Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Arenk

Her face told him everything he needed to know.

Arenk knew he shouldn’t have asked. Raven was ready, but he had to be a man of his word. One good deed didn’t erase his past mistakes. When it came to her, Arenk was weak.

She made him feel like a kid again, just like Lyka used to. Raven’s fingers traced a path up his body, and he held them in his own.

“Just kidding. The shower is all yours,” Arenk said, pulling away before he could change his mind.

He got dressed as quickly as he had during his basic training days. His cock was still hard, and now it was starting to hurt, but he tucked it into his pants anyway.

Raven was in the shower for a while. He imagined her touching herself like she had that first morning in the tub. If he saw that now, he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from taking her.

He quickly grabbed his folder and started going through leads for the missing keycards. Arenk prayed that work would distract him from the battle raging between his head, heart, and cock.

“Is everything okay—between us?” Raven asked from the doorway.

Arenk caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. She was completely naked, her skin still damp from the shower. He cleared his throat and turned away.

“Yes. Why wouldn’t it be?” Arenk asked.

“We both know what just happened wasn’t a joke. You’re a terrible liar,” she said, moving around the room.

Arenk lifted his papers higher and pretended to be engrossed in them. A small hand pushed them down, revealing her.

Her wet curly hair clung to her breasts. It had grown a lot since she arrived. His eyes roamed her body. Her hair wasn’t the only thing that had grown.

“I have a lot of work to do. You should get dressed before you catch a cold,” Arenk said, returning to his folder.

The sound of drawers opening and closing broke the silence and his concentration, but at least she was getting dressed.

Arenk looked up when she didn’t ask for help reaching her books on the shelf. His folder and papers scattered on the floor. Raven was sprawled across the foot of the bed.

She’d wrapped one of his ties around her breasts and another around her backside. Neither one covered much. She was going to be the death of him.

“You have plenty of clothes to choose from,” Arenk said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You didn’t specify what to wear, just to get dressed,” Raven said, studying him.

“Put on real clothes. Now. I don’t want you getting sick,” Arenk said.

He meant it. The stormy season was approaching, and he didn’t know how she would handle getting sick.

“This feels very proper. It’s something you would wear to a meeting.”

Arenk pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. He didn’t have the energy to argue with her now.

“Throwing a tantrum isn’t the way to get what you want,” Arenk said, standing up. “It is, however, a quick way to earn a spanking.”

Raven huffed and slid off the bed. With a sarcastic curtsy, she went back to the drawer. She struggled with the knot she’d tied to keep her makeshift outfit in place.

Arenk sighed and went over to help her.

“Why do you even like me?” Raven whispered.

Arenk’s hands froze. “Where did that come from?”

She shrugged. “I’ve always wondered, just never asked.”

He turned her around and knelt down to her level. “You’ve always made the best of any situation. You even turned punishment into something enjoyable.”

She smiled. “And yet you keep threatening me with them.”

“Well, I’ve learned a few new techniques since then,” Arenk said, smiling back.

He returned to the task of freeing her. If he ever needed to tie someone up in the future, he’d ask for her help.

“You should invite her over,” Raven said.

Arenk’s eyes shot up. “Who?”

Raven gave him a look. “Are there other women besides Lyka?”

“Of course not, but I thought you didn’t like her and the idea of…” Arenk trailed off, returning to the knot.

“She was rude, but if you can get her here, I’ll make it right.”

Arenk couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Was this a dream?

“Make it right for who? Why do you want to do this?”

“Do you trust me?” Raven asked.

“About what?”

She sighed. “That I won’t make you choose and I’ll give you exactly what you want.”

“Which is?”

“Both of us—Lyka and me.”

He watched her face, and she seemed sincere. But something was off. He couldn’t smell her anymore.

Laro had mentioned she could mask her scent, and he doubted she could do it on command. Arenk was sure she was hiding something, but what?

It wasn’t hard to believe she still had some doubts about her suggestion. That could be what she was hiding.

“I want to believe you,” Arenk said, tearing the tie from her body.

She let the tie around her waist drop to the floor. “Then do. What do you have to lose?”

“You.”

Her surprised expression confused him. Did she think he didn’t care about her? Raven quickly turned away from him and rummaged through the drawer for clothes. She found a few pieces that were much more suitable than the strips of fabric she’d been wearing.

“You won’t lose me,” she said, her voice muffled by the wall.

“I need to see your face when you say that,” Arenk said.

When she turned to face him, her eyes were glossy. Raven bit her lower lip.

“You won’t lose me, but I think I might lose you,” Raven said.

“Not even death will keep me from you.”