Page 12 of Never Gonna Lie (Forbidden #2)

Chapter Twelve

JAMES

M otherfucking cunt!

I’m waiting for my dick to soften because right now, if I get out of this pool, Drew’s gonna get a fucking eye full, and he’s sure to have questions.

The fuck is wrong with me? Women throw themselves at me all day, every day. I don’t have a shortage of women, so why the fuck does my dick decide to only wake up around Raven motherfucking Carter?

My heart hasn’t stopped pounding since she asked if I was going for a swim with her. My dick was already at half-mast as she stretched out lazily on the deckchair. I had to sit up to hide my growing erection. Watching her walk away? I needed a cold fucking shower.

I removed my T-shirt and jumped in, hoping the water would wake up the common sense that had decided to up and fuck all the way off.

Things got weird after the kiss, and I’m not surprised, disappointed, but not surprised. I acted like a dick that night, telling her it was a mistake when all I wanted to do was haul her back into my arms and kiss the shit out of her again.

But she’s Drew’s daughter, therefore, so off limits even God can’t touch her.

Having her in my arms after I’d dragged her under the water was its own kind of hell.

I knew I should’ve pulled away, but the connection with her was too strong, too intoxicating to move.

The urge to run my hands over her body, to hear what she sounded like as my tongue traced every inch of her curves—Ah, fuck.

I’m the worst kind of asshole. I’m a fucking disgrace.

I run a hand through my hair, trying to expel the thought of Raven from my fucked up head.

I’m just glad Drew interrupted us before anything could’ve happened.

He’d fucking kill me if he knew about the kiss.

If he found out I’d done any more than that?

I’d be wiped off the face of the fucking Earth—James Smith, who?

Raven gives me one last glance before walking into the house, leaving me with her dad. Finally managing to calm my raging dick down, I blow out a breath and heave myself out of the pool.

Grabbing a towel, I’m vaguely listening to Drew as he talks. “Uh huh,” I reply, distracted.

Drew huffs. “Are you even listening to me?” he asks, eyeing me suspiciously. “What’s gotten into you?”

Still watching where Raven had walked off to, I grumble, “Nothing.”

Of course I’m lying through my fucking teeth. Everything’s got into me, and it starts with his fucking daughter. Excusing myself, Drew gives me a strange look as I grab my shit and storm back to the house.

Entering my room, I chuck everything on the bed and throw my head back, hands coming up to rub my eyes. I’m nearly fucking thirty- seven years old, for Christ's sake, Raven shouldn’t be on my radar. I’m an old man, and she’s so young .

Heading for a shower, I vow to stop thinking about Raven in any capacity other than one of my best friend’s daughters.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Drew’s head was lost in work.

Emma made small talk with Raven, but she just grunted every so often while pushing her food around her plate, so Emma gave up.

The scraping of cutlery against china set my teeth on edge as I barely touched my own dinner, too busy focused on the woman sitting across from me.

Once everyone finished, we went in different directions—Drew, no doubt, back to his office.

I didn’t feel like working, so I didn’t follow, heading to the living room instead.

I need a moment to breathe, to figure out why Raven’s got under my skin even though I promised myself I wouldn’t think about her.

Sitting on the large cream sofa with a harsh exhale, I slide my phone out of my shorts, checking my messages.

Caleb

Anyone around tonight? I’m bored. There are only so many assignments I can grade before wanting to off myself.

Theo

What he actually means is that he wants us to go to Strokes so he can sit and stare at hot chicks while they work… I’m in *smirky face em oji*

Caleb

Fuck off, Theo. We’re not all dirty bastards like you *eye roll emoji*

Noah

Is he wrong, though?

Caleb

…

Can’t. At Drew’s for the weekend, closing a deal. Next weekend?

A noise distracts me, and I glance up to see Raven walking in. She’s wearing her tiny pajamas again, far too much skin on show for my old heart to cope with. Her red hair cascades around her shoulders, illuminating her pale skin.

“You couldn’t put more clothes on?” I say gruffly. I don’t mean to be an asshole but seeing her looking like that isn’t good for my heart or my dick.

Raven’s head snaps up at my voice, clearly not realizing I’m here, before rolling her eyes. “God, you sound like Emma.” She gives a broken laugh as she shakes her head.

“Huh?”

“Nothing. I didn’t think anyone else would be around. I was gonna watch a film, but I can leave.” She gestures behind her as she starts walking backward.

“It’s fine. You can watch something,” I mutter.

I should really get up and leave, go back to my own room and read a book or something, but for the life of me, I can’t get my body to move. It’s like I’m caught up in her web, my body only responding to her .

Raven stops, giving me a quizzical look. “You’re sure?” she asks, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear and suddenly looking shy.

“Yeah, pretty girl, I’m sure.”

