“I don’t gotta draw you a picture. If Raven’s working her program, she was probably honest with you. It’s what I tried to tell Bridget.”
“She was very honest.” Jude sipped his coffee. The chill nipped at his exposed skin, so he kept his hands wrapped around the mug. “She told me she used guys for drugs.”
“Yep.”
“She told me she left school at sixteen because she was tired of the rez.”
“That I don’t know.” Adam again shrugged. “Nobody on the streets talk about their pasts, if you get my drift. Sully was a good buddy of mine. I saw Raven around lots.”
“You can tell my sister, after we leave, that Raven was open about her past.” Jude should return inside to put out the fire Bridget was determined to start.
* * * *
Raven had listened to Bridget speak about her job, and in turn she talked about waitressing at Kiss the Cook and working on her high school diploma. The conversation had lasted under ten minutes. Silence permeated the kitchen, mixing with the scent of the leftover food.
Bridget poured them another refill.
“The men are probably getting cold.” Raven fixed her coffee.
“I doubt it. Adam sits out there quite a bit.”
Enough of dancing around the subject. Bridget didn’t strike Raven as diplomatic like Emery was. Try a firing squad.
“You sent them outside for a reason. Want to tell me why?” Raven kept her tone even. Though Jude’s family loathed Raven’s family, she wouldn’t apologize about the protest or going after the church.
“Do you want to tell me why?” Bridget’s voice was as even as Raven’s.
“Why what?”
“Why Jude?”
Raven shrugged. “We enjoy each other’s company.”
“I see.” The clicking of Bridget’s nails cut into the deafening silence that almost hurt Raven’s ears.
“He’s turning thirty-nine this year. I think he’s old enough to make his own decisions.”
Bridget drew in her cheeks. “Yes, he sure is.”
A lump of ice was warmer than the air swirling about the dining table. “Then I guess we have nothing else to say.” Raven set down the cup. “Thanks for dinner.” She stood.
She’d get Jude from the porch. Their weekend was short, and she refused to waste any more time at a place where she wasn’t welcome.
She strode through the living room and opened the front door. “You ready?”
Storm clouds formed in Jude’s eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Raven’s shoulders moved up and down. “I’m ready to leave. I don’t have anything else to say to your sister.”
“What’d she say?” Jude stood.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Nothing.” Raven pointed at the door. “Can you get my coat?”
“Yes.” Jude stomped inside and slammed the door shut.
Adam puffed on his vape. “Might as well join me. I think they’ll be awhile. Got your vape?”
“It’s in my purse.”
“I’ll go get it.” Adam rose and headed inside.
Raven wouldn’t apologize if she’d started a family feud. She’d done nothing but ask to leave.
Chapter Nineteen: Treat Me Fine, Treat Me Good
Jude stormed into the kitchen to Bridget innocently wearing a halo over her head, sipping decaf coffee.
“Raven wants to leave. Why?”
“If you’re asking if we had words, we didn’t.” Bridget stood. She stacked the plates one on top of the other. “We talked about work. She asked me why I sent you and Adam outside. I asked why she was seeing you. She told me you two enjoy each other’s company. And reminded me you’re turning thirty-nine this year.”
“Yes, thirty-nine, which means mind your own business.”
Bridget gripped the plates and flounced to the island. “I see. It’s okay for you to butt your nose into my business. Emery’s business. Everyone’s business with your know-it-all-listen-up-good speeches, but it’s not okay if it’s done to you. Gimme a break.”
“Is that what this is about? Because I didn’t involve you in my divorce?” Jude tossed the cutlery onto the tray and huffed up behind Bridget at the island.
“Get real.” She threw on the tap. Water blasted from the faucet. “This is about what she did to me.” Bridget thrust her finger at her chest. “She was rude. So freakin’ rude. Her family protested outside a workshop we were hosting to help people in great need of healing. They called me a half-breed and other insulting names.”
