“It was a huge scandal,” Matt said. “He was caught tampering with evidence they said.”
My brow furrowed. I didn’t like the sound of that. Especially considering we’d just done something similar. “Like what we did?”
He shrugged. “We told a white lie. Not the same.”
“Do you think he did it?” I asked.
“The evidence thing?” he asked.
I nodded.
“I know he did,” he said. “My parents were involved somehow but I never got the details. I was really young when it all went down. All I know is that whatever went down, it was messy and dragged a bunch of the big families into the mess. When it was over, he was out of a job and sent here.”
“Huh.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. So far, Dr. Green had been a surprising ally. “Well, I guess I should be grateful that he’s here. If someone like Officer M had been in charge, I’d be screwed.”
“That’s true,” Matt said.
“Which brings us back to this whole thing,” I said. “I owe you. Big time. Even though I don’t want to owe you.”
“Hey, we’re even,” he said. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“Yes, I do. I’d be in prison right now if not for you.”
He frowned. “I’m serious, Raven. I didn’t even think twice about it. I couldn’t bear to have them take you away from me. It was completely self-serving.”
My brow furrowed as I studied his expression. He was sincere. “It’s the magic bond. We created it with the meld. You and Zach have done so much to help me. It’s not fair that you feel so connected to me because I couldn’t figure out my magic.”
“Is that what you think?” he asked. “That we don’t want to have you around?”
“Well, it’s not real, right? It was the magic that bonded us,” I said. Not the way I bonded with Ben or Luka. It wasn’t the same, was it?
“Oh, Raven.” Matt scooted to the cushion in between us. “Why don’t you see how amazing you are?”
“I know I’m amazing,” I said. “I have zero issues with my self-confidence. It’s the whole making other people feel beholden to me when it was manufactured by magic.”
“You do realize we wouldn’t be able to feel this way if there wasn’t something between us to begin with, don’t you?”
“Well, I know you’ve been trying to get into my pants since we met if that’s what you’re taking about,” I said.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” he leaned a little closer.
I held my breath, my body responding to his, wetness already between my thighs. I couldn’t do this, could I?
“I’m not saying you’re not attractive,” I said.
“Then what are you waiting for?” He leaned even closer until his lips were right over mine. I could feel his warm breath on my face.
I could get up and walk away. I didn’t have to do this. I could stop everything right now.
But I didn’t want to.
Fuck it.
I leaned toward him, pressing my lips to his. His kiss was electric, sizzling into my lips and all the way down to my core.
His tongue slid into my mouth and he grabbed the back of my head, pulling me deeper into the kiss.
My body responded, my hips already rocking toward him. It was as if I’d lost control of myself. All I wanted was to get him naked.