Chapter 15

What?

Tayla scrambled for a memory. A snippet. Anything. But came up empty. If she'd met Raven and this Blaine guy before then she didn't remember.

“Why don't I remember?” she demanded, her voice elevated along with her pulse.

As if she could forget meeting him.

Instead of answering, Raven shoved his hands in the pockets of his black jeans, shifting his weight between his feet.

“Raven?”

“I…” His deep blue eyes darkened, swirling with clouds of black. “Maybe you forgot.”

Forgot? “You're kidding, right?” she snapped. “I'm pretty sure I'd remember. Unless, you drugged me or something?”

She was joking. Kind of.

Hang on, could he have drugged her?

Her chest tightened, denying the inhale of oxygen while she waited for his answer.

Raven lowered his head and stared at the floor beneath his bare feet. His jaw clicked several times like he clenched his molars together so hard they were about to pop out the sides.

His expression remained tight. No smirk. No laughter at her outrageous accusation.

No denying it, either.

Oh my god. She staggered back. “You drugged me?”

Another step back.

He lifted his head. His eyes darkened further, all traces of the deep blue replaced with black likening the deepest depths of the ocean. Hands still squeezed into his pockets, he stepped toward her.

She matched his step with one of her own…backward.

He sighed heavily. “Tayla, I didn't drug you. I…”

How could I have been so stupid? She’d let her growing attraction to him cloud her judgement, her fantasy of the knight-in-shining-armor who rescued her from the forest. Just because he caused her belly to clench and desire to burn through her veins, didn’t mean he was one of the good guys. She didn't know this man, he could be anyone, she'd only met him mere days ago.

Or so she thought.

He's in my home.

Her gaze darted to the front door. Self-defense rule three? Or four? Whatever—always be closest to the exit.

Tayla sidestepped to her left, narrowing the distance between her and the front door. Check.

Raven's stormy gaze tracked her movement. Did he know what she was doing? Was he going to try to stop her?

How could she have been so stupid? Again? Lead a strange man to her doorstep and, days later, let another waltz inside?

“Tayla.” His breath hitched as if trying not to spook her.

She mentally cursed herself for softening at the mere whisper of her name. Pull yourself together. Focus!

Tayla lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “I want to know what's going on. Now.”

Raven took that as an invitation to sneak a step closer to her.

Nope, not happening. She was onto him. “Stay where you are.” She raised her palm to him.

He stopped, raising his hands in surrender.

“I can't tell you how sorry I am,” he choked. Hands shoved back in his pockets.

“Sorry for what? Tell me what you did.”

She sensed the moment she'd pushed too hard, the moment his wall shot up. His eyes swirled back to their usual deep blue color as he glanced at the door and back at her.

His hands slid out of his pockets.

“I think I should go,” he said with a voice as emotionless as his expression.

“Fine. Go then,” she snapped.

Backing to the door, she ripped it open and stood to the side for him to exit. She stared outside even though the landscape didn’t register. Anything to avoid looking at him.

She stiffened as he strode to the door and snatched his shoes from the basket. She held out his jacket with a trembling hand; his earthy, pine scent drifted from the leather, weakening her restraint.

Raven’s massive body towered in front of her, way too close, and she made the mistake of making eye contact. She needed him to leave before she reached up and brushed her fingers along his strong jaw. Then, it would all be over. Heat simmered beneath the surface of her skin, traveling downward.

Great. That was all she needed.

Focus, Tayla.

Raven tilted his head slightly and his lips parted as though about to speak.

Let him go, Tayla, he's lying to you.

She broke the burning connection and turned her head away, focusing on the rain water pouring from the overflowing gutters. But she didn't miss his shoulders drop as he accepted his jacket and stepped out.

As soon as he cleared the threshold, she slammed the door shut and leaned against it.

For the second time this week, she sank to the floor.

Only this time it felt so very different.