hit the floor. "YOU DID?! YOU SLEPT WITH HIM?!"

Jamie flailed his arms. "The married mafia king? The boss who literally terrifies people? The man who owns half this damn city? That Dominic?"

"Yes!" I snapped, sitting up. "Why do you keep adding titles like it helps?!"

Jamie dragged a hand down his face. "I WARNED YOU."

Lila rounded on me. "Jamie literally warned you."

"I know," I groaned. "I KNOW."

Lila let out a high-pitched scream into her hands, muffling the sound while pacing the room. Jamie grabbed his drink and chugged it like he needed alcohol instead of soda.

"And," Jamie added darkly, "you're still wearing the jacket."

I looked down.

The jacket was still draped over me. Heavy. Familiar. Too comfortable.

Jamie pointed at it like it was possessed. "That thing is cursed. I told you. The moment you put that on, I knew. I knew."

"Oh my God, shut up," I muttered.

"No," he said seriously. "That jacket is a gateway drug. First warmth. Then emotional damage. Then raw, billionaire dick."

"JAMIE."

Lila stopped pacing and stared at me. "Do you realize what this means?"

"I had sex with my married boss?" I offered weakly.

"It means," she said slowly, "you didn't just cross a line."

Jamie nodded. "You moved in."

My stomach dropped.

I pulled the jacket tighter without meaning to.

Jamie noticed.

His eyes widened. "See? SEE? You're bonding with it."

"I'm cold!"

"You were warned," he said solemnly. "We all were."

"Oh my God. Oh my GOD," Lila shrieked. "He's married! RAVEN!"

I groaned louder. "I KNOW."

Jamie pointed at me like he was narrating a documentary.

"She knows. She still did it."

"I DIDN'T PLAN IT!" I snapped.

Lila crossed her arms.

"So it just... fell on you?"

Jamie nodded seriously.

"Tragic. Very common."

I groaned. "You don't understand. I was not prepared. That man-"

Jamie held up his hand.

"No details. HR violation."

Lila leaned closer, eyes wild.

"Was it in his office?"

I didn't answer.

Jamie screamed.

"SHE DID IT IN THE OFFICE."

Lila clutched her chest.

"Oh my God. We're accessories now."

Jamie blinked rapidly. "So... you're his mistress?"

I threw a pillow at him. "Don't say it like that!"

"But that's what it is!" Lila flailed. "Raven, I know he's gorgeous and dangerous and could probably make any woman throw her morals out the window, but-"

I groaned into my hands. "You don't get it. You don't understand what he did to me."

Jamie leaned forward like he was listening to a crime podcast. "What did he do?"

Heat crawled up my neck as flashes of the night replayed-his hands gripping my hips, his dark, demanding voice, the way he took me like I was property.

I exhaled shakily. "He took complete control."

Lila's lips parted.

Jamie's eyes went huge. "Go on."

I hesitated, voice barely above a whisper. "It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Rough. Dominant. Insanely in control. He didn't just fuck me-he owned me."

Jamie slapped a hand over his heart. "Jesus take the wheel."

Lila fanned herself. "I shouldn't be turned on by this... but I am."

I bit my lip. "It wasn't just once."

They froze.

Lila whispered, "How many times?"

I swallowed. Quietly, I said, "Five."

Dead silence. Then-

Jamie choked. Not a little cough. Not a dramatic gasp. He literally started choking on his fried chicken.

"JAMIE!" Lila shrieked, smacking his back.

I jumped up, panicking as he gagged violently, face turning red.

"Spit it out! Spit it out!" Lila hollered, slapping him again.

After a final, dramatic thwack, the chicken flew out and hit the floor.

Jamie gasped, clutching his chest. "Five rounds? FIVE?! And you're still alive?"

Lila covered her mouth, eyes wide. "Five times, Raven? FIVE?"

I swallowed, heat creeping down my neck. "And he made me come... five times."

Jamie collapsed onto the couch. "You're lying."

I shook my head. "Nope."

Lila's eyes bulged. "And his... um... you know..." She gestured vaguely. "He was still hard? Every time?"

I nodded.

Jamie's soul left his body. He slumped against the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling. "I need to sit down."

"You are sitting down," Lila deadpanned.

"I need to sit downer," Jamie whimpered.

