Page 9 of My Wild Mountain Man

“What?” I frowned.

“I don’t drink when I have to drive,” she shared.

“That’s good, baby. Smart.”

“So?”

“Raven––“

“One night,” she quickly repeated, pulling away a little more so her eyes could connect better with mine. “I need to get over you,” she blurted, and I stilled. Everything inside of me turned cold.

“Excuse me?” I asked and watched as she stepped back, her shoulders dropped.

“You know how I feel about you. I’ve had a crush on your forever and––“

“That was little kid stuff, Rave.”

“No.” She stubbornly shook her head, making her even more beautiful. “It wasn’t. It’s real. And I need to move on. I’m twenty-one, and I’ve never… I’ve never even been on a date or kissed someone. All because I keep thinking about you. It’s like my heart is the most stubborn thing in the world!” She was clearly frustrated. Her words left me momentarily tongue tied. She wanted to get over me?

“Raven––“

“You know what? Forget it!” She laughed awkwardly. I hated how pale she looked. “Forget what I said. Please, forget it. Oh god, I can’t believe I just said that! It was stupid. I got caught up in the moment,” she rambled, but her words replayed in my head. Bouncing around like a ping pong ball.

“I’ll see you around, okay?” She turned around and headed towards where she’d been with her friends. She grabbed herpurse and quickly waved bye to her friends and awkwardly waved at me before walking out of the bar.

I was stunned by her confession.

I need to get over you. I need to move on. I’ve never even been on a date or kissed…

Fuck. I’d known she was innocent, but Raven Trejo was completely untouched like fresh fallen snow because she wanted me.Me?A wild mountain man with not a whole bunch to offer her?

“You let her go, stud, you’re stupider than I gave you credit for,” Hillary suddenly said next to me.

“Hill,” I rasped. She didn’t understand. She didn’t get how Raven was too good for me. Too young. Too forbidden. “Hillary.” She shook her head, her eyes wise from her time on earth and everything she’d seen in her life.

“If you don’t go after her today, you’re going to regret it. Go,” she ordered before walking away, carrying empties on her tray.

I did the only thing a rational red-blooded man would do in that moment.

I went after my girl.

raven

. . .

I droppedmy keys on the ground and growled with a little stomp. I bent to reach for them.

I couldn’t believe what I’d just done! I had actually said it! Suggested he show me everything he was good at.

Oh god! Why did I do that?

I was going to have to hide in my apartment and salon for the rest of my life. There was no way I could go anywhere else when it would risk bumping into Bash. My hands shook and my body felt like it wasn’t my own. I was definitely a never-been-kissed virgin if a couple of dances got me all hot and bothered and got my tongue all loose! Loose enough to ask him to do me, so I could get him out of my system!I’d actually done that!

I felt him before I heard the heavy sound of his footsteps. He stopped and stood behind me as I stood up, my car keys in hand. His energy palpitated against me.Or maybe that is wishful thinking on my part?

“Raven.” My name sounded like a plea, and my eyes shut.

He’d come after me. Why? Was it because he knew my older brother and wanted me to be safe or something else?

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