by Naomi Martin
“Well, I should probably go take a shower,” she says. “Then I want to lay down for a bit and get my mind off what happened with Sherman.”
“Of course,” I say.
Raven gives me a smile as she gets to her feet and I watch her walk over to her cell. She’s got a strength I don’t think she’s even aware of. And I’m not just talking about her powers. That she can be so nonchalant about what happened with Sherman, that she’s not letting it cripple or define her, speaks to how strong she is. And I can’t help but admire the hell out of her.
Well, that and figure out what I’m going to do to Sherman to pay him back for it.
Chapter Fourteen
Elliot
“It’s weird to me,” she says.
“What is?”
“That this place is co-ed.”
I roll onto my side and prop myself up on my arm. Raven is sitting in my desk chair with her feet up on the edge of the bed as the sound of Brahms floats out of my radio. It’s become something of a nightly ritual between us. Despite the fact that she can request her own radio, Raven spends her evenings in here, listening to classical music with me.
Not that I’m complaining. As the days have gone by, I’ve found myself looking forward to our pre-lockdown time together even more. It’s rare I get to spend time with her alone—Gray and Zane are usually around. And while I like the both of them more than I expected I would, I like spending time with just Raven.
I enjoy our deeper conversations and our lighthearted banter—she is literally the smartest person I’ve met in this place, and conversation with her is both fun and stimulating. But I also enjoy it when we just sit here in silence, listening to music. I feel a sense of peace I don’t normally have when she’s around.
More than that, I find that I can be myself when I’m with her. It’s a rare luxury I don’t get to enjoy very often in this place. We’ve talked about our lives and share our innermost thoughts. She is usually pretty guarded, so getting a glimpse at a side of her she doesn’t normally reveal has been nice. And I like to think that we’ve grown close as a result of the time we’ve spent together. I certainly feel closer to her than I have to anybody else in my life—even before I was thrown in here.
“Don’t you think it’s weird?” she presses.
I shrug. “I dunno. I guess I never thought about it one way or the other.”
“Well, it’s weird to me.”
“I don’t think the people who run this place give a crap about what happens inside these walls,” I tell her. “I think their biggest interest is in making sure we don’t get out.”
She flashes me a bitter smirk. “That’s right. Can’t have the monsters getting loose, now can we?”
“Apparently not.”
Brahms gives way to Wagner’s The Valkyrie and we lapse into a silence, both of us simply enjoying the music for a bit. She’s the only person I’ve found in here who appreciates classical music as much as I do. And it’s led to a few spirited debates about favorite composers, overrated and underrated composers. I’m sure anybody listening in would think we’re geeks, but it’s nice to have somebody who can speak intelligently about something I enjoy so much.
“Something else occurred to me the other day,” she says.
“What’s that?”
“Nobody in here looks like they’re over twenty-one or so.”
I nod. “Yeah, that’s like the only rule they have,” I confirm. “When you turn twenty-five, you’re shipped off to a different ward. Which is weird, given they don’t really care what happens to us, but whatever.”
“You mean there are more giant holes in the ground like this one?”
“Oh, yeah,” I confirm. “At least the one I know of—the one that holds all of the older prisoners.”
As I look at Raven, I have to resist the urge to go over and run my fingers through hair that’s darker than midnight on a moonless night. To stare into eyes that shine like polished emeralds, run my fingertips along skin that’s perfectly smooth and flawless. Just looking at her, though, I feel my pulse quicken. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen—just looking at her makes my heart stumble all over itself.
“Who was your first girlfriend?”
I look over at her, so surprised by the shift in conversation that I’m left speechless for a moment. Raven looks at me with a playful smile on her face, but it fades when she looks into my eyes and seems to suddenly remember where we are.
“You haven’t had a girlfriend, have you?”
I shake my head. “No. Even before I was tossed in here, I wasn’t very good with the girls.”
“Why not?” she asks. “You’re cute, smart, and one of the sweetest boys I’ve ever met.”
