“I hate you!” Sierra yells from the backseat before turning toward Raven. “Don’t you hate him too?”

Raven nods slowly.

“Yes,” she whispers before looking at me through the rearview mirror, her gaze unfocused. “I hate you.”

Something about the way she says it hits me hard, a dull ache spreading through my chest.

I know they’re both drunk, but I’ve never seen Raven look at me this way before.

“And why is that, Cupcake?”

She looks away and rests her head against Sierra’s, the two of them curled up together in the backseat.

I sigh and keep my eyes on the road as I drive us home, utterly confused.

Raven and Sierra usually keep themselves under control, and the last time I saw either of them drunk or hungover was back in college.

Why the hell did they drink this much tonight?

And what the hell did I do to deserve their hatred when I’m the one who picked them up at three in the morning without a single complaint?

I pull into the parking garage of my condo absentmindedly, and it isn’t until the girls rush out of the car and head straight for my front door that I realize I should’ve taken them to the main house instead.

Shit.

“Open it!” Sierra orders, her eyes still flashing with irritation.

“If I do, will you stop being mad at me?”

I can’t even remember the last time my little sister was angry with me.

Even though I’m ten years older than her, Sierra and I have always been close.

I genuinely have no idea what’s going on tonight.

Raven walks over and places a hand on my bicep.

“Why won’t you let us in?” she asks softly, her voice carrying a trace of pain.

Oh fuck.

“I will, sweetheart. Of course I will.”

I wrap an arm around her waist and guide her toward the front door, unlocking it with my fingerprint.

Sierra throws me another glare as she storms inside, kicking off her heels before disappearing toward the kitchen.

“Come on,” I tell Raven, but she shakes her head stubbornly.

“I don’t wanna walk,” she mumbles. “Carry me.”

I chuckle, caught off guard by the adorable pout on her face.

Raven has never asked me for help before, and she’s definitely never acted spoiled around me.

It’s strangely endearing.

“Okay, Cupcake.”

I slide one arm behind her knees and lift her into my arms.

She giggles and rests her head against my chest as I carry her to the sofa.

The way she’s looking at me now…

There’s no hatred in her eyes anymore.

But back in the car, I could’ve sworn that’s exactly what I saw.

“Why are you two so mad at me tonight?”

I lower her carefully onto the sofa, and she shakes her head.

“Secret.”

“Since when do you keep secrets from me?”

Raven laughs softly, the sound melodic.

“I’ve been keeping secrets from you for years.”

“Oh yeah? Name one.”

Her eyes drift slowly over my body, stopping at the gray sweatpants I’m wearing.

“Every time I see you wearing those,” she says lazily, “I wonder what they’d look like if your dick was hard. Would I be able to see every outline?”

My eyes widen, and I cough violently.

That is absolutely not what I expected her to say.

“You what?”

Raven simply shrugs before bending over to remove her heels, giving me a very clear view of her breasts.

She’s not wearing a bra.

Fuck.

Did she seriously go out dressed like that?

Silas’s bodyguards better have done their goddamn job tonight.

“Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to,” she singsongs.

I immediately look away and clear my throat.

“I’m going to check on Sierra,” I mutter before practically escaping toward the kitchen.

My heart pounds the entire way there.

Raven has never acted inappropriately around me before.

She’s never even hinted that she sees me as a man at all.

So what the fuck was that?

And what the hell was that sweatpants comment?

“Sierra?” I call out.

I sigh the moment I find my sister asleep on the kitchen floor, clutching an entire block of cheese with a giant bite taken out of it.

What is wrong with my girls tonight?

My thoughts are spinning wildly as I carry Sierra to my bedroom.

Even asleep, she’s mumbling about how much she hates me.

What the hell did I do to deserve this?

I replay every interaction I’ve had with them over the past few days and come up completely blank.

I carefully tuck Sierra into bed before heading back toward the living room, my steps oddly hesitant.

I’ve always been comfortable around Raven.

Tonight, though?

Tonight, I’m nervous.

“Rave?”

I find her sitting cross-legged on the sofa.

She looks up at the sound of my voice and smiles softly.

“Ares.”

The way she says my name has always sounded different.

It’s always sounded sexy.

Tonight, even more so.

She pats the seat beside her.

