Page 14 of Raine
“Do you know why I showed up at Arcane?” Raven questions, and I realize I’ve been staring at her for the past five minutes while my mind went on a tangent.
Shrugging my shoulder, I yawn for theatrics and say, “No, no, I don’t. But feel free to enlighten me.”
Her painted red lips tip up in a smirk, and my belly flips.
“That mouth, how I’ve missed that dirty little mouth. I’ve been watching you, Raine.”
The butterflies I was experiencing turn sour in my stomach, bile swishing and threatening to erupt out of my damn mouth.What does she mean she’s been watching me?
Settling for something casual, I answer, “Oh?”
“Yes, oh.”
“That’s it?”
“Not at all, but I think we will wait until we reach my headquarters.”
I turned away from her, no longer enjoying her probing stare, and looked out the window. My buzz had well and truly worn off, and now I was left feeling antsy, and I didn’t relish the feeling at all.
When Raven said headquarters, I knew she was taking me to one of her buildings. She owned a powerful law firm, and she was the best in the business, hence why she was on the Tartarus Mafia’s workbooks and how we knew each other.
I think that was another reason I gravitated toward her. I didn’t need to pretend to be anything other than me. She knew my life and what it entailed, knowing I’d be forever entwined with the mafia, and it didn’t bother her. Well, beside my entwinement with Arrow. The jealousy between them was off the damn Richter scale.
We arrived at her firm thirty minutes later, and after Jonathon parked the limo, we exited the vehicle, and Raven walked off in front of me, clearly expecting me to follow.
Rolling my eyes, I cinch closed the long, black jacket I snagged from the dressing room at the club before following behind her.
Walking behind her is like a slow burn. I know it’s going to hurt when she doles out the punishments, but I can’t fucking wait.
Our relationship was always unorthodox. It wasn’t a typical Dom and sub relationship, but there were lines in the sand that we wouldn’t cross, hard limits were noted, and safe words were in place in case they were needed.
There was never a title to our relationship, and when push came to shove and Raven overstepped, I ended what we had, and we hadn’t seen each other until tonight.
Truth be told, I believe she was licking her oozing ego wounds after I left and ended it. Serves her right for going on a power trip and demanding things from me; she should have never even thought about it.
Entering the lobby, light shines off the black tiles, and I look around the vestibule to see that she has decorated it with greenery. Leafy green plants line the white walls and end just before the elevator, with the counter and waiting area to the left.
Raven punches in the code, and we step in together. She enters another code for the penthouse, and we soar to the top. She leans against the gold banister that lines the mirrored elevator walls with a pensive look on her face.
Her slate-colored eyes aren’t focused on me; instead, she’s looking away, a small frown marring her otherwise perfectly smooth skin.
After a few more awkward moments, the elevator stops, and the door opens to her penthouse. Nostalgia hits me in the face like a freight train at full speed, and memories rise to the surface as I remember everything that had ever happened in this space.
Her deep red walls were accentuated with black and white BDSM photographs; black cornices lined the white ceiling, and the cherry-red floors added to the sensual aesthetic she’d always exuded.
She throws her clutch, keys, and phone on the entry table and points for me to do the same. She’s always hated having electronic devices anywhere near her living areas, and I knew exactly why. It was the same reason that Justyce, Arrow, Acheron, and I left our phones out of hearing space when we had meetings together. Besides Google, you never knew who was listening. We were all powerful people, and it wasn’t something we’d risk.
After placing my phone and purse on the table, I slip out of my jacket and hang it in the closet. When I turn around, she’s standing under the black, gothic-looking chandelier with her feet hip-width apart, and her arms crossed tightly across her chest.
“Kneel.”
The thought of disobeying her crosses my mind, but instead, I release a heavy breath and say, “Why are we doing this, Raven?”
“Lady Raven.”
“Whatever. You said you’ve been watching me; why?”
“Because I watch what’s mine.”