They did what? Jude sputtered. “She didn’t tell me that.”
“No? I guess she wouldn’t, since it’s evident what she’s after. Your money.” Bridget tossed the dishes into the sink. She snatched the brush and scrubbed at a plate.
“My money?” Never had anyone insulted Jude this way. He ought to point out Bridget had bought the fancy four-by-four truck parked in the garage and how she’d sold her plush condo to buy the bungalow. He could hit below the belt, too.
“I see. No other woman can like me except for my cheating ex-wife. Raven only sees dollar signs when she looks my way. Only my family thinks I’m worth being around, hey?”
Bridget set aside the brush. Her brows drooped. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to insult you. I can think of a dozen women who’d give anything if you’d take them on a date.”
“Then why not believe Raven’s one of those women?” Jude canceled the hotness in his tone. His little sister was concerned, especially if Raven had insulted Bridget. “Okay, she wasn’t nice the first time you met. Maybe you two can talk about it tonight before we leave?”
A big loud throat clearing and the front door slamming carried into the kitchen. “Yeah,” Adam, who never raised his voice, said in a pitch higher than his usual low timbre, “so this is the living room. Then we got three bedrooms and a bathroom down this way.”
It was obvious the two had gotten cold outside, it being the end of February.
“Let’s have more coffee and sit down like adults.” Jude flashed his work-with-me grin.
Bridget’s lips formed into a smile, and the sparkle returned to her eyes. She switched off the tap. “Okay. For you. It’s pretty obvious you’re smitten. And I know you don’t fall for any—Never mind.” She held up her hand. “I won’t go there, or I’ll be insulting your ex-wife next.”
“Enough insulting other women. Let’s have some coffee. Or should I say decaf for the baby mama.” Jude patted Bridget’s belly and then steered her to the table.
“Speaking of other women, I know of a lovely professor at the university who was very disappointed about your move. She was giving you time to... heal.”
“I’m not gonna ask who she is.” Jude snickered. He pulled out a chair.
“I’ll go get them.” Bridget left the kitchen.
About five minutes later, everyone reappeared. Much to Jude’s relief, hostility didn’t flash in Raven’s eyes. Adam looked resigned to putting up with more talking. Bridget scooted to the fridge.
“I have more sparkling cider. What’s your poison?”
Geez, Bridget must’ve used her most welcoming and cheerful voice to get Raven to consider staying. There was hope.
“Coffee.” Raven sat. “It’s a recovery thing. We all drink coffee.”
“Yep. Bridget threatened to buy a share in Reggie’s Donuts, I drink so much of the stuff.” Adam also sat.
Everyone chuckled. Now this was how Jude had wanted the dinner to play out.
“Sparkling cider for me.” Jude shoved his wine glass forward.
“I told Raven we got off on the wrong foot.” Bridget filled Jude’s glass. “I said we should reboot the laptop and try again.”
“I can understand. Our first meeting... I wasn’t the most welcoming person.” Raven fixed her coffee. She wet her lips. “Jude and I made a promise to stay away from... politics while we’re
together. I think we should do that here as well.”
“We faced the same problem with Darryl.” Bridget sat. “He and Emery worked out their differences.”
Raven gripped her mug. “I don’t think it’s something I can speak about yet.”
“Maybe it’ll help if we simply enjoy our after-dinner drinks and one another’s company? Getting to know one another is the best way to see someone else’s point of view.” Jude cringed. “Oh man, I sound like Emery.”
“Well, we share the same DNA.” Bridget snickered.
Raven also snickered.
Sure, the elephant in the room remained, but Emery’s logic made sense. Taking the time to know the person behind the enemy line out of battle uniform was the best step to ending a battle.
* * * *
Raven snuggled into her new coat while inhaling the tobacco-flavored e-liquid. They’d finished playing the last round of cards. Adam would drive them back to the hotel. The truck was pulled out and waiting on the street, engine running to warm up the interior.
