Page 69 of The Fighter
“No.” She trailed a finger down my face and leaned closer. “There’s something about you that makes me curious.”
I wanted to believe her but had to ask, “Other men don’t?”
She shook her head. “There’s been a few that made me wonder what sex would be like, but you’re the first to make me want to try it.”
“I’m honored.” I felt myself soften again and gave her one of those smiles that she seemed to like so much. Raven didn’t resist when I moved her down on the couch or when I got on top of her. Instead she laughed.
“Don’t tell me that I’m the first woman to make you want to try sex.”
I laughed with her. “You’re not, but then I’m older than you and I’ve met a lot more people.”
“If by people you’re talking about women, then I doubt that to be true. I’ll bet that I’ve met far more men than you have met women.”
“Fair point, but I’m counting the women I’ve seen on-screen.”
Raven snorted in protest. “Most of those women are from the past so they don’t count.” She laughed. “You can only include women who are alive and whom you’ve met in real life.” Tilting her head, she asked, “What about Mila? Did you fantasize about having sex with her?”
I hesitated before answering, “Do you want my honest answer?”
Her eyes were saying no, but her mouth said, “Yes.”
“I have, Raven, and my guess is that so have all men who come in contact with her. Mila is beautiful and sweet.”
Raven’s arms stiffened around my shoulders and her mouth fell.
“It’s the same with you. I fantasized about you from the first day I met you. You have to know that you have that effect on most men.”
“Why? I’m not sweet like Mila.”
I brushed a lock of her hair from her face. “No, but you’re gorgeous and feisty. You speak to every hunting instinct we Nmen have. Mila is the pretty deer in the forest while you’re the sleek cougar with sharp claws.”
“How about a panther? I prefer panthers over cougars.”
“We don’t have panthers in the Northlands.”
Raven lifted her brow. “I wasn’t born here.”
“Fine, you’re like a panther then. A graceful predator that all hunters admire and respect.”
“That’s right, and don’t you ever forget it. If you try to hurt me, I’ll scratch and bite you hard.” She let her nails dig into my back.
“I’ll take my chances.” I changed position, sitting up on the sofa, and pulling Raven astride me. “Will you?”
“What? Take my chances?”
“Yes. What if you fall in love with me?”
Her brown eyes were much darker than mine as they studied me, but she didn’t answer.
“That could happen, you know.”
Nuzzling my neck with her fingers, Raven kissed me. “Is that what you’re hoping for? That I fall in love with you?”
“I would be a poor hunter if I let my panther go.”
“But a panther is a wild creature and needs to roam, Leo. She would never be happy in a cage.”
“Ahh, but what if the cage was so big that she never felt like she was in one?”
