University Park Series Box Set: Books 1-3 (20 page)

I stared at the ground. “Look, Raven.
I’m no match when it comes to those girls. I’m still—” I stalled. I hadn’t told
him I was a virgin, but I was willing to bet he already figured that out from
last night.

“You don’t need to compete with them, I
already told you that.” He kissed me softly on the lips and my anger and
frustration evaporated. “You’re exactly what I want and need.”

Oh God, you’re killing me.

Pressing my lips together, I savored his
kiss that lingered on me. “And you’re all that I want.” I breathed out a quick
breath and pressed my lips to his. Raven’s arms encapsulated me and I grabbed a
fistful of his shirt in my hands. Now I was the one ready to pounce on him.

“Raven, come on. Are you going to kiss
her all day or are we going to finish playing? I got finals to study for,” Josh
yelled from across the lawn.

Raven’s lips parted from mine and I
nipped at his bottom lip. “Do me a favor?” he asked, with a playful grin.

“What’s that?” I released my grip from
his shirt and smoothed out the wrinkles.

“Save it for later?” He winked at me and
I froze. “Okay?”

I nodded. “You’re damn right I will.”

“Come on, play with us.” He looked at me
and then motioned to Delaney who sat on the sidewalk, messing with her camera.

“What?” I shook my head. “I can’t play
with you guys, you’ll freaking clobber me. Besides, I have absolutely no
coordination when it comes to sports.”

“What’s up?” Delaney rocked on the back
of her heels, showing a little too much excitement.

“Play some football with us.” Raven held
up his hand and Josh threw it to him. A whoosh sound flew by me and I blinked
as Raven caught the ball effortlessly.

Delaney shook her head. “Um, that’s
okay. After last night, I don’t think I could handle running. By the way,” she
rested her hand on his arm, “thanks for helping Lexi take of me. I shouldn’t
have drank so much.” Her hand lingered on his arm, but I knew she flirted with
everyone, so I tried not to think anything of it.

“Don’t worry about it.” Raven lifted his
arm to throw the ball and Delaney’s hand dropped. “We’ve all been there a time
or two.” Raven looked over his shoulder at me. “Are you ready for some
football?”

“Oh, come on Laney. You can’t leave me
out here with these guys,” I pleaded with her, clutching on to both of her
arms.

“I’m sorry, Lexi, but I really need to
get busy with this life story project or—”

“Oh my God! I have a great idea.”

I let go of her arms. “Hey, Raven?”

“Yeah?” He caught the ball again and
then held it in his hand.

“Delaney has to tell someone’s life
story through pictures for a project.” Delaney shook her head and her eyes
widened. “Do you think you’d want to help her out?” I smiled at him and batted
my eyelashes repeatedly.

“What exactly do I have to do?” He
turned in her direction.

She crossed her arms over her body in a
coy manner. “I just need to take some photos of you, candid ones, which will
tell your life story. And maybe get some of your past pictures as well.”

 “That’s easy. The media’s always taking
pictures of me and my mom has a crap load of them from my childhood.”

“Really?” Delaney’s blue eyes
brightened. “You’d really let me tell your story?”

Raven shrugged. “It’s not like it’s a
big secret or anything. People know more about me then I probably do.”

“Thanks, Raven. I appreciate it.” She
started to walk off and then stopped. “When do you think I can get some of
those pictures from your mom? My project is due next Tuesday.”

Raven reached into his back pocket and
pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her now.”

Delaney extended a hand. “Oh, I didn’t
mean for you to ask her right now.”

Walking off, Raven ignored her comment.
He began speaking with his mom, so I turned away, not wanting to seem nosey.

“Can you believe he’s going to let me
tell his story?” Delaney whispered in my ear.

“I know. But you better be on your best
behavior.” I eyed her.

“What?” Her head jolted back. “That’s
your guy, not mine. Besides, I just plan on hanging out with you two and taking
some pics, if that’s okay?”

