Page 63 of Caged Between the Beta & Alpha
“That’s because I hated reading. I only passed because Liam did my coursework.” He grinned and I smiled. Oh, how I missed those days.
“There is someone who’s a pro in literature…” Damon said hesitantly. “Someone who might see something we didn’t.”
“Who?” I asked.
“Robyn. She’s still studying literature and history, and she’s smart.” I felt a pang of pain, but I nodded. If Damon could be selfless, then why couldn’t I?
“Perfect, then we should ask her. She can be trusted, right?”
“Yeah,” Damon said. He walked over to me and cupped my face, making my heart thunder. “This will be nothing more than her helping us.” I smiled, looking up at him.
“Do I even have any right to act so selfish?” I asked, smiling softly. Damon smiled back.
“Of course you do, and I like it,” he whispered huskily. “I do care for you, Raven.”
“I know,” I said, staring into his eyes.
His smile faded, his gaze dipping to my lips. He slowly looked back into my eyes as if seeking permission, his heart thudding as fast as mine was.
“Can I kiss you, gorgeous?” He asked quietly.
I nodded slowly, and Damon leaned down, claiming my lips in a soft, tender kiss. A wave of tingles rushed through me, the sweet taste of his mouth and the softness of his lips making my heart race like a galloping horse. I slowly placed my hand on his chest, kissing him back, but before we could deepen the kiss, Dad’s voice erupted in my head.
How dare you? Where are you?
I flinched, pulling away.
“Hey, are you okay?” Damon asked, worried. I nodded.
“Yeah… Dad’s just…”
“Raven!”
Both of our heads snapped to the window. Dad was there, and his anger was clear. I had no idea what I had done this time.
Damon and I quickly rushed downstairs, not wanting to disturb Aunty M with Dad’s shouting. I pulled open the front door to see Dad standing there, his eyes blazing as he glared at me with such hatred that my heart skipped a beat.
“Who told you about him?” He hissed, advancing towards me. I stepped back, flinching, a vague memoryof long ago flitting through my head. Dad had never hit me, had he? Subconsciously, something didn’t feel right. He stopped a few feet away, holding out Sparks.
“I said, who told you?”He thundered.
“What the… calm down,” Damon said warningly, placing his hand on my back comfortingly.
“I’m talking to her,” Dad hissed back, shaking Sparks in front of me.
My breath hitched, my chest aching as I stared at Sparks, a plushie that meant a lot to me. I had made him when I was a child all by myself, with a needle and thread. I had pricked myself a hundred times that day, but I wanted a plushie. Dad and Mom didn’t want to get me one, so I made Sparks. I remembered everyone asking why it was so ugly, but I told them I liked it, and I didn’t want it to be one of those perfect, pretty teddies you can get from the shop. Since then, I had always picked the most eccentric, oddest plushies I could find because they were just like me; lonely, neglected, and alone.
Dad was shouting, shaking Sparks wildly as he said something I could no longer hear. My eyes were fixed on Sparks.Please don’t hurt it.
“Mr Jacobs, calm down,” Damon said, his voice quiet, yet a dangerous finality was in it.
“Oh, did I disturb you both?” Dad spat, taking in Damon’s shirtless torso.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” Damon said curtly.
“I’m sure it isn’t. She’s always had a habit of playing people,” Dad said hurtfully.
I wished I’d stop being so quiet, but I knew if I opened my mouth, I would end up saying everything and anything that came to mind. Perhaps that was what I needed to do, but I wouldn’t do that when Aunty M was sleeping upstairs.
