Page 17 of Ravage (Dark Desires #1)

YOU WERE PRETTY DAMN SKILLED

IMOGEN

Damn that man.

Ever since Cam's dominating display on Saturday night, my libido has been in fucking overdrive, and no amount of solo time with my vibrator has been able to fix it.

Everything about that exchange had me questioning all my previous assumptions about him.

The laid back, good boy persona appears to be a front for something darker.

Something that is calling to me, because it senses the darkness that is so much like my own.

We've already slept together, and I'd gotten a hint at the dominance then, but that was nothing compared to how he spoke to me on Saturday night.

"You are bashing those keys like the computer has done something wrong," Sebastian says, not bothering to look up from his own computer.

We've been working together in silence all morning, and I know he saw everything between Cam and I, but he hasn't asked for details.

Which is a relief. Because Annika has been blowing up my phone ever since I walked out of the bar on shaky legs and went home to deal with my stupid feelings.

"Leave me alone," I grumble, continuing to bash the keys while I write an email that I will definitely need to leave in my drafts, to review when I'm calmer, before hitting send.

The club manager in Adelaide will probably cry otherwise, and they've done nothing to deserve my wrath.

"I was of the belief that I had been doing just that for the last several hours," he says, looking up with one eyebrow raised. "It doesn't appear to be helping though, because you've been sighing and grumbling to yourself the entire time."

"This is all your fault. You told me to talk to Cam, and now it's all just worse," I snap.

He chuckles. "I take it this is about that heated exchange between you both before he left. Looked like you were enjoying yourself."

I growl. "Well, looks can be deceiving."

He sighs and leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Isn't it exhausting, living in denial like this?"

"I'm not in denial. I already admitted I had feelings. But now I'm just annoyed."

He smirks. "No, you're fucking horny. It's easy to mix up the two, I'll admit. And I'd offer to help, but I don't think it's my cock you need right now."

I raise an eyebrow. "So, what, now that Cam has fucked with my head, we don't play together anymore?"

"Oh, don't worry, I'll happily keep playing with you.

But this horniness isn't just about release.

It's about the fact that he has you in a chokehold, and you are craving his delicious cock more than mine right now.

" There's no trace of jealousy in his expression as he delivers those words with a smirk.

"Might I suggest calling the man and asking him to fuck your brains out?

You have no trouble conveying your needs to me, so what's the problem? "

I glower at him. "You know exactly what the problem is. With us, it's just sex. With Cam there's-"

He waves his hand as he cuts me off. "Feelings. Yes, you've mentioned that. Still not seeing the problem here."

"The problem is, he's going to want more."

Sebastian shakes his head. "Did he say he wanted more?"

"No, but guys like that always want more. He's the sort of guy who comes from a happy family and wants the same thing for himself." My voice drops. "He's not like us."

Sebastian gets up, coming to crouch beside me while I look down at my hands.

"While I admit that he doesn't seem to be as broken as us, unless he actually tells you he wants a family with you, perhaps give him the benefit of the doubt that he is old enough to decide for himself what he wants?

" He runs a comforting hand up and down my back.

He might be my boss. He might be the guy I fuck when I need a release. But he's also one of my closest friends. And apparently, he knows I'm being a complete chicken, and he is more than happy to call me out on it.

"I know you've got issues because of your parents. And I know Chris was a raging dickhead who never deserved you. But it is possible to find happiness without losing who you are, if it's the right person."

I suck in a breath. "But what if he wants me to give up working here? To give up all the things I enjoy."

He pushes my hair behind my ear. "Then he's not the right person for you.

But you won't ever find that out if you don't at least entertain the possibility of seeing how this goes.

At least fuck him again if you just need to get it out of your system.

But from how you've both spoken to me, that first time has well and truly left its mark on each of you. "

"What did he say to you?" I ask, trying not to show too much interest.

He chuckles and stands back up. "Not happening. If you want to find out how he's feeling, then you need to talk to him. And might I suggest doing it soon, because I'd like the friendly version of Imogen back. This grumpy one, whilst sexy as fuck, is grating on my nerves."

And just like that, the pep talk is over, and we're back to business as usual.

That evening, I stare at the number I pulled from Cam's client file.

He did tell me to get in touch, so it's not like I violated his privacy by looking it up. Still, I’d resisted the urge to dig any deeper.

Sebastian ran a full background check before asking Connell to invite him to the club night, so I could easily find out everything about him. But that feels wrong.

Not brave enough to actually call him, I type out a quick text before I chicken out.

Imogen

Drinks. Tonight. I think we need to talk.

Cam

Just tell me the time and place.

His reply came through in less than thirty seconds, and he has obviously worked out it's me. Unless he's got someone else so strung out on his dick...

Imogen

You didn't need to check who was messaging you?

Cam

There's only one person who would be messaging me like this, Imogen. Don't play games, it doesn't suit you. I'm not fucking anyone else, but not sure you can say the same, so yeah. Let's talk .

Guess he's worked out things between myself and Sebastian aren't strictly business. I'm tempted to bite back, but instead, I send the details for my local bar and tell him to meet me there in an hour. Then I start getting ready.

Fifty-eight minutes later, I'm sitting in one of the booths at the back, cupping my glass of whiskey in both hands while I check the time on my watch for the tenth time in five minutes.