Rave stepped between us. “She said yes,
but on one condition.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

Raven smiled at me. “We come over
tonight for dinner.”

I tried to conceal the smile, but it was
useless. “Great.”

“But first, I want to teach you how to
catch and throw a ball.” Raven reached over and gathered me in his arms.

“What? No.” I protested as he lifted me
off the ground. My arms flailed about, trying to break free from his grip.

He pitched me over his shoulder and
carried me toward the center of the commons area. “Raven! Put me down!”

“Josh. Toss us the ball. I want to show
her how to catch,” he yelled as he placed me on my feet.

“Raven, I’m telling you… I can’t catch a
ball,” I begged but his smile only deepened.

I looked around for Delaney, finding her
walking toward us, taking pictures. I held my arm out, desperate for her to
help me. She raised her head from behind the camera and shot me a thumbs up.

 Raven laced his hand around my arm and
drew it in. His big, strong arms surrounded me and his face rested against
mine. “Bend your knees slightly and get ready to catch the ball when Josh
throws it to us.” His intoxicating scent made it difficult to concentrate. I
sucked in a deep breath, trying to clear my airway.

About thirty yards away, Josh prepared
to throw the ball. “Go easy,” Raven reminded him.

Josh extended his arm back and released
the ball. In slow motion, the brown leather spun in the air directly toward me.
Raven held on to my hands, drawing my arms in as the ball flew straight toward
me. In the blink of an eye, the ball hit me square in the chest. I coughed as
it took the little air I had left in my lungs. I looked down to see to the
ball, clutched between my hands.

“I did it!” I held the ball up in the
air for everyone to see. “I caught the ball.” A few passers-by had stopped to
watch the guys play and clapped when I bragged about my victory.

Raven straightened. “See, you can do
it.” He patted me on the back and my body lunged forward. “Sorry.”

I pulled my hair back into a ponytail.
“Remember, I’m not one of the boys.” I raised the sleeves of my fleece shirt,
ready to try again.

“Alright, now I want you to throw the
ball to Josh.”

Over the next thirty or so minutes,
Raven showed me some of the basics of football. There was something about him
that made me want to try my very best. He didn’t treat me like I was an idiotic
girl that had no clue when it came to sports or a loser without coordination,
but rather someone who had never been shown or taught how to catch or throw a
ball. Instead of making fun of me or tearing me down, he built me up. Just like
I did when I taught him how to become a better writer.

With every throw and catch, I continued
to gain more confidence. By the end, I was running alongside him, trying to
catch a ball that Josh had thrown.

“Come on, Lexi! Reach for it!” Raven
yelled as I held my hands up high above my head.

With one quick movement, Raven jumped
behind me and caught the ball with one hand, tackling me in the process. We
tumbled to the ground. The cold ground seeped through the back of my clothes
while the front of me felt like an oven simmering on high.

My lungs heaved for air as Raven lay
partially on top of me. “Are you trying to kill me?”

“No, just having fun with you.” He
propped himself up on his forearms, allowing me to take a breath. “I told you
that I wanted to have fun with you, remember?” His brows raised and my heart
fluttered.

If this was having fun, then I wanted
more of it.

“Yeah, I remember.” I stared deep into
his eyes.

“So, do you want to have some wild, wild
fun with me?”

“More than you’ll ever know.”

“Good, because I’m just getting started
on that list of yours.”

“But I haven’t even made it.” My hands
rose to his face and I drew my lips closer to his.

“That’s okay, we’ll make it together.”
His warm breath spread across my face and my eyes struggled to stay open.

“That sounds like a great idea. I guess
I can check this off.”

“A game of football?” He stalled a few
inches over my lips.

I shrugged. “Not just a football game,
but a football game with The Raven.”

He lips spread into a full grin. “I’ll
play with you anytime, Lexi.”

I started laughing. “I’m going to be so
sore
 
tomorrow,
 
I won’t be able to walk.”

