Never More by Dana Marie Bell

wrapped around him. The two spoke quietly to one another, Robin stroking Michaela’s hair over and over again.
    “They seem very much in love.” And it hurt Amanda’s heart to see it even as it gave her hope. She’d never had anyone look at her the way Robin Goodfellow gazed at Michaela Exton, like she was his whole world.
    “They are.”
    There was a familiar wistfulness in Raven’s tone that had her looking up at him in surprise. He, too, seemed to long for what Michaela and Robin had. His expression was filled with a sweet longing that was totally at odds with his badass looks. “Are you all right?”
    He blinked, his expression clearing as he turned his attention once more toward her. “I’m fine. You’re the one who’s shaking.” He led her through Aileen’s living room and toward the stairs. “Let’s get you settled in.”
    “Don’t even think you’re getting into my room, goth boy.” Amanda pulled free of Raven’s hold. “I don’t put out that easily.”
    Raven’s brows rose, his blue eyes twinkling. “Who said anything about sex? I was worried about shock, and here you are, imagining me naked.” He tsk’d. “You are a naughty girl, aren’t you?”
    Amanda blushed furiously. “I did not…I wasn’t!” Of course, now that he’d said it, she couldn’t get out of her head that he did have a nice chest. She just bet he was ripped under the dark T-shirt. Might even have a treasure trail down to the pot of gold.
    “Of course not.” He patted her shoulder, placating her. “Now, let’s get you settled in your warm, comfy bed, hmm?”
    “Ugh.” She spun on her heel and stomped off, not that surprised when he followed her. “I think I hate you.”
    “You wound me, bondmate.”
    She swirled around, ready to let him have it. “What the fuck is up with this whole bondmate thing anyway?”
    That soft look completely disappeared. Raven once more appeared mad, bad and dangerous. “A bondmate is like a spouse, but on a deeper level. Magically connected, bondmates can sense each other, feel when the other is happy or sad, or when they are in danger.”
    “And?”
    “And you’re more than that.” Raven’s cocky grin made her want to smack him. “You’re my truebond.”
    “And made just for you,” she cooed, sighing over him.
    Too bad it wasn’t completely faked. He had the most gorgeous dark lashes, and the faint hint of a beard only enhanced his high cheekbones. The red slash through his hair highlighted his dark locks perfectly.
    “I’m glad you understand.” Raven moved so quickly she didn’t even know he had until she was over his shoulder. “Now, I think you need some rest, and some quiet time to process everything you’ve learned today.”
    “Put. Me. Down.”
    “Or?”
    Oh, he had to ask.
    “You won’t like it, trust me.” Amanda prepared herself for the take-down of Raven’s life.
    Raven stopped dead. “Do you have a box of Cheerios in your pocket?”
    She paused, her nails just about to dig into a delicate place. “Uh, no?”
    “Ah. Good.” He sounded relieved. Walking, he reached for the door that led to Amanda’s room. Before she could deploy her lethal weapons she flew through the air, landing with a whomp! on her bed.
    “Now.” Raven rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Guess what I get to do?”
    “Leave?”
    “Right answer!” Raven waved. “Good night, sweet Amanda. Pleasant, me-filled dreams.”
    She blinked as he shut the door.
    “What. The. Fuck?” She sat straight up, pushing her hair out of her eyes.
    The door opened. “Yeah, I forgot something.” Raven literally flowed into the room, black feathers swirling around him as he kind of reassembled on the bed next to her. “Note the open door, my naughty little kestrel.”
    “Wha—”
    Raven tugged her down until their lips were a mere hair’s breadth away from each other. “There are steps to bonding with someone.”
    “Oh?” Her heart was racing. Raven had the most beautiful eyes.