I shake my head.

“Let’s get you to bed, sweetheart.”

“No,” she says stubbornly. “Come sit.”

I sigh and sit beside her anyway.

“What’s going on, Rave? Why do you seem so upset tonight? And why does Sierra insist she hates me?”

She tilts her head slightly, obviously drunk.

“You really wanna know?”

I nod.

She smirks as she draws her knees up before suddenly turning toward me.

Before I even realize what’s happening, Raven climbs into my lap and straddles me, her hands settling on my shoulders.

A soft groan escapes me at the feel of her ass against my thighs, and I instinctively grip her waist.

“What are you doing, Cupcake?”

“I wanna sit here, Ares.”

“You can’t.”

“I know,” she murmurs. “But I’m gonna do it anyway.”

“Raven, how much did you drink tonight?”

She shifts closer, and I grit my teeth.

She’s sitting directly on top of my cock, and no matter how hard I try not to think about it, it’s all I can fucking think about.

“Not enough,” she whispers. “I’ve never had the courage I needed, and I think I’ll regret that forever.”

I’ve never seen her look this tormented before.

I always thought I knew Raven better than anyone, but tonight I’m realizing there’s an entire side of her I’ve never seen.

“What is it you’ll regret?”

She loops her arms around my neck and looks away.

“Not going after the man I love. If I had… would things be different now? Would I be happier?”

My grip tightens around her waist, my heartbeat suddenly frantic.

“Who is he?” I ask carefully. “Are you talking about Silas Sinclair?”

Does she regret losing him?

Does she regret not fighting for him when Alanna came back into his life?

Raven laughs softly.

“Oh, Silas.”

I fucking hate the way she says his name.

I hate everything about that man.

“No. Silas and Alanna are still very much part of my life, and I love them both dearly. Honestly, I think I might love Alanna more than I love Silas. She’s insane in the best possible way.”

I stare at her, trying to figure her out.

“So who is it?”

She looks directly into my eyes before shaking her head.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Someone I know, then. Don’t tell me it’s one of my brothers. Is it Lexington?”

She bursts out laughing.

“Should I fuck your brother, Ares?” she asks teasingly as she rolls her hips against my lap.

Fuck.

“You will do no such thing if you value his life.”

I tighten my grip on her waist to stop her from moving, but it’s already too late.

I can feel myself getting hard beneath her.

All I can do is pray she’s too drunk to notice.

“Come on, sweetheart,” I mutter through gritted teeth. “You need to sleep. You’ve had way too much to drink, and you’re going to regret this tomorrow.”

“I won’t,” she whispers. “The only things I’ve ever regretted were the things I didn’t do.”

Raven slides a hand through my hair, her fingers brushing against my scalp before tightening gently.

Her face is so close to mine that I could kiss her.

I immediately look away.

“What are you doing, Rave?”

“Something I shouldn’t.”

She shifts in my lap again, and a soft moan escapes her lips as my cock presses directly between her thighs.

“This needs to stop,” I say hoarsely. “I don’t care how drunk you are, Rave. This isn’t right. I’m your sister’s fiancé, for God’s sake.”

“Yeah,” she whispers. “But you should’ve been mine.”

I stare at her in shock.

Yeah.

If Hannah hadn’t begged me to talk to my grandmother all those years ago, the woman sitting in my lap would’ve been the one I was marrying.

Raven smiles softly before trailing her fingers over my chest until they fist in the edge of my shirt.

“I want this shirt, Ares. Can I have it?”

I glance down at my shirt in confusion.

“I… what? Why?”

She smirks before reaching behind herself and unzipping her dress in one smooth motion.

The fabric pools around her waist.

“Fuck, Raven,” I hiss in panic.

She isn’t wearing a bra, and I absolutely should not be seeing her half naked.

I immediately grab the front of her dress and pull it back over her chest.

“Cupcake, you are seriously testing my patience tonight. I’m trying here, okay? I’m trying to be patient and kind, but you’re taking this way too far.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Ugh, Ares. Do you have any idea how many people have seen me naked? Relax. I practically walk around half naked backstage before every runway show. It’s not a big deal.”

I grit my teeth at her words.

“And do you sit in people’s laps like this too, Rave? You know exactly what you’re doing.”