Raven snickered. “Damn, baby. And I
haven’t done half of the stuff I’m dying to do to you.”

A whimper escaped my throat. He was
making me lose my heart and mind all at the same time. He was driving me insane
and quickly becoming part of my every thought. I was pretty sure I was going to
fail all of my classes. His mouth met mine and my eyes fluttered to a close. I
heard Delaney snap a picture of us and I knew I was right where I wanted to be,
in
The Raven’s
trap.

∑

I grabbed my purse and then stuck my
head in the doorway to Delaney’s room. “Raven is downstairs. Are you ready?”

She slipped on her shoes. “Yep, let’s
go.” Hooking her backpack over her shoulder, she followed me out the door. I
was a little excited to meet Raven’s mom and brothers. I couldn’t help but wonder
what he had told them about me, if anything at all.

I locked the door behind us. “Hey, did
you tell Luke where you were going?”

“No.” She adjusted her backpack. “I
haven’t talked with him since earlier. He was studying. Why?”

“I was just wondering if he knew
anything about me and Raven.”

She gave me one of her looks, but I
didn’t elaborate. “I haven’t mentioned anything to him. But if he saw the pics
of me with Matt on Facebook, then I’m sure he saw you two together.”

“Hmm, I didn’t think about that.” Had
Luke saw them but just avoided the situation since he didn’t want to get in the
middle of my recent split with Collin? “He didn’t ask me or comment that he saw
them when we talked earlier this morning.”

 “Are you afraid he’ll tell Collin?”

The doors to the elevator opened and we
stepped in. Resting my head against the wall, I sighed. “I don’t know.” I
looked at her and she raised a brow. “I just don’t want Collin to find out… I
mean, I’m sure he will eventually.”

“What if he already knows?”

My head jolted. “Do you know something I
don’t?”

“No.” She raised her hands in surrender.
“I swear I don’t.”

The elevator opened and we exited.
“You’d tell me if you did, right?”

“I swear. I…” she hesitated for a moment
before continuing. “I’ve only seen him a few times since you broke up with
him.”

I blocked the door leading outside as I
waited for her to finish. “And?”

“He just seemed kind of sad, that’s
all.”

“Oh.” A little piece of my heart
stirred. I hated not knowing how he truly felt, if the end of our relationship
had a significant bearing on him or if he was glad I had called things off. But
I refused to call him. If he couldn’t speak up when he had the chance, then it
was clear to me that he didn’t love me enough to get married. If he did, he
would have already called me by now.

I sighed heavily and pushed the door
open. Leaving him was for the best. At least, I hoped it was the right
decision.

We walked down the steps to Raven’s car
and got in.

“I love your Challenger,” Delaney said
as she got in the back.

“Thanks.” Raven smiled at me as I sat in
the front seat and goose bumps formed from my head to my toes. I wondered how
he afforded such a nice car, but I refrained from asking. When he shared some
of his dreams with me at the stadium suite, he insinuated that his mother
struggled financially. My curiosity peeked, but I withheld my questions.

Raven revved the engine and raced down
the narrow drive and onto the main street. A chill set in as the sun
disappeared behind the skyline and I shivered. Winter was quickly approaching,
but in Texas it could be icing one day and sunny and warm the next.

“Cold?”

“Yeah, a little.”

Raven turned up the heat, but instead of
returning his hand to the steering wheel, he reached for mine. I interlaced my
fingers with his and the warmth from his palm thawed mine instantly. It felt
good to feel his affection for me and I relished every tender moment of it.

“Hey, did your mom want us to bring
anything?” I asked as we passed a grocery store.

Raven shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t
think to ask.”

“We should probably bring a dessert or
something.” I pointed behind me, indicating for him to turn the car around.

“Yeah, I think we should.” Delaney
leaned between the two front seats.

“Okay.” Raven made a U-turn at the next
light and pulled into the parking lot.

I opened the door and Delaney and I got
out of the car. “We’ll be right back.”

