Page 67 of The Fighter
Raven’s question surprised me. “Why wouldn’t they?”
“Because she was so young and he was a stranger to her.”
I ran my hands through my hair. “Raven, things were different back then. Men like Henry, they…” I trailed off, not sure how to say it.
“They what?”
“You’ve mostly been around men who grew up with you at the school, but those men are very different from the rest of us. I mean, I didn’t see a woman for the first time until I was an adult. For someone like Henry, a wife symbolized the unique chance to have a family, and he would have wanted to start it the moment he got Dina to himself.”
“But she was a child.”
“No, not in his eyes, Raven. Not in anyone’s eyes back then. She was a young woman able to give birth and that was what mattered.”
“So, you’re admitting that to Nmen, we women are nothing but breeders.”
I wanted to swallow my own tongue for being so clumsy with my words. “I don’t know if I can explain it right, but you women are the reason we get out of bed in the morning. You are what makes us strive for greatness, you make us push to be the best version of ourselves. You women are the ultimate reward for a warrior and we treasure you as a group and as individuals. A few are privileged to get close to you and those men are admired and envied by all of us.”
While I spoke, Raven’s features softened. “So, tell me this: if you had won me in a tournament tonight, what would we be doing right now?”
I licked my dry lips, not sure what she was up to. “You know what we would be doing.”
Her breathing picked up and her eyes dilated. “How would I know? I’ve never been married.”
My breathing picked up too, my heart racing as fast as my mind, which was frantically screaming not to touch her and warning about what had happened the last time.
“Do you want to get married?”
“Maybe. But it would help me if you could show me what to expect if I do. You are my mentor, after all.”
I wanted to strip her naked and take her right here on the table, but I found a bit of self-control and looked deep into her eyes. “Not here. All rooms at the station have cameras and although I really don’t care if anyone sees my naked ass, I don’t want anyone to see yours.”
I transferred everything we needed from the wristband for later use and closed down the system. “We’re going to my house.”
“Oooh, how exciting.” Raven smiled at me. “Just remember your own advice.”
“What was that?”
“Don’t get emotionally attached. We’re only doing this to learn.”
CHAPTER 17
One on One
Leo
Raven flew with me and called up the security team at the Gray Manor to make sure they didn’t alert her father because of her absence. I didn’t say anything when she programmed her drone to fly over.
“Hey, Oscar, I’m just letting you know that I’ll be home late tonight. I’m at my parents’ house.”
“Thank you, Raven. I’ll note that down. Just need you to put Boulder on the line first to confirm.”
She frowned. “You’re not serious – I’m not a child.”
Oscar cleared his throat. “I know that. I’m just following protocol.”
With an annoyed sigh. Raven reached her wrist out to me. “Dad, would you mind telling the nice and overprotective guard that I’m safe with you?”
I looked at her wristband and back to meet her eyes. Pretending to be Alexander Boulder was not a good idea. Raven’s father was powerful and would show no mercy if he found out I’d messed around with his daughter.