She smiles lazily.

“Should I go sit in someone else’s lap instead? Maybe I should’ve gone home with John after all.”

“John?” I snap. “Your agent went out with you tonight?”

She nods.

“I probably should’ve let him take me home.”

“And what exactly would’ve happened if he had?” I ask darkly, already dreading the answer.

“I don’t know,” she murmurs. “Probably some really good orgasms and an amazing fuck.”

I let go of her dress completely and fist a hand in her hair, tightening my grip as I force her face closer to mine.

“What the fuck is wrong with you tonight, Rave? You’ve been prim and proper your entire life, and now suddenly you want to get laid? What the fuck is going on?”

She smiles before slipping her hands underneath my shirt, her fingers brushing over my abs.

“I asked for your shirt, Ares. I didn’t ask you to fuck me… although judging by how hard you are, I’m guessing you want to.”

“If I give you my shirt, will you go to bed?”

She nods obediently.

“Fine,” I mutter. “Fine, Rave. I’ll give you my shirt, but this ends here, okay? Stop provoking me. I don’t know what’s gotten into you tonight, but every bit of this is inappropriate, and knowing you, you’re going to regret all of it tomorrow morning.”

Raven smirks before grabbing the dress pooled around her waist and pulling it over her head completely, tossing it onto the floor.

“Fuck.”

She’s completely naked.

“What the fuck, Raven? Why the hell aren’t you wearing underwear?”

Jesus Christ.

This is so unbelievably wrong.

I cannot have my fiancée’s sister naked in my lap.

What the fuck am I doing?

“I don’t like underwear,” she says simply.

My gaze betrays me and drifts over her body before I can stop myself.

Fuck.

She’s stunning.

Every inch of her.

Her dark nipples stand hard against her pale skin, and her long legs are wrapped around my waist while her bare pussy presses directly against my cock.

Fuck.

I force my eyes away from her and yank my shirt over my head in one quick motion.

“Come on,” I mutter roughly. “Put this on.”

She lifts her arms obediently, and I tug the shirt over her head before guiding her hands through the sleeves, trying desperately not to touch her more than necessary.

“Bedtime,” I warn.

She looks disappointed but nods anyway.

“Does no part of you want me even a little?” she asks softly, her eyes filled with something painfully vulnerable.

“No,” I lie immediately. “The friction from you moving around on top of me got me hard, yeah, but I don’t want you, Raven. I never will. I don’t know what’s going through your head right now, but this has to stop. Do you have any idea how badly this would hurt your sister? Fuck, it’s hurting me too, Rave.”

She freezes completely.

Then she nods and turns her face away.

My heart fucking drops the second a tear slides down her cheek.

Instant regret slams into me so hard it’s almost physical.

She sniffles softly, and something inside me shatters.

“Fuck, Cupcake,” I whisper desperately. “I’m so fucking sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. Not like that.”

“No,” she whispers shakily as she climbs off my lap. “I’m sorry, Ares. I just… I thought…”

Her voice breaks.

“I’m sorry. I-I need to go.”

I immediately grab her waist and pull her back against me, wrapping my arms tightly around her as I cup the back of her head and press her face into my neck.

“You’re not going anywhere tonight, Cupcake. It’s okay, Rave. We’ve all had messy drunk nights before. This is no different. I’m sorry.”

“Not as much as I am,” she whispers. “I should’ve known better. Of course you’d never want me. You’ll never want anyone but Hannah.”

I hold her tighter, my chest aching.

Fuck.

Tonight is a complete disaster.

I have no idea what got into her, and as wrong as it is, I’m relieved she was with me tonight.

If she’d been with another man instead…

What would’ve happened?

“Come on, Cupcake. Let’s get some sleep, okay?”

Keeping her in my arms, I shift us onto the sofa until I’m lying flat with her curled tightly against my chest.

“Just sleep, Rave. We’ll forget tonight ever happened, okay? You probably drank so much you won’t even remember any of this tomorrow anyway. Just go to sleep.”

She nods quietly and settles closer against me.

But even with her lying in my arms like this, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m losing her.

I had no choice but to say what I said.

And yet I regret every single word.

I desperately hope tonight doesn’t change anything between us.

Deep down, though?

I already know it will.