Page 24 of Just One More Moment

“Yes, Raven?” His lips lifted in a knowing smirk.

She rolled her eyes at his mocking attitude. “Just because we’re sharing a room, a bed, and after tonight, probably having sex—”

“Definitely having sex.”

She shook her head at his bold claim. “Fine, definitely having sex, that doesn’t mean anything’s changed. We’re stillnotin a relationship.”

Ignoring the slight twitch in his eye wasn’t easy. She didn’t want to hurt him. She just needed to hang on to that piece of independence she might need if Lance decided to go after anyone else she cared about. Because in that case, she’d be out of here without looking back, and she couldn’t let herself get emotionally attached, she thought, ignoring the little voice that told her she already had.

Chapter Nine

Remy was right.Sleeping in his bed, wrapped in his arms, inhaling his warm, musky scent… Raven had slept better than she had in years. Probably since the night Emily had been attacked and Raven had decided it was time to live alone.

Stretching her arms above her head, she yawned and decided to take a hot shower. Remy wasn’t beside her and she assumed he was either working in his office or in the kitchen drinking his morning coffee.

She slid out of bed and discovered he’d left another one of his T-shirts hanging over a brown, leather club chair in the corner. On the table beside it was a hardcover novel. She stepped over, saw the Steve Berry title, and smiled. Remy obviously liked thrillers. It wasn’t hard to picture him stretched out, feet up in the chair, reading as a way to relax before bed.

Nor could she deny she liked learning personal things about the man she was falling for despite her better judgment. How could she not appreciate his protectiveness, understanding, and yes, his often demanding ways? Ways that were going to rear their ugly head when she told him she wanted to go out tonight. But she’d meant it when she said she wasn’t going to let fear rule her life.

Knowing she had some time, she looked around and found a pad and paper, pleased she didn’t have to use her phone’s notebook app. She did her best thinking when she hand wrote her poetry. Poetry nobody knew she wrote. As she sat by the window in his recliner, the words came to her and she knewthiswas what she’d be reading tonight. Something lighter than she’d thought of before. Because there were moments… with Remy… when she felt like a different Raven.

With a sigh, she grabbed his shirt and headed into the luxurious bathroom. Last night she’d rinsed her only pair of panties and hung them to dry, sleeping without them. It hadn’t been easy to lay enveloped in Remy and ignore the desire racing through her veins. But he’d been right in saying she needed to relax and feel safe. Faster than she could have imagined, and definitely quicker than if she were alone, she’d fallen asleep.

She took a quick shower, using all the jets in the glass enclosure, enjoying the pulsing as each hit her muscles. Closing her eyes, she appreciated the massage-like feel. After washing her hair with Remy’s shampoo and using his soap, she rinsed, shut the water and stepped out onto a soft, comfortable mat.

As she dried herself off, she couldn’t help but notice she smelled like Remy. And she liked it. She pulled on his shirt that came to right above her knees, and tied up her hair in a messy, wet bun.

Before joining Remy, she noticed her cell phone on the dresser, the only personal item she’d taken with her other than the clothes she’d worn yesterday.

Picking it up, she called Caleb and relayed last night’s events. “So I’m staying at Remy’s,” she told him, knowing he’d flip out if he couldn’t find her.

“Why didn’t you call me? I’d have come right over.”

She smiled at his expected answer. “Because you have Owen and you’d have had to find a sitter and Remy showed up soon after. I’m safe here.”

Her brother let out a rough breath. “Mom didn’t mention Lance was out early.”

And Raven hadn’t heard from Emily, not that she’d expected to. She hoped her old friend was okay and made a mental note to ask Remy to follow up with Garrett and find out what he could about her.

Caleb groaned. “I know you’re right but I don’t like that I can’t be with you. Did you call Cara?”

Raven closed her eyes for a brief moment. “No. I’m so frazzled I forgot. Would you mind doing it? Tell her I’ll get in touch when I’m more settled.”

Her younger sister was the baby her mother had in the hopes she’d have adutifuldaughter—unlike Raven—as she’d been informed so many times. Luckily, maybe because she was blood-related, Lance had left Cara alone… so far.

But Cara wasn’t the agreeable child Cassandra had wanted, and she’d recently moved out of their mother’s home to attend college in the city. She lived in a doorman apartment with a roommate, also keeping her distance from their mother and her toxicity. Cassandra didn’t like it but she had paid for Cara’s apartment choice thanks to the safety features.

“I’m worried about you,” Caleb said, breaking into her thoughts.

“If it’s about my physical safety, I’m okay in Remy’s penthouse apartment. Emotionally, I’m holding it together. That’s all I can say.”

Caleb groaned. “Owen, stop playing with the eggs and eat them,” he said. “You’re shaken up. I can tell.”

“I’ll be fine, Caleb. I won’t let Lance win.”

“I agree. Listen, I need to go help the little troublemaker with breakfast. Don’t be insulted if I call Remy and Iwillcheck on you later. Love you,” her brother said, then went on to explain to her adorable nephew why eggs belonged on plates and not the kitchen table, before disconnecting the call.

Still smiling, Raven made the large, king-sized bed, smoothing the wrinkles on the cocoa-colored comforter, and readjusting the pillows, taking her time to inhale Remy’s arousing scent.

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