Flock (The Ravenhood, #1)

by Kate Stewart

My favorite books, love songs, movies, the ones that resonated with me, have kept me grieving long after I turned the last page, the notes faded out, or the credits rolled. Because of that, I believed it, because I made myself believe it, and I bred the most masochistic of romantic hearts, which resulted in my illness.

He’d given me his love, his devotion, and I’d thrown it away. I’d done to him what was done to me. Disobeying my heart, my master and monster had cost me Collin.

I half turn in my seat and look over my shoulder to meet amused hazel eyes. The drag of his gaze over me has my skin prickling with awareness. Feet away, in the dim light, I’m able to appreciate the alluring outline of his features along with his incredible build, the stretch of his T-shirt across his pecs, and snug-fitting dark jeans before he takes his seat. We play a short game of stare off where I wait a few seconds past the awkward point before I turn back to face Jackie Brown.

Maybe this won’t suck so bad after all.

His looks are—paralyzing—spiked two-toned dirty blond and platinum hair, sun-drenched skin, insane build, and hazel eyes with undecided dominance, a strong nose with a slight bump along the ridge ending with just the right flare. And his mouth, his mouth is enough in and of itself to keep my thirsty eyes busy. His tongue darts out, sliding against the ring tucked in the corner, showcasing his full bottom lip. His gaze glitters over me, along with a building smirk as I take my fill and then drift to his pronounced Adam’s apple, broad shoulders, and lower, and lower. A large tattoo covers the majority of his left arm, the dark black tip of a wing and feathers starting just above his elbow and looks like it ends at the base of his neck.

“Alfred Sean Roberts, twenty-five, and a Virgo.” I take a picture of his license and shoot off a text to Christy. If I wind up dead, this dude did it.

“I’ve been to plenty of parties, Sean. I’m no Little Red Riding Hood.” This earns me a grin before he stomps out his cigarette with a greased-stained tan boot. “Good, because we don’t want to let the wolf get a whiff.”

“Look, I’ll admit back at the plant I thought you were a bit more bulldog than pup.”

Even with his chunky gold glasses covering his eyes, I can feel his stare, and it’s a shot of adrenaline straight to the chest. “Miss me, Pup?” “Maybe.”

“You makin’ fun of me, Pup?”

“Those boys, pretty as they are, I think might have the devil inside them.”

When his cloudy eyes lift to mine, and he runs his tongue carefully along the blunt seal, my lips part. Fuck me.

He gives me that beaming smile as if he’s shaking off some irritation. “I wanted to take you.” “So, you take me,” I say, hoarsely clearing the rest of the sleep from my voice. “You don’t work here anymore, right?” “It’s just tonight,” he says, his jaw tightening. “Okay.” I stand. “But I can drive myself.” “Just let him take you,” he says insistently. “You were out for a while. That’s some potent shit you inhaled. Just to be safe.”

That made my heart swoon 🥺

punch the gate code in to allow both cars to pass. The arch-shaped iron gates open,

Did she crawl over his lap?? Or get out

“Thank you.” I’m suddenly drained from the white-knuckled car ride home and the long day behind me. He gives me a wink. “No problem, see you around.” “Hope so.”

Sean: Thinking of you. What are you thinking? Sean: All kinds of thoughts. Care to get specific? Sean: Some other time. Coast is clear if you want to swim. Sean: Good, cause I’m already in your driveway.

I blush, combing my fingers through my hair. “I just woke up.” “You’re beautiful,” he stalks toward me. I nod over my shoulder. “You can come in. My dad won’t be home until later on today.” He moves to greet me with a kiss on the cheek and I shy away. “Morning breath.” “I don’t give a fuck.” He leans in and plants a soft kiss on my jaw, lingering while the air grows thick between us.

“So, your free time is now, here, with me.” I stop and draw my brows. “Uh-huh.” “So, you should be here, with me.” “I am?” “Is that a question?” “No. I’m with you.”

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.”

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.”

“Happy Birthday, Cecelia.” “Thank you. It’s cool you remembered.”

