With her in his life now, he was going to make sure she took care of herself, and if she was stubborn, he’d take care of her. Simple as that.
Sebastian opened the door, and Raven stood close to it. “You may go back in now.”
She shot Sebastian a glare but brushed right past him.
The other man smiled as he closed the door. Carlos didn’t know if Sebastian was happy that he’d made a decision in a wife or just attempting to make good on a bad situation.
“I don’t like him,” Raven said.
“Why?”
“I … he’s too damn smug, that’s why.”
“I agree, but I also don’t believe he’s responsible for the attempted hit.”
“I agree with you, reluctantly,” Raven said, dropping down into the chair Sebastian had just vacated.
“You are?”
“Does that surprise you?”
“A little.”
Raven sighed. “He looked surprised, not that fake kind of shit kids pretend on Christmas morning when they get a shit present either. Genuine surprise. Also, he’s the fucking underboss. There is no way he’d hire a sloppy hitter. It just can’t happen.”
“Unless he did it to throw us off his scent.”
She wrinkled her nose, which was so incredibly cute. The dress she wore fit her perfectly. He’d already texted one of his guards to bring lunch, and that was what he was waiting for. “No, it doesn’t strike me as something he’d do, you know? I guess I could be wrong. We still need to keep tabs on him.”
“You’re second-guessing yourself?”
“It can happen, trust me.”
There was another knock at the door, and Raven stood, putting herself in front of him.
“Relax. I ordered food.”
“You ordered food?”
He held up his cell phone. “Trusty little device. I can text, phone, and email.” He winked at her, going to the door and opening it. His soldier held a box of food. Carlos took the box from him and thanked him before closing the door and returning to Raven. This time, he didn’t go to his desk, but to the coffee table, putting down the box filled with cartons.
“What did you order?”
The scent of garlic and tomatoes filled the air.
“I own an amazing Italian restaurant, complete with the most amazing chef. He cooks all of my favorite dishes and then invents some that I’ve never heard of. His food is … delicious. Come on. Come and eat.” This was part of his attempt to help her take care of herself.
Raven sighed, and he heard her stomach growl.
“I guess I could eat.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you could.”
She got to her feet and walked toward him, dropping down beside him.
“Close your eyes,” he said.
Her brows rose.
“Can’t you have a little trust?”
“The last time I trusted someone, someone else I cared about got hurt. Trust is a little difficult.”
Carlos figured that was Abriana. He’d paid careful attention to learn everything he needed to know about Raven, or at least as much information he was able to find out.
“No one will get hurt. I promise. You’re trying the delicious, tasty, mouth-watering food. You can’t tell me that your mouth isn’t watering?” he asked.
“It is … watering.”
He chuckled. “Come on, tough girl. Open your mouth.” He couldn’t help but imagine what other things he could put in her mouth, like his erect dick. Feeling that tongue slide across the tip, moving down. Her lips engulfing him as he sank into her throat.
“Has anyone ever called you a tease?” she asked, closing her eyes and opening her lips.
“Not recently.”
Opening a carton, he saw the warm oven-roasted, marinated cherry tomatoes that he adored. Heavily fragranced with garlic, oregano, basil, and black pepper, as well as the final sprinkle of sea salt for those bursts of intense flavor.
He gathered one up on the spoon and placed it in Raven’s mouth. She closed her plump lips around the spoon, and he slid it out. Carlos watched her chew, and then, she quickly covered her mouth as a moan left her lips. “Oh my, that is so good.” She drew out the so good, making it last.
Raven opened her eyes and Carlos popped one into his own mouth, enjoying the splendid taste for several moments.
“See, you need to learn to trust me,” Carlos said. “I can completely blow your mind.”
Her cheeks were flush, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before he had her craving him for something more than to feed her food.
“Now, would you like to try more?” he asked.
Her eyes closed and her mouth opened.
Raven would be his.
****
Abriana stood outside of Bella’s room and watched as Ugly Beast stroked their daughter’s hair.
Their baby girl was another year older tomorrow, and she couldn’t believe how quickly the time was passing. People were not wrong when they told her to cherish every single moment as it was never long enough.
She dreaded the day that her baby girl would go away to college, or get married, or find someone else to love. Having children was the most amazing and heart-breaking experience of all time.