Page 4 of A Raven Revived (The Raven’s Den #4)

Chapter Four

F itz walked and walked and walked some more. There was something special about Raven Row, something quaint about the whole place. A charming tea shop, a bakery with miniature biscuits for young children to enjoy while mum picked out a loaf of bread, a modiste with both fine gowns and garments for working in displayed in the windows.

Now that he knew about Raven House and what they did to help women, bringing them in off the streets so that they could find a way to work that didn’t involve selling their bodies, he understood why there were no brothels here. Ash didn’t allow them. It was no wonder Daisy had come here and stayed. And then Fitz had come along and ruined it for her.

It was long after dark when he finally made his way to the tavern. Thank God Anderson was there. He could use the company. He raised a brow as Fitz sat down across from him.

“You look like you could use a drink.”

“Or two,” Fitz said, raising his hand to summon the barmaid. He needed to get some brandy into him before he'd be able to tell Anderson about Daisy.

After the drink was delivered, he poured half of it straight down his throat.

“Daisy is alive, and she’s here in Raven Row.”

Anderson stopped with his glass halfway to his mouth. He blinked a few times before taking a long draw. He set the glass down slowly and nodded.

“I’m not sure what to ask, so I think you’d better just tell me everything.”

“Well, first of all, this information stays between us. I can’t have it getting back to her family.”

Anderson nodded.

“She’s been here for three years.” He paused and took another drink. “She works at The Raven’s Den.”

His eyes widened slightly. “Oh.” He nodded. “And what are your feelings about that?”

Fitz choked on a laugh. “I don’t bloody well know. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that she’s alive and well, but Jesus, what am I supposed to do now?”

Anderson simply shrugged.

“Precisely.” Just thinking about her made his heart race. He wanted her just as much as he always had, even after all this time apart. “I kissed her tonight.”

“And?”

“She slapped me.”

Anderson closed his eyes and pressed a hand to his forehead. “What did I tell you about trifling with these men, Fitz? If she works there, she’s under their protection.”

“I’m well aware. Ash was there when this all happened.”

His cheeks puffed out as he blew out a breath. “It may be time for us to move along, Fitz.”

He nodded dejectedly. “I know.” He drained his glass. After all this time, he’d finally found her, and he was going to have to walk away. Not because he was afraid of Ash. If Ash was going to hurt him, he would have already done it. He needed to leave before he broke both of their hearts. His presence here had already caused her enough turmoil. “I’m going up to bed.”

He let himself into his room and took off his coat, then blew out a long sigh before flopping onto his back on the bed. Why couldn’t he just be happy that she was alive and well? Why did he have to want more? He ground the heels of his hands against his eyes. He always had wanted more. That was the truth.

There was a knock on his door. Either Anderson had forgotten something, or he was about to pay the price for what he’d done with Daisy this evening.

It turned out to be neither of those things.

Daisy swayed slightly in the hallway outside his door.

“Fitz!” She giggled and pressed her finger against her lips. “Shhhh.”

He looked up and down the corridor to see if anyone was with her. “Daisy?”

“Yesss. That’s me.” She pointed at her chest and walked unsteadily into the room.

“Are you alone, Daisy?” He pushed the door closed behind her.

“I was.” She nodded. “But now I’m not.” She raised herself on tiptoe and flung her arms around his neck before clumsily smashing her lips against his. He could taste the wine that had wafted into the room as soon as he’d opened the door.

He peeled her arms from around his neck and pulled himself away from her. “You’re drunk, Daisy.”

She shrugged. “Perhaps a little,” she said, holding up her thumb and forefinger for reference.

“How are you here, Daisy?”

“I snuck out,” she whispered. “Don’t tell Ash. He won’t be very happy with me.”

Jesus. The man would have his head—no, his balls—on a pike. If Anderson thought he was in trouble before…

“Did you walk all the way from Raven House? By yourself?”

She nodded, clearly very proud of herself. She could have been killed out there.

He wrapped his arms around her, thanking God, once again, that she was safe. “I should put you over my knee for being so reckless. I could have lost you again.”

“Mmmm, how about you just kiss me instead?”

Fool that he was, he did. It wasn’t sweet or gentle. It was punishing and passionate as he finally allowed himself to show her how he really felt. Angry and desperate, heartbroken and needy, and most of all, so goddamned glad she was alive. Her lips parted, and he plunged inside, claiming every part of her mouth, the sweetness of the wine and of her soft whimpers sending spirals of desire through him. He pulled her roughly against him, his hard length pressed along her stomach. He wanted her. He’d always wanted her.

