Raven's Point of View
The second I stepped out of the building, I sucked in a long, shaking breath-and let it out in a cloud of smoke.
"Fuck," I muttered.
God, I felt like crying.
I pressed my lips together, blinking hard as the cold slapped my face, sharp and unforgiving. I almost gave in. Almost. And that terrified me more than the freezing air biting through my skin.
My neck still burned.
I could still feel him there-his mouth, his tongue-like my skin hadn't gotten the message that it was over.
It was so fucking cold.
People rushed past me, bundled up, disappearing into buildings and expensive restaurants I could never afford. Snow crunched hard beneath my boots, slick with ice, and I focused on each step, jaw clenched, refusing to slip. Icicles hung from the edges of the sidewalk, glittering dangerously as I made my way toward Jamie's car parked right in front of Dominic's building.
Of course it was parked there.
Of course.
I shivered violently, my whole body trembling as the cold seeped into my bones. And worse-every step reminded me of it. The damp, humiliating reminder between my thighs that made me want to scream.
I hated the pull he had on me.
Hated that my body hadn't caught up with my brain yet.
When I finally climbed into the car, my teeth started chattering immediately. The inside was just as cold.
"Jesus," I whispered.
Lila twisted around from the passenger seat and tossed me the sweater. "Here."
I grabbed it instantly, dumping my bag at my feet and yanking the sweater over my head without hesitation. I didn't miss the way Jamie's eyes flicked to me in the rearview mirror, sharp and assessing.
I closed my eyes, cupping my hands and blowing warm air into them, shoulders hunched.
"Can you turn the heat on?" I asked quietly.
Jamie scoffed. "Absolutely not."
I cracked one eye open. "Jamie-"
"Do you know how fast this car drinks gas?" he said, already fired up. "This little shit guzzles it like it's breakfast. I just filled the tank. I'm not turning on the heat just so I can cry at the gas station later."
Lila snorted.
I sighed, rubbing my arms. Figures.
The car pulled away from the curb, and for a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then Jamie glanced back at me again. "You ignored my text."
"I didn't-"
"So I'll ask again," he cut in. "Why did you need a sweater? Because for the past two days, you didn't seem cold at all. You were perfectly fine wearing the devil's jacket."
My stomach dropped.
"It's nothing," I said quickly.
Jamie hummed. "It's never nothing when you say it like that."
I stared out the window, jaw tight.
The car slowed at a light. Jamie twisted in his seat just enough to look at me properly. His eyes narrowed.
"Turn your neck."
My heart stopped. "What?"
"Raven."
Slowly, reluctantly, I turned my head.
Silence.
Then-"Oh my God."
Lila twisted around instantly. "What?"
Jamie let out a low, disbelieving laugh. "You've got a hickey."
My hand flew up to my neck. "Shit."
"Spill," Lila said, eyes bright as she leaned back between the seats.
Jamie reached over dramatically, gripping my shoulder. "I need details. Every. Single. One."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "It's nothing."
Jamie crossed his arms. "Liar. We've known you for years. And you have that look."
Lila nodded eagerly. "The 'I just ruined my own life' look."
I swallowed.
Yeah.
That one.
I exhaled heavily, leaning back against the seat.
"Fine. But you better not interrupt."
Lila mimed zipping her lips. Jamie raised his hands.
"We swear."
I took a deep breath.
"This morning, when I got to his office, he told me to come inside. And then..." I hesitated, feeling the heat creep up my neck.
Lila narrowed her eyes.
"Then?"
"He-" I swallowed. "He patted his lap for me to sit on it."
"BITCH!" Jamie screamed, slapping the dashboard. "As much as I hate you getting close to him, I love it at the same time. Tell me you sat down. Tell me."
Lila let out a squeal, shaking my arm.
"Oh my God."
I rolled my eyes.
"Yes. Then he grabbed something from his desk, and I saw his hands. His knuckles were bruised-really bruised. It looked like he'd been punching something. Hard."
Their excitement died down for a second. Lila's brows furrowed.
Jamie blinked, then scoffed.
"You do remember he beat David's ass for trying to rape you, right?"
My stomach twisted.
"I know... but it wasn't that bruised when it happened."
Lila's expression darkened.
"So he got in another fight."
A sick feeling settled in my gut.
Jamie hummed.
"Wonder who he went after this time."
I shrugged the thought away, continuing.
"I grabbed his hands to look at them, and then..." I bit my lip. "I kissed his knuckles."
They both screamed.
