Raven by Shelly Pratt

wanted it out of her mouth immediately. In her haste to go and shower, she had forgotten to take her clothes into the bathroom with her so she wrapped a towel around her and went into the living room.
     
    She almost dropped her towel to the floor in shock when she realised Eilam was standing inside her apartment. Immediately her anger brimmed to the surface again and she watched as his look of desire turned to one of confusion the minute he caught her expression on her face.
     
    “Sorry, Aiyana – perhaps I should have knocked?” he asked, not quite understanding the reception he was getting and wasn’t sure if he had overstepped some form of social etiquette boundary.
     
    “Knocking is the least of your problems, Eilam,” she scathed.
     
    “Is there something wrong – have I done something wrong?” he asked, still getting an eyeful of her bare legs and shoulders.
     
    “You bet your arse there is. Tell me Eilam, how well do you know my sister? Or better yet, how did you come to know her?” she demanded. He looked confused by the question, but answered anyway.
     
    “I told you. Amongst the ravens there was talk of a witch who had first cast the spell, it was said that a descendent of her blood line would be the only one to break the curse,” he said.
     
    “So let me guess – you thought it was Cybele didn’t you – you thought she was the one, am I right?” she said, her voice getting louder by the minute. Inch by inch she moved closer to him – one hand holding her towel to protect her modesty whilst the other pointed an accusatory finger at him.
     
    “I already told you I went to see her first,” he said, eyeing her carefully.
     
    “So did you sucker her in with your charms as well? Did you use her the way you are using me now, just to get what you want!” she screamed.
     
    “I never did, Aiyana, I promise you that,” he said.
     
    “You liar, you’re a goddamned liar!” she cried as she pummelled his hard muscled chest with both of her fists, completely forgetting all about her modesty and instead unleashing all the pent up hurt and embarrassment she had been harbouring. Her towel dropped to the floor and she was now naked in front of the one person she wished she wasn’t. He grabbed both of her wrists firmly and pulled her so close to him that her breasts were pressed hard up against his chest. All of her fight was gone from her in that instant. Even now she still wanted him. She wanted him to take her and make her his, but she knew to do so would foolish.
     
    With her wrists still firmly in his grasp she said, “Why Eilam, how could you do this to me? I thought you liked me?” she said, a sob escaping her lips. She couldn’t look at him now, instead letting her eyes fall to where their chests touched each other’s.
     
    “Aiyana? Aiyana – would you please look at me,” he begged. She slowly raised her eyes to meet his, and she softened instantly. Those dark eyes just suckered her in – she couldn’t help it.
     
    “I don’t like you – I love you, do you hear me?” he said with sincerity.
     
    “So what of Cybele – did you love her too?” she snapped, and dragged her gaze away from his. His cackle almost sent her over the edge. Her she was feeling betrayed and he was laughing at her! Her look of daggers that she was shooting him stopped his laugh mid-cackle.
     
    “Yes I went to your sister first. Yes I thought she could help me. We were friends, and only friends. Whether she felt more for me than I for her I don’t know, but I never – and I mean never, kissed her or touched her the way I have you.
     
    I had made contact with her in hopes of her helping us, and she seemed like the kind of person who would. She was kind and considerate and friendly. But that all changed the day I truly revealed who and what I was. After that she wanted nothing to do with me,” he said as he lowered her arms to his sides. “She wouldn’t talk to me or even look at me. I guess