First she’d let down her guard for Jude, and now Bridget. If Raven had spent the evening with Emery and Darryl, they would have produced the same result. Content. Pleased.
But the Matawapits were supposed to be the enemy. Raven hung her head. They weren’t. Simply people who loved, laughed, cried, and hurt like anyone else on the Great Mother. Hadn’t she seen for herself the people behind the bottle, needle, and pipe in the recovery meetings?
“They say it’s hard to kill your enemy once you look him in the eye as a flesh-and-blood man.” Adam puffed on his vape. “If we sat the ‘Nish gangs down like we did tonight, we wouldn’t have been beating and killing each other out on the streets for almost two decades.”
Raven’s stomach tightened. The delicious meal she’d eaten three hours ago sat kind of funny in her tummy. “They bought into what the government wanted. They’re Catholics.”
“So?” Adam shrugged. “Just ‘cause Bridget goes to church doesn’t mean I have to give up my beliefs.”
“Does Kyle go to church?” Who was Raven kidding? Of course the boy did.
“Yep.” Adam puffed on the vape. “He also smudges with me every morning. Take him to powwows. He’s learning his language in school.”
“Bridget doesn’t mind?”
“Hell no. She sits on the Indigenous Women’s Alliance board. Y’know she’s involved in native issues.”
“Jude isn’t. He’s a hardcore...” The awful apple word almost fell out of Raven’s mouth. “Catholic.”
“Our program’s about acceptance. He is who he is. You got a sponsor?”
Raven shook her head. “She moved here. Dialysis. We text now and then when I’m stuck.”
“When’d she move?”
“About eight months ago. I really miss her. She’s the only woman who likes me.”
“You’d better get another one. It’s not good to go too long without a sponsor.”
Raven should, but there wasn’t anyone available. The other two women who had long-term sobriety were busy sponsoring the new girls. “It’s tight up there, y’know? We have a small membership. The three older women who do come to meetings are in and out. I have more sobriety time than them.”
“Text your old sponsor. There’s that webcam thing. Doesn’t that one social media thing have a way to connect face to face? Kyle uses it with Noah.”
“She’s sixty-eight and can barely work her cell phone.” Raven’s chin hit her chest.
“Then we’ll talk. I know it’s not as good as having a woman to talk to, but I’m here.”
“Yeah, we can do that.” She flipped her head back up. “Who would’ve thought we’d spend a Saturday night playing cards and drinking coffee? And the weird thing is, I’d choose tonight over any other night when I’d been wasted in the bar.”
Adam’s booming laugh echoed through the porch. “Me, too.” His laughter faded, and his hard features grew serious. Funny how he’d never lost the coldness in his eyes or the rock-solid cement to his jawline. He was still every inch the ex-con from the streets.
“You’re your own person. You gotta do what’s best for you—even if you think the people you care about might be wrong.”
Raven swallowed. But they were her family. All she had. What if it came down to choosing her brother, sisters, and mother, even the beloved dream of her own diner over Jude? And what did Jude have to offer? They were merely dating.
* * * *
Bridget handed Jude his coat.
“Thanks. Thanks for understanding.” He slipped on the thigh-length black leather commuter coat.
She leaned against the doorway. Concern filled her dark eyes.
“I know. I know.” Jude focused his attention on the northern style Indigenous painting hanging on the living room wall. “It’ll hurt Mom and Dad. You don’t think I thought about this? Raven’s family put them through hell.”
“What do you two got going exactly?” Bridget searched his face.
Good question. “I don’t know,” he whispered. He buttoned the coat. “They probably had their vape by now and are waiting in the truck for me.”
He turned and opened the door.
“Jude...”
“Yeah?” He stared straight ahead.
“Please be careful,” Bridget whispered. “After what Charlene did, I don’t wanna see you get hurt again.”
“I won’t get hurt.” Or was he fooling himself?
“I know she’s more than your... weekend guest. I saw it... the way you two looked at each other while we played cards.” Worry dusted Bridget’s words.
