cut them off with a tiny ass black top that has half her stomach out and ties around her neck. Her eyes are closed, and framed in jet black color like her hair, and those lips, a little parted and a lot pink.
I hold in my groan.
One of the girls from the home steps up, wedging herself between Raven’s legs, and draping her arms over her shoulder.
Raven’s quick to grab the chick’s hips.
I look to Captain and Royce.
Captain shrugs with side grin. “I say we let her have some fun.”
Raven laughs at the girl in front of her, and then her head lifts.
She spots me instantly and those eyes pop wide open, an obvious “oh fuck” making its way past her painted lips.
Her movements slow as she gauges me, but when I stay planted where I stand a small smirk appears and she winks.
I look to Cap, just about to agree with him, when a get a drug out, “Oh, shit,” from Royce, and our eyes cut back to her.
A hand reaches between Raven and the girl and they separate. Right as the girl steps back, the hand drops to Raven’s waist and she tenses.
And then his head slowly lifts and my blood boils, a fog taking over my eyes.
“Fuck,” Cap spits and starts forward, but I stop both him and Royce with a palm raised.
Collins.
Raven attempts to shift, to look over her shoulder, but he holds her head in place.
“Maddoc ...” Royce draws out.
She yanks herself away and spins to face him, getting in his face, arms flailing around like a wild woman.
And he steps closer to her.
I grind my teeth to keep my feet rooted.
“Maddoc,” Royce begins to panic.
“Wait.”
“You really fucking testing her right now?” he snaps, but I ignore him.
I’m not testing her. I’m giving her what she thinks she wants.
I’m letting her handle shit on her own, like she keeps asking.
She says something that has his chin dropping an inch and fire flares in my muscles.
He might just try and grab her again.
She sees it and moves backward a few steps, and then it happens, like I fucking knew it would.
Her eyes seek mine and a hammering begins in my chest as uncertainty clouds her features.
It’s ok to need me, baby...
She’s strong, we all know it, but she’s afraid to let go, even a little.
Independence and defiance make up a large part of her, but loyalty and hidden longing are in there just the same.
Raven wants what we give her. What she knows damn well I could give her. She might have been sent here and was never meant to stay, but things have changed. She feels it too.
The longer she stares, the faster her chest rises and falls.
I widen my stance, lifting my chin just a little to encourage, and she takes a step toward me.
But the piece of shit behind her makes a foolish move, desperate to show dominance when he has none, and darts forward, grabbing her elbow hard enough to make her eyes wince. But she doesn’t whip around to flash on him, her eyes stay on mine, a fierce expression taking over. She gives a curt nod.
“Now?” Royce growls beside me.
“Now.”
My brothers rush forward, and she’s released right before Collins is shoved back. He stumbles into the crowded dance floor.
Fists fly, people scream, but Raven doesn’t turn around.
She knows they’ve got it handled, knows where she belongs in this moment and who has her back.
She steps in front of me, her shoes bringing her body more level with mine, but still not equal. She starts chewing on her bottom lip, so I push into her, my thumb coming up to free it, and her mouth follows, holding onto the feeling a second longer.
She doesn’t lift her head but watches me through her lashes.
Royce and Captain step up in the next second, and her fingers find mine, lacing ours together.
My eyes hit hers again and she shrugs.
The four of us exit the club.
I release her hand to give a couple twenties to Buck and Raven scoffs.
“Rat bastard,” she mumbles, making him grin.
“Name’s Buck for a reason, girl!”
She rolls her eyes, and steps ahead of us, her ass bouncing around, hips swaying like fucking crazy in those damn shoes.
“Damn, brother,” Royce grunts and I cut a glare his way. “You better wrap that shit up quick before someone else does.”
When I shove his ass, he laughs, shoving me back. “Not me, fucker. But hips like that are meant for a good gripping.”