Page 18 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

Chapter Ten

M adelene’s heart stuttered and her stomach clenched. He wanted her to undress for him? She nibbled nervously on her bottom lip as he waited, his wicked half-smile promising something divine. She wanted it, whatever it was, and would pay the price he demanded. It would surely be worth it.

The belt was easy enough, but for some reason nervousness fluttered in her stomach as she slipped open the buttons of her blouse.

It was silly. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen her naked before, but for some reason, this felt different.

Like he held all the power, sitting over in the chair, fully clothed. Just waiting.

But he didn’t. He’d just shown her the power she could possess.

Basking in that knowledge, she locked her gaze with his as she removed her bodice, before allowing it to float to the floor.

She turned away from him and opened her skirt and petticoat, bending over as she pushed them down.

As she stepped out, she spread her feet wide, her chemise the only thing blocking his view into her split drawers. A low groan sounded behind her.

She straightened, and his eyes were dark and hungry as she gazed into them over her shoulder.

Slowly, she untied the laces of her corset and loosened them.

His obvious appreciation further strengthened her resolve, encouraging her daring behavior.

Desire spread through her as she removed the pins from her hair one by one.

Shaking it loose, she allowed it to fall down her back before turning to face him.

Her boldness grew, and she unhooked her corset, but held it in place, watching his reaction. His eyes flicked back and forth between the swells of her breasts before coming up to meet hers. Silently, they begged her.

She dropped the corset onto the floor and quickly pulled her chemise over her head before crossing the room to stand before him. He reached for her breast, but she slapped his hand playfully.

“Uh-uh,” she tutted. “I didn’t say you could touch.”

With a groan, he adjusted the bulge in his trousers and sat back. His compliance to her command and his clear desire for her made her stomach flutter. He allowed her to be something she never thought possible. A woman, desired by a man.

“Perhaps you can help me with these.” She placed her foot on the chair between his legs.

With another groan, he untied first one shoe, and then the other, his eyes continually darting to where her split drawers undoubtedly offered him a glimpse between her thighs. The knowledge made a fresh wave of desire wash through her.

“What about the stockings?” His voice was deep and desperate. “May I help with those too?”

“I suppose.” She shrugged, trying her best to sound bored, but she was aching to feel his hands on her.

His fingertips sent a thrill through her as they tickled the skin above her stocking before rolling the first one down her leg. By the time he finished with the second, she could barely contain her urgent need for him. She turned and put some distance between them, breathing in a long breath.

His arm snaked around her body, making her jump. She hadn’t even heard him move. His warm palm claimed her breast and he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear, the waistband of her drawers going slack.

“Get those off.” His tongue sent a chill through her body as it glided around her neck to the other side. “It’s my turn now.”

It didn’t take much for them to fall to the floor, leaving her completely bare.

“Turn around.” His voice was a low growl in her ear. “I want to taste your nipples.”

The command stole her breath. She was desperate to have him do just that, but there was something else she wanted first. “May I have one request?”

His hands stilled on her breasts. “Only if I can have one as well. Something to be named at a time of my choosing.”

She nodded eagerly.

“What’s your request?”

She whimpered as his lips swept slowly over her shoulder. “I want to feel your skin against mine.”

His warmth left her and there was a popping sound before buttons skittered across the floor. The heated skin of his chest pressed against her back as his hands reclaimed her breasts. She moaned as he drew her in.

“Should I expect the same level of expediency when I put forth my request?”

Madelene laughed. “I’ll certainly do my best.”

He rolled her nipples gently between his fingers drawing a desperate hum up her throat. “Now are you going to let me taste these?”

She turned and he dropped to his knees, immediately drawing one deep into his mouth. She gasped. Somehow she’d forgotten how incredible it felt. His hands held her waist as he flicked his tongue over the sensitized peak sending flashes of sensation through her. Her head fell back and she panted.

Slowly, he forced her to move backwards until her legs met the side of his bed. He shifted his attention to her other nipple, driving her need to dizzying heights. “Simon.” Her voice was a breathless whisper.

His mouth left her breast and pressed a line of open-mouthed kisses across her stomach before he looked up at her. “Still yes?”

“Yes!” she said desperately.

“Sit down.”

Right now, she would do anything he asked of her. As she sat, his hands pressed her knees apart, spreading her open for him. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth as he stared. “Lie back. I need to taste you.”

Did that mean what she thought it meant? Before her back even met the blanket, his arms hooked around her thighs pulling them over his shoulders. The heat of them against her skin was nothing compared to the inferno that burst to life when his mouth engulfed her most sensitive flesh.

She called out, arching her back as pleasure surged through her. His strong arms gripped her thighs, pulling her back into place so he could feast. He groaned as if he’d been ravenous for her. Her body responded with a flash of need.

“Simon! I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing.”

He laughed, his breath fanning across her skin. He looked up at her from between her legs. “You’re not supposed to do anything except lie back and allow yourself to feel while I indulge my craving.”

His words alone sent her pleasure spiraling, but then his tongue was back.

How were these breathtaking sensations even possible?

Her body shook as her need for release grew.

She whimpered and gripped the blankets in her fists, somehow desperate to get to her peak but also wanting to stay right in the middle of the maelstrom forever.

“Yes!” The word flew from her lips when his tongue found the perfect spot.

Pleasure burst through her, like a raging river.

She threw her head back and called out as wave after wave pummeled her.

Her legs clamped around Simon’s head, and she was surely suffocating him, but she couldn't have stopped it even if she wanted to.

Slowly, the upheaval calmed. Her legs fell open and Simon pressed gentle kisses to the inside of her thigh. Her body twitched as pleasure continued to pulse through her.

