Page 7 of Forbidden Vow

“I was working,” she cut in.

“Every night? You must think I’m a damn fool.”

“I do if you think I’m a liar and a cheat. I never wanted anything from your family. I took good care of your father. He missed you, but he was happy.”

“You’re probably right,” he whispered. Raven could feel his gaze searing her skin, reminding her of how he’d once commanded her orgasms, owned her pleasure. “You were the best piece of executive ass I’ve ever tasted, too.”

“You were dressed in a fucking bathrobe. Are you trying to tell me you weredictating instead of getting dicked?”

“Ooooh, you are such an asshole,” Raven screeched. She breathed out. He was such a gigantic, puckered asshole. But a gentle touch and lots of lube relaxed even the tightest sphincters, she rationalized. Raven understood his grief. Grief unleashed ragged, raw emotion, new and old, to the surface. From experience, she cared for other families who’d lost loved ones to cancer, so she knew she had it in her to empathize. But damn, she wanted to punch him in the nuts. Her fingers actually curled into a fist.

“That’s a compliment, babe,” he shrugged. “What else you got?”

Well, at least he asked the question. Raven tried to moderate her tone. Maybe he would finally listen, hear what she couldn’t disclose thanks to the Non-Disclosure Agreement Lexington required her to sign.

“Darius, what did you really see?” she said slowly, lowering her voice level; the NDA didn’t expire with Lexington’s death. She was sure the posthumous clause protected his family from some unscrupulous caregiver selling their story of his final days.

“I saw enough,” he snapped. “Do you know how many times as a kid I saw servants leaving his suites dressed in bathrobes or even less?” He slammed his fist against the wall. “Heard my mother crying because he was in the next room talking with one of his mistresses?”

“Darius,” she whispered, her heart breaking for the little boy, left to sort out the complex layers of marriage. This was too much. His grief. His anguish. She’d given her vow to Lexington, but the cost of their secret cost more than she could willingly bare. “I cared for your father, but it wasn’t what—”

“Don’t tell me that shit again,” he growled. “You cared for him. You loved him,” he mimicked.

“Would you listen?” she railed.

“Not to bullshit. So, why are you really here?”

The cell phone in her purse chimed. Recognizing the specific ringtone, her pulse sped up. Had something happened?

“Don’t answer that.”

“I have to,” she said, dismissing his commentary before turning her back.

“Hi,” she smiled into the phone. Listening, she waited. “Don’t worry. I’ll be home soon.”

Darius stepped right up to her. “Who the fuck is that?”

“Shh,” she warned. To the caller, she said, “Be there in an hour.” She disconnected the call, placing the phone back in her small handbag. She looked up to see they had company.

“Ah, Mr. Kent, Miss Radell.” It was Kimber, her eyes glued to Darius’s back. “Mr. Drake will see you now.”

Darius, stuck on Raven’s caller like the little spinning wheel of death on her computer screen, repeated his statement. “Who. The. Fuck. Were. You. Talking. To?”

“Not your business,” she said, looking straight ahead. “Kimber, lead the way. I need to be out of here within the hour.”

Darius reached for her, but then he dropped his hand. “This isn’t over.”

Raven didn't think she could bear his touch again. Her skin still sizzled where she touched his cheek and where he'd gripped her around the waist. The way he affected her tore at her control. He took a sidestep, moving his powerful body with fluidity that belied his size.

“After you," he said.

"No, thank you.” That one phone call was a reminder that Darius Kent and her feelings for him belonged in the past. “I won't ever trust you to have my back again."

When Darius frowned, she pivoted and strode down the glass and birch-lined hallway. His steps settled into a smooth cadence behind her. Raven had to work hard to decrease her heartbeat. Though at least three feet separated them, she could feel his heat at her back; she remembered what it felt like to have him this close.

Though Lexington's instructions had all but insisted Raven join this meeting, she prayed that once they got down the hallway, Darius would move in one direction and she would be escorted in another. A placard read, “The Law offices of Drake and Sons.” She moved forward to grab the handle, but Darius took the brass knob in hand.

She looked up to find Darius's eyes on her mouth, his steely eyes dilated in desire. Her stomach dipped. His gaze gentled. When he raised a hand and strong fingers stroked her cheek, she didn't push him away.