Clifford Arbor: The Seduction of Raven Peters (9 page)

"Speaking of the women we want, how is the delectable Raven?" Carl turned his attention to Jackson, a smirk on his face. The man knew he was riling him but he did it anyway. The man obviously liked the look of a black eye.

"Leave her out of this," Jackson warned, taking another sip of coffee, glancing toward Harley to see what he thought. Harley was laughing behind his cup.

"But she’s so tempting. I think it's unfair you’ve laid claim to her without a proper battle of trying to win the girl’s affections," Carl teased.

Jackson’s fist tightened round his cup.

"Knock it off, Carl." Edward pulled his brother away.

"Hey, Jackson, I’m just messing around. We’re cool." The younger man offered him his hand to shake. Jackson glanced from the hand to Carl's face then shook it.

"How was Raven this morning?" Harley asked as the other men moved away.

Jackson raised an eyebrow, knowing Harley was teasing him and waiting for details. The other man had obviously seen him enter Raven’s house.

"You were right, watching her eat was the single sexiest thing I’ve seen in a long time."

Harley smiled.

"I had to take her to work..." Jackson started.

"Why?" Harley stepped closer to him.

"I made her cum," he whispered into the other man’s ear. Harley groaned but kept it quiet enough so only Jackson could hear.

Jackson leaned in closer, enjoying the open intimacy of the moment they were sharing together.

"She doesn’t wear any panties."

Jackson knew it would drive Harley insane. Knowing he’d touched her pussy, felt her warm, moist core, and then having to sit next to her later at dinner while they talked about each other and got to know one another. Harley would have to sit through dinner knowing Raven was bare underneath her skirt and all he had to do was reach under the table to feel her. "I knew she was bare," Harley whispered back.

Jackson could feel the strain Harley was under. The desire to say 'fuck it' to working today and go charm Raven instead was overwhelming.

However, it would be good to leave her to think about tonight and what it would be like with two men to pleasure her body. No part of her body would be unattended. "Well hello, handsome."

Harley and Jackson tensed at the same time and Jackson glanced down at his watch. She was early. Turning around, he saw the woman he hated with his whole heart.

Patricia. No matter how much make up she wore or how many expensive outfits she sported, to the men in this town, this woman was trash. Jackson could see the men, defensive, arms folded, waiting to see what she did next. Chase and Lawrence came closer acting as support if or when Jackson might need it. The Jeffrey brothers were suddenly in his periphery vision as well. By the way they were standing he could tell they were on guard as well.

Jackson felt blessed to be surrounded by his town's people and his closest friends.

"What do you want, Patricia?" Jackson folded his arms across his chest.

"Time to pay up, sugar." Patricia stood there, hands on hips, head cocked to the side, not a care in the world. She appeared to be completely oblivious to the hatred radiating from every single male present. Patricia being Patricia just assumed they couldn’t get enough of her.

Like every other time he saw her, Jackson stood looking at the woman he married and wondered what he saw in her because what he saw now repulsed him.

"Why don’t you get the hell out of Clifford Arbor, Patricia? No one wants you here." Harley came to Jackson's defense, standing in front of him, trying to protect him.

"Ah, the little friend comes out to play," she taunted him.

Harley moved closer but Jackson stopped him with a hand on his arm, shaking his head.

"She’s not worth it."

Harley pulled out of Jackson’s grip, backing down.

"Leave him out of this," Jackson told her, moving forward out of ear shot of everyone else.

"He started it. Where’s my money?"

He grabbed her by the arm and led her away.

"Where is my money?"

In privacy of the car park near his truck, Jackson let her go, rubbing his hand on his jeans trying to get rid of the feel of her, the smell of the perfume she was wearing leaving him feeling sick.

"I want the pictures."

"So. I want my money. Pay up." She held her hand out waiting for him to hand over the cash.

Why did he ever give in to her demands? He should have told her to take a hike when she came back for more.

"I want the pictures."

