Page 10 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)
Chapter Ten
JAMES
PRESENT DAY
S tanding up from my hunched position over Drew’s desk, I arch my back, hearing it click in places.
“You’re getting old,” Drew chuckles.
“Fuck off, you’re just as old as I am.” I flip him the bird and turn my back to him, heading for the door. “I’m going for coffee.” I open it a bit too hard, and it smashes against the wall.
Drew pushes back from his desk, his own bones cracking and creaking. “Hold up, I’ll come with you. I need a break from staring at this screen.” He walks around his desk and meets me at the door.
We’re walking down the hallway to the kitchen when he asks, “How’s Theo?”
“Honestly? Not great.” I glance at him. “ She’s back. ”
Immediately knowing what I’m talking about, he says, “Ah, fuck.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I agree.
Stopping in the hallway, Drew places a hand on my arm, a serious expression on his face. “Do we need to keep an eye on him?”
Pushing a hand through my hair, I exhale harshly. “I’m keeping tabs on him. You know what happened after she left the first time. I won’t let it happen again.”
Entering the kitchen, my eyes drift around the room until my gaze settles on Raven sitting on a stool at the kitchen island.
Shit, I didn’t know she’d be here.
I can’t take my eyes off her, even though I know I should.
I’m like some creepy perv lusting over a woman half my age.
My heart kicks behind my ribs, the force pulsing through my entire body as I notice she’s wearing barely there pajamas, plenty of her smooth, creamy skin on display, which causes my dick to stir.
Nope. Stop it, dickhead .
Trying not to stare, I clear my throat. “Morning, Raven.”
Her mug pauses at her pink lips as she replies, “Morning, James.” The raspy sound of her voice sends goosebumps down my arms. Glancing away from me, she looks to Drew as she asks, “What are you up to?”
Drew pours us both a cup of coffee. “I forgot we have a meeting today. James drove out to join me.” He hands me the mug as he adds, “He’s staying with us for the weekend while we close this deal.”
My eyes still haven’t left Raven, watching the way she shuffles in her chair and taps her mug with her nails, almost like she’s nervous. She finally glances back at me, her eyes wide. Guess she doesn’t like the idea of me being here for the weekend.
Standing up from the stool, Raven walks over to the coffee pot, pouring herself another cup.
She turns, leaning her hip against the countertop before deciding against it and standing up straight.
“I’m gonna go change. I’ll probably take a walk, get some fresh air.
” Raven strolls out of the kitchen, cup in hand, as I struggle to keep my eyes from her.
What is it about this girl?
Drew smiles at her, humming in agreement.
“I forgot she was coming this weekend. I’m a bad parent,” he sighs. “I feel like I’ve missed so much of her life.”
I slap him on the back. “Drew, you’ve got to stop being so hard on yourself. Raven adores you. If you were that bad a parent, she’d hate you. Trust me on that.”
“Shit, sorry, J,” Drew says. “I didn’t think.”
“I think we’ve been friends long enough now that we don’t have to worry about watching our mouths,” I laugh. “Yes, my dad was a cunt, but I’m a better man for it.”
It’s true. Yes, I fucked women like they were going out of fashion, but I’m a decent human who loves my friends like they’re my family.
It’s more than what my own father did for me.
By the time I’d hit sixteen, I’d had most of the bones in my body broken, more than once.
He always managed to keep the bruises to places where I could cover them.
The broken bones were blamed on me being a clumsy child and having a penchant for dangerous sports.
I shake my head of reminders of a past I’d rather forget and follow Drew back to his office.
“I’m hungry, I’m going for food,” I tell Drew a few hours later as I stand up from my chair and head toward the door, a feeling of déjà vu washing over me.
Drew doesn’t even bother looking up as he says, “Bring me back a sandwich, will ya?”
Stepping into the kitchen, I set about making some food and grab a soda from the fridge.
Once I’ve got everything, I stroll out into the backyard, placing everything down on the patio table.
I go to sit when I hear splashing from the outside pool.
With my curiosity piqued, I go and check just to make sure no one’s drowning.
What I see, though, has my jaw hitting the deck.
I timed it just right as Raven starts climbing up the steps of the pool, looking like a redheaded version of Ursula Andress from the James Bond film Dr. No .
My teenage self never forgot her after watching it one Sunday afternoon.
I found pictures of her online and had them plastered all over the walls in my bedroom.
So fuck me, if my dick doesn’t harden at the sight of Raven’s white bikini clinging to her ass and tits, her nipples poking through from the chill in the air. Water pours off her curves as she strolls over to the deckchair, grabbing a towel and wiping herself down.
Christ, I’ve never wanted to be a towel so much.
Fuck! No! Bad, James.
I mentally slap myself but continue staring. I massively fuck up when a groan leaves me as she bends over to dry her legs.
Raven stands up, her eyes wide as she holds the towel against her body. “Shit, James. You scared me.” Wrapping herself up, she continues, a smirk on her face. “Stalker much?”