After a few minutes, Simon stood, a satisfied smile on his face. He pulled back the blankets and helped her up to the top of the bed, taking in her body one more time before covering her.

“It’s a shame I can’t see the flush on your skin. I guess I’ll just have to do it again when there’s daylight.”

Only then did she realize it had grown dark.

* * *

This wasn’t good.

Madelene was asleep in his arms, and he was enjoying every second of it.

Women didn’t sleep in his bed. On the rare occasion he had a woman there, they enjoyed themselves, and then they left.

But he didn’t want Madelene to leave. She was incredible.

When he’d told her to remove her clothes, he’d expected her to be shy while undressing for him.

Instead, she’d put on a seductive show, making him want her in ways he never could have imagined.

Her eager willingness to try new things and to please him… and to trust him—somehow it always came back to that—was like an addiction. She was the one person on earth who truly knew him. He’d told her his darkest secrets, and still she trusted him.

He needed to work harder on finding somewhere for her to go. He was becoming far too attached to her, and pretty soon, he wouldn’t be able to let her go. But that wasn’t an option. This was not a safe place for her. He was not a safe place for her.

Tomorrow, he would make that his first priority. But for tonight, he was going to savor every second of holding her in his arms.

The next morning, Timms raised his brow as Simon walked into the office. “Are you going to tell me about her?”

“Tell you about who?”

“Whoever it is that put that bounce in your step. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look quite so… effervescent.”

Simon shook his head, warmth filling his cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“She’ll have you whistling soon.”

He rolled his eyes. “Have you found the damn vicar yet?”

Timms’ laughter faded. “Not yet.” He slid a paper onto Simon’s desk. “We got this, though. Another possible sighting.”

Possible sighting. He sat down with a sigh. A part of him wondered if they would ever actually find the man.

“I know. Not helpful.” He stopped in the doorway and turned. “I’d rather hear about your woman, but since you don’t want to share, I suppose I’ll work through what we have on Warwick one more time.”

“She’s not my woman,” Simon said grumpily.

“Ha!” Timms clapped his hands together. “I knew there was a woman.”

Before Simon could argue, he was gone, leaving him to ruminate over the woman that there definitely was. Since there was nothing new about the vicar, nothing helpful at least, he would use the day to find Madelene a home.

After poring over documents and information all day, he came across a friend of Madelene’s mother who didn’t seem to have any connection to her father.

Selma Appleridge. She was a wealthy widow and would hopefully appreciate the companionship that Madelene could offer her.

It might be a longshot, but he was optimistic that Mrs. Appleridge would be willing to take Madelene in.

It was the best option, even if his heart railed against the idea of sending her away.

Madelene deserved a life that didn’t include someone like him.

The truth was, he was a murderer, even if he did feel justified in what he did.

He took men’s lives, with no remorse. Even now, he was on his way to take another, and this one, he was quite looking forward to.

Unfortunately, the path he’d chosen came with consequences, and he couldn’t risk that with her.

If she relied on him, who would take care of her when he inevitably ended up shot or at the end of a noose?

Darkness settled around him as he rode, and still, he could only think of Madelene.

You’d rather someone else hurt me? The thought of some other man sharing that with her tied his stomach in knots. Finally he admitted the truth to himself. He wanted her first time to be with him. If she still wanted that with him, he would see it done, just as soon as he finished tonight.

With a smile on his face, he tied the horse and slunk toward the house.

The windows were all dark. Alan Webber. Lord Webber.

The name made his smile vanish. His sister’s ‘husband’ had provided Samantha to multiple men in the five years he’d had control of her, offering her body to gain their favor, or auctioning her to the highest bidder.

They’d all taken turns abusing her. Webber was the last of them.

Simon had already killed all the others.

He closed his eyes, feeling and listening as he slid his picks into the lock on the backdoor.

The house was quiet as he slipped inside.

They always were. These men harbored no guilt to keep them awake at night.

They felt perfectly justified in their actions, which was why they had to die.

They would never change their despicable behavior.

He crept up the stairs, but even as he moved furtively down the corridor, his mind continued to flash back to Madelene.

He barely heard the creak to his right before burning pain erupted in his shoulder.

He grabbed the man’s arm before he could empty the syringe, but some of whatever was in it had already entered his body.

His strength faded quickly as he struggled with the man. His muscles trembled. Throwing his body into the man’s larger form, he slammed him against the wall.

“I knew you’d come for me, just like you did the others, so I was ready for you.” Despite the man’s taunting, his voice shivered with fear.

Their arms shook as Webber pushed against him, the syringe moving ever closer.

Simon drew on every ounce of strength he possessed.

He had to get back to Madelene. Wrenching the man’s wrist, he shoved the needle into his stomach, plunging the rest of the liquid into him.

He grabbed the man’s hair in his fist and yanked his head back.

“This is for my sister, you malevolent son of a bitch.” He pulled out his razor and flipped it open, the sharp blade cutting deep as he slashed it across the man’s throat.

Hot blood sprayed over Simon’s hand, and the man gurgled and twitched before going still.

He dropped his lifeless body and stumbled for the door.

Madelene.

He threw himself onto the horse and rode hell-for-leather for Raven Row. He had to get there. Ash would see she was taken care of.

Her name drove him onward as his body gradually shut down. His muscles jerked erratically, and his eyes grew unimaginably heavy as he struggled to draw breath. Madelene. He just continued to repeat her name as cold spread through him.

Brennan was outside the gates to Raven House as Simon careened toward them, and started running to him before he even stopped. He slumped sideways and fell out of the saddle, landing hard on the ground.

“Allister!” Brennan shouted as he crouched beside him.

Simon fumbled in his pocket and pressed a key into Brennan’s hand, pushing out the only word he could manage.

“Madelene.”