Flock (The Ravenhood Book 1)

by Kate Stewart

For years, I’ve tried to convince myself that life exists after love.

“You’re fucking adorable. And beautiful. But let’s be honest, a little too young and good of a girl to be hanging out with us assholes.”

“Miss me, Pup?” “Maybe.”

“It’s the only measure of time that matters. Time itself is just an invisible line, a measure people made up, right? You know that. And while it’s good for reference, it’s also a major stress trigger, because you’re letting it control you.” I can’t even deny it. The idea of dinner with Roman is ruining my time with Sean. “Okay, sorry.” “Don’t be sorry. Just don’t give it power.

Now is now, later will eventually be now. Don’t be a slave to the insanity of keeping time and keeping up. Now is the only thing you have control over, and even so, it’s an illusion.”

“Sean, I’m not innocent.”

“No, but you’re more. A lot more.”

“Meaning with you, right now, I’m feeling a little selfish.” “Is that a bad thing?” “It’s a very bad thing.”

“you are so much trouble.”

Right there in the crowded parking lot, feet away from the bar . . . We fuck.

For so long, I’ve been in hiding, and in a month of knowing him, it’s like he’s freed me.

I expect passion and butterflies, and one or two fairy tale moments. When we fight, I want it to hurt. When we fuck, I want to feel it with every fiber of my being. When a man confesses his love to me, I expect him to mean it. I don’t want to question the words’ authenticity. I want to be claimed and owned and ruled and possessed by love.

My greatest hope is to be in all-consuming love. My biggest fear is to be in all-consuming love.

He’s not just a distraction with a nice penis—although, his penis is incredible.

“You catchin’ feelings for me, Pup?” All I can do is give him the same honesty. “Yes, of course I am. We . . . I was hoping . . . I don’t know.”

“That’s right, we don’t, so let’s not go around getting offended and slinging drama where it isn’t needed. You want to trust me, but you’re not letting yourself, and there’s nothing I can do about that. I can tell you every day you’re safe with me, but unless you believe it, it’s pointless. And for the record, I caught feelings the minute I laid eyes on you.”

“It’s okay to want his dick, baby, I’ll watch it go inside you and fucking love the view, and the savage it’ll make me.”

I just let two men share me.

“Own it and don’t let you or anyone else make you feel like it was wrong.”

We don’t know what this will or won’t be. And that’s the fun part.” “What if someone gets hurt?” “Chance we have to take.”

“It was beautiful watching you come undone, giving in to what you wanted. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dom so wrapped up in any woman.” “Don’t . . . don’t say that.” “Why?” “Because if he feels anything . . . I want him to tell me himself.”

“Cecelia, I swear to you, you will never lose me over this. Put that thought out of your mind. What happened doesn’t make my feelings for you any less real. I’m so fucking crazy about you.”

“This is insane.” “Welcome to my world,”

“Are you in a gang?”

I decide to bite Sean’s testicles the minute I’m able to.

“I know what I’m holding, I know her worth,”

Beneath that mask is a man who’s been paying attention, very close attention, to me.

“My rainy days are yours, Dominic. If you want them.” “It rains a lot here,” he says after a few long beats. “Fine with me. But my sunny days belong to Sean.”

These two men have flipped my world; made colors more vivid, made sounds sweeter, made the world as a whole more bearable.

I’m in love with both of them.

“I-I j-just, I love you,”

“I know, and it’s ruining me,”

“You are anything but simple.”

“You are so much more than what you let people see, than what you give yourself credit for.”

I know I’m in love with him. I just don’t know how much of him I know.

I was their toy, and now I’m no longer worthy of their time and attention.

“I’m thinking I forgot who the fuck I am.”

I can safely say Cecelia Horner is a wallflower no more.

“What in the hell is wrong with you?” “You,”

“You’re what’s wrong with everything, and now .

“Cecelia, you are the secret.”

“I love you. And I’ve been in love with you since this started, Cecelia. And you fucking know it.”

“I knew from the get-go you were more,”

But that’s the thing about ravens. They always seem to be watching. Now, I’m counting on it.

“You’re the only woman who can keep this bird circling back. Know that, Cecelia.”