University Park Series Box Set: Books 1-3 (33 page)

“You’re the only one I want to help me.”
Raven reached behind me and pulled something off the shelf. “And, we’re going
to need a lot of these if we’re going to be staying with each other for the
next few days.”

I looked at the boxes of condoms he
threw in the basket and laughed.

“Yeah, I think that’s a must have.”

***

It took us longer to get home because
the ice was accumulating quickly. The roads were congested. It seemed that
everyone had the same idea we had. Get to the store, stock up, and get home
before nightfall. Raven bought enough food to last a week or maybe longer and
refused my offer to help pay for it. Even though I didn’t have much money left
in my savings, I wanted to contribute. Though, he did allow me to pay for the
movies we rented at my insistence.

I didn’t regret my decision to stay with
him. Even if it meant taking the risk that my parents would lock me up forever
once I got home. I had sent my mom a text that the storm had already hit Fort
Worth and I’d be home as soon as the roads were safe. She didn’t like the fact
that I had hung up on her and refused to answer my phone. She continued to
question whether I was with a guy and I continued to ignore her pestering
question.

After we got home, we watched a movie
and managed to finish it with our clothes still intact. Being next to Raven was
so tempting, but I knew I had to control my urges. My body was silently
screaming for him while also begging me to take it easy since I had just
engaged in sex for the first time the night before. Raven had something that my
body wanted, over and over again.

As I took the carton of milk from the
refrigerator, I got a whiff of the food cooking. “Wow. That smells wonderful.”
Raven stood over the stove, stirring a big pan of Jambalaya. The smell of
creole seasoning and shrimp swirled around me, making my mouth water.

“Thanks. It’s my grandma’s recipe. It’s
been a family favorite for years.” He took a small spoon from the kitchen
drawer and lowered it into the pot. Retrieving a spoon full of food, he blew on
it and tasted it. Then he brought it to my mouth. “Taste it and tell me what
you think.”

I smiled internally. It felt good to
know that he didn’t mind sharing his food with me. Cautiously, I tasted the
Cajun paella, making sure not to burn my tongue. The seasonings exploded in my
mouth, dousing my tongue with fire and a bit of sweetness. “Oh my gosh. That’s
delicious, Raven.”

His lips spread into a huge grin and by
the sparkle in his eyes, I knew he was proud of his accomplishment. “Thank you.
It’s been a while since I’ve made this. I wasn’t sure if I’d remember how.”

“It tastes fabulous.” I added the milk
to the cornbread batter and mixed it. “Did your mom teach you or your grandma?”

“Both.” Raven placed a lid on the pot
and wiped his hands on dishtowel. “I really enjoy cooking so I slip into the
kitchen every chance I get.” He leaned against the counter, keeping a watchful
eye on me as I poured the batter in a pan. It made me a little nervous and I
hoped I was doing everything right. Since I wasn’t a pro in the kitchen, I
questioned everything I did several times. I guess a tiny part of me wanted to
impress him even though I didn’t have much to offer.

“That’s great. I wish I would’ve taken
the time to learn some of my grandma’s recipes before she passed, but I was
only in middle school. To be honest with you, I really don’t cook much.” I
tried not to think about the conversation I had with my mom a few months prior.
She promised to give me a crash course in cooking before Collin and I got
married. Now that things had changed, would she still be willing to teach me?

“That’s okay. I don’t mind cooking.”
Raven opened the oven door and I placed the pan on the rack. He closed the door
and I set the timer.

“As long as you’re okay with it.” He
handed me the dishtowel and I wiped the batter from my fingers.

“Yeah, sure.” I looked at my side of the
counter noting the mess I had made versus Raven’s nearly spotless work area.
“You can cook and I can clean.”

“Deal.” Raven took a step closer to me,
backing me up against the counter. The small kitchen narrowed around us as he
rested one hand behind me and slipped the dishtowel from my grip. My knees
weakened and I waited anxiously for his next move. I liked the feeling of being
trapped between his arms. It was thrilling and nerve wracking at the same time.
“Because you kind of make a mess when you cook.” He dotted the tip of my nose
and showed me the flour he had removed.

“Sorry.” My body stiffened. Did I have
more batter on me? The urgent need to flee to the bathroom to check myself took
hold of me, but he had me barricaded. His scent engulfed me and my stomach
unfurled. Raven smelled so damn good, I wanted to rub against him and carry his
scent with me all day long.

“You look kind of cute, actually.” He
smiled as he rubbed my cheek a few times and then my forehead.