Lila turned back to me. "Okay, so let me get this straight. You had five rounds with Dominic. He made you come every single time. And he never went soft?"

"Not once," I confirmed.

Jamie let out a strangled noise. "What kind of monster is this man?"

Lila shook her head. "Okay. He ruined you. But... what now? You can't just continue this."

I groaned, running a hand down my face. "I know, but it's not like I planned for this to happen! He just-he's so... so-"

"IRRESISTIBLE?" Jamie offered.

I sighed. "Yes."

Lila groaned. "Ugh, Raven. We're judging you, but we also completely understand."

Jamie waved dramatically. "If that man looked at me for five seconds, I would risk it all."

Lila turned back to me. "So... what now? Are you gonna sleep with him again?"

I swallowed hard. "I... don't know."

Jamie smirked. "That's a yes."

I groaned. "It's a maybe!"

Lila sighed, shaking her head. "Girl. You are so in trouble."

I lean back against the couch, body still aching from everything Dominic had done to me. Yeah. Definitely in trouble.

I took a deep breath, bracing myself. "That's not all."

Silence.

Lila and Jamie stared at me like I'd just confessed to a federal crime.

Lila narrowed her eyes. "Raven, you've already destroyed our souls. What could possibly be worse?"

Jamie, still recovering from nearly choking earlier, pointed a trembling finger. "I swear to Beyoncé, if you drop another bomb without warning, I'm leaving this apartment."

I swallowed. "The moment he opened my legs and saw what I was wearing..."

Lila leaned forward like she was about to hear government secrets. "Which was...?"

I exhaled, face heating up. "A red lace thong."

Jamie slapped a hand over his mouth. "BITCH."

Lila gasped. "You KNEW what you were doing."

I groaned. "I swear I didn't! But the moment he saw it... he-" I shuddered. "He growled."

Dead silence.

Lila blinked. "He what?"

Jamie's eyes nearly popped out. "Excuse me?!"

I nodded, heart racing as the memory hit. "He fucking growled. Deep. Raw. Primal. Like he saw red and was about to devour me whole." I winced. "He ripped them off."

Lila clutched her chest. "I need holy water."

Jamie fanned himself aggressively. "I need to go to church."

I exhaled shakily. "And then... he went down on me."

Lila's mouth fell open.

Jamie gasped so hard I thought he'd pass out.

I leaned forward, gripping my knees. "You guys. Not just normal head. He ruined me. Devoured me like he'd been starving his whole life. I was shaking, my soul left my body... Saint Peter himself turned me away because Dominic's tongue was too sinful."

Jamie threw a pillow across the room. "STOP IT RIGHT NOW."

Lila's face was red. "This is pornography."

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "His tongue? Magic. Pure magic. He knew exactly what he was doing, like he'd studied my body before even touching me. And he wouldn't stop."

Jamie dramatically wiped a fake tear. "RIP to you, girl. You lived a good life."

I swallowed hard. "And then... he fingered me."

Lila's jaw hit the floor.

Jamie threw himself onto the carpet.

I covered my face. "You guys don't understand. He knew exactly where to touch me-how to curl his fingers, stroke my G-spot... like composing a goddamn symphony. I was gone. Fully gone."

Jamie rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "This is witchcraft. Black magic."

Lila fanned herself so aggressively she nearly passed out. "I can't-I don't-Raven."

I groaned, gripping my thighs. "And then... I ran."

Lila and Jamie froze.

Jamie sat up like a vampire rising from a coffin. "You ran?!"

I nodded, face burning. "When I saw how big he was."

Lila slapped both hands over her mouth.

Jamie stood up. Stood the fuck up. "NO. THE. HELL. YOU. DIDN'T."

"I did! I saw it, and I panicked!"

Lila covered her face. "Oh my God."

Jamie started pacing. "This is insanity. This is a cinematic masterpiece."

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "And then... he chased me."

Jamie collapsed to his knees.

Lila choked on her drink, coughing violently. "He chased you?"

I nodded. "He grabbed me-lifted me up like I weighed nothing-and before I even realized what was happening..." I swallowed. "He slammed inside me."

Jamie screamed.

Lila collapsed against the couch, looking completely deceased.