I feel my face warming up and know it’s an unnatural shade of red. I’ve never been great about accepting compliments. But I have to admit, knowing that Raven thinks I’m cute sends an electric jolt straight to my heart, and I can’t keep what I’m sure is a goofy looking smile off my face. I clear my throat and try to gather my wits about me, not wanting to look like a complete tool—though I fear it might be too late for that.
“I was always pretty shy,” I admit.
“That’s crazy.” She grins. “I bet lots of girls had crushes on you.”
“I doubt it,” I tell her. “I wasn’t one of the jocks or popular kids. I was a nerd. Still am a nerd, I guess.”
She quirks a grin at me. “I happen to like nerds.”
Raven’s statement hangs in the air between us and her smile is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. A warmth starts in my gut and spreads outward, filling my body with an electric hum that only gets stronger the longer she looks at me. The silence stretches out between us and I start feeling more awkward by the moment. I’m not used to pretty girls looking at me the way Raven is.
“What about you?” I ask lamely. “Who was your first boyfriend?”
“Mark Carson,” she laughs. “Nice guy, terrible kisser.”
I laugh, too, surprised by her bluntness. “What made him such a terrible kisser?”
“Too much tongue.” She shudders dramatically. “He was practically licking my spleen.”
We both burst into howling laughter and she makes an obscene gesture with her tongue, apparently imitating Mark Carson. It cracks me up and shows me just how goofy her personality is, which I find more appealing than I can say. There’s just an ease and comfortability between us I’ve never had with somebody before—and it draws me to her even more.
“Have you ever kissed anybody before?” she asks, arching an eyebrow at me.
I feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment and I can’t quite meet her eyes. She sits up and reaches out to take my hand in hers, then gives it a gentle squeeze. I raise my eyes to meet her gaze and smile nervously.
“Once,” I said. “It was during a game of truth or dare with some friends.”
She laughs softly. “Ahh yes, truth or dare,” she says. “Many a person has lost their kissing cherry playing that game.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“And how was it?” she asks.
“Honestly? It was terrible,” I laugh. “I accidentally stuck my tongue in her nose and she licked my chin.”
Raven cackles wildly and although my face is blazing, I can’t help but laugh along with her. Slowly, our laughter fades and she holds my gaze as she bites her bottom lip. I can see she’s thinking something, but I can’t tell what. But then she gets to her feet and steps over to the bed. She pushes me over onto my back and, with cat-like quickness, leaps on top of me.
The weight of her small body on mine feels amazing and the sultry look in her eye sets my insides on fire. She leans closer to me until the tips of our noses are scant inches apart, and her smile makes my heart turn somersaults in my chest. Her breath, warm on my cheek, smells like cherry Jell-o.
“Wh-what are you doing?” I ask.
“Shut up.” She grins.
Raven leans forward and presses her lips to mine,
slipping her tongue into my mouth. I melt into her, doing my best to match her movements. Her kiss is so smooth and fluid. Effortless. And I feel like I’m just stabbing her mouth with my tongue like some horribly inexperienced buffoon—which, of course, I am. Raven pulls back and looks down at me, her cheeks flushed and a smile on her lips.
“So? Was that better than your truth or dare kiss?” she asks.
“By far.”
“Good.”
She leans down and kisses me again, but this time with more fire and passion. I run my hands through her hair and kiss her back with just as much intensity. As I feel myself stiffening beneath her, I shift my hips, embarrassed by the raging hard on in my pants. But Raven pins me with her thighs, squeezing me tight and holding me in place. She starts to grind herself against me, drawing a low moan from me as my body explodes with sensation.
Her soft whimpers are lost in my mouth as she grinds harder, faster, rolling her hips in the most hypnotic way. I grab the bottom of her shirt and lift it up over her head, tossing it across the room. She sits up and reaches behind her back, unclipping her bra and throwing it toward her shirt, giving me my first view of her breasts. I don’t know that I’ve ever been harder in my life.
