Page 5 of Ravage (Dark Desires #1)

CROTCH GOBLINS

IMOGEN

Tuesday morning, my sister calls for a chat.

"You realise you never ask me to catch up for coffee anymore, right?" Diana complains as soon as I answer the phone.

"Yes, I do. We literally had coffee last week. I think the baby brain has kicked in," I say, as my infant niece makes baby noises in the background.

"Oh yeah... Was that last week? I swear, my life is just one big stretch of no sleep right now." She yawns loudly.

"Really selling this whole motherhood thing, big sis," I say with a laugh.

"Like you're ever going to have kids, Immy. Aside from Tabitha, you've literally never been near a child in your life."

"True. You can keep having the crotch goblins, and I'll just keep enjoying having all the procreation free sex."

Diana splutters a laugh. "That's a new one. I've heard you call children many names, but crotch goblins is a first."

"Just here for your entertainment," I reply, returning to the kitchen where I was getting my breakfast ready when the phone rang.

"What are you up to today? Steven is home, and I need to get out of this house and have some husband and baby free time." I can hear her banging around, and it sounds like she's trying to wrestle Tabitha into her highchair, judging by the squeals.

I wince when my niece lets out a particularly loud whine, one that she does whenever she's seen food. "I'm working this afternoon, but we can do lunch before, if you'd like?"

"Oh, yes, please! The usual place?"

"Yep."

"Awesome. See you at twelve." She hangs up, and I get on with my morning.

The days when I have later starts, I usually prefer to hang out at home, enjoying the peace, but Diana has been out of sorts for months, and I know the change in lifestyle since Tabitha was born has been getting to her.

When I arrive at our regular cafe of choice, she's already there, book in hand, as she lovingly strokes her thumb up and down the side of the coffee mug she's cradling.

She's wearing what I've come to refer to as her 'mum uniform', messy hair, oversized jumper and black leggings.

Before Tabitha came along, Diana never left the house without checking to make sure there wasn't a hair out of place, her makeup always impeccable and her outfits on point.

Motherhood has been a rude shock for her, and while I'd been on the fence about it before, it has definitely cemented that babies are not for me.

"Hey, been waiting long?" I ask, leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek before taking a seat.

"Yep, but that's cause I told Steven we were going to get pedicures first before we ate. Needed some extra time to myself."

I raise an eyebrow. "Won't he notice that your feet still look awful?"

She shoots me a horrified look. "They don't look awful! But Steven wouldn't even notice either way, cause he's as exhausted as I am these days."

The server arrives, and we put in our orders. Once the girl leaves, Diana leans back in her chair and looks me over.

"So, how's the club? I assume you're going straight there after work?" She eyes my designer dress, which hugs my curves and highlights my breasts, cut very low. So low that I can't wear a bra with it.

"Things at work are okay. We had a bit of excitement last week when a client had a heart attack at the club, but other than that, nothing new."

As far as my sister and brother-in-law are aware, I work at a members only club, catering to the super rich.

Which is entirely true. She just doesn't know what happens at the club.

Although she's made so many comments about my work attire that I'm sure she thinks that, at the very least, it's a strip club.

"Oh wow. Were you in charge when it happened?"

I nod. "Yeah. Had to let the ambos in and everything. He's fine, though. Apparently, he went home from the hospital yesterday. Sebastian rang to check on him."

Diana raises an eyebrow. "And how is Sebastian?"

I sigh, knowing the thoughts going through her head at the mention of his name. "Nothing new there, either, Di. We're just friends."

"Friends who have hot couch sex," she volleys back, crossing her arms.

"You weren't meant to see that." A few months ago, Diana had let herself into my apartment unannounced to find me riding Sebastian's cock while he bit my breast.

I may have been experiencing an earth-shattering orgasm at the time and screaming his name.

It had been a rather awkward conversation afterwards, when I had to tell my rather conservative sister that I was just sleeping with my boss, not on my way to marriage.

We were raised by very strict Catholic parents, and she still lives within the bubble of shame I'd long since escaped from. I walked out of our parents’ house at the age of twenty, and have been no-contact with them for twelve years.

I know for a fact that she'd love to let loose, and would definitely get up to some kinky shit at one of the club nights, if she could find a way to remove the stick from her arse.

Not that we'll ever get to test that theory, because there's no way I'm telling her the truth about what happens there.

Or even where 'there' is.

While the club is entirely legal, its location is kept well hidden.

People have to jump through about a thousand hoops just to have a meeting with Sebastian before he considers whether or not they can join.

He can read people with expert precision and does thorough background checks.

It had freaked me out when he'd done his research on me before I even knew the place existed, but it's his one true love and he won't risk the safety of his staff for anything.

She smirks. "Ah, but I did see it. And he's fucking hot, so what's the issue?"

"Well, like I've told you, neither of us is interested in a relationship. It's honestly just sex. Yes, really good sex, but sex doesn't always have to be about emotion." I shrug.

The server returns with our coffees, and Diana pounces on hers before the server can even touch her finished cup. "So you say. My own experience has been somewhat different."

"Well, we've always seen that sort of thing differently. Or at least, you pretend not to be curious while passing judgement on me for actually living the life I want," I reply, weary of having the same conversation yet again.

Behind Diana, two paramedics walk in. It takes me a moment to realise it's the men from last week, coming in to get coffee while still on shift. Outside, I can see their vehicle pulled up behind mine on the side of the road.

Diana says something in reply, but I don't hear her as I run my gaze over them. The one that Connell knew, Cam, is particularly attractive.

Alright, I'm lying, he's fucking hot. And those pants do wonders for his arse.

Damn Annika for being right.

Diana turns to see what's caught my attention, then looks back at me with a smirk. "Gawk much?"

I clear my throat, then shrug. "That's the ambo's from last week."

She looks over again, openly checking them both out right along with me. They are talking while they wait, looking relaxed. I've never known anyone in the emergency services, but I imagine their work is pretty stressful, and honestly don't think I could handle it.

While we're staring, Cam looks over our way, his eyes meeting mine. His eyebrows raise for a moment, before he turns back to his colleague, responding to something he said.

I'm pretty sure he recognised me, and the fact that he doesn't acknowledge me further than that tells me he was sufficiently warned by Connell not to mention the club to anyone.

But his eyes return to me several times as they move closer to the front of the line, and Diana covers her smile with her hand.

"Someone's checking you out, little sis."

"He's probably trying to work out why I look familiar," I say, attempting to keep myself from staring further by taking a mouthful of coffee.

"Oh, he definitely remembers you. The way he's looking at you shows he liked what he saw last week, and wants to get in your pants."

I splutter a laugh. "Did you really just say that?"

"Hey, you were the one going on about how you can have sex without feelings. He looks like he would fuck hard."

I stare at my sister, stunned. "And what would you know about fucking hard, sweet, innocent sister of mine? "

She smirks. "I read a shit tonne of dark romance. And I own a vibrator. I'm not a complete prude, you know."

I smile. "No, sis. You definitely aren't."

Our food arrives, and as the two men are leaving with their coffees, Cam gives me a wink.

I can't help but smile back.

Even though there's absolutely no way we'll be seeing each other again.