"You what?!" Lila smacked my arm. "You kissed them?!"
Jamie fanned himself again.
"Girl, just tell me when the wedding is at this point."
I shot him a look.
"It wasn't like that."
Lila gave me a knowing smirk.
"Mmhmm."
Ignoring them, I pushed forward.
"Anyway, the receptionist called his office, and I had to go downstairs. Right before I left, he..." My voice trailed off.
Jamie leaned forward.
"He what?"
"He pecked my lips."
The car exploded with screaming.
"OH, YOU'RE FINISHED." Lila slapped the dashboard.
Jamie grabbed my shoulders, shaking me.
"You are DONE for, babe. Might as well hand in your resignation-and your soul."
I groaned, hiding my face.
"You guys are impossible."
Lila huffed.
"We're impossible? No, you're impossible to keep this juicy ass drama from us the entire day."
"Let me finish!" I snapped.
They both settled down, barely containing their grins.
I sighed.
"So, I went downstairs... and that's when I saw the newspaper."
Jamie frowned.
"What was in it?"
I clenched my jaw.
"It was a picture of him and his wife. She was kissing his cheek, and he was smiling. Like, a huge smile."
Silence.
Then-
"Wait, wasn't he texting you last night?" Jamie's voice dropped an octave as he did a terrible impression of Dominic. "'Get some rest. Don't make me regret letting you out of my sight tonight.'"
Lila's eyes widened.
"So, while he was out with his wife, he was flirting with you?"
I swallowed, nodding.
"Exactly."
Jamie let out a long whistle.
"Damn."
I ran a hand through my hair.
"So, when I went back upstairs, I told him whatever we had was over and that we were strictly professional from now on."
Lila gasped.
"No way. No way."
Jamie's jaw dropped.
"Did he say anything?"
"He looked confused," I admitted. "Until I slapped the newspaper onto his desk."
They both leaned in.
I smirked.
"I said, 'cute couple,' and walked away."
Their screams echoed through the car.
"YOU DID NOT."
"YOU ARE ICONIC."
"I need to frame this moment," Jamie said, still half-laughing.
"Stop," I muttered.
That did it.
Jamie went quiet immediately. No jokes. No teasing. Just his eyes lifting to the rearview mirror, locking onto mine. Watching.
I swallowed.
"...I gave the jacket back," I said.
The words landed differently. Heavier. Final.
Lila turned slowly in her seat. "You what?"
"I gave it back," I repeated, quieter this time. "When I went upstairs."
Jamie didn't say a word. Didn't even blink. Just kept looking at me through the mirror, jaw tight-because he'd warned me. Over and over.
Lila spoke gently, like she already knew the answer. "Why?"
I stared out the window at the blur of snow and lights. My throat started to close, that familiar burn creeping up behind my eyes.
"Because when I wore it..." My voice cracked, and I hated that it did. "Everything felt too close. Too easy. Like I was slipping into his world without even realizing it."
Jamie's grip tightened on the steering wheel.
"That jacket," I went on, forcing the words out, "it wasn't just a jacket. It was him. His space. His smell. His pull." I laughed weakly. "I stopped feeling like myself in it."
Lila nodded slowly. "Like you were already halfway gone."
"Yeah," I whispered.
The image slammed into my head again-sharp and cruel.
The newspaper.
The photo.
Him standing next to her.
Perfect. Smiling. Married.
My chest burned.
"I had sex with him," I said suddenly, the words tumbling out like a confession. "And then I saw that picture. And it was like-" I sucked in a shaky breath. "Like ice water down my spine."
Jamie's eyes flicked to the mirror again. Still silent. Still listening.
"I don't do that," I said, anger lacing my voice now-at myself more than anyone. "I don't let men touch me like that. I barely know him. I don't know his past, his life, anything-and I still let him have me."
My hands curled into fists in my lap.
"God, I was so stupid."
"Raven," Lila said softly.
"I was in the elevator when I was coming to you guys," I said quietly.
My voice dropped without me meaning it to, like the memory pulled it down with it.
Jamie inhaled sharply. "Wait-wait. So what happened in the elevator?"
I closed my eyes and let out a slow breath. "Well..."
And I told them everything.
How he entered the elevator. How he'd trapped me inside with him. How he smelled so good I could barely think.
How he looked at me-like he was ready to devour me.
And then... how I told him he was a mistake.
Jamie and Lila sat there, wide-eyed.
"And the way he looked at me..." I shook my head. "Like he already knew how it would end. Like he was just waiting for me to stop pretending."