"I’ve told you sweetie, no pictures. I want money and I like this way of getting it so give me my money or else." Patricia raised an eye brow before glancing down at her manicured hands.

Looking at her, seeing who she really was after having Raven in his arms, Jackson didn’t have a clue what happened but something lifted. Something phenomenal changed within him in that moment.

Epiphany, perhaps? He didn’t know but all of a sudden he felt a shift in power. For five years this woman had been making him suffer over photographs he’d never seen but she’d always threatened.

Tyler was dead and gone. No one disrespected the dead and he wasn’t going to allow her to do it any longer.

The town’s folk wouldn’t care what Tyler was like moments before his death. They would remember him for the love they all felt for the young boy he’d been and the respectable man he’d grown into.

Jackson stepped closer feeling more secure, happy and determined than he’d felt in over five years. He was done with her. Patricia was finished in this town.

"Get out." His voice was calm but firm. He stood before her, invading her space. For years she would step into his zone and push him around. He was done being a lap dog.

"I’ll be gone once I have my money." She tried to take over but it was too late.

Jackson could see how his presence affected her. She was uncomfortable. He shouldn’t have felt such joy making a woman uncomfortable but Patricia had passed the usual rules that pertained to how to treat a woman.

"Get out of Clifford Arbor. You’re done here," he said, glaring down at her.

"I guess Tyler will be remembered a little differently."

Jackson smirked. The usual threat meant nothing.

He leaned down to her ear.

"You see those men over there? The men watching you with utter loathing? They’re the people of Clifford Arbor and we look after our own. Release the pictures. Let everyone see Tyler at his worst because every person will only see what drove him to the drugs, the sex.

It all points to you. After that you won't last a minute in this town. Now get out the hell out of my town," Jackson growled at her, moving away and towards his friends.

"T-there is one, of you and Harley," she shouted to him.

He could hear the desperation and it did nothing for him.

He chuckled. "Show everyone."

Man, for five years this woman had controlled him and now he was free.

"What about your little fat girl?"

Jackson stopped. He turned slowly.

"You want her to see. I could make her life a misery. Give me my money and I’ll leave her alone."

Jackson advanced on her with the intent to cause pain. He trapped her between his body and the car.

"You touch her, you go anywhere near her and you’re finished. Think about the problems I could cause you, Patricia. You’ve never seen what I could do. Leave before you find out."

He left her then, embracing the beauty of the future and smiled. He was free.

Nighttime had fallen but the heat was still very much in the air. Raven stood outside the book store helping Beatrice lock up. Today had been busy leaving her no time to think about the morning with Jackson. Now however, she was anticipating her night with two sexy bachelors who wanted her to be part of their life.

"Right, I’ll see you tomorrow, Raven," Beatrice said, moving away from the door.

"You will, bright and early," Raven called.

"What do you younger people have planned for tonight anyway?" Beatrice asked.

"I’m having dinner with Harley and Jackson." Raven beamed at the older woman.

"Well, I’l stay with you until they get here."

"No need, Beatrice. You get home and rest. They’ll be along shortly."

Raven appreciated the offer of company but knew the other woman would fare better with a good night's rest.

"You’re a good girl." Beatrice patted her hand before moving off out into the distance.

Raven stood on her own waiting for the two men and wondered what was taking them so long. She was so busy waiting for the two new men in her life she didn’t notice the blond woman approach her until she was backed up to the book store window and the other woman’s hand was wrapped around her throat, pressing down, pushing her nails into the delicate skin of Raven's neck. Raven panicked. Not knowing what was going on, she tried to scream but no sound escaped.

"You tell that bastard of yours I want my money." Patricia released her hold.

Raven sucked air into her mouth.

"Who the hell are you?" Raven cupped her throat, protecting herself from those deadly claws.

"Patricia."

The ex-wife of Jackson. Raven glanced away trying to get her bearings when Harley and Jackson ran up, coming to her rescue. She was moved even if they were a little late.

"That bitch. We’re so sorry, Raven. We didn’t know she would come after you." Harley took her in his arms while Jackson ran down the street.