But he had to stop. She was drunk, and she wasn’t his to take even if she was sober. He wrenched himself away from her. Her dazed eyes looked up at him before a hungry smile grew on her lips.

“Do you remember that time… that time when you touched me? You made me feel something magical.”

Jesus, of course he remembered. The scene still frequently haunted his dreams. Daisy, enthusiastically losing herself to her passion in his arms. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked up at him from beneath hooded lids.

“Will you do that again?” She swallowed, waiting for his response.

“Daisy.”

“Please?”

How was he supposed to say no to her? “You realize Ash will have my guts for garters, right?”

She leaned in close and whispered, “I won’t tell him if you don’t.”

To his dismay, or perhaps his delight, it was too soon to tell for sure, she began opening the buttons of her blouse. She had finished with most of them by the time he started thinking with his brain instead of his cock. He stilled her hands with one of his own.

“We can’t do this, Daisy.”

She raised a brow and looked him square in the eye. “Your kiss, and perhaps the wine”—she scrunched her cute little nose and nodded—“have made me desperate to be touched. So if you won’t do it, I’ll do it myself.” She shrugged. “Either way, these are coming off.” She reached behind her back and opened her belt, allowing it to fall to the floor.

Jesus Christ. Who was this woman? He’d never wanted anyone or anything so badly in all his life.

“Daisy, please.” He was trying so hard to be honorable. “You’re not in a state to be making decisions like this.”

She pushed her skirts down and stepped out of them and her bodice joined them shortly thereafter. She stood there smiling at him, wearing nothing but her corset, chemise, drawers, and stockings.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Fitz. I am in the perfect state of mind to be making these decisions.” She reached around and started loosening the laces of her corset, and it quickly made its way to the floor to join the growing pile.

Her hard nipples called to him through the thin fabric of her chemise. He swallowed down the overwhelming need to taste them. His hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“Daisy, please. I’m liable to lose all control if you don’t stop.”

She shrugged. “I never asked you to control yourself.”

He turned his back in a final effort to be decent. The bed creaked softly behind him as she climbed onto the mattress. There was a bit of rustling, and then a moan.

He whipped around and groaned at the sight. She sat at the top of the bed, her bent legs spread, pulling the fabric of her split drawers wide open, and her hand moving between them. Try as he might, he could not tear his eyes away from her. He was transfixed by what she was doing. Her pink, velvety skin glistened as her fingers slid slowly up and down along it.

“When did you—” He swallowed. “How did you learn to?—”

Her breathing was growing heavy and the smile on her lips was that of a siren. “I had to.” A breathy sigh escaped her lips as she continued to rub herself. “You had shown me something wondrous, and then you were gone. Mmmmm,” she groaned. “It’s not as good as when you did it, but it still feels—” Her breathing hitched, and she sucked her lip between her teeth. “Being able to look at you seems to make it better, though.”

His hand rubbed over the throbbing bulge in his trousers. How was this happening?

“Fitz, you’re so beautiful.” Her other hand came up to cradle her breast through her chemise, before rolling the nipple between her finger and thumb.

He stroked himself through the fabric again. Jesus. He was going to spill in his trousers. There was no question about it. Need like he’d never known burned through him, and he rubbed more firmly as he took a step nearer.

But he couldn’t have her.

She watched him, her eyes fixed on his hand as he moved it over his length. Her breathing grew ragged and labored, her fingers increasing their fervor but keeping a steady rhythm as she stroked over her swollen flesh.

“Fitz!” She was panting and could only manage one word at a time. “Yes! Oh, Yes!” Finally, she arched her back as pleasure erupted through her with a long moan, followed by another, and another.

Bloody hell! With a roar, he dropped to his knees. His own climax ripped through his body. How was that even possible? He still had his trousers on for God’s sake. When he eventually managed to get his breathing under control and stopped writhing on his hands and knees, he pushed himself up.

A look of awe lit Daisy’s face.

“Was that like what happened to me?” she asked, reminding him of how innocent she actually was.

He chuckled at her guilelessness and nodded. The smile that grew on her lips was almost smug with the delight of her sudden understanding of the power she could wield over him.

“What am I going to do with you, Daisy?”

She shrugged, but then her smile began to fade, and her eyelids drooped. Between being sated and far too drunk, she was about to fall fast asleep.

