Page 11 of Raven's Curse
Chapter Three
Chase sat in Greer’s Bronco, watching the scenery blur past as she headed north out of town. The main square gave way to larger farms, everything eventually turning into endless forest on one side, the ragged coastline on the other. The rising moon set off the fog in a warm glow, a hint of it painting the tops of the waves.
He glanced over at Greer, her face occasionally lit by the odd streetlight. There weren’t many, the majority of the road shrouded in darkness, the headlights cutting twin beams through the misty shadows. But he enjoyed the way the sparse lamplight highlighted the hint of blush on her cheeks. The strands of cooper in her auburn hair that practically glowed with each passing flash.
Greer obviously felt him staring because she grinned as she slid him a quick side eye. “Everything okay?”
He smiled as he reached out and brushed some strands off her shoulder. The ones that had pulled free from her clip when he’d stabbed his fingers through her hair as he’d ravaged her mouth. “Just enjoying the view.”
She snorted, the adorable sound going straight to his groin. “I’m glad you’re not making this awkward.”
“I’ve been waiting several months to kiss you. If anything’s awkward, it’s because I can’t help but wonder what changed.” He held up one hand. “Full disclosure, I was going to put it all on the line tonight until you turned the tables on me. Nice, by the way.”
“It’s not as if I planned that to happen.”
“I’m not complaining.”
She sighed, the wisps around her face fluttering. “I know I’ve been… resistant. Standoffish, I guess. But it’s not because I haven’t wanted to kiss you all this time, either. It’s just…” She blew out an exasperated breath. “Between some shit that went down with the bureau and freaking Thompson turning out to be a drug runner, I guess I’ve been questioning my ability to read people. Not that you’ve been anything but transparent and impressive since we met, it’s just…”
He reached up and tucked that hair behind her ear. “You weren’t sure.”
Another sigh, only it sounded different. Heavier, maybe. As if this one held more weight. “I knew you were different from the start. That this had the potential to be… more. And I guess I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that.” She gestured between them. “For all of this.”
“You know we can take it as slow as you need, right? That I’d never push you.”
“I think the fact you’ve waited months for me to get my head out of my ass is proof of that. And it’s not you I didn’t trust.”
She brushed some stray hairs off her forehead, turning onto a long winding road, a massive silhouette looming at the top of the cliff. The building emerged out of the night as she pulled up to the chain link fence surrounding it, the gate noticeably shoved open.
Her Bronco lit up the front of the abandoned facility, highlighting broken windows and vine-covered walls. It looked like the setting for a low-budget slasher flick. All it needed was mood lighting and eerie music. But the ominous vibe was far too real.
She shoved her vehicle into first and yanked on the parking brake before spinning to face him. “Real talk time.”
She took a breath, and Chase knew everything was about to change. “I’m crazy about you. Have been for months. I just have a really crappy track record with relationships and this…” She motioned between them, again. “This is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. You…”
All those doubts swirling in his head eased, the truth shining in her eyes. In the nervous way she darted her tongue out to wet her lips.
She pushed out another rough breath. “I just can’t fight this, anymore. Not without losing my damn mind. You get close, and I can’t breathe, can’t think, I?—”
He kissed her. No hesitation, no waiting to see if she really wanted it, just his hand sliding across her cheek to the back of her head as he leaned in — claimed her mouth. And damn if it wasn’t better than before. Hotter. Deeper. Her confession shattering the last of the walls he’d been trying to scale.
He didn’t drag it out too long, aware this wasn’t the time or the place to get completely lost in her mouth. To let their guard down and finally act on all the heat they’d been building between them. But enough she knew, without him saying a word, that he was just as invested — just as far gone as she was.
Greer closed her eyes as he rested his forehead on hers, the intimacy of the moment humbling him. “I knew you were trouble the moment I met you.”
He chuckled. “It’s not like you’re the only one who’s stumbling here. But I think you know that I haven’t been hanging around all this time hoping for a quick fling.” He cupped her chin in his palm. “I’m crazy about you, too. Well past crazy, actually. So, stop worrying if I’m suddenly going to grow another head or worse, change my mind that you’re not the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and enjoy the ride. Because I have a feeling it’s going to be one hell of a rollercoaster. You ready?”
She stared at him for a while, as if she wasn’t quite sure of the answer, then nodded. He opened the door and stepped out, grabbing his medic bag from the back while Greer rounded her Bronco and retrieved her vest.
She shook her head as she secured the straps. “Not sure this is ballistic vest worthy, but I’d hate for things to go sideways and you have that to hold over me.”
“Right, because gloating would be my biggest concern if you got hit.”
“Just don’t step in front of any bullets, this time. I’m still reeling from the last three.”
Chase hooked her arm when she went to dart past him. “I’m always going to step in front. You know that, right? I’d do it for strangers. For you…”
He rolled his shoulders, pushing down all those protective instincts. Reminding himself how skilled she was. That she’d been in the bureau for a dozen years before coming here. And he bet his ass she hadn’t sat behind a desk.