“I got this.” Delaney urged me to get
back in the car.

“Are you sure?” I gave her a confused
look.

“Yeah.” She winked, but I wasn’t sure
what she was trying to tell me. “Is apple pie and vanilla ice cream okay?”

“I guess.” I turned to Raven as I got
back in the car.

“Yeah, that’s fine.” Raven reached in
his pocket. “Here’s a twenty.” He waved a crisp bill in front of me. I took the
money and handed it to her.

“That’s okay. I’m the one who asked for
this favor, I can at least bring something.”

“Okay,” Raven responded and I handed him
back the bill.

I closed the door. “Thanks for agreeing
to help Delaney.”

He flipped through the radio and I could
tell he was avoiding my comment. The muscles in hand tensed and his jaw jutted
out.

“Raven.”

“Huh?”

“You don’t have to do this, you know.” I
placed my hand on his arm. “She’ll understand.”

He stopped flipping stations and
Boom
Clap
started playing over the radio. He turned toward me and I shifted
closer to him. His jaw relaxed and he let out a full breath. “I’m not going to
lie to you, this project of hers will stir up some past hurts.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have offered for
you to help her. It really wasn’t my place.” Even though I knew bits and pieces
about him, I realized that his story wasn’t a lighthearted one. He had some
serious baggage and I felt guilty for placing him in that position.

He looked down and picked at the leather
that wrapped around the gearshift. “But that’s just it. I do want to do this.
I’ve been holding it all in, maybe this will help me.” He glanced at me and I
saw the hurt embedded deep in his eyes. “Like bring some closure or serve as
therapy.”

“I’m definitely no therapist,” I cupped
his face with my hand, “but like I told you, I’m here for you.”

“I don’t know what it is, but when I’m
with you, I feel like I can conquer the world, like I can defeat any obstacle
that I encounter. You’ve been more than a tutor to me, you know that?”

I inclined my head. “Damn, Raven, you
make me sound like I’m your heroine or something.”

“That’s because you are. Being around
you does something to me. I want to be good… do everything right.” In a gentle
motion, he pulled my hand away and raised it to his lips, giving me a tender
kiss. His eyes meet mine and for a moment, we simply stared at each other. “My
world is so much better with you in it, Lexi.”

I took in several deep breaths, trying
to calm my racing heart. Raven definitely knew how to make me feel like I was
the queen of his trap. I didn’t mind because it was a kingdom I wanted to be a
part of. “When I’m with you, I feel so safe. I know there’s nothing in this
world that I can’t face.” I covered my mouth, hiding a snicker. “I do have to
admit something, though.”

“What’s that?”

“When I’m around you, I want to be bad.”
I traced a finger down his chest, not afraid to show him how I really felt. “A
very bad and crazy girl.”

His eyes drilled in to me and in an
instant, Raven captured my lips with his. Our breathing became rapid as our
kiss intensified. It was as though we couldn’t get enough of each other. His
sex appeal was more than I could handle and I was ready to tell him to take me
right there. My hands spread across his chest and I squeezed his shoulders
tightly. Without notice, his hands flew to my waist and he pulled me closer to
him. I started to cross over the console when I remembered Delaney was in the
store. I pulled back slowly, letting out a slight moan.

“Sorry.” I licked my lips, savoring his
sinful taste.

He didn’t move, keeping his position
like he was ready to take me at my command. “Remember what I told you. You
don’t ever have to apologize to me for anything you do.”

I straightened my shirt, trying to
regain my composure. “You also said that you wouldn’t do anything unless I
asked you to. Is that still true?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “Because when it
comes to you, Lexi, I don’t want to screw things up. The last thing I want you
to think is that you’re just another girl to me, because you’re not.” His eyes
appraised me with finite detail. “You’re so much more.”

I felt the boom of my heart as he
dressed me up with his luring words.
 
