Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY
Raven was tired, he wanted to go to bed and not have to wake up at least until he was good and ready but as he opened the door the urge left him. He could smell food, it made him smile softly. He walked into the room and Fiona rushed to him giving him a huge hug

" Happy birthday" she whispered to him the flicker of candlelight cast shadows on the walls, creating a serene atmosphere in the living room.

"Happy birthday," she said, handing him the neatly wrapped box.

"You didn't have to, Fiona." He said grabbing the box from her hand and she shrugged flustered. Her face turned red with a soft blush.
"I wanted to," she replied, watching as he unwrapped the gift.

" Do you want dinner?" she asked and he shook his head
" I already had some" he didn't want to tell her he had been at his father's. It was too much to talk about now. She offered wine and he let her do as she wanted. It wasn't like he didn't need a drink

Raven leaned back against the couch, a glass of wine in hand, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.

"Raven," Fiona began softly, breaking the silence. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her nervousness.
"There's something I need to ask you."

Raven turned to her, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

"Raven, there's something I need to ask you."

He turned to her, his expression curious.
"What is it?" Her stomach swimming with nerves and her voice trembling.
Fiona asked,

"Do you remember Mirabelle Hales?"

Raven felt a surge of unease. Mirabelle was a part of his past he had hoped to leave behind, but it seemed she was always going to be brought up in his life at some point
" Yes I knew her, two years ago " he replied unwillingly to mention past events
" She's very pretty" she mumbled and she drew him closer to her side
" I wouldn't know,"

" But you were dating" she mumbled and he laughed
"Fiona, that was a long time ago. We've both moved on."

"But Raven," Fiona pressed, her eyes filled with emotion.
" I guess what I wanted to say is, I'm tired of the secrecy... it's tearing me apart. I can't keep hiding our relationship. I need to know if you see a future for us, or if I'm just a temporary –."

Raven's mind raced. He couldn't lose Fiona, but he didn't know the right words to say either, he leaned in and kissed her, hoping to silence her fears with his touch.

Fiona responded eagerly, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed herself against him, there was the sound of glasses on the tiles but they ignored it.
The kiss deepened, growing more urgent and desperate. Raven's hands roamed over her body, feeling the heat of her skin through the thin fabric of her dress.
He needed her, wanted her, and in that moment, he pushed everything else aside, his father's ultimatum, Mirabelle's constant presence, and stalking, and just kissed her.

He lifted her into his arms, carrying her to the bedroom where he laid her gently on the bed, he paused admiring the way the soft light fell on her features making her appear soft and warm.

Fiona gazed up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of love and uncertainty he wanted to reassure her his heart contracting with the sorrow of what he was making her feel now, but words felt inadequate.

So he let his actions speak instead, he undressed her slowly, savoring each moment as he revealed her bare skin, her breath hitched, her body arching toward him in anticipation.
He kissed her neck, and her collarbone, trailing his lips lower until he reached the swell of her breasts. She moaned softly, her fingers gripping the sheets as he took her nipple into his mouth, teasing it with his tongue.

Fiona's hands roamed over his back, her touch making his skin burn like he had a fire in his veins, he could feel her desire, her need that matched his own. Raven moved lower, his lips tracing a path down her stomach, until he reached the apex of her thighs. She parted her legs, inviting him in, and he didn't hesitate.

He lowered his head to her pussy using his tongue he explored her folds over and over again until she was writhing beneath him, he found the sensitive spot that made her gasp her back arching. Her hips bucked against his mouth, her moans growing louder with each stroke.

"Please, I need" she cried out her hand in his hair grabbing tightly, Raven took his time, building her pleasure until she was on the edge, then pulling back just enough to keep her wanting more.

"Please, Raven," Fiona begged, her voice breathless with desire
"I need you."

Raven moved back up her body, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss and she moaned into his mouth.

He positioned himself at her entrance, pausing for a moment to look into her eyes, he couldn't say the words to her, not when he would never be able to fulfill them
"I want you Fiona, so much " he whispered, before thrusting into her.

Fiona cried out, her nails digging into his shoulders as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Raven set a steady rhythm, each movement driving them both closer to the edge, both physical and emotional, was overwhelming.

He could feel Fiona's walls tightening around him, her body trembling with the force of her release.

He wanted her there, so he was going to do his best to get her there, circling his hip within her, and with one final thrust, they came together, their cries mingling with each other their mouths locked in a soft kiss

. Raven held Fiona close, their bodies still entwined as they rode out the waves of pleasure, his breathing harsh and heavy his body shaking from the aftermath of pleasure like little lightning bolts running through his skin.

He kissed her tenderly, feeling a sense of peace settle over them.

The afterglow faded though and reality crept back in. He knew he couldn't avoid the truth forever, but for now, as he lay beside Fiona, her breathing slowly returning to normal all he wanted was to preserve this moment

"Stay with me," Fiona murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.

"I will," Raven promised, though he knew it was a lie.

He couldn't fall asleep not when he was too worried and too tired, to think so he stayed up the whole night, early the next morning, he slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Fiona. He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead and went to dress, his mind already racing with the tasks ahead.

As he stepped into the hallway, he felt a pang of guilt which he crushed almost immediately, He cared deeply for Fiona, she was his and no one else's, he pressed the button for the elevator, and once inside, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart.

"Mirabelle," he said when she answered.
"We need to talk."