Chapter 87: A Night's Unrest

Raven looked up. North stood at the carved railing at the stair entrance, damp brown curls clinging to her shoulders. She wore his white shirt, which hung loosely, accentuating her curves. The shirt ended above her knees, revealing her legs. She looked like she’d stepped out of a men's shirt ad.

Raven frowned. "Take off my shirt and go back to the room. I'll call the secretary for some clothes."

North rolled her eyes. "It's just a nightdress, and you like to mess around. I haven't got time for this."

Raven pursed his lips, then strode upstairs, grabbed North's wrist, and pulled her into the room. He opened the closet, tossed a pair of homemade black trousers onto the bed, and said, "Just put these on."

North stared at him incredulously. "Are you crazy? Men's trousers? They're huge! They'll look awful. I won't wear them."

Raven looked at the twenty-year-old beauty before him. He grabbed her arm and pushed her onto the bed. North felt dizzy and uncomfortable; she’d slept here once before.

He knelt, picked up the trousers, and attempted to put them on her. She resisted, clasping her legs and struggling. "Raven, what are you doing? Are you insane? Let me go! I won't wear them!"

Despite her struggle, which only heightened his desire, he wouldn't let go. She stood, biting his forearm. He felt the pain.

He propped himself on the bed, leaned over, and embraced her. North sighed, her eyes locking with his, a provocative glint in them. "Do you think I'll fall for you? I won't give you any reason to sleep with me."

Raven slowly released her. North, convinced he'd regained his sanity, straightened. She noticed his eyes on her thighs. The shirt had ridden up during the struggle, revealing more than she intended.

She kicked him hard. He landed against the bed, legs bent. North quickly slipped on the trousers herself.

"You're not young anymore," she said. "Even if you want to spend your life with Pamela, that's your business. But there are plenty of beautiful young women out there."

Raven looked at her, sneering. "Of course, and I'll find someone more beautiful than you."

North pursed her lips. "You'll never find anyone as beautiful as me. And I'll always be the one you can't have!"

Raven went to the bathroom. "I'll find a woman whenever I want. Whether she's more beautiful than you is none of your business."

After showering, he couldn't find North. He found her in the kitchen, preparing noodles. While trying to open a pot, she burned her finger.

"Ouch!" she cried.

"Why are you so careless?" Raven rushed over, gently caressing her finger. She didn't resist; the pain was real. She looked up at him, still in his white shirt, even more handsome after his shower.

"You're quick," she said.

He rinsed her finger under cold water. "Am I quick, or not? You don't know?"

"What are you doing in the kitchen?" he asked.

"Making noodles. I'm hungry."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't fulfill my professional obligations today. I was a little reckless, and I didn't know you weren't naive enough to spoil me like that playboy said, letting me become another man's plaything. So I didn't dare call you."

Raven saw her tired expression. He led her to the sofa. "Sit. I'll make you some noodles and get you some medicine."

While he cooked, North watched TV. The doorbell rang.

Raven heard it and saw North's pale face at the kitchen door. "What's wrong? Who is it?" he asked quietly.

North pointed. "Your mother."

Raven's eyes hardened, but his face remained impassive. "Go upstairs and close the door."

North went upstairs. Raven opened the door to find his mother, Mrs. Domino, being pushed in by a bodyguard. She'd been wheelchair-bound for over a decade.

"Raven, I heard that North, that little slut, is back in LA."