“Whatever it is, please tell me now. I’m serious. I would rather know.” His breath tickles my ear. “I don’t do things the way most people do when it comes to any aspect of life. I follow my gut, my instincts on everything, and answer to very few.” “What does that mean exactly?” “It means I belong to myself, Cecelia, at all times. And I choose carefully who to spend my now with. I’m selfish with my time and sometimes, about the things I want.”

His eyes penetrate as he drinks in the look on my face, his voice filled with pure lust when he finally speaks. “Took you long enough.”

I whisper as he reads the desire in my eyes before he leans down kissing me deeply, so thoroughly, that emotion stirs within me. In seconds I’m drunk, my need raging out of control as I clutch him to me.

“Sean, I’m not innocent.” He threads our fingers. “No, but you’re more. A lot more.” “You truly mean that? Considering what you confessed earlier?” “You took that the wrong way.” “Meaning what?” He peers down at me, cupping my cheek with a warm hand, sliding his thumb along my mouth. “Meaning with you, right now, I’m feeling a little selfish.”

know I could fall for Alfred Sean Roberts. And today, a small part of me does.

Sean: Thinking of you. What are you thinking? Sean: All kinds of thoughts. Care to get specific? Sean: You’re beautiful and completely unaware of just how much. And you taste so fucking good. What are you doing to me? Sean: Not nearly enough. Come to the garage. I’ll be there in an hour.

run my hands over his muscled chest as he gazes down at me, his eyes lava, his heart pounding against my palm.

He’s a bit of a sadist, and I love it.

“You’re a man who lives without a single thought of the future.” “I’m pressing that in more ways than one.”

“Can we talk about how your roommate is the Son of Satan for a second?”

Sean grips the back of my neck and pulls us nose to nose. “I’m fucking crazy about you. You know that, right?

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.

For a second, I see something I’ve never seen in his expression and an unmistakable flash of fear in his eyes. “Sean, what’s wrong?” His eyes clear as he gazes down at me. “Not a damn thing.” “You sure?” I run my hands through his hair as he buries his head in my chest. “Help me, baby. The madness finally got me.”

“You catchin’ feelings for me, Pup?” All I can do is give him the same honesty. “Yes, of course I am.

This is burned into my brain

“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.”

“If you’re ever wondering what to do, that’s what you do. Whatever you fucking want, whenever you want, and you don’t apologize for it, not ever.”

He expels a breath. “And don’t you dare tell me it was a party, or you can lose my number.” He flicks his gaze on me, and it’s unforgiving. I’ve just pissed him off. Good.

Though thieves they may be because they’ve stolen my heart. I’m in love with both of them.

“I love you,” I whisper through a blur of tears. “And I don’t think you’re crazy at all. I got upset sitting here for hours romanticizing how I would say this to you, and that it would matter. Instead of admitting it, I got angry and said stupid things I didn’t mean. I t-trust you. I believe so much in what you’re doing. I think you’re brilliant.”

He tears out of the parking lot and I wait, knowing he can feel the anxiety pouring from me. “Sean, plea—” “Somebody couldn’t keep a secret.”

Who!? My anxiety is freaking out is it cause she talked to Layla

It’s then I know why Sean is keeping his eyes down. He doesn’t want to watch the dagger he’s slowly pushing into my chest. “Cecilia” by Simon and Garfunkel begins to play as the door slams behind me, securing my place in the trap. Every word of the song like a slap to the face. This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening. But it is. The song, the lyrics, the out of place melody pierces me as my heart rages in my chest, continually slamming into the crumbling barrier, begging to be set free, for a destination anywhere but here. Tears burn my eyes as I watch the two men I came for blatantly ignore me, as more heads begin to turn my way. Dominic is hunched over the table, taking his shot as Sean stands in the corner, his hands wrapped around his pool stick as Tyler whispers in his ear, his eyes on mine, a smile on his dimpled face. He doesn’t know. But Sean does, and so does Dominic.

Had me crying

Sean.” “Look at me.” I do. His eyes cover me in a haze of regret. “I love you. And I’ve been in love with you since this started, Cecelia. And you fucking know it.”