The question is, what will we do with that knowledge?
31
Charles
Back in the hotel,I don’t bother with pleasantries. Instead, I whisk Raven straight to my room.
No words are spoken as I open the door, pull her into the suite, and lead her through the master bedroom to the bed.
“This is forward, sir.” Her arse hits the mattress.
“I think we’re well past formalities, love. Unless, of course, you insist I woo you first.”
She giggles, and it is possibly one of the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard.
I’m happy when she’s happy.
It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in a long time.
I like it.
“I want to do this right,” I admit to her. We are both sitting on the bed, fully clothed, holding hands, fingers entwined.
“Nope. This works,” she says.
I lean in and kiss her, pulling her closer to me. She feels good in my arms.
“Rae. You are so beautiful.” I reach over to unbutton her shirt. “But you’d look even lovelier without this on.”
She chuckles. “Why do you insist on always calling me Rae?”
“Why do you insist on asking me that every time?” I retort.
She gets quiet for a moment, and I tip her chin up with my finger. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just... only my dad has ever called me that.”
The pitch of her voice sears my soul.
We’re kindred spirits.
Both feeling too much.
Joy.
Sadness.
Anger.
Does my calling herRaemake her angry? “Now I understand. Would you prefer I not call you that?” I hope not because I’m quite partial to the nickname.
“Would you actually listen?”
I squeeze her hand in mine. “Of course, I would. Had I known before, I would’ve stopped.”
That makes her shake her head. “No. I don’t want you to. I like thatyoucall me Rae.”
“Good. Because I don’t want to stop.”