I'd gotten here early, having showered and dressed quicker than usual.

I'd only bothered with mascara and lipstick, and pulled my hair back into a braid.

I hadn't wanted to give him the satisfaction of knowing I'd put effort into my appearance when this is just drinks. Nothing more.

When he finally slides into the booth across from me, three minutes late, my nerves are in overdrive.

I hate this! Why am I so twisted in knots over this guy?!

Looking way too good in a black long sleeve shirt and jeans, he doesn't speak, just takes a mouthful of his beer and holds my gaze as his throat bobs as he swallows.

God, everything he does is sexy as fuck.

I clear my throat. "So."

He smirks. "So."

"Thank you for meeting me."

He chuckles. "Felt more like a summons, but sure, we'll go with your version."

I sigh. "Are you always such a sarcastic arsehole?"

"Yes. Are you always so snippy?" he shoots back.

"Only when provoked."

He just keeps on smirking.

Fucking sexy arsehole.

I take a sip of my drink just to avoid the silence.

His eyes light up, taking amusement at my obvious discomfort. " So, what you're saying is, my charming personality provokes you to behave out of character?"

I meet his gaze, lifting my chin. "Something like that."

"Well, then I guess we should just avoid all further interactions, then." His eyes are full of challenge, as though he's calling my bluff.

"Maybe we should," I reply, crossing my arms.

"We definitely shouldn't fuck again." He lifts his beer back to his lips.

I swallow. "Definitely not."

"Because then you'd have to deal with all those pesky feelings. And you don't do those, right, Imogen?"

I raise an eyebrow. "Right."

"Well, I'm glad we talked." He goes to get up, and I straighten.

"Sit down, you giant pain in the arse."

He eases back into his seat, his eyes still filled with amusement.

I sigh. "Look. Whatever this is." I wave a hand across the space between us. "I think we should see where it goes. If nothing else, there is clearly a lot of sexual chemistry between us."

"So... we should fuck it out and see if you can get me out of your system?" He leans forward to rest his forearms on the edge of the table.

I obviously find this attractive, because my stomach flutters the same way as it did at the sight of his arms on Saturday night.

"And if you can get me out of yours."

He chuckles and takes another swig of beer. "I don't have the same issues with emotions that you do, Imogen. I can have sex without feelings, but it doesn't send me over the edge if I end up feeling something more."

I sigh. "Look... I have issues, okay? Apparently more than I realised until our little escapade last week.

I was raised by a pair of shitty humans, who hated everything about me and my natural instincts.

Then, when I escaped their influence, I ended up marrying a man who told me I was a slut for wanting satisfaction in the bedroom.

Since my divorce, I've refused to allow anyone to make me feel shit about who I am.

And maybe that's resulted in me building some pretty tall walls around myself. "

As I speak, his expression shifts, the arrogance slipping away with each admission I make.

He cocks his head. "Okay. Well, that explains a lot. And I get it. Relationships are hard. My ex put me through the wringer. I can't relate to the parents' part because my family is great. Although my younger brother can be a bit of a dick."

I laugh. "Well, my sister is great, so I guess at least we both have family we actually like." I incline my head. "What happened with your ex?"

He shrugs. "She cheated with her personal trainer. Who also happened to be my personal trainer. So, it made it pretty fucking uncomfortable."

I grimace. "That's rough... I don't get why she'd do that... I mean, we've fucked, and you were pretty damn skilled, so it's not like she could claim dissatisfaction in the bedroom."

He chokes on his next sip of beer, spluttering as he laughs.

"Jesus. I wasn't expecting that." He shakes his head.

"No. It definitely wasn't an issue with sex.

She couldn't handle the demands of my job.

I work long hours and when I was on night shifts, we could go days without actually seeing each other, despite living in the same house.

She's shacked up with him now, so I guess a personal trainer’s hours were more her jam. "

I run my gaze over him. "Shame. Cause the way you wear the shit out of that uniform..." I let the sentence hang between us.

That cocky smirk reappears slowly. "You have a thing for my uniform, Imogen?"

I shrug. "I mean, I have eyes. And your arse looks damn good in those pants."

He chuckles and shakes his head. "This is the most frank conversation I've ever had with a woman, not gonna lie."

I shrug. "You'll probably find that I have no issues in communicating about what I like and what I don't like." I drain the last of my drink and set the glass down on the table. "So, what do you say, Cam? You interested in seeing if this is something we can fuck out?"

He studies me for a moment. "I'm definitely interested. But I need to be wooed first. A little food. A little drinking. Maybe a little dancing."

I stiffen. "So, you want to go on a date first?"

A sigh escapes him, yet the smile doesn't fade. "You are seriously hung up on this feelings thing, aren't you? Yes, I want to take you on a date first. Even if we both hate it, we can hate fuck at the end, if that's what you want. But if we're doing this, we're going out first."

I grit my teeth. "Fine."

He chuckles again. "I'll pick you and your frown up on Friday night, then. And you can try your best to sulk through the whole thing, if you feel the need."

"I won't be sulking when we hate fuck, at least."

We grin at each other, and I'll be damned if those stupid flutters don't keep on fluttering.

Friday night is going to be interesting.