FAULT
Trey
I HEAR RAVEN before I see her, a sacrificial lamb willingly wandering into the lion’s den. She taps the service bell on the lobby counter. I ignore it. We’re doing this my way, which means she comes to me. I bask in the comfort from my surroundings before shit hits the fan. Oil and grease permeate the air as I roll from underneath her car. The main repairs were done hours ago but after everyone left, I checked the brake lines. Gave me something to do while waiting.
“Hello?” Raven calls from the doorway.
She can’t see me so I let her wait a bit longer. I spend a few extra moments wiping my hands before pushing the creeper away.
“Jack? Is that you?”
I step around the car, coming into view. “Sorry to disappoint, Princess. You get to deal with me.” The hitch in her breath makes my dick twitch and aggravation plows into me. My body’s reaction is stupid strong to this chick. She makes a tiny noise and I get semi-hard, go fucking figure. No time for that now.
Raven attempts a smile, but it’s forced. She steps into the garage, unaware of the danger waiting for her. “Hey, Trey. I’m glad to see you. Last weekend was, um,” she stutters while her gaze bounces around the space. “That wasn’t my finest moment. Delilah filled me in on the missing pieces and seems like I owe you, well, uh . . .”
“Spit it out,” I growl. “Already been waiting long enough for you.”
Her blue eyes snap to mine. “Ugh, stop rushing me. You’re making me nervous.”
I almost laugh at her flared nostrils and flushed cheeks. Glad I’m not the only one affected. “Oh, yeah? What am I doing that bothers you?”
“You’re so intimidating. You know it too, which makes it worse. But you still don’t scare me. More like, fascinate,” she says with a tilt of her chin.
“That makes me sound like a fucking freak on display,” I grit.
She combs her fingers through that long blonde hair. “You’re twisting my words, dammit.”
My patience fades to nonexistent. “Get to the point.”
“Thank you, all right? I appreciate you driving us home. D said she interrupted you, and someone . . .” Her voice trails off.
Raven reminds me of the reason for all my recent frustration. I prowl forward, getting into her space. “And what? You’re gonna make up for it?” I expect her to shy away, but she stands her ground. “Because that doesn’t sound so bad, Princess. You’ve cockblocked, turned my dick against me, and flipped my life upside down in a few short weeks.”
She squints. “Huh? All I’m offering is an apology and my thanks. What happens with your body isn’t my fault.”
A storm brews in my gut, spinning faster as I stalk closer. When I press against her, Raven bumps into the car and gasps. I have her pinned, and this position gives me all the power.
“Admit it,” I whisper against her jaw.
“Wh-what?”
“You want my filthy hands all over you.”
She blinks rapidly and appears to recover from the shock of my proximity. “No. That’s not why I came.”
“Yeah, well, I was gonna stay the hell away from you. Plans change. My dick wants to fuck you. Maybe if I give in, you’ll finally get out of here.” I tap my temple. “I want you outta my head.”
Raven struggles against me, but doesn’t get far. “I never asked to be there. That’s crazy. I’ll take my car and go.”
“That’s not much of a cure, Princess. I’ll probably see you tomorrow, and the cycle will start again.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Are you listening? Thought I was being clear. This has nothing to do with emotions.”
“I’m not sleeping with you.”
“Oh, really? Because it’s obvious you want me. It’s clear in the way your thighs tremble when I’m close,” I mutter while stroking up her leg. “Or the rapid rise of your chest,” I blow out across her tits. “Can’t forget the blush covering your sweet cheeks,” I say with a gentle touch to her silky skin. “Even without all those not so subtle cues, your eyes are the window to your hungry soul. You’re starving for me, Princess.”
Raven’s lids are hooded, hiding her glazed sapphires. “This is a wicked game you’re playing, Trey. I want no part of it.” Her husky voice gives her away.
“No? Are you sure? Think about it,” I taunt. She shakes her head and remains silent. She bites her plump lip, and fierce desire slams into me. She makes me hard with a simple move. “Delilah isn’t here to save you, Princess. Who’s gonna rescue you this time?”
She releases a long exhale. “I can take care of myself.”
Raven is strong, that’s for sure. Too bad I have to break her. “I’ll make you feel so good, baby. Fighting is useless.” I grind into her, and she moans softly. “See? You’re pent up too. We can help each other.”