Jamie swallowed. "Jesus."
"I told him he was a mistake," I continued, my fingers twisting together in my lap. "I meant it. I had to mean it."
They both leaned in.
"And his face..." I hesitated, fidgeting. "It held amusement, but... also something else."
Lila whispered, "What?"
I swallowed. "Pain."
Silence.
Then Jamie gasped dramatically, throwing his head back.
"OH MY GOD."
Lila clutched her chest.
"You wounded him."
Jamie turned halfway in his seat to look at me. "Bitch. You broke him."
I scoffed weakly. "I didn't break anyone. He's married, for God's sake."
"Doesn't matter," Jamie said immediately. "You still hit him where it counts."
When we got inside of our apartment, I swallowed hard, the memory crashing back into me. "He got close. Really close. And then..." I hesitated.
Jamie practically vibrated with impatience. "Bitch, what?"
I exhaled sharply. "He told me I was a liar."
Lila frowned. "Huh?"
I clenched my fists. "He said I was lying to myself. That I didn't really want to walk away."
Jamie scoffed. "The audacity of this man."
But Lila hummed, tilting her head. "But is he wrong?"
I shot her a glare.
She just smirked. "Continue."
I licked my lips. "He got even closer. I could feel his breath on my face. And then he said..." I swallowed.
Jamie grabbed my hands. "Said what?"
I hesitated before lowering my voice.
"He said, 'The way your tight little pussy wrapped around me, the way you milked my cock like you were made for it.'"
Lila choked.
Jamie screamed. "WHAT?!"
I hid my face in my hands.
Lila fanned herself aggressively. "Jesus Christ."
Jamie grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. "This man wants you. No-scratch that. This man is obsessed with you."
I exhaled shakily. "That's not even the worst part."
Lila's eyes were huge. "Oh my god. There's more?"
I nodded.
Jamie whispered, "Tell us."
I lifted my head, locking eyes with them.
"He was hard just standing next to me."
Silence.
Then-
Jamie kicked the coffee table. "BITCH."
Lila gasped, shaking me. "No fucking way."
I swallowed, remembering the way his gaze had darkened, how his voice had dropped into a rough whisper as he'd leaned in, his warmth melting into mine.
"How close was he?" Jamie asked, eyes wild.
I licked my lips. "So close I could feel everything."
Lila let out a noise that could only be described as a squeal.
Jamie groaned. "This man is starving for you."
I let out a shaky laugh. "It was... intense."
Lila held her chest. "Did you-did you touch it?"
I shot her a look. "No!"
Jamie whined. "Missed opportunity, babe."
I groaned, dropping my head against the couch again. "You guys are insane."
Lila giggled. "Says the girl who has a married mafia boss obsessed with her."
I peeked at them through my fingers. "That's not even all."
Both of them leaned in immediately.
"Raven," Lila whispered. "Tell us."
I swallowed.
"He didn't rush anything. He did it slow-on purpose. Like he knew exactly how much taller he was, how cornered I felt. He tilted my chin, exposed my neck..."
My voice dropped. "And then he sucked my neck. Like he wanted to leave proof I belonged to him."
Jamie's mouth fell open.
"I couldn't think," I admitted. "My body just... reacted. I hated it. I loved it. Both at the same time."
Lila hugged a pillow to her chest. "Oh my god."
"And then," I continued, "he touched me like he already knew what I'd feel before I did. Like he was testing how far I'd let him go."
Jamie shook her head slowly. "That's dangerous."
"It gets worse," I said. "I was this close to letting it happen. And then I remembered."
"The newspaper," Lila said softly.
I nodded. "His wife. The picture. Everything crashed down at once, and I told him to stop."
Jamie held her breath. "And he did... right?"
I let out a humorless laugh.
"Not right away."
Both of them froze.
"He stepped back just enough to trap me," I said. "Not touching me-but not letting me go either. And he looked at me like he already knew I was fighting myself."
Lila whispered, "What did he say?"
"That I was still reacting to him," I said. "That my body was telling a different story than my mouth."
Silence fell over the room.
"But," I added, voice dropping, "I think giving the jacket back hurt him more than anything I said."
Jamie snorted. "Good."
I swallowed.
"Because now he knows I can walk away," I said. "And men like him don't take that lightly."
The room went still.
Lila met my eyes. "You think this is over?"
I didn't answer right away.
Because even as I stood there-safe, warm, surrounded by my people-I could still feel the echo of him.
Not on my skin.
But in my head.
"No," I finally said. "I think it just started."
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