Page 34 of A Raven Realized (The Raven’s Den #5)

“I’m glad you made it,” Ash said when Simon found him on the balcony of The Raven’s Den. “Before we do anything else, I wanted a quick word about your sister.”

“Is there a problem?” His heart accelerated. She’d seemed fine when he’d seen her just a few minutes ago. Or, as fine as she could be under the circumstances.

Ash shrugged. “Of sorts. She’s made some progress, but not as much as I’d like. She’s not acclimating well here.”

“Well, perhaps it will be easier for her now that I’m working here.”

Ash sighed. “I think it might be time to send her somewhere else.”

“I can move her back in with me. I’m more stable now, and Madelene is there, too.”

“I don’t think that’s the best option either. Too many memories. She needs something different.”

“What then? I will not send her to another asylum.”

“That’s not what I’m suggesting. I think her best chance at healing might be at my estate. It’s quiet, safe, and it’s away from you and here and everything else she knows.”

“To live with your brother?” He snorted. “I think not.”

“You have my word that you can trust him. And I believe being in the country away from all of this, with no expectations, and of course little Maggie, will be her best shot at rehabilitation. What she’s recovering from is more than just a scraped knee, Allister.”

His heart ached for his sister. She was so sweet and pure and hadn’t deserved any of the horrific things that happened to her. Eventually, he nodded. “Give me some time. I need to dig up what I can. For my own peace of mind.”

He clapped Simon on the shoulder. “Now, let’s put you to work.”

He pushed aside thoughts of his sister and looked over the balcony wall.

For a moment, as he stared down at the gaming floor, he was mesmerized by the sheer onslaught.

It was magical, just as Ash had said. So much was happening all at once.

Cards being shuffled and dealt, dice being thrown, men drinking, and laughing, and groaning.

Women dancing. Music playing. It was a perplexing melange of chaos that overwhelmed all the senses.

But then he drew from his years of training and focused. He scanned all the patrons, his eyes quickly landing on one man.

“You have a problem,” he said to Ash.

“Already?” Ash moved a little closer. “Where?”

“The man who just stepped up to the roulette table. See how he’s holding his left hand against the front of his jacket? He’s got a weapon in that inside pocket. Probably a knife.”

One side of Ash’s mouth turned up just a bit as he looked at Simon. “Apparently, whoever is at the front door tonight missed it. We’ll need to have a talk with him.” He nodded. “But for now, let’s go remove the problem.”

Excitement made Simon’s heart flutter as he followed Ash down the stairs, but that wouldn’t do. He needed to calm himself. When they reached the bottom, he closed his eyes. He breathed in deeply through his nose and blew it out through his mouth.

“Ready?” Ash asked him when he opened his eyes.

Simon gave a single nod and Ash pushed the curtains aside with his cane. “Go up and man the balcony,” he said to O’Connell.

“Yes, boss.” There wasn’t a hint of hesitation or argument, he simply did as he was told.

Patrick spotted them immediately and walked toward them as they moved across the gaming floor. Ash sent him to the curtain with just a nod. Simon was starting to understand what Fogg had meant when he’d said they each played their role. They seemed to function as a single unit. It was impressive.

As they approached, Simon positioned himself behind the man, while Ash placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Roger, let’s take a walk.”

As he turned, Simon filled the vacated space next to the table, blocking his retreat.

“What is this, Ash? I haven’t been anywhere near the girls tonight.”

“Then you won’t mind taking a walk with us.”

That was the word that made Roger realize Ash wasn’t alone. His head whipped around, his brow furrowed.

Simon nodded toward the back of the room. “Let’s not make a scene, Roger.”

Patrick held open the curtain as they pushed him through.

“I still have money on the table!” He tried to shrug them off.

Ash shook his head. “You forfeited that money when you came in here with a weapon.”

“I wasn’t going to do anything with it,” he huffed.

Ash merely shrugged. “You have exceeded your allotted number of warnings and are no longer welcome in my club.”

Roger reached for the knife in his pocket, but Simon had his razor drawn first. He gripped the man’s hair and pressed the sharp blade to his throat.

“Whoa.” Ash’s voice was commanding, even though it was quiet. “Don’t kill him yet.”