“And what happens tomorrow?”
I shrug. “You’ll be outta my system. We move on. Problem solved.”
Why is that so hard to understand?
“I don’t like the sound of that.”
“What do you suggest?”
“How about a truce? We can be friends.”
Is she serious? One glimpse at her hopeful face gives me the answer. My lust cools as doubt threads through me. Maybe I’m taking this too far. For a moment, I consider accepting her offer, and a foreign feeling settles in my chest. Is that compassion?
Shit, I can’t think straight. She’s destroying my sanity.
“Are you all right?” She asks it softly. “You’re looking a bit green.”
Makes sense since my stomach is churning. I cover the discomfort with a smirk. “Sweet of you to care. Wanna be my naughty nurse?”
Raven laughs. “Wow, good one. Not gonna happen, buddy. You see my desire? Well, I notice you, the real you hidden beneath all the crap. I’d like to know him. Maybe we’d actually get along.”
This conversation is going nowhere fast.
“You’re fucking stubborn.” I rub my forehead. Her denial has frustration bubbling back to the surface.
“Because I won’t have sex with you?”
“Along with everything else.” Wow. We’re bickering, and my lust is dissolving with each pass. It pisses me off.
“Such as?” she asks with a lifted brow.
I grunt with exasperation. “Since you’ve been around, I can’t get a moment’s peace. Not to mention my dick has been aching for weeks.”
“Because of me?”
“Don’t get a big head, Princess.” No way I’m admitting the truth to her. For the first time, I’m drawn to a woman for more than her body. It terrifies me. I’ve got to shake her loose before it gets worse. “My cock just happens to show a particular interest in you. Once we fuck, this stupid infatuation will be gone.”
She rolls her eyes. “How romantic.”
“Romance has nothing to do with it.”
“You think I’m falling for this shit? Trey, no. Absolutely not.” She slices a hand across her throat. “I wanna go home and pretend this never happened. I don’t wanna fight with you.”
I make a sound of disbelief. “Really? Fooled me. Seems that’s what you’re always setting out to do. Everywhere I turn, there you are. I can’t escape.”
“That’s what happens in a small town. Especially one the size of Garden Grove.”
“You an expert after living here all of five minutes?”
“Stop being an ass. I haven’t done anything to you.”
The dam breaks, and I snarl. “You’re ruining my simple life.”
“Oh? Because it was so great before?” Raven’s mouth slams shut like she spilled a secret. “I shouldn’t have said that,” she mumbles.
“Why not? Everyone around town knows I’m a worthless manwhore. Pretty sure you found out the night we met. Not like I hide it.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Enlighten me.” I can only imagine what stories she’s heard. This should be entertaining.
Raven glances away before swallowing hard. “I know about your family.”
Any control I felt vanishes instantly as lightning crashes in my chest. I set out to destroy her, but with one statement, she decimates me.
“What’d you say?” I hiss through clenched teeth, menace dripping from my tone.
“Your parents and sister. I heard about the accident,” she chokes out.
The coldest bucket of water pours over my head, washing away all traces of desire. She made a big mistake bringing them up. My wrath forms like a hurricane, and she’s the target.
My expression hardens while an inferno builds inside. “Poor me, right? Save your pity, Princess. And don’t bring up shit you weren’t here for.”
Her lashes flutter and she gulps again. “I understand how it is. Maybe I can—”
My palm slams against the car window, inches from her head. Raven flinches, but recovers quickly. “You don’t know shit. My life is none of your business. Got it?”
“O-okay, I get it. But I wanna tell you something.”
“Hell no,” I boom. “You’ve said plenty.”
“Just fucking listen to me, all right? Dammit!”
I push away from her, needing the distance to clear my head. But I keep her trapped with my gaze. “Can’t help running that smart mouth, huh? Am I the only one lucky enough to receive this treatment?”
Her features flash with hurt. I keep pushing forward. “I don’t care about whatever you wanna say. Keep that precious advice to yourself.”
Raven is getting too close, digging into the hidden crevices I prefer to forget.
