Page 107 of Wicked

Something is happening, and I don’t know what’s going on. All I know is, I’m on the knife’s edge, and it’s a long way to fall. As he kisses my neck, I begin to pant.

“You’re perfect, Raven. Perfect in every way.”

I freeze, and his words hit me. It’s almost too much, and did he… does he really mean it?

I pant nervously. I’m excited… terrified… and above all else…

On edge.

45

DANTE

After cleaning up after dinner, we relax in the warm castle chamber. Tito lays by the fire, and standing nearby, I ponder life, death, and what the hell it’s all about. It is the first time I’ve really done it, and I suspect it all comes from thinking about my grandfather and the fact that nothing lasts.

“Ever think of a bucket list?” I ask without planning to.

Raven looks up from patting Tito on the edge of the fireplace, and the dog lays between her legs. Again, stealing my job.

“Not really, but I get it. I like the idea.”

I drop into one of the chairs while looking at her, Tito, and the fire. “Feel like a small list?”

Raven perks up and fast. “Why not?”

“Okay, how’s this for an idea?” I say, thinking fast. “We both write down a mini bucket list of things…”

“We’re keen to one day do!” Raven says. “And let’s say only three. If we’re not careful, it’ll go into the tens with us wanting to see this, do that, and make this. It’ll run up to like fifty.”

“Agreed,” I say, liking Raven’s love of life and her drive to actually do things, not just talk.

“And if we find something we both want to do, we have to do it together.”

Our eyes meet, and hold…why not?

No one knows where we will be, who we will be with, and who we will actually be in a decade, but screw it. We can both see statues or visit some strange islands together. Why the heck not?

“Agreed!” I say.

Raven puts her hand out to seal the deal, and I lean over. As we shake hands, she jumps back in. “Oh, and once we finish writing the list, we read one out, and then the other person does one. Backwards and forwards and no peeking at them, either. We basically go down the list! It’ll keep the surprises dramatic!”

“Sure!” I say as I think of hidden traps.

As Raven stands, I can tell she is deep in thinking mode. She gets a Renaissance era sword from the side of the wall, and she starts to remove her dress.

She was not wearing a bra or thong, and suddenly, she is naked.

“Woman?” I ask, confused.

“I’m making it more fun. You too, old bastard.” Raven swishes the sword my way, and she raises an eyebrow. “Now.”

I shake my head before I peel off my jersey, jeans, and my black boxer briefs. Tossing them aside, I glance at Tito. “Hey, it was your mother’s idea.”

I select a sword as Raven pulls on her fairy wings. She sits down with the sword and one of her pens from the table.

As I sit near her, I cannot help but smile. “We may need to keep you around. You’re not entirely boring.”

I’d said it as a throwaway, but we look at each other, and I freeze.

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