Page 11 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

Chapter Six

T he house was quiet, and Madelene spent a few minutes just staring at the door like a simpleton after it closed behind Simon.

Her lips tingled, and she could still feel the texture of his tongue as she’d slid her own across it.

She’d dreamed of experiencing a kiss for as long as she could remember, but it was so much more than her mind could ever have imagined.

She’d never enjoyed anything more than she did kissing him.

With a wistful sigh, she went to the kitchen to prepare some tea. As she waited for the water to boil, she could also feel the other man’s hand squeezing her bottom. Even now, ice filled her veins as she remembered it. Why had he done that?

Simon thought he’d frightened her with his response, but it was so much more than that.

A whole cacophony of feelings had completely overwhelmed her.

He’d seen her with another man’s hand on her backside but hadn’t asked a single question.

Hadn’t accused her of somehow enticing the man.

He’d simply protected her… and then bought her flowers, as if nothing had happened.

His show of violence had been a bit startling, but the way he’d handled himself had been so unexpected.

He hadn’t flown into a rage and started throwing his fists.

With what looked like almost no effort he’d brought that man, who was significantly larger than him, to his knees and commanded his compliance.

He hadn’t even raised his voice. It was his quietness in that moment that made her truly understand his power, and it had stunned her.

He was dangerous. Or at least he could be.

It was that sudden appreciation of his strength that had also made her need to kiss him.

Need to feel his gentleness toward her. And he’d been more tender than ever, even clasping his hands behind his back.

She smiled at the memory. He’d allowed her to simply explore his mouth at her leisure, not pushing her or asking for more, but also not turning her away or telling her she wasn’t allowed to pursue what she desired.

She poured a cup of her finished tea and sat at the table, the flowers bringing another smile to her lips. She hadn’t often smiled before coming here.

Her thoughts continued to tumble. What was going to come of her?

Why was Simon taking care of her? Why did she long for him in ways she didn’t even understand?

It wasn’t only her, though. She wasn’t blind to Simon’s obvious desire for her.

He looked at her in a way no one ever had. He saw her as a woman.

A knock startled her back to her present surroundings. Could that be Suzy already? She looked at the clock as she walked to the door. More than an hour had passed since Simon left. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t even felt it go.

When she opened the door, the woman tutted and gave her a stern look.

“Don’t ever open the door without first asking who’s there, dear. I’m Suzy.” She held up a basket. “Simon asked me to bring you something to eat.”

Madelene stepped aside to allow her to enter. She bustled straight to the kitchen. Not the first time she’d been in Simon’s house, then. Did she feed him often? Madelene closed the door and turned to follow her. Suzy stuck her head out of the doorway. “Did you lock it?”

She hadn’t, but she quickly turned back and did. When she entered the kitchen, the aroma made her mouth water. Suzy placed a plate full of food on the table.

“Roast beef, peas, and boiled potatoes.” She gestured toward the chair. “Eat it while it’s warm.”

“Thank you,” Madelene said quietly as she lowered herself into the chair.

“Do you mind if I sit for a few minutes, dear? My feet could use a rest. And my back, if I’m honest.”

“By all means. Is there something I can get you?”

“Your only job right now is to eat that food before it gets cold.”

Madelene nodded and took a bite of beef. It was tender and delicious.

Suzy settled herself into the chair with a grateful sigh. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Eat,” she said after a moment.

Madelene quickly took another bite. The food was delectable, but it felt discourteous to be eating in front of someone, and she was suddenly very aware of every sound she made as she chewed.

When she eventually finished, Suzy opened her eyes. “You've never lived in the city before, have you?”

Madelene shook her head.

“Don’t be opening that door if you don’t know who’s on the other side. If I come by again, I’ll knock like this for you.” She demonstrated the pattern on the table. “If you don’t hear that, you don’t open the door.”

Madelene nodded and Suzy smiled kindly. She got up with a groan and collected Madelene’s dishes, packing everything back into her basket. They walked together to the front door.

“Be sure to lock it behind me, dear.”

“Thank you,” she said with a nod. She did as she’d been told and locked the door. She let out a long sigh. Was there really so much danger here?