She reaches down and grabs my hands to put them on her breasts, and I squeeze, kneading them as I run my thumbs across her stiff nipples. She purrs and leans her head back as I sit up and take one of her nipples into my mouth, sucking gently on it. Raven wraps her arms around me, pulling me tightly to her, crushing my mouth against her chest. I suck harder on her nipple as I continue kneading the other breast. Raven rocks her hips, grinding herself even harder on me.
My shirt joins hers on the floor and she shifts back a bit on my lap, reaching down, and she grabs hold of my cock through my pants. I groan, feeling my entire body tighten as she strokes me. I lean my head on her shoulder, reveling in the feeling of her jerking me off. It feels so different—it’s so much better having somebody else’s hand wrapped around my dick for a change.
I slide my hand down into her pants and run my fingers over her panties, amazed at how hot and wet she feels. Raven shudders as I continue to touch her through the rough cotton fabric. She abruptly pulls back and my hand slips out of her pants. I watch as she gets to her feet, my gut churning.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask softly.
She grins at me. “Shut up and take your pants off. Hurry, it’s almost time for lockdown.”
I leap off the bed and quickly pull my pants down, watching Raven do the same. My eyes grow wide as I run them up her smooth, long legs—longer than I would have thought for somebody who only stands five-foot-four. I lick my lips nervously, my throat suddenly dry as I watch her wriggle out of her panties, revealing herself to me. She has a thatch of thin dark hair above lips that are pink and puffy, glistening with wetness in the fluorescent lighting.
I’m overcome with the need to have her. To be inside of her. To taste her and to feel her body against mine. I reach out and pull her to me, our mouths crashing together as I run my hands up and down her body, relishing the soft smoothness. She grabs hold of my cock, wrapping her small hand around my shaft once again, and starts to stroke me.
Spinning her around, I throw her down onto the bed. I drop to my knees, part her thighs, then bury my face between her them. I inhale her musky aroma and relish the salty, sweet taste of her on my tongue. I have no idea what I’m doing as I plunge my tongue into her harder, lick her faster.
I pay attention to the way she moves and to the noises she makes, letting them guide my way. It’s all I can do, let her body show me what she likes. Her breath quickens and she cries out, trying to keep her voice low. I grunt as Raven grabs a handful of my hair and pulls me to her. She writhes, grinding herself against my mouth, and I keep up the pace with my tongue.
I feel her body stiffen as her grip on my hair tightens even harder. Raven grabs my pillow and holds it over her face, trying to muffle her cries, but she isn’t entirely successful. Her moaning echoes around my cell as she bucks and thrashes on the bed beneath me. Raven sits up with a near-crazed light in her eyes and a quivering smile on her face, her body glistening and dewy.
“Jesus, you said you’d never done this before,” she gasps.
“I haven’t,” I said, still delighting in the taste of her on my lips.
“Then you’re a natural, baby.”
Her hands gripping my hair, she pulls me up onto the bed. Raven rolls me onto my back and straddles my waist to slide her wet, swollen lips up and down my shaft, setting my body on fire with sensation. I slide my hands up her thighs and then around to her ass, cupping and squeezing it, my fingers pressed hard into her skin. I marvel at the suppleness of her flesh.
As she continues to slide up and down on my cock, parting her soft lips with my shaft, I smile up at her. Frankly, I’m surprised I haven’t cum yet. But I can feel the pressure building up inside of me. Raven reaches down and grabs hold of my cock and gives it a hard squeeze as she strokes her clit with the head of it.
“God Raven, I—”
“Shhh,” she whispers with a grin.
She nestles the head of my cock between the soft folds of her pussy, then raises herself up and slides down on me, taking me into her inch by inch. She pushes herself all the way down until I’m fully sheathed within her. She clenches me with her inner muscles, and I groan as my body is rocked with the most intense, incredible sensations I’ve ever felt in my life.
“Are you ready?” Raven whispers.
