"No more lost time, sweetheart. I love you. Come home with me."

Chapter 28.

T he only thing making this evening worthwhile was knowing that I'd have Raven to myself in less than an hour.

Back together for three weeks, and I couldn't get enough of her. I wasn't sure I'd ever get enough of her.

Tanya's snarky comments also helped. I was really starting to like Dax's wife. She had a unique outlook on the Paul family dynamic and had no problem sharing it with me. Basically, she knew that Raven and Dax were different from their cousins and, because of that, all of the cousin's wives took great pleasure in making her feel like she didn't belong. Thanks to my actions, she was now considered an angel compared to me. When she realized this, she sidled up next to me and stayed nearby all night.

At least, it was only Raven's immediate family tonight.

Even though both Archie and Nathan found out that I'd asked the district attorney, a former client of mine, to be lenient with Nick, they'd only managed a grudging thank you by phone. The DA had struck a great deal with Nick, two year suspended sentence and sixty days in rehab. Of course, he'd struck an even better deal with me for my pro bono consultation with the county prosecutor's office. When it came time for re-election, he'd be sitting pretty.

I never antic.i.p.ated that any of the Pauls would find out, but Raven had some connection down at the courthouse 218*

through Elise. The day she found out, I didn't think she'd let me out of her arms for a minute. What I loved was that she'd already taken me back before she found out that I'd tried to help Nick. Even her father seemed impressed by how I'd handled the dreadful situation.

"Ten minutes and you're mine," Raven whispered as she pa.s.sed through from the kitchen after clearing the coffee cups. I sucked in my breath when she flashed me a private s.e.xy grin. She shuttered it closed before facing her parents again.

"I absolutely love not being in your shoes anymore,"

Tanya joked from beside me. "I would have encouraged Raven to bring someone home to meet the family years ago if I'd known they'd redirect the heat from me."

"Glad I could help," I said with a snicker.

"Let me return the favor." She cleared her throat and looked pointedly at her husband. "It's getting late, honey.

We should get home and relieve the sitter."

"Do we have to?" Dax whined from his settled position on the couch. "Can't we leave them with her?"

"You're the one that wanted boys, Dax. I'm the only one other than your mom who's managed to bring a darling little girl into the family."

"She's an angel," Anna spoke up about Ray.

"That was all me. Dax is responsible for the boys.

Speaking of which, let's go spend some time with them. We should all get out of Raven and Joslyn's hair before they make us do the dishes."

Everyone laughed and took the hint to leave thanks to Tanya's set up. Now I really, really liked her. We walked them out to their cars and watched them drive off. One more family night down. That I hadn't been shot on sight meant that at least her immediate family understood my predicament with reporting Nick.

"I love you." Raven breathed a sigh into my ear. Her arms wrapped around me from behind as we watched her *219 brother and parents drive away. "I'm in love with the bravest person in the world."

"Really? I didn't realize you knew any lion tamers."

"You're definitely a lion tamer, sweetheart."

"That should come in handy when I get you inside, lovely." I spun around and pushed her into motion toward the house. I'd waited too long for this tonight. "We're ignoring the dishes."

"Dishes? What dishes?" She flashed that surely illegal grin and led the way to the bedroom.

Lying back on her bed, Raven's naked body covering mine, her mouth and hands creating new erogenous zones, I realized I'd found my heart after years of disregard. She wasn't just the best lover I'd ever had, the only real lover I'd ever had, she was now the sole possessor of my heart. I no longer had ownership rights.

"G.o.d, you're s.e.xy, Jos. I'll never get enough of you," she moaned against my neck.

"That suits me just fine, lovely," I managed when her mouth latched onto my breast. "You're beautiful, and s.e.xy, and talented, and-"

"And I'm going to make you come first tonight," she growled her promise. "I'll go as long as you need."

In response to her generous offer, I shut down the anxiety before it could take hold. Instead, I slid my feet back toward my hips and spread my knees, offering myself completely. "I love that about you."

She took in a long breath, looking down at my trusting posture and absorbing my words. "And I love when you give yourself to me."