She made her way up to the room she was staying in. Her room Simon had called it. Whose room had it been before? Perhaps his sister’s? Bonnie had said something about his sister, but Simon had never mentioned her.

The curtains were a cheery yellow, paintings hung on the walls, and the bed was adorned with a cream-colored counterpane embroidered with an assortment of flowers. The room was contradictory to the rest of his house, as if it had the audacity to be colorful, in spite of its drab surroundings.

If this was his sister’s room, where was she now? Why had she left all of her clothes and belongings behind? It was strange that Madelene was, once again, wearing the gown of someone she’d never met.

Inside the small writing desk was a sketchbook. The pages were filled with detailed portraits. They were of the same man, but each one felt different. In some, he appeared to be kind and good-natured. In others, he was definitely a villain. Yet another mystery.

She placed the sketchbook back in the drawer and turned her attention to the books she’d acquired today.

It was awfully kind of Simon to buy them for her.

She yawned. It was probably time for bed, but she would still read for a bit.

Tired or not, she was unlikely to sleep anytime soon.

She did change into a nightgown first, before settling into the chair.

The lamplight was hardly enough, and she struggled to see the words on the page.

Eventually, they faded away as her eyelids grew heavy and her mind wandered back to Simon.

Madelene was startled awake by a noise. Apparently, she’d fallen asleep in the chair, The Picture of Dorian Gray open in her lap.

It was dark, her lamp no longer lit. Only a soft glow of light filtered through the curtains from the streetlamps below.

Her heart jumped at the sound of movement in the hall.

She gave a silent prayer that it was Simon, then put the book aside and crept from the room.

Simon’s bedroom door was open. He stood looking out the window, dressed in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. The floor creaked as she stepped closer and he turned.

Lamplight filtered in through the window and danced across his bare chest. Her gaze lingered before sweeping over his abdomen and all the way to his toes.

A nervous rush fluttered through her and her breathing quickened.

Slowly, she forced her gaze up to his face.

He didn’t say anything as she stared, simply lifted his glass to his lips.

His hair was damp, which for some reason made the whole scene even more enticing.

She should resist these wicked desires and leave, but she couldn’t seem to wrench her eyes away.

Instead, she swallowed and took a hesitant step into his room.

* * *

For the love of all things holy. Even with only the lamplight that spilled in from the street below, Simon could see the hunger in Madelene’s eyes.

He forced his feet to stay planted. He wouldn’t stop her, but if she wanted something, she was going to have to come to him.

She was going to have to ask him for it.

He would not push his desires onto her, no matter how much he wanted her.

She took a timid step toward him and he lifted the glass to take another sip of his drink. The warmth of the whisky was not enough of a distraction, nor did it stop his growing erection. One small step at a time, she closed the distance between them until she looked up into his eyes.

“You’re back,” she said softly.

“I’m back.” He smiled down at her but still didn’t move. “Did I wake you when I reached in to turn out your light?”

She shrugged. “Perhaps, but I’m glad you did.”

“Is everything alright?”

She nodded, then nibbled on her lip as she commonly did when she was nervous. “I want you to show me what more is.”

Dear God. He gripped his glass with both hands. Her nipples stood out against her nightgown as her breasts rose and fell. He desperately wanted to feel them. To see them. To taste them.

“Are you sure?”

She nodded.

“Remove your nightgown.” Jesus. Why had he said that? What was he even doing? He’d never been with someone like her before. He’d only ever had sex with experienced women. Perhaps that was why he had said it. Part of him was hoping to scare her off.

For a moment, he thought it had worked. Her eyes were as wide as saucers, but then slowly, she did as he’d instructed.

Inch by agonizing inch, she pulled her gown up, gradually baring herself to him.

He tried so hard to keep his eyes locked with hers, but it was a losing battle.

He watched as each part of her was revealed.

Her calves, knees, and thighs, and when the thatch of curls at their juncture appeared, he couldn’t stop the sharp breath that caught in his chest. Even her navel was perfect, but she was thin.

Too thin. Someone hadn’t been feeding her well enough. He would change that.