Cassandra Robbins

“Nope.” Cher snorts and blows smoke up in the air as she points her cigarette to the right. “Isn’t that Maria?”

About ten cars down, there’s Maria frantically waving me over to a giant black SUV.

I sigh. “Yes, at least it’s not Mommie Dearest. I don’t think I could stomach the car ride,” I deadpan, then glance at Cher, who’s smiling.

“What?” I dump my phone in my bag and wave back at Maria. “Wish me luck. Let’s pray Jett Powers is better than we think.”

“Daddy Powers? Oh, he’s better than alright.” Cher inhales and grins at my stare.

“Please stop calling him that.” I roll my eyes.

“You know I’m right. He’s fucking hot.” She sighs and points her cigarette at me. “Your bitch of a mom is actually lucky I’m going to Florence.”

I burst out laughing as I pull her in for a tight hug. As inappropriate as she is, she really is the best.

“You be good.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Shuddup. You’re going to make me start crying and I need to go to my gate. I’ll call you when I land.” She pulls back and looks directly at me.

“You be you, Raven. You’re kind of my hero, you know?” She pulls me in for another tight hug.

Shaking my head, I reach for my luggage and laugh. “I have no idea why.” I sniff. She’s only going away for a month. I have zero idea why it feels so monumental. I’m sure it’s just everything going on right now. The unknown is never my friend. Smiling, I approach Maria and a man in a black suit.

“Because you’re beautiful inside and out,” Cher screams after me.

“You’re crazy,” I yell back at her, then hug Maria who squeezes me tight.

“Mi amor, let me look at you.” She holds me at arm’s length. Her warm, caramel-colored eyes sparkle, but her mouth is downturned.

“Oh dear.” She sighs, and I have to laugh. Maria is never happy, but I don’t even care what’s upsetting her. I’ll find out

later, I’m sure. Right now, I’m just genuinely happy to see her.

“Come on, Maria, no frowning. I promise I’ll be good. You have nothing to worry about. Cher is going to Florence.” I hug her again. Maria’s way more my mother than my biological one.

“I’m not worried about Cher,” she grumbles. Taking my luggage, she shoves it at the man in the suit and dark sunglasses.

“Hi, I’m Raven…” I go to hold out my hand, but Maria stops me. I frown. What the heck?

The man doesn’t seem offended. If anything, his attention is on everyone and everything but me. When I look back to where Cher is standing, she waves and blows me a kiss; then I slide into the back of the vehicle.

Maybe all this dread about coming home is silly. I mean, so my mom is dating Jett Powers, a man nine years younger than her who is supposed to be a genius and is to-die-for hot. Oh, and one other problem… I can’t stop fantasizing about him.

I settle into the soft leather seat, wondering if I’ll even see him that much.

If all the tabloids are even slightly true, the man is a workaholic who demands that everyone bow to him and do his bidding.

An egotistical asshole. Everything I despise, so why is my stomach doing flips at the mere thought of meeting him?

Because you need to get laid.

I acknowledged the truth that I hated my mother… and that I wasn