★ ⋆｡°✩ ★

After our chaotic conversation, I pushed myself off the couch, still feeling the lingering heat of their words crawling up my neck. Still sore, I needed food-something to distract me from the fact that my best friends were the worst enablers in existence.

I padded into the kitchen, opening the fridge and grabbing the leftover pasta from last night. I popped it into the microwave, pressing the buttons mindlessly, letting out a satisfied sigh. Comfort food. Exactly what I needed.

Just as I leaned against the counter, waiting, Jamie and Lila strolled in-both chewing on something juicy.

I squinted. "What are you eating?"

Lila pointed at the fruit bowl. "Found a mango."

Jamie moaned dramatically, closing his eyes as he sucked on a piece. "So sweet. So juicy. Best mango I've ever had."

I froze.

My eye twitched.

My stomach dropped.

That was my last mango.

The microwave beeped, but I didn't even turn to it. My full attention was on the two criminals devouring my prized possession.

Jamie licked his fingers. "Damn, that was good."

Lila nodded. "Really hit the spot."

I clenched my fists. "You guys ate my last mango?"

Jamie shrugged. "Technically, it was in the fruit bowl. Free game."

I inhaled sharply. "I was saving that."

Lila blinked. "For what?"

"For ME."

Jamie sucked the juice off his thumb. "Oh. Well... sucks to suck."

I glared. "I hope you choke."

Jamie batted his lashes. "On what? A thick, veiny-"

I groaned, grabbing my food from the microwave and slumping into a chair. "I hate you both."

Jamie smirked, resting his elbows on the counter as he watched me take a bite. His eyes gleamed with mischief. I knew he was about to say something sinful.

"So..." He tilted his head. "Does his dick have veins on it?"

I choked.

Like, full-on choked on my food.

Throat seized. Eyes watered. Soul temporarily left my body.

Lila gasped. "Raven?!"

Jamie burst out laughing as I pounded my chest, coughing violently. "Oh my God-ARE. YOU. SERIOUS?"

Jamie grinned wickedly. "I just had to know, babe. For science."

I wheezed, gripping my fork. "You're going to hell."

Jamie waved a dismissive hand. "Already have a VIP pass." He leaned closer, whispering, "But seriously, is it like... a road map situation? Subtle highways, or full-blown three-dimensional throbbing?"

Lila covered her ears. "I CAN'T HEAR THIS."

Jamie ignored her, eyes sparkling. "Because I just KNOW that man's packing a demon in his pants. Gym rats always have those terrifying, beastly-"

I groaned, covering my face. "JAMIE."

But my traitorous mind had already conjured the image. Veins. A lot of veins.

Lila dropped her head onto the counter. "I need holy water."

Jamie clasped his hands dramatically. "Raven, be honest. When you saw it, did you hear boss music?"

I deadpanned. "I'm leaving."

Jamie cackled. "You RAN from that man, and he HUNTED YOU DOWN like a goddamn alpha wolf and CLAIMED YOU?!"

I groaned. "I didn't stand a chance, Jamie."

Lila trembled. "I-I need help."

Jamie fell flat on the floor. "This is a sin."

Lila stared at me like I'd just announced I was dating Satan. "You can't keep seeing him."

Jamie cut her off, gripping my shoulders. "No. You have to fuck him again."

Lila shrieked. "JAMIE!"

Jamie lifted a weak hand. "If that man so much as breathed in my direction, I'd let him ruin my life."

I groaned. "I don't know what to do."

Lila shook her head furiously. "You do nothing! He's married, Raven!"

Jamie sat up. "He's also a sex god, Lila."

I exhaled shakily. "I know it's wrong. I know I should walk away. But..."

Jamie smirked. "But you won't."

I swallowed hard. "I don't know if I can."

Lila groaned. "Oh my God, you're doomed."

I sat back, exhaling. "And that's how I died."

Jamie blinked. "No, bitch. That's how you lived."

Lila shook her head aggressively. "This is so bad."

Jamie smirked. "But so good."

I groaned. "I hate my life."

Jamie snickered. "No. You love it. Every second of that sinful, forbidden dick."

I grabbed the ketchup and threw it at him. "SHUT UP, JAMIE."

I flopped back into the chair, body still tingling from the memory of Dominic completely owning me.

Yeah.

I was so, so in trouble.