He got to his feet and helped her to crawl beneath the covers.

“Goodnight, Fitz.” She barely got the words out before she dropped into a deep sleep. He tucked some of her stray hair behind her ear.

“Goodnight, Daisy.” He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. What was he going to do with her? He shook his head. Pink stained her cheeks, no doubt brought on by a combination of the wine and her lascivious but incredible activities. Pulling himself together, he turned away from her.

As much as he was dreading the inevitable consequences, he needed to let Ash know she was safe. He got himself cleaned up and then penned a quick note.

Ash,

Daisy is safe with me at the inn. I will see her home when it’s light; unharmed and untouched.

You have my word.

Fitz

Technically it was true. He hadn’t touched her. By some miracle. But dear God, watching her touch herself had transported him to a place of need and ecstasy he’d never experienced.

He folded the note and sealed it, then hurried outside to find someone to deliver it.

“Take this to Raven House. Tell the doorman that it’s for Ash, and it is to be delivered to him wherever he is. Understood?”

The boy nodded and Fitz placed a coin in his palm before he scampered off. He was in for some serious trouble with those four men. Bollocks. He shook his head and trudged up the stairs and back to his room. He wasn’t about to climb into bed with her, so instead, he sat in the chair and watched her sleep, half expecting someone to break down the door at any minute. But thankfully, it never happened.

* * *

Daisy groaned as the ache in her head throbbed. Why did it feel as if her brain was being squeezed by a tourniquet?

But then she remembered. She’d stolen wine from the kitchens and drank it. All of it. And then….

Oh no. Slowly the events of the night played through her mind. Had she really gone to Fitz’s room? She lifted her head and was horrified to see him sitting in the chair watching her. His brows raised as their eyes met, his legs stretched out and crossed at the ankle, hands resting in his lap.

An image of sitting at the top of the bed, touching herself while he watched flashed through her mind, and even though she wanted it to be a dream, she knew she’d actually done that. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she pulled the pillow over her face. No. How was this happening? How could she possibly have done something so humiliating?

Her stomach clenched as she heard his footsteps approach the bed. The pillow was lifted from her face, and he stared down at her.

“Good afternoon, Daisy.”

“Afternoon?” The pain in her head surged as she pushed herself upright and she groaned. “I have to get back.” She threw the blankets back in a panic. “People will be worried about me.”

He shook his head. “It’s alright, Daisy. Ash knows you’re safe.”

She dropped her forehead into her hands. “What have I done? How can I ever look you in the eye again after the way I behaved?”

The mattress dipped beside her, and a warm arm wrapped around her shoulders pulling her against his chest.

“What must you think of me? First I slap you, and then I appear at your door in the middle of the night, drunk, and behaving like a jezebel with no self-respect.”

He chuckled softly. “I think I showed up like a whirlwind of chaos and turned your nice, ordered life upside down. And for that, I am sorry.” Even her throbbing head and her shame were no match for how glad she was to be in his arms, surrounded by his warmth. It would just lead to heartbreak again, but she would savor this moment anyway.

He pressed a gentle kiss on top of her head and then he was gone, moving away from the bed.

“I’ll step out and give you some privacy so you can dress, and then I’ll take you home.”

She snorted. Although she was grateful for the offer, it wasn’t as if she should be in need of privacy after what she’d done. She nodded and breathed out a long sigh. She was going to be in serious trouble when she got back. What would she do if she was expelled from Raven House? Panic began to swell in her chest, but she pushed it down. She’d deal with whatever came when she got there.

Fitz had hung her clothes in the armoire for her so that they wouldn't be wrinkled. She didn’t deserve such kindness from him after the way she’d treated him. Although, she did remember that he had also enjoyed himself. She didn’t fully understand how that worked or what had happened, but presumably it had to be similar to the pleasure she’d experienced.

When she was fully dressed, she opened the door, and Fitz was there, holding a tray.

“I thought you might like a little sustenance before we enter the lion’s den.” He placed the tray on the small table and gestured for her to sit. She nearly wept at his kindness as he handed her a cup of tea.

“Unfortunately, they didn’t have raisin scones, but they did have plain ones and strawberry jam.”

Tears stung the corners of her eyes. “You remembered?”

“Of course I did.” His smile was so sweet, and she couldn’t seem to draw her eyes away from him. “Don’t dally. Ash will be impatient to see with his own eyes that you’re safe.”