Page 168 of 12 Months of Mayhem

“Not just no, but hell the fuck no.” And I can usually hang with the shit they’re pouring up, but I’ll be happy if I never have to drink A Hairy Dick from here ever again.

“Hey, Papi, we’ve got a surprise for you,” the strippers tug me away from my friends, leading me toward the private dance area. I catch a few thumbs up in response from the guys, but I choose to ignore them.

The back wall of the club reminds me of those old-school phone booths, only they aren’t made out of windows. There’s slot after slot, ten in total, where you can sit down and get a private dance. The only thing separating you from everyone else are the sparkly stringy curtains. The constant air conditioning running in the place sends them twisting around, so you get very little privacy with the dancers. I have a feeling it’s all done on purpose for their safety.

There are a couple back rooms as well, but only select people get to use them. I’ve never seen Raven enter any of them when I’m around, so that brings me a twisted sense of peace. I have no right to think or feel some type of way, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and every alpha cell inside me screams Raven is supposed to be mine.

It’ll happen.

Someday.

They push me into the biggest booth, more excited than I’d expect them to be about me getting a private dance. With a chuckle, I oblige, twisting around and sitting in the solitary spot. Smirking at them, my brows rise as if to silently ask, “Now what?” I’ll go along with their plan, as they seem to be tickled over what they’ve got in store for me.

Maria winks, then they move out of the way, and a new face appears in their place.

Raven.

Chapter Two

Powerhouse

I’m not even joking, I swear to G, trumpets go off in my mind. If I could have hearts lighting up my eyes, it’d be happening right now as I stare at this stunning woman in front of me.

“Hi,” I sign. Proud of myself because I’ve been making it my GD mission to learn how to better communicate with her.

Her perfect little mouth pops open for a beat, momentarily stunned. Her lips twist into a soft smile, and she shoots me a thoughtful glance. I feel like for the first time since she’s been here, she finally sees me, no longer looking right past me when I’m around. Her attention has my stomach spinning in excitement and nerves, I’ve wanted to talk to her from the moment I first noticed her.

“Hi. You can talk; I can read your lips when I look at you.”

Hmm… maybe that’s why she never checks out any of the men, only the women. She misses every disgusting word uttered by those fucknuts but is able to communicate with the girls. Raven is smart. But also dumb. Doesn’t she know how dangerous that can be? G-forbid the wrong dipshit thinks she’s being a bitch and ignoring him, and they try to hurt her. The thought of a man laying hands on her in any way nearly sends me spiraling. It has my fingers clenching into fists, wanting to rip skulls from spines to keep her protected and sweet.

Her gaze flicks to my fists, her brow furrowing, so I immediately relax them, dipping my head and leaning closer so she’ll catch my gaze again. I want to sign to her so it’s easy for her, but she told me to speak, so I also don’t want her thinking I’m disrespecting her wishes. I’m not the smartest guy around, been told so my whole damn life, but I was hoping she wouldn’t notice since she wouldn’t hear some of the dumb shit coming out of my mouth. My momma always told me I was nothing but a dumb-dumb and I’d grow up to be more of the same. Will Raven notice? Will she think I’m stupid too, or will she think I’m not so bad since I know how to sign to her?

“All good. You’re stunning; it has my heart beating fast,” I lay my hand against my chest and say, instead of admitting what I want and all the worries running through my mind of being nothing but a big disappointment to her too. How I’m sorry for making her give my hands a second look and how they’ll never, ever hurt her. I want to tell her my fists belong to her, she can wield them however she sees fit, and if anyone touches a hair on her pretty little head, I will raze them down.

Too soon? Probably.

Crazy? Don’t care.

Obsessive? Yep, I’m aware.

When you know… you just know. There is not one doubt in my mind there isn’t another woman on this planet for me, other than Raven. Now, I have to figure out a way to get her on the same page because my idea of a fun time is not kidnapping the woman of my dreams against her will.

‘Feel’ by Beneld begins to pump through the speakers, and then I’m being transported to another place entirely. It’s only me and Raven in this club, and in this world right now.

Me and her.

Her and me.

Her hips shift, right then left, her body rolling with the lyrics and the beat as if she feels them down to her soul. She’s a goddess, and watching her this closely has goosebumps prickling over my flesh. The air conditioning blows against my heated skin on this warm December evening, the hairs on my arms feeling like they’re standing on edge from the chills coating me. It’s always warm in Texas this time of year, then it’ll randomly drop and spit a bit of snow just to confuse everyone, and my birthday’s no different, it seems.

I’m in fucking love with this chick. I know it down to the marrow of my bones. I would do anything to have her. To make her mine.

There are no limits.

The lyrics croon on about feeling while Raven moves closer and closer with each tilt of her hips, her tits at the perfect level with her standing for a massive man like me. It’s another reason why I’ve kept my distance from her. I’m easily six-foot-five, and this sweet, petite woman is barely pushing five-foot-three if I had to take a guess. She’s tiny. I’m huge. It makes everything inside me want to be her shadow. Her protector.

I don’t want to frighten her. There’s nothing soft about me; I’ve honed my body into a prime fighting machine. I’m scarred up from taking hits and being stabbed. I’m not pretty. Not like her.

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