Sauntering further into the room, she slumps down next to me, curling her legs up under her. I cross my arms over my chest and sink into the sofa, my legs sprawled out.

She leans over the side of the sofa, reaching for the remote. “What film?”

My gaze lands on her ass, the firm globes staring at me as she leans over.

I swallow hard, averting my gaze as she flops back down, resuming her previous position.

I discreetly adjust myself—this isn’t how tonight was supposed to go.

I was supposed to have a nice, quiet, relaxed evening.

Instead, I’m sitting with a dick so hard, it could cut glass with a woman I can’t have.

Fuck my life.

Raven absentmindedly flicks through channels until she lands on a rom-com. “Do you mind? Or is there something else you’d like?” she asks.

“Oh, there’s something else I’d like,” I mumble.

Raven's head turns toward me, her mouth agape and eyes wide. “What did you say?”

“Nothing. I said absolutely nothing.”

“Hmm,” she hums, clearly not buying my bullshit. And to be honest, neither am I.

We sit in comfortable silence after that.

My dick finally softens so I can enjoy the film—I can appreciate a good chick flick now and then.

Raven doesn’t seem to want to sit still, though, changing her position every five minutes—back, front, side, and back to her front again. All I know is she’s driving me crazy .

“Raven,” I snap. “Can you sit still, you’re like a wriggly fucking worm.”

She pouts as she teases, “Sorry, Daddy.”

I freeze, my body going completely still. I keep my focus on the TV as I grind out, “Don’t.”

Raven laughs as she sits up on her haunches, hands placed in her lap as she faces me. “Huh? You don’t like me calling you daddy, Daddy ?”

This girl has no idea what she’s doing to me, and she’s about two seconds away from being put across my fucking knee before I fuck her senseless. Every part of my body is locked as I desperately hold myself back from doing what I want to. A muscle in my jaw works as I grit my teeth.

“Enough, Raven,” I bark, but it doesn’t deter her as she keeps going. “One more time, little girl, and I’ll put you across my fucking knee and smack your ass so raw you can’t sit down for a week.”

Don’t think about her ass. Don’t think about her ass.

“You wouldn’t dare,” she laughs as she clenches her thighs.

“Try me,” I growl.

Shut up , James.

I expect her to continue laughing it off, but what I don’t expect is for the next words that come pouring out of her mouth seductively.

“Daddy.”

Well, shit.

A deep rumble starts low in my chest as I reach over and grasp her hips. She squeals as I flip her, her feet dangling off the arm of the sofa and her head resting on the cushion.

“I warned you, pretty girl,” I growl, gently caressing her ass, and trying not to think of all the ways Drew’s going to kill me so he can bring me back to life only to do it all over again for daring to touch his daughter .

“Please,” she whimpers, “touch me.”

I chuckle darkly. “Oh, I’m going to touch you, but not in the way you want. In the way your body’s craving me to.”

I keep stroking the delectable globe of her ass, the skin soft under my rough palm as I silently curse my hardening dick.

I bring my hand down, the resounding smack echoing throughout the room, and I breathe deeply.

A rush of euphoria washes through me as her ass starts glowing a subtle pink. I watch it, mesmerized.

All thoughts leave me, and I curse myself for not taking this more seriously. I’m better than this. “What’s your safe word?”

Raven lifts her head and looks at me in confusion. “Huh? Safe word? I don’t understand.”

“It’s a word to stop this at any time. Let’s start with something simple. Red for stop. Yellow for okay, but I’m reaching my limit, and green for good,” I explain. “You say red and we stop immediately, understood?”

“Uh…”

I grip her chin and force her head back to look at me. “Do. You. Understand?”

“Ye-yes. Red, stop. Yellow, okay. Green, good.” She nods, her eyes wide with lust and a flush to her cheeks.

My hand slaps down, hard, and she gasps, a moan leaving her lips. “You like that?” I groan, my body on fire at the sounds escaping her lips. I slap her again, gently rubbing my hand where it landed. The beautiful pink glow starts to bloom into more of a red as my handprint starts to form.

“Daddy, please,” Raven begs, and the sound goes straight to my dick. My hips thrust up of their own accord, trying to find my own friction against her .

I lean forward, growling against the shell of her ear, “You want to come, baby?”

“Yes, please, please, I want to come,” she pleads.

“Tough. You pushed me too far, pretty girl. You don’t get to come.” Raven tries to get up, but I hold her to me firmly. “Color.”

“James,” she whines, as she continues to wiggle in my grip.

“Color,” I reiterate. I’m not carrying on until she tells me where she stands. I want to push her, just like she’s pushing me, but I won’t do anything she’s not comfortable with.

“Green. Always green with you,” she breathes out.

My chest aches at her words, and I have to stop the urge to rub where she hit me—my heart.