"We won’t leave you alone again," he promised, examining her throat.

Jackson came back heaving.

"She must have jumped in a car. She’s nowhere in sight." Jackson knelt down beside Harley looking at Raven’s minor wounds. "I’m so sorry, baby." He brushed over the wounds and Raven could see how upset he was.

"That was her, wasn’t it? Your ex-wife?"

He nodded, looking into her eyes.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked.

Raven could see he was worried the incident left her no longer wanting to have anything to do with them and her heart went out to him. He’d lived his life with this woman constantly taking something from him. His time, his brother, his money, and now her. She wouldn’t allow such a spiteful woman to ruin a possible future for her and these two men.

She shook her head.

"I promised you tomorrow and you’ve promised me tonight. These will disappear in a few minutes. I can take care of myself. She just took me by surprise. She won’t get that chance again." No way would Raven allow that woman to get the drop on her again.

Jackson disagreed. "You shouldn’t have to deal with her, Raven. Maybe we should just leave…"

"And you have to pay her more money? More pain and suffering? When will it end Jackson?

When you’re old and living your life alone with nothing but regret? Regret that you didn’t stop her?"

Raven moved away facing the two men, her hands placed firmly on her hips.

"You can’t keep letting her get the better of you. Don’t give in. I’m a big girl. So let’s go and get some dinner. I’m hungry." Raven moved with intent, kissing Jackson on the cheek and then Harley.

Moments later they were seated in a restaurant nearby.

"Congratulations on the bump," Harley offered the young waitress they referred to as Emily.

She smiled, patting her stomach. "Tell that to the other two."

"They’re just worried about you. And they should be," Harley pointed out.

Raven watched the other woman blush. Emily smiled at Raven. "Are you here to tame these two?"

Laughing, Raven said, "I’ll do my best."

"We all live in hope for when these two will be settled with their tails between their legs."

Taking up the menu, Raven glanced briefly before deciding on a steak.

"She’l give those two the run around," Harley commented over his menu.

Jackson smiled. "They deserve it, though."

Raven glanced from one man to the other.

"What are we talking about?" She placed her menu down on the table.

"Emily is pregnant with Chase and Lawrence’s child," Jackson spoke up, watching her.

Raven didn’t know what to do or where to look as her eyes fell on the young waitress. "But that's two men?" she questioned.

Jackson and Harley laughed at her obvious innocence.

"They’re in a relationship together. It doesn’t matter, they both gave to the child in some way. It’s just another way of living, Raven," Jackson told her.

"And the town accepts this?"

"Why do you think we keep our own safe? Do you really think they’re the only ones?" Harley teased, purposefully laying out the ammunition for her to wonder about.

"It’s what we want with you." Jackson reached across the table to take her hand in his. He turned it over looking at her palm. "I’m so sorry about Patricia," he told her, stroking her inner wrist, her pulse beat racing faster at his touch. He smiled.

"I understand why you divorced her."

"It would take more than a scary woman like Patricia to put you off two hot studs like us, right, Raven?" Harley joked, listening to their conversation.

Raven chuckled, "Right, but I have to say there isn’t much going on with you at the moment," she challenged both men.

"You didn’t seem to mind earlier. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, you couldn’t get enough of me." Jackson raised an eyebrow, watching her reaction.

Raven blushed.

"That’s not fair. I only got to kiss her. She has such a sexy mouth," Harley pouted.

"I could imagine sinking my cock between those luscious lips," Jackson said.

"Do you think she swallows?" Harley questioned.

Raven’s face grew hotter as the banter between the two men intensified. They were talking about some naughty stuff right in front of her.

"Would you guys stop?" She lifted up her glass of water, taking a generous gulp. Anything to cool her body down. The restaurant had air conditioning but it was doing nothing to combat the way they were talking.

"What? Only speaking the truth," Harley chuckled, taking a slow sip of his own drink, his eyes drinking her in as his lips devoured the water.

Everything about him teased her. She struggled to avert her gaze. They enthralled her with their presence.