She kissed a path down my abdomen, swirling her fingers and palms along my overheated skin. Each touch sent me higher and higher until I could barely stand the barrage of sensations. Her mouth nipped and kissed and licked, bringing responding moans from me. If I let her, I 220*

had no doubt she'd do this for hours without complaint or bother. The realization nearly brought about my release.

I reached under her arms and pulled her up, stifling her protest with a kiss. "Together, Raven. Please make this happen," I pleaded, needing to have her with me when I fell.

"Together, Joslyn. I want to be inside you when you come. We'll make this happen, together." She leaned down to capture my mouth and moved a hand to where our hips connected. I let go of one of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and mimicked her movement. Feeling her wetness revved up my own arousal.

I stroked her creases, trying to give her the teasing that she liked, but I knew her ministrations were already taking me close to the edge.

Her fingers circled my c.l.i.t with the expertise only she possessed then dipped lower, poised to penetrate. She pulled her mouth from me to watch my eyes as she slid two fingers inside. My head tilted back against the pillow with the sensation of being filled by her. She thrust against me with her hips, her fingers reaching parts of me that had never been touched by anyone but her.

"You feel so good inside me," I whispered, tipping up to draw her mouth back to mine.

Recognizing the once elusive o.r.g.a.s.m was within reach, I swirled her entrance then plunged into her without pause.

My mouth swallowed her responding cry. I thrust back at her, curling my fingers to find that spot that made her crazy.

But before I reached it, I let her ride me to the precipice first, pulling back from her kiss so she could see my eyes.

"I'm there," I breathed out before the explosion wracked my body.

"Come, Jos," she commanded, holding on for another second before I thrust into her once more. "I'm right with you!" Her body convulsed against mine as we went through the violent shudders of our simultaneous o.r.g.a.s.ms. I'd never felt anything more intense.

*221 "That was amazing," I admitted when my body had stopped its seemingly endless pulsations. I felt a strong surge of emotions that no longer frightened nor seemed so foreign anymore. "That's never happened to me before.

Thank you."

A soft smile touched her talented mouth. "I love you, Joslyn. I loved sharing that with you." When her head dropped into the crook of my neck, she slid her hands underneath me and wrapped her legs around mine. As she settled contentedly against me, I realized that I hoped this was only one of many things we'd get to share in the future.

Epilogue.

Seven months later T he construction crew was in the process of packing it in for the day when I stepped outside. In two minutes there'd be no sign of them in Raven's driveway. No dillydallying on Sat.u.r.day evenings, not for Marco's crew.

They get one day off a week when they had a project and liked to get a head start on it most weekends.

Waving to several of them on their way out, I made my way over to the barn to take one last look at the newly completed tack room before Raven got here. Hearing voices coming from inside bothered me. No one was supposed to be in that room, not until we'd presented it to her as a birthday gift.

"...all my idea," Marco was saying as I went through the barn doors.

"Now, wait a minute, son," my dad's voice interjected.

"Can't I trust you two for a-" My scolding died on my lips when I walked through the door and saw Raven standing between them.

"You're here!" we both exclaimed and rushed into each other's arms. Her kiss set my body on fire, lips caressing mine like she couldn't get enough. Not our usual h.e.l.lo kiss, but only because I'd been out of town on a consultation. I didn't even care that we had an audience. Not when I'd waited five days for this.

*223 "Whew!" Marco muttered. "Wish my wife would greet me that way when I got home."

We broke apart laughing at Marco's comment. A hint of pink crested Raven's cheeks, impossibly adding more beauty to her gorgeous face. "I didn't see your car when I drove up, and these guys didn't say a word about you being here already." She jerked her thumbs at the smug looking men.

"I parked around back. I was using your shower after I'd spent all afternoon with Dad and Marco on this room. A room that we agreed would be unveiled at the party later, am I right, guys?"

The wide-eyed innocent look from Dad didn't fool me one bit. "Raven wondered why the horses were out in the corral and started over here before Marco and I could stop her."

"I really can't leave you two alone, can I?"