“Do I really have that much batter on
me?” I tried to see my reflection on the microwave, but he moved his head along
with mine, preventing me from catching a glimpse. “Raven, I’m trying to see.”
My hands gripped his arms and I tried to push him to the side but he continued
to follow my movements.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like to get
dirty?” His voice lowered and his eyes turned dark. Maybe being messy wasn’t so
bad after all. As long as I could get dirty with him.

“If you put it that way, the answer is
yes.”

“Good, because you have some right
there.” He pointed to my neck and I became more self-conscious.

“Where?” I rubbed the spot his finger
touched but didn’t feel any food.

“Right here.” He lowered his lips to my
neck and kissed the spot right below my ear, brushing his tongue along the
sensitive area that awoke every nerve within my body.

A whimper escaped my lips and my head
relaxed against the kitchen cabinet. “Are you sure?” I wrapped my arms around
him and pulled him closer. Even through our thick sweaters, I could feel his
chest move in the same rhythm as mine, the erratic pounding of our hearts
synchronized.

“Yes.” His mouth worked downward,
pinning me with his incessant need for me. “And right here.” He kissed the
hollow of my throat and my lips trembled. With the tip of his tongue, he traced
the curve of my neck until his lips met mine. Our lips locked and our tongues
thrashed against each other. He cupped my jaw and his other hand dove into my
hair. My hands rested on his chest and I gathered a fistful of his shirt in
each hand, eager to rip it off his body. Everything seemed to fade away as my
mind focused in on my target.

Raven.

He kissed me long and hard, like he
couldn’t get enough of me, and I allowed him to devour me until I was
breathless. I slid my hands underneath his T-shirt, allowing them to blindly
travel along the rock-hard terrain. I was ready to be wrapped in his net and
never allowed to leave until I breathed my last breath.

“Damn, I want you now,” he growled. He
picked me up and sat me on the counter. The timer for the cornbread sounded but
neither one of us paid it any attention. I didn’t want to miss one second of
his searing touch and my hands refused to break away from their exploration of
Raven’s body. After a few minutes, the buzzer finally stopped. With his free
hand, he fumbled with the knobs on the stove and the oven until several beeps
sounded. A sexy grin played on the edge of his lips. “Dinner will have to wait
because I want dessert first.”

∑

The sound of a text message from my
phone woke me. With sleepy eyes, I looked at Raven. His hair was a disheveled
mess from my fingers raking through it most of the night and he breathed
heavily, on the edge of snoring. The covers draped below his bare chest and I
seriously considered snapping a picture of him. I had to be the luckiest girl
in the world.

I never thought sleeping next to someone
you cared for would be so restful. His presence brought a calmness that settled
every concern and released every worry. We were connected on a new level and I
prayed our time together would never end. It was magical and unbelievable, and
I thanked God for bringing us together.

Glancing at my phone, I saw that it was
a text from Luke.

Luke: Mom is freaking out and driving me
crazy. You had better get your ass home as soon as the roads clear up.

My mom knew how to ruin a good thing.

Me: What’s she saying?

I waited patiently for Luke to reply. It
took a long minute before I received his message.

Luke: She wants to know who you’re staying
with and so does Dad.

Me: Please tell me you didn’t tell them!

I watched my phone, hoping that my
brother hadn’t revealed to my parents that I was with Raven. I knew they
wouldn’t be ready to accept the fact that I had moved on from Collin, and he would
no longer part of my life.

Luke: Damn, give me some credit. I told
them I didn’t know anything.

I released the tight hold of air in my
lungs and sighed.

Me: Thank you. I didn’t mean to put you
in the middle of this, but I guess there’s nothing I can do about it now.

Luke: Whatever. It’s between you and
them. Later.

My natural tendency was to continue
questioning Luke and find out exactly what my parents were asking, but I knew
that would only aggravate him. Instead of texting him back, I checked the weather
app on my phone for the latest report. The high was only twenty-five degrees
with continual snow showers scattered throughout the day.

I eased out of the bed, careful not to
wake Raven, and walked to the window. I opened the blinds and the bright light
filtered in, casting a peaceful glow in the room. Outside had been transformed
into a winter wonderland. Snow covered the ground, cars, and rooftops of the
apartments, making it look like a tiny village in a snow globe. It was so
beautiful and peaceful. I couldn’t remember the last time north Texas had seen
a winter storm like this.

