Page 16 of My Wild Mountain Man

“It’s good to know that. To remind me of that because I think not having dated as much, I get things mixed up in my head and my—" She pressed her hand over her heart.

My teeth gritted down, biting my tongue on purpose to keep me from saying something stupid. Something like no, she wasn’t mixing anything up. She was mine. But no matter how much I wanted her, I couldn’t claim her. Not when it meant losing one of my best friends

“I’ll drive you home,” I forced myself to say, but she shook her head.

“My car’s just right down the street.”

“Baby—”

“I’ll see you Friday. Maybe,” she said, leaning towards me, and before I knew what she was doing, she rose on the tips of her toes and kissed me on the cheek. It lingered for a moment, but before I could react and turn my head to have her mouth meet mine, she pulled back and hurried away.

I stood as I watched her walk to her car, hidden in the shadows of the street right outside the parking lot. I didn’t move for a long moment, even after she was gone. The night replayed in the back of head. Dancing with her again. Kissing her again and knowing how fucking forbidden it was.

With a shake of my head, I got into my truck and drove off.

But instead of going home, I drove to her place and parked across the street. Her car was in her driveway. She was safe. But I sat there, watching the light of her bedroom like I could somehow look through walls. I could see the shadow of her form as she walked through the room, then the light in the living room turned on. Her curtains were sheer in there. The blinds hadn’t been drawn back, so I could make out her form a little better.

My heart ached.

Everything in my body, every fucking molecule, was shouting at me to storm to her door and beg her to let me in. But I didn’t. I kept my ass planted in the driver’s seat, watching what I couldn’t have. Not the way I wanted, at least. What I assumed was her bedroom was lit. I could see her shadowy form on the other side. I wanted to knock and beg for her to let me in so I could fucking kiss her from head to toe.

But I didn’t. Instead, I started my truck back up and drove home to a frustrating night of tossing and turning.I’ll see you Friday. Maybe. Her words replayed in my head like a ping pong game.I get it. Because of Onyx.What she didn’t get, what she didn’t know, was it wasn’t all on my friendship with her brother.

My tastes, the things I enjoyed and wanted to do to her, were too much for a sweet, innocent like Raven to handle. The way Iwanted to manhandle her, dominate and watch her break under me over and over would be too much. Maybe it would be better for both of us if she didn’t show up on Friday.

Liar, a voice in my head called me out before I fell asleep thinking about all the dark and twisted things I’d do to my pretty girl if I had the chance.

In my dreams, no one would know. No one would get upset. And maybe that’s the closest I would ever get to claiming Raven Trejo as my own.

raven

. . .

I sweptup the hair from my last job, my mind full of things I should definitely not be thinking about.

Mainly Bash Ledesma.

Bash and those strong arms that made me feel safe and delicate when I was in them. Bash and his way too talented mouth. I shook my head, my heart heavy and torn about what to do. It was Wednesday, and it wasn’t a surprise to me that he hadn’t come in for a haircut like I offered.

I hadn’t seen him. I was avoiding life. Something that, according to my sisters, I was excellent at doing.

“Hey, Raven!” Claire, my coworker, called out. “That cut looked great,” she complimented.

“Thanks.”

“I’m going to get going. Chelly just texted. Practice got out early. You okay closing up on your own?” Claire wasn’t just awesome to work with, she was also raising her younger sister, Chelly, who was a junior at the local high school.

“Don’t worry about it. I got it.”

“Thanks! I owe you! I’ll bring you your favorite coffee from Pine and Grind,” she offered, giving me a hug before she rushed out.

I didn’t turn her down because I had a feeling if she didn’t go get us coffee, I would have anyways with how badly I’d been sleeping. I headed to the back to get the dustpan I had forgotten when I heard the bell over the front door chime.

“I’ll be right with you!” I called out. It wasn’t unusual for someone to come in just before closing. What I didn’t expect was the man I had been so busy thinking about to be standing by my station.

Not only standing there but with a bag of what smelled like incredible food and a coffee drink in his hands.

“Hey,” he called out, and my head tilted. “I know it’s late, but you said, well… Maybe you can squeeze me in before you close?”

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