"She loves it, sweetie, don't you, Raven?"

"I love it," she agreed. "Thank you so much. I've been dying to move all the saddles and equipment out of the garage. It turned out even better than I imagined. How did you find the time to build this with everything else you're working on out here?"

"Dad and Marco wanted to get you something special for your birthday, lovely." I gripped her waist, knowing how overwhelming this would be for her. "They could have put this up with their eyes closed; add my help, and they could have done it with one hand tied behind their backs."

"You're all too good to me. Thank you, this is the best present I've ever been given." Tears shimmered in her eyes.

Dad and Marco beamed before they pulled her into a group hug.

"Since the reveal is done, you guys need to get home and get dressed for Raven's party tonight. You've got less than an hour," I ordered, staring at their work clothes.

224*

"Not everyone can pull off construction chic," Marco taunted.

"Not even you, Marco. Get outta here."

"You just think you're so pretty all dressed up with your gorgeous girlfriend at your side." He pressed a finger to my sternum, forcing me to look down before he flicked it up at my chin. He and Dad broke into laughter while I simmered.

He always got me with that move.

"Out! Now!" I repeated. Both men kissed Raven's cheeks and took off for their trucks.

"You do look beautiful." Raven stepped around me, checking out my new dress. I didn't feel at all uncomfortable in the dress or with her scrutiny. Something about loving Raven made everything comfortable for me. "I've missed you. I didn't think I'd make it last night when you told me you had to stay an extra day."

"Tell me about it. I missed you, too." I grabbed her on the second pa.s.s around and pulled her to me for another kiss. This one private and filled with promises to make up for the past five-day absence. When I tore myself away, we were both breathing heavily. "You should come with a warning label, lovely."

"What would it say?" She nibbled her way down my neck and my already racing heartbeat kicked into overdrive.

"May cause extreme temperature fluctuations, dizziness, heart palpitations, uncontrollable l.u.s.t, and enduring love."

"Should I get that tattooed on me someplace?" Raven rose up from her slow torture of my neck and fluttered her eyebrows at me.

"Don't you dare tarnish your flawless skin!" I knew she was kidding, but just the idea pushed me into panic mode.

"Besides, I already know the warning by heart. No one else is going to get the opportunity to learn the side effects to loving you."

"No one else, eh?" She beamed and stopped my teasing reply with a searing kiss. When she left my mouth quivering *225 in her wake, she glanced around the room once more. "I can't believe your dad and brother did this for me. I know they consider it a gift, but can you talk to them about letting me pay for the materials at least?"

"No." She'd just have to let her independent nature suffer with this one.

"Jos!"

"Rave!" I came back. "They love you. This is something they can give you, let them."

She sighed, and I knew I'd convinced her. "Well, I love them, too. They treat me like I'm part of your family."

"As they should. Although, it is kind of bugging me that your new house is going to be built better than mine, done faster than mine, and will look more beautiful than mine.

They so like you better than me."

Where I expected a brilliant smile at my tease, I saw a flicker of uncertainty flood her striking brown eyes. She glanced away and took a shaky breath before returning her gaze. "Maybe they were hoping like I was that, once it's done, you'd consider sharing it with me."

My heartbeat, which had been galloping already, surged into a race worthy clip at her suggestion. "Share?"

She tightened her grip on my waist to pull me closer. "I know we haven't officially talked about it, but we keep making plans into the future. At this point, I can't imagine my life without you in it. I don't want to rush you, so I thought I'd give you a few months to think about living together."

A smile crept across my face. I couldn't have stopped it if I'd tried. "That sounds like you want me around for a while. A long while."

"I love you so much. I miss you every time I go even a day without seeing you." Her earnest expression nearly did me in. "I don't want to scare you off. If you're not ready, nothing has to change."

226*

"Well, I'm finding it nearly impossible to sleep when you're not in my bed," I admitted, taking her hands in mine.

"I wanted tonight to be special. Show you this room we built, tell you that Marco was ahead of schedule, let you know that in a few months you'll be in your new house, which we all love more than our own houses now."