Raven let out a yawn and I closed the
blinds. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.” I sat on the edge of the bed next to
him.

“It’s okay.” He blinked a few times and
stretched. It was a sight I would never get tired of. Ever. “As long as you’re
the one waking me up, I don’t mind.” Picking up my hand, he placed a gentle
kiss on the top of it.

“Did you sleep well?”

“I’ve never slept better.” He rested his
arms behind his head. “What about you?”

With every breath he took, the ripples
on his stomach moved like the waves in the ocean and it pulled me in, one
movement at a time. Damn, he was so freakin’ hot.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to
sleep alone again.” I laid against his chest and allowed the subtle movements
to relax me. The warmth of his body eased the chill over my skin and I snuggled
closer to him.

“Me either.” He lowered a hand to my
back and stroked my hair in long, slow strides. The brown in his eyes softened
and the green sparkled as our gazes connected. “In fact, I could really get use
to this.”

My heart skipped a beat as I clung to
each and every word he spoke. Raven knew how to say all the right things
leaving me, the English professional, wordless, once again. I knew the weather
would eventually clear up and I’d have to go home, but I ignored the obvious
fact that would come to pass and cherished the moment.

“Me, too.” I allowed my finger to trail
up the curve of his tattoo until I reached his shoulder. With the tip of my
fingernail, I traced a few of the black birds that scattered along his skin.
His body shuddered at my touch and a small moan escaped his lips. “I love being
here with you, but eventually I’ll have to go home.”

 “No you don’t.” He blinked his sleepy
eyes at me. “You can stay here with me as long as you want.”

“Yeah, right.” My finger stopped as I
thought about what he said.

“I’m serious.” He pulled me closer,
holding me tightly in his clutches. “Now that I finally have you here, in my
space, I’m not letting you leave.”

A laugh escaped because he sounded so
serious yet desperate at the same time. “So, you’re going to keep me here?” I
stared deep into the center of his beautiful eyes. I had to know his true
motive. “Like some kind of sex slave?”

“What?” Raven’s chest collapsed as he
sighed heavily. Disappointment filled his eyes and I knew I had said the wrong
thing. “Lexi, that’s not why I want you here.”

Damn!

My alter ego really hoped that was what
he wanted, while the practical side hoped there was more to it.

“Sorry.” I shifted within his embrace,
but he didn’t release me.

He kept his gaze steady on me. “Don’t
get me wrong, the sex has been great, but I really like spending
all
of
my time with you.” He rubbed my arms in slow, caressing strokes. Chills dotted
my skin and I was totally shackled in his embrace. “I feel so close to you and
I like it.” His mouth parted and he rolled his tongue against his lips, wetting
them. I was such a victim for his affection. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me,
Lexi Thompson, but you totally latched me for good.”

My heart lifted and then exploded into
thousands of tiny hearts with wings. They took flight, making my entire body
feel as light as a feather. “And you’ve totally locked me in The Raven’s trap.”
My hands dropped to his cheeks and I cupped his face. “And there’s nowhere I’d
rather be.”

“Good.” He smiled. “So, you’re going to
stay here with me?”

I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and
then released my hands from his face. “Maybe,” I teased, even though it was
what I wanted more than anything. If I eagerly agreed, I knew I’d be just
another one of his hoes.

He twisted his lips and a frown formed
across his face. “Damn. What do I have to do to convince you to stay?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“What’s today?”

“Tuesday, I think. Why?”

Raven counted on his fingers, throwing
out days and dates. “I think we have eight days until Christmas, if I have my
dates correct. Stay here with me until Christmas Eve. I’ll take you home so you
can be with your family and then I’ll pick you up Christmas day. We’ll spend
the week together and then we can bring the New Year in the right way.”

A flutter danced through my stomach and
swelled inside of me. Was Raven unofficially asking me to move in with him? I
averted the question I really wanted to know and instead, focused in the next
enticing suggestion. “And what’s the right way?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.” Raven’s
eyes deepened with intent and his voice was full and resonant. He was
definitely serious and I couldn’t wait to see what that night would hold.

“Sounds exciting.” I raised a brow.
“Then I can go back to the dorms once they reopen,” I casually commented,
wondering what he would say.

“If you want, or you can just sleep with
me every night.” He waggled his brows at me and my heart stuttered.

Holy shit!

“Raven.” A throaty laugh escaped from
me. “And what will Josh say?”

He shrugged. “Hell, I don’t care. Shelby
practically lives here.”

“He won’t mind?”

“I doubt it.”

