Bountiful. I hold back a laugh. I don’t think I’ve used that particular word to describe anything…ever. There is no other way to describe her curves. Everything about her is bountiful. That, and sexy. Fucking sexy! My eyes keep moving to her. I could stare all fucking day. I want to—
Trident smirks at me as he blocks my view for a moment. He turns towards Raven and puts out his hand. I cringe. I see Raven look down at his outstretched hand like it’s a cobra ready to strike…and in a way, it is.
I take a step forward, but Jarrod touches my arm. “She can take care of herself,” he whispers to me.
She gets this look of determination and then takes his hand. I see a sense of relief come over her. Yeah, reading people is shitty. It’s a relief when it doesn’t happen.
“Your father is Hades?” West is talking to Death and Night. I can see that he is keeping a close eye on Raven.
She laughs at something Trident says. Fucker!
“I have to say,” Trident goes on. “That’s one heck of a lovely dress.” He checks her out. The dickhead actually checks her out. I know that he is doing it to fuck with me. I also know that he is just being himself. This is how Tri behaves around women. He can’t help himself.
Asshole.
“Thanks,” Raven says, sounding embarrassed.
I notice that he has yet to let go of her hand.
Jerk!
“You’re grinding your teeth,” Jarrod says.
“Am I?”
“You need to stop your shit,” Jarrod remarks.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” I note with interest that although West keeps looking over at Trident and Raven, he doesn’t seem to react to Trident’s flirting. He keeps talking to Night and Death.
If it had been me flirting like that, I would have had a finger in my face by now.
“You’re not even listening to me,” Jarrod sounds pissed. “Watch yourself, bro. I see the looks the two of you are giving each other.”
“What looks?”
“Like you’re sharing this secret that no one else knows about. The look two people start to give each other when they’re getting cozy.”
“We’re friends. That’s all,” I say with a one-shouldered shrug. Friends definitely don’t use the word bountiful when looking at each other. They aren’t supposed to notice the white lace of a bra, just visible beneath the material of a dress. That dress…holy fuck. I avert my eyes because friends don’t look at friends like that, and I don’t need to be able to see my face to know I’m looking at Raven in a way that I shouldn’t. Jarrod is right!
I catch West’s glowering stare. It’s focused on me. Not Trident, even though Trident is the one telling Raven that she has lovely hair. Even though it’s Trident flirting with Raven. Her eyes are on me, though. Her beautiful green gaze is focused here. She’s checking me out just as much. We are sharing looks with one another. Fuck!
We can’t touch.
Not ever.
Hearing her talk about her friend. Seeing her tears. If something were to happen to me, Raven would be hurt. Especially if she caught glimpses of my future and was unable to interpret the visions. Unable to help me.
Stay away from the ocean.
Really?
It’s similar to stay away from horses. Too cryptic! It can’t happen to her again. I’ve been there on many occasions where I couldn’t change a person’s path. Where I tried and failed and blamed myself. It was never someone I knew. Never someone close to me. We are by no means close. Not like that. I have to keep it that way.
13
Raven
It’s after midnight. I’m sitting out by the pool, looking at the moon reflected in the water. I’m wondering if Stephan is coming. I’m not sure what happened this morning. He suddenly seemed a little cold and detached. Less willing to…meet my eyes and look at me. It felt like he was avoiding me. Even though, without planning it, we do avoid each other when West is around.
I probably shouldn’t have worn that dress. I don’t have many nice things. I know that particular dress looks great on me. It accentuates my good features and hides the not so stellar ones. I know Stephan noticed. It made me feel good to know that he did. Warm and fuzzy inside. I caught him looking a few times before breakfast. After that…crickets.
I look down at myself now. I’m wearing a denim skirt and a T-shirt. It’s one of the snugger ones. It shows off my boobs. Most men love my fuller chest. Aside from my eyes, my breasts are probably my best feature. I’m trying too hard here. I shouldn’t be trying so hard. We’re supposed to be trying to keep things on a friendship level. Both of us realize there’s more there, without a doubt but we can’t act on it so…that’s it.
I’m starting to consider knocking on Stephan’s door when he appears. My heart instantly beats faster. I try not to smile too broadly as I watch him approach.
Play it cool, Raven!
Play it cool.
The smile I receive back is stilted and tense. What? Why? Did I say something? Do something? He’s wearing jeans and a T-shirt. His hair is mussed, like he’s been pulling on it or running his hands through it. He’s beautiful. This man is…he’s exquisite. I realize I’m using feminine terms for a guy like Stephan. I don’t care. That’s just it…I’m not just talking about his exterior. I’m talking about all of him.
Beautiful.
Inside and out. He pushes his hands into his pockets, looking all shy. So darned cute! Most guys with his looks would be cocky and arrogant. This is like a breath of fresh air. I stand. I notice his feet are bare. I frown.
“Aren’t we going flying?”
He looks down and then back up at me. “I don’t know that we should.”
“Why not?” My frown deepens. Disappointment hits me hard.
He pushes out a breath through his nose. “Because I like you, Raven. I like you a little too much. I know you can say the same about me. I can see it. It’s just a matter of time before we…before I…” He pushes a hand through his hair again and squeezes the back of his neck.
“We’re friends,” I offer, but I stop there, the rest of what I had planned on saying dying on my lips. We’re not friends. We never will be!
“If we put all the other stuff aside, you’re going to be leaving in a couple of days.” He shrugs.
“What other stuff? I mean, aside from the vision, and…” I want to say West, but I don’t want to bring him into this.
When I don’t say anything more, Stephan says, “For starters, friends don’t look at friends the way I look at you.” Seems like we’re on the same page. “We’ll never be friends. Even if we had all the time in the world…and we don’t.”
“How do you look at me?” I know I shouldn’t ask, but I can’t help myself. I bite down on my lower lip.
Stephan smiles… Oh, that smile. It says so much. It does so much to me. More than it should.
“I look at you like a starving man. Like I’m fucking dying to touch you…because I am. Like I’m taking in every detail to recall later, in minute detail.”