Raven
knew how to deliver the reassurance I needed to hear and within them, I sensed
his sincerity. “Good, because I want to be so much more.”

“So, you’re not keeping count of why you
shouldn’t be with me?”

I had to stop and think for a moment.
“Oh, you mean the fifteen reasons I gathered?”

“Yes. Are you still keeping count?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m actually
thinking of all the reasons I should be with you.”

He smiled. “I was hoping you were going
to say that because all I know is that together we will stand tall, but apart
we will fall.”

“Oh my God.” I snickered. “Is that
another one of those sayings you’ve heard?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” He nuzzled my ear
and my body hummed in delight. “I just like the way it sounds.”

Just as he was about to kiss me again,
Delaney knocked on the window.

I opened the door and leaned forward so
she could crawl in the back.

“Damn, were y’all making out or what?
The windows are all fogged up and it’s hot as hell in here,” Delaney huffed.

My cheeks flushed with heat, but I
didn’t say a word.

“Sorry,” Raven commented before cracking
the window and turning the defrost on high.

We passed several neighborhoods before
slowing to a small wooden frame house. A single car driveway led to the house
and Raven parked in the street. Cream-colored paint contrasted against the
black shutters and front door, giving the house nice curb appeal.

“It’s not much, but my mom makes the
best of it.”

“I think it’s charming.” I opened the
door and got out of the car.

Delaney handed me the bag with the pie
and ice cream. I moved the seat forward and she crawled out of the back. “Oh,
it is cute. I like it.” She pulled up her jeans and huffed as though it was a
chore to wiggle her way out of the vehicle.

“Thanks.” Raven took the dessert from my
hands and led us to the door. He knocked and opened the door. “We’re here.”

The smell of home cooked food wafted
through the air and my stomach growled. We entered the living room consumed by
a large, overstuffed, black leather sectional and a huge flat screen TV.
Trophies were stacked from the floor to the ceiling on bookcases, along with
pictures of Raven and his brothers, leaving no wall bare. The accomplishments
between him and his brothers were shown with great pride.

Raven’s two brothers were sitting on the
couch, playing a video game. The older one gave a slight nod to us while the
younger jumped at the sight of Raven.

“Raven! You’re home.” The young kid
high-fived Raven while revealing a mouth full of braces and rubber bands.
“Great game! You kicked their butts.”

“We sure did!” Raven rubbed his head.
“I’d like you to meet some of my friends. This is Lexi and Delaney.”

“Nice to meet you, Ashton,” I said,
shaking his hand.

“You kind of resemble your brother.”
Delaney smiled at him and waved.

“Hey, Trey, put the game on pause for a
minute,” Raven told his other brother.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a
tall, slender woman with bleach blonde hair and fair skin come around the
corner. She wiped her hands on a dishtowel and then swung it over her shoulder.
“Hi. I’m Trish Williams, Raven’s mom.” She had a strong Louisiana accent that
fit her perfectly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms.
Williams.” I shook her hand and immediately noticed the resemblance between her
and Raven from the shape of their eyes to their big smile. She appeared to be
in her forties, but the wrinkles around her eyes showed the stress she’d
endured through the years.

“Please, call me Trish.”

“Thanks for inviting us to dinner,
Trish. A home cooked meal is always nice.” Delaney gave her a slight hug as if
she knew her. I tossed the idea out because I knew that was just how Delaney
was — everyone she met was automatically her friend.

“Sure. I’m glad you guys could break
away from studying.” She leaned toward Raven and he wrapped an arm around her,
giving her a hug. “How was Thanksgiving? Your granny sure missed you.”

“Okay. Josh’s family made a great
dinner.” He leaned forward and kissed on her on the forehead. “But not as good
as yours.”

“I brought some leftovers home so you
can take a plate back to your apartment.” She squeezed him tighter. “I’m so
proud of you. You played like a champ. We all watched the game. Your aunts and
uncles, too.” She looked over her shoulder. “Trey, where are your manners?”