The man grabbed at his wrist. “I wasn’t going to use it. Please don’t kill me!”

Simon rolled his eyes. “Why do they always start bawling?”

Ash spoke calmly, but no one would question his seriousness. “I’ll let you walk out of here one last time, Roger. The next time you set foot in my club, if you do make it out alive, part of your body will either be broken or severed. Is that clear?”

“Yes!”

Simon made eye contact with Ash and with the raise of his brow asked if he could leave the man with a permanent reminder.

Ash gave a subtle nod. Simon let go of the man’s hair, grabbing his earlobe.

Ash clamped a hand over Roger’s mouth to muffle his scream as Simon cut a vertical slit through the flesh.

Together, they shoved him through the backdoor.

“Never again,” Ash warned him.

Roger stumbled into the alleyway. “You’re mad!” Holding his bloody ear, he began running.

“If you see him around here again,” Ash said to the security guard at the door, “make sure he’s taken care of.”

“Yes, boss.” The man gave a confident nod.

“Is it always this exciting around here?” Simon asked as they climbed the stairs again.

“Rarely. But when it is, I’ll be glad to have you on my team.” When they reached the balcony, he sent O’Connell back downstairs.

“I think that’s probably enough for your first night, Allister. Why don’t you go home and spend some time with your new bride?”

“Did I go too far?” he asked.

“No.” Ash clapped him on the shoulder. “It’s not a punishment. It’s a reward.”

He pulled a stack of bank notes out of his pocket and peeled off a few, holding them out for Simon. “Get some black suits. That brown makes you stand out like a sore thumb around here.”

“You don’t need to buy my clothes, Ash.”

“My requirement, my responsibility.” Simon still didn’t take the money and Ash raised his brow. “Are you going to argue with me on your first night?”

With a sigh, Simon took the money. “Thank you, Ash.”

“I know you’ve just wed, Allister, but make sure you get some sleep too. I want you at your best for a full night tomorrow.”

* * *

He still wasn’t sure how he was lucky enough to have Madelene for his wife. How he was lucky to have any of this life, come to that.

He locked the door behind him and wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her wonderful aroma. She made his townhouse feel like a home. “I love you,” he whispered into her ear.

“You were wrong about something, you know.”

“I’ve been wrong about a lot of things. Which time are you referring to?”

“The time you said I’d get tired of hearing those words.”

“Well, I will certainly never tire of saying them.” After a brief kiss he took hold of her hands. “Why don’t we go upstairs and change into our nightclothes?”

She hesitated for a moment, suspicion narrowing her eyes, but then she nodded slowly. She didn’t understand why they were changing when he’d just have her naked anyway, but he wanted to surprise her with something first.

With some difficulty, he managed to keep his hands off her backside as she climbed the stairs in front of him. He stopped in front of her door. “Give me ten minutes, then meet me downstairs in the sitting room.”

“Are we going to make love downstairs again?” A teasing smile turned up her lips.

“Who knows what the night will bring.”

After changing, he hurried down the stairs in his pajamas and while the water was coming to a boil, he spread jam on some scones and placed them on a tray, along with two cups.

Just as the water began to boil, he heard Madelene coming down the upper flight of stairs and he called up to her, “Sit down on the sofa and close your eyes. I’ll be right there.”

He was pleased to see she really did have her eyes closed when he entered. He set the tray on the table and sat down beside her.

He kissed her cheek before whispering into her ear, “You may open them now.”

A smile grew on her lips as she saw the tray.

“No sausages, I’m afraid, but I do have scones and jam.” He poured a cup of tea, drizzled in some honey, and handed it to her. As she sipped, her eyes widened with surprise.

“Selma’s special tea?” She set her dishes on the table and threw her arms around him. “I love you, Simon Allister.”

He chuckled. “Both names? You must be serious.”

She swatted his shoulder and he laughed again. She sat back down and retrieved her dishes. As she chewed a bite of scone, she closed her eyes and hummed her approval.

“I missed these,” she said with a smile. “Are you going to have some? Or just watch me the whole time?”

He would happily just watch her, but she’d probably be embarrassed, so he helped himself to a scone and some tea.

“How was your first night at work?”

Once again he was surprised this was actually his life. Yet somehow, even with a perfectly normal, humdrum question, the answer was still extraordinary.