“You’re not the only one who knows loss, Trey. Trust me, I’m the last one to offer suggestions or pity. I’d love to be supportive, if you’re ever interested.” Her eyes are shining with care, her forehead creasing with concern, but I call bullshit.
“I haven’t—"
“Not interested,” I sneer. My hand slices the air. “Save your white picket fence bullshit, Princess. I don’t need others to be happy. I’ve survived this long fine enough.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Makes no difference to me,” I grunt.
“Don’t you get lonely? Everyone needs someone.”
“Not me. I lost my someones, and they’re irreplaceable. Other than Jack, people are just placeholders, temporary and ever changing.”
Raven tucks her chin and slowly blows out a breath. “That’s really sad, Trey.”
“And that’s your opinion.”
“I hope you’ll change your mind.”
My shields slam down as I turn to stone. “You’re far too smart to be acting this stupid. Just leave it be. I’ll never wanna talk about this.”
She doesn’t let my attitude dissuade her. Raven is determined to squeeze answers out of me. “Call me names all you want. I’m not going anywhere, remember? I’ll be popping up all over town, never giving you a moment’s peace.”
“You’re fucking relentless.” Exhaustion sinks in and my bones feel heavy. “We done here? I’ll drive your car out and have Jack send you a bill.”
“Why do you hate me?” She blinks rapidly.
“You represent everything I despise,” I tell her honestly.
“Such as?”
“Always with the questions.” I rub my neck, the muscles strained. “For starters? Happiness. Commitment. Belonging. Forever. The list goes on just like your inconvenient presence.”
“Yet you wanna sleep with me.”
My head tips side to side. “I’m horny, and you’re hot. Even with those lips flapping nonstop you’re a decent catch. I’d love to get into your pants, all night long, without stopping to rest. Bet I could teach you a thing or two, Princess.” Raven’s jaw drops so I keep goading her. “Like the sound of that? I’d have you moaning in no time.”
A blush stains her cheeks. “You have quite the imagination.”
“You’ll be asking for it eventually. I’ll be waiting with a smug smile.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“This is all for your benefit, baby. I don’t need to toot my own horn.”
Her golden locks shine in the fluorescent light as she leans back. “I feel like we’re on a Tilt-A-Whirl.”
“You and me both.”
She turns me on only to switch me off, and my body aches from the conflicting extremes.
“Who’s responsible for that?” I ask.
Raven sputters, “Me? Don’t try making me the bad guy.”
I wave her off. “Trust me, Princess. We both know who’s the villain in this story. Not sure why you’re sticking around when the ending is clear.”
“Yet you’re still talking to me.”
“Already made it obvious what I want,” I tell her with a grin. How else am I going to escape this hold she’s got on me?
“Am I missing something? How do you flip so fast? You were pissed a few minutes ago. Now you’re hitting on me again?” Her question is absurd, like this entire debate.
I offer a humorless chuckle. “That’s cute. I was barely bothered. You’ll have to try harder to ruffle my feathers.” Which is a lie. I’m spreading them like wildfire today. This chick rattles my cage harder than anyone, but I’ll take that to the grave. I’ll never show weakness again.
The air pulses with electricity as I wait for Raven to do . . . something. She just watches me, and it’s making my skin crawl. I’m exposed yet fully clothed, and it fucking blows. I clear my throat. “On that note, it’s time for you to go.”
Raven nods but still doesn’t speak. There’s so much left unsaid. It’s okay. I prefer it that way. She shouldn’t be seeking out my secrets, and I need to derail her. Raven needs to understand I don’t share personal shit, especially about my family. It’s part of what gives me a bad reputation—I never spoke up when people started spreading shit.
I head for her car, and the silence stretches between us. The need to know what she’s thinking keeps poking at me, but I ignore it. Pretty positive it wouldn’t do much good finding out. Convincing Raven to sleep with me is what matters most. That’s the only cure for this crazy illness invading my body. Fucking her will return everything to normal. Otherwise, I’ll continue being screwed in an entirely different way.
Raven calls to my retreating form. “I can tell you’re hurt. My offer to be friends stands. If you’re ever interested.” She doesn’t see when the hint of a smile hits my lips. I catch myself in the next moment and mask it with shallow arrogance.
“Save the platonic spiel. But when you’re ready for real fun, I’ll be waiting.”