“I’m ready,” I tell her. “But I have a feeling this is going to be over quick.”
She grins. “It’s okay. We’ll just have to practice more often.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Good, now shut up.”
We share a quiet laugh as Raven plants her hands on my chest to brace herself as she starts to ride me. Feeling the tight, slick heat of her pussy as she slides up and down sends shockwaves of pleasure surging through my entire body. It feels like my every nerve ending is on crackling with electricity. Raven’s breath is quick and she’s biting her bottom lip hard, trying to stifle her whimpering.
Watching her body move as she thrusts herself up and down on my cock is entrancing. I watch the sway of her breasts, the way her muscles move beneath her skin, and gaze into icy blue eyes that shine with sheer lust. I feel myself swelling inside of her, growing impossibly hard, and my body is tingling from head to toe.
“Raven,” I gasp. “Oh God, Raven.”
My body clenches up, every muscle taut, and I feel like I’m being consumed by fire from the inside. She moves faster, thrusting herself down on me harder, gasping and moaning as she impales herself on me. The pressure is building inside of me. I’m not going to last much longer.
Raven drives herself down on me hard, holding me deep inside of her. She grins and clenches her muscles around my shaft, making her even tighter. I press my head back into the pillows, a loud groan escaping me. But Raven leans forward, swallowing my moan of pleasure, muffling it with her mouth.
I feel my cock twitch and pulse as she squeezes me with her inner muscles. A moment later, I can’t hold off any longer and erupt inside of her. My body spasms and my cock throbs as I fill her with my seed. Raven sits up and throws her head back, a low throaty moan escaping her mouth as her body tenses up and she begins to shake. She flops forward again, planting her hands on my chest as she squeezes her eyes shut and rides out her orgasm.
She presses her forehead to mine and we gaze into each other’s eyes, a smile on both of our faces as we float along on waves of bliss. She gives me a peck on the lips and sits up, allowing me a view of her perfect body. I drink in her every curve, the swell of her hips and full breasts, and feel my cock stirring again. She looks down at me and laughs.
“I don’t think we have time for another round,” she says.
“You can’t blame me,” I reply. “You have this effect on me.”
The alarm bell reverbera
tes in the common area outside my cell and we exchange a look. I sigh, wanting nothing more than ten or twenty more minutes. But Raven climbs off of me with a frown and starts to grab up her clothes, dressing quickly. And when she’s dressed, she flashes me a mischievous grin and gives me another kiss.
“Thanks for the best evening I’ve had in quite a while,” she says.
“Thanks for the best evening I’ve had… well, in my entire life.”
“We’ll have to do this again sometime.”
“Yes, please.”
I watch as Raven slips out the cell door and dashes toward the stairs, leaving me alone with my thoughts, the faint tingle of her lips on mine, and a cock that’s still stiff and wanting more.
Chapter Fifteen
Raven
“Show me what you can do.”
Keene’s voice sounds tinny and metallic coming through the speaker. I sit in a dimly lit room that’s completely empty, except for the chair I’m sitting in. The walls are all painted black and there’s one door, along with a large window that allows Keene to watch me from his observation room.
The now-familiar runes are etched into the glass, meaning that Keene is safe from me and my powers. From what I’ve learned, the runes were created by the elementals who are working for the people who run this place. They can absorb and disperse elemental power, spreading it out and rendering it harmless. I had no idea that could be done to elemental energy, and I find it both disturbing and fascinating.
I also find it sickening that the elementals working for these people would do that to their own kind. Especially knowing what they’re doing to us in here and what their plans for us are.
“Raven,” Keene prompts me. “I would like to see what you can do.”
He waves the collar at me from behind the glass. It’s the first time since they picked me up that I haven’t had that goddamn thing around my neck, and I’m enjoying the small sense of freedom. Even though the light is dim and thick shadows cling to every corner, as I look around the room, I see the scorch marks on the walls. I see the chips and cracks in the thick stone.