“I got to help Ash remove someone from the club.”

“Well, that sounds exciting.” She sipped her tea.

“How was your time with my sister?”

Mirth filled her smile as it grew. “Samantha says—” Madelene pressed her lips together trying to suppress a laugh and he dreaded what was coming. She cleared her throat. “She says you do an uncanny imitation of a horse.”

Her laughter was so carefree, it soothed his heart, even as heat crept up his neck into his face.

She cupped her hand around his cheek. “There it is. The blush I knew I’d get to see when I brought it up.

” She bit down on her lip, trying desperately to stop her laughter, and he knew it wasn’t over yet.

“Will you neigh for me?” She doubled over and laughter burst from her lips.

It was contagious and he soon joined in.

“You, wife, are corrupting an innocent memory I have with my sister.”

She gasped and clapped her hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean it like that, Simon!”

Her golden skin flushed and it was his turn to laugh. “I know you didn’t. I was only teasing. And it is going to remain an innocent memory I have with my sister. But you and I could go up and make some less than innocent memories.” He sobered, his gaze locking with hers. “Would you like that?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

He deposited both of their dishes on the table, and with a squeal, he threw her over his shoulder and carried her up the stairs to his bedroom.

He set her on her feet and she immediately reached down and untied the sash at her waist. She shrugged out of the robe and he pulled her nightgown over her head.

Before it even hit the floor, he had her nipple in his mouth.

He would never tire of tasting her. She sucked in a gasp and he flicked the hard peak with his tongue, but after a moment, she pushed him back.

“No more until you’re naked.”

She laughed as he frantically removed his nightclothes. “Now may I taste the other one?” He was salivating, and swallowed as he eyed her other nipple.

“I suppose.” Her display of nonchalance only made him want her more, but it vanished as soon as he drew the other nipple into his mouth.

“I need you inside my body, Simon.”

“Are you sure you don’t want other things first?” He dipped two fingers between her thighs and licked a path between her breasts.

She understood what he was offering, but she shook her head. “Later.”

“Your wish is my command, my beautiful wife.”

He scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

He gazed into her eyes as he pressed himself into her with a groan.

There was nothing better in the entire world than this.

Her body, hot, wet, and squeezing him. She groaned with him as he plunged into her again.

Not only was it incredible physically, but it was just…

right. Pleasure built within him as he moved.

Her body was warm and welcoming and perfect.

As he felt the first whispers of the pleasure that would lead to his climax, there was something else he wanted. He probably should have asked before they’d gotten started, but he was quite certain of what her answer would be.

“Do you want a child, Madelene?”

She drew back, holding her breath. After a moment, a sob burst from her.

“Oh, love.” He stilled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. Do you want me to stop?”

She shook her head and wrapped her legs around him. “These are happy tears, mostly. It just hadn’t ever occurred to me that I could actually do that. Are you sure I can?”

“I can’t promise we’ll be blessed with one, but any child of yours would be a gift to this world.”

“But what if I’m not a good mother?”

“You are kind, patient, smart, and wonderful. You will be an incredible mother.”

After a moment, she nodded. She raised her head to press her lips against his. “Yes. Yes, Simon, I do want a child. I want your child.”

“Mmmm.” Pride and determination filled him as he resumed his rhythm, each thrust pushing their pleasure higher.

With his slow movements, he stretched out her pleasure as much as he could, and with each plunge her voice heightened with need, driving his own to the very edge.

Her fingertips dug into his shoulders as he struggled to hold on. Finally, she called out her release.

“Yes!” She threw her head back and her body squeezed him, sending him into the abyss with her. With an agonized groan, Simon pushed deep, spilling his seed within her. Euphoria filled her eyes as she gazed up at him. He kissed her softly and collapsed beside her.

“Does that mean we’re really going to have a child?” She looked up at him, still not quite sure.

“Well, it may require more than once.” He smiled down at her. “But I’ll happily keep trying for as many times as it takes. I just need a few minutes to recover first.”

She laughed softly, her breath feathering over his chest. “I look forward to each and every one.”

He kissed her forehead. “I love you. Do you know that?”

She smiled at him before gracing him with his favorite word.

“Yes.”