“Yours,” she moans, the word breaking on a deep thrust. “God, Matteo, right there.”
I angle my hips to hit the spot that makes her eyes roll back, feeling her tighten around me as another orgasm builds. She’s so fucking perfect like this. Hair wild across the pillow, lips swollen from my kisses, body flushed and marked with my possession.
When she comes for the third time, her entire body convulses beneath mine, her inner muscles clamping down so hard it’s almost painful. The sight of her completely undone, the feeling of her squeezing my cock is all it takes to push me over the edge.
“I love you,” I groan as I follow her into oblivion, emptying myself inside her in hot pulses. “Fuck, Raven, I love you.”
For several moments, there’s only the sound of our breathing, harsh and uneven in the morning light. I release her wrists, letting my forehead rest against hers as we both come down. Her eyes are closed, her expression unreadable.
“I have to work today,” I say finally, reluctant to break the moment but knowing I can’t stay.
She opens one eye. “Mhmm, okay. I’m going back to sleep,” she murmurs. A slow smile spreads across her face, lighting something in my chest. “You’ve worn me out.”
I kiss her one more time before forcing myself to get out of bed. Real life waits, but for once, I find I’m eager to get through it just to get back to her.
The moment I close Raven’s door behind me, I feel the shift in me. Maybe change isn’t the right word. It’s like the ruthless part of me merges with the side that just nutted while whispering confessions of love.
Huh, maybe both sides can coexist better than I ever thought possible. With that happy thought, I whistle as I make my way outside to my car.
My phone rings as I slide behind the wheel. Vito’s name flashes on the screen.
“Talk to me,” I answer, pulling into late morning traffic.
“The warehouse is secure,” he reports. “And I’ve got men watching the docks for tonight’s shipment.”
Even though he can’t see me, I nod. “Good. And who’s on Raven duty?”
Cleveland blurs past my windows while he tells me about the rotation I’m pretty sure he’s already explained, my mind sorting through the day’s priorities. A shipment is coming in tonight. Meeting with Rafe. The second explosion is still unsolved.
“Sounds good,” I say when Vito’s done talking. “Keep me updated if anything changes.” I end the call without waiting for a response.
At my building, I nod to the security guard, who straightens visibly when he sees me. The private elevator whisks me to the top floor in seconds. Inside my apartment, everything is exactly as I left it. It feels emptier than usual after Raven’s chaotic space.
I strip and step into the shower, letting scalding water sluice over me. Steam fills the glass enclosure as I scrub away the scent of sex and Raven. As soon as her smell is gone, I miss it. Luckily, I plan on getting it back tonight.
Dressed in a black suit that fits like armor, I check my appearance in the mirror. I fucking hate looking at the empty eye socket, so I quickly put on my eyepatch.
My mind takes me back to breakfast with my Little Thief where she wanted to see beneath the patch. Fuck me, I claim to love her, but I’ve never even shown her my weakness. My… imperfection, so to speak.
I wonder why that is. Is it because Raven’s attracted to shiny and pretty things? No, she’s not that shallow. If she was, she wouldn’t give my burned face the time of day. What she is is compassionate.
Shaking my head, I recall the tears in her eyes, the ones neither of us mentioned. My Little Thief was crying for me, and if that isn’t enough to make my heart swell I don’t know what is.
Refusing to think more about it, I grab my keys and lighter, pocketing both before heading to where I’m meeting Rafe.
On the way, I stop at a drive-through to get coffee and a… what was it Raven said about my breakfast choices being boring? Grinning, I order four plain doughnuts. And when I get the order, I take a selfie while I’m biting into one and send it to her.
Me: How’s that for a not-so boring breakfast?
Her reply comes as I merge back into traffic.
Little Thief: You only get half a point for that.
Me: What would make it a full point?
Little Thief: Sprinkles.
Rafe’s office is in a converted warehouse near the docks—legitimate on paper, with four floors of shipping management above and something far more profitable below. I park in the private lot and make my way inside, nodding to the guards who immediately step aside.
