Page 69 of Ravage
Portia’s looking between the two of us with a mischievous smirk on her lips, and I give her a look. “What?” she asks with a teasing grin.
“Can we have a minute?”
“Oh. Sure, sure. If you need a bed though, don’t forget yours is next door. I hate washing sheets because then I have to make the bed after.”
“We don’t need one of those. I just need a minute to see what he wants and then he’ll be gone.”
She chuckles and waves to Kellan before heading back to her chair in the living room. It isn’t much privacy, but this is her apartment, and she would probably get me to tell her what happened here anyway, so I let it go.
Kellan’s gaze is trained on me when I turn back around, and a small part of me wonders if he’d checked out Portia. She’s gorgeous, showing a ton of skin, and fearless. All amazing qualities.
What if Portia liked what she saw now that she has a face to his name? My heart grows heavy, and I frown at the feeling.
He grabs my chin and forces my eyes to meet his.
“What’re you thinking about?” his deep voice drawls, and warmth spreads through my limbs.
“Why’re you here, Kellan? We keep having…less than happy encounters, and yet you’re back again. Glutton for the fight?”
He smirks at me. “With you? Always.” My insides clench in a delicious way that I can’t think about when he’s keeping such direct eye contact with me. He drops my chin and lifts the long, lost shoe again. “I’m here with a peace offering. And a request.”
I start reaching for my heel back and then pause when he finishes. “What kind of request?”
“Come out with me tonight. For old time’s sake. Let’s go blow off some steam together and have some fun.”
My laugh is cold and short. “You’re kidding. Every time I’m out with you lately, you have a habit of leaving me stranded somewhere. Where are you planning on ditching me this time?”
Kellan chuckles and loops the strap over my hand anyway for me to take. “Aw, that was all harmless. And necessary,” he adds, giving me a look. “I swear I won’t do that tonight, though. I really just want to have a good time. No drama. No bullshit. Just you and me. Whaddya say?”
“Mm…still no.” His smirk shrinks but doesn’t completely fall off his face. “Thing is. I don’t trust you. Any of you. This could be some sort of trap for all I know. Why would you suddenly want to spend time with me or invite me to have fun?”
He leans in close again. “Why are you so afraid of having fun with me again?”
“I’m not afraid.” I’m staring at his lips as they breathe on mine before my eyes jump back up to his.
“Then prove it.”
The world falls away as we look at each other. There’s no apartment, no GE, and no bad history between us. I’m just here with Kellan in a silent standoff with my blood singing and my head swimming. A burning ache in my chest drives me to close the distance between us, but my head still has enough sense about it that I avoid leaning into him.
His beard tickles my chin, and I grab what’s hanging off his face. “Fine. But you have to clean yourself up first. And not tonight because I’m having a girls’ night.”
Kellan grins and strokes his beard when my hand falls away. “Deal. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night at nine. Lookin’ my best.”
Smiling, I roll my eyes at him. “It’s not a date, so don’t try getting all fancy. I just don’t need to see you looking like the yeti anymore.” I step back to grab ahold of the door.
“See you tomorrow, Cinderella,” he says with a roguish grin.
I shut the door and smile. Then I turn and remember that I’m not alone here.
Portia’s beaming as she leans forward and clutches the edge of her fluffy chair. “Ooh boy, Rae. We still have so much to catch up on. I need to know what all of that was about. And you still have to finish telling me about the other guys and why you murdered Dane’s sister.”
Right.
Just that.
The sun glares at me as it breaches the horizon. I squint up at the wide window over the couch I’m sprawled on and note that Portia has no window covering. Nada. When I turn my face toward where her bedroom is, I can hear her breathing soundly even though her room is just as bright.
Lucky.