I was really considering his offer, so
much so, that I said, “Okay.”

“Then, it’s settled. I’ll take you home
in a couple of days, unless you’d rather wake up in my arms every day.”

“Don’t tempt me.” I ran my hands along
his chest in a slow, sensual manner, squeezing his pecs simultaneously.
“Because I don’t mind skipping Christmas this year, if it means I can be with
you.”

“That’s what I thought,” he laughed.
“What did the weather do last night?”

“It’s beautiful outside. Snow
everywhere.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Go look out the window.” I lifted
off him, even though I didn’t want to.

Raven threw the covers off and got out
of bed. His boxer briefs clung to his skin and his butt cheeks squeezed with
every stride he took. He peered out the window and said, “When’s the last time
you played in the snow?”

“I don’t know.” I approached him and
peeked over his shoulder. “I’ve never seen snow like this in Texas.”

“Me either.” He wrapped his arms around
me. “Let’s go play in the snow, baby.”

“Sounds fun.”

Raven and I ate a bowl of oatmeal and then
got dressed, layering our clothes to protect us from the elements. We trekked
down the icy stairs and walked to the front of the apartment complex. Several
inches of white, fluffy powder covered the ground, trees, and shrubs.
Everything else was capped with a white covering, making the world outside
monochromatic. An eerie silence filled the air and it seemed like the entire
city had vanished due to the storm. The roads were desolate, making it
difficult to tell where the curb ended and the street started.

“It’s so beautiful.” The snow crunched
beneath my boots, but I knew underneath the beautiful covering was the
treacherous ice.

 “I feel like we’re in Colorado, even
though I’ve never been there.” Puffs of white smoke filtered from Raven’s mouth
as he spoke. The air was cold but since there was no breeze, the dry coldness
made it more tolerable.

“I’ve been a few times, since that’s
where my parents prefer to vacation. It’s somewhat like this, except there’s a
lot more snow and people. Everyone is headed to the slopes to take advantage of
what the latest storm has left behind. Not hiding inside, like everyone is
here.”

 “Hey, there are some people over
there.” Raven pointed to the small park at the end of the street.

“Wanna walk over there?”

“Yeah, let’s go check it out.”

We walked down the street, treading
carefully along the pavement. A couple of guys were having a snowball fight
with some girls and from what I could tell, the girls were winning. A family
was on the other side, making a snowman, but having trouble with the head.

I passed a few trees to an open area.
Small dunes of snow piled along the outer wall that encompassed the park. “Wow,
there’s more snow over here. That’s weird.”

“Maybe because there aren’t any
buildings?” Raven queried.

“Possibly.” I surveyed the area, noting
the huge icicles that hung from the trees. They looked like daggers and I made
a mental note not to walk underneath them.

I lunged forward when something hit me
in the back. Snow splattered to the sides of me and I heard Raven laugh. I
turned around, somewhat shocked. “Did you just peg me with a snowball?”

He whistled like a bird as he stared off
into the trees. I quickly scooped a handful of snow and made a tight ball. I
pounded it against my palms as my fingers pressed it into a perfect weapon.

“You wouldn’t.” He stood with his feet
spread and his hands on his hips, with no visible fear

I cocked my head to the side and huffed.
He may have been used to taking hits from his fellow teammates or opponents,
but I was neither. The cockiness was a little much and I decided to remind him
that he wasn’t invincible. Recalling how he showed me the proper way to throw a
ball, I retracted my arm and flung the snowball, hitting him square in the
chest.

“That’s it.” His eyes widened and his
nostrils flared. “You’ve done it now!”

I screamed when Raven came barreling
toward me. I tried to run from him, but it was nearly impossible with my boots
sinking into the snow. His arms wrapped tightly around my waist as he tackled
me to the ground. We hit the soft snow, but he managed to keep me on top of
him, protecting me from his weight and the ground. I felt like his special
football that he shielded with all of his ability.

I was totally enamored with his love.

“Are you okay?” He gathered the strands
of hair that stuck to my face and tucked them behind my ear.

“Yes.” I took a deep breath, trying to
steady my erratic heart. “I just didn’t expect you to tackle me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I straightened and then
dusted the snow from my coat. I didn’t want to sound like the whiney
girlfriend. “I’m good.”

 “Let’s do it again. That was fun.”
Raven tried to get up but I shoved him to the ground.

“What?” I grabbed the edge of his
knitted cap and pulled it over his eyes. “Fun for you, maybe.”