Jude sucked in his breath. “I gotta go. G’night. I’ll phone you next week.”
“Please, do. We need time to talk.”
What was there to talk about? Jude didn’t have answers for the questions rolling around in his sister’s head.
* * * *
They held hands while walking down the hall to their room. Never had anything felt so right to Raven. Jude’s touch. The warmth of his hand. It was as if they belonged together.
Jude stopped in front of their room door.
Raven’s heart squeezed slightly shut. They had tonight. Come tomorrow, after shopping, they’d be back on their way to Ottertail Lake. Back to hiding.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” Jude held open the door.
Raven scooted inside. If only they could stay here. “Yeah. A really nice time.”
“Even your laugh is sexy.” Jude slid his arms around her waist. He nuzzled the back of Raven’s neck.
She cupped his hands, stroking his smooth fingers while he kissed the spot behind her ear.
“How about we get washed up and go to bed?” His voice was hot on her ear.
His suggestive words danced between Raven’s pussy lips.
She turned and faced him. This was their last time together sharing a real bed. She snuggled against his chest.
“Thank you for the coat.”
“You’re welcome.” He pecked the top of her head.
He worked the buttons free and slid the coat from her shoulders. His mouth came down on hers. Her heart jangled. Each button she unsnapped from his shirt allowed a speck of warmth to escape. She eased her hands inside his shirt and slid her palms over Jude’s hard pecs. His chest drew up and down beneath the tips of her fingers.
She molded her crotch with his to meet his thick erection. He gasped in her mouth and continued to lick and taste her tongue. She flicked the button open to his pants and lowered the zipper. His cock edged out from his underwear. Pre-cum seeped from the slit. She fingered the delicious wetness on the head of his prick.
Knowing that he wanted her and had done everything to make sure his sister approved of her lit a warm fire in Raven’s heart.
She yanked on his pants while urging him to walk with her to the bed. They stumbled along the way. The back of Raven’s knees hit the edge of the mattress, and the
y collapsed on the comforter. His chest heaved on hers, his tongue still rolling and flicking around in her mouth, offering Raven a taste of his minty essence. They bumped and ground their hips together. She clasped his buttocks, caressing his firm ass.
Jude groaned and worked at his open shirt. Once he tossed aside the garment, he pushed up her camisole. Raven’s heart held tight as he unclasped the front opening of her bra. His mouth left hers and claimed her breast. The heat of his breath feathered her nipple. He suckled and licked at the tip. Tingles juddered along Raven’s spine, and she arched her back while he tasted her breast.
The breath burst from her lungs. She gasped, cupping the back of his head.
His tongue licked at her skin, leaving a trail of saliva. He pecked her stomach, and she kept running her hands through his short, coarse hair. His lips left a stream of suckling kisses to her naval. He worked at her jeans, lowering the zipper and unfastening the button. His teeth nipped at the skin just above her skimpy panty line. She lifted her hips so he could ease down her jeans.
He tugged a few times. She silently cursed the tight material.
Jude snickered. “Easy, sweetheart. We’ll get them off.”
“I can’t get them off fast enough.” She kicked off her ankle boots.
“Ooh, such a horny woman.”
“Horny is an understatement.” Her pants and socks were whisked away by Jude.
His palms settled on her inner thighs. The richness of his skin teased Raven’s insides, and she jerked beneath his touch.
He spread her legs and settled his mouth at the mound of her landing strip. Anticipation stole her breathing. His wet tongue licked her slit, and she shivered from the silky sensations erupting beneath her skin. He’d never eaten her cunt yet, and Jude was too close. When he kissed her pussy lips, she groaned from the sweetness his lips produced inside her. Each peck he lavished on her slit draped her in hot velvet.
His light kisses were too teasing, too tickling. She spread her legs wider, burning for him to feast on her pussy. It’d been too long since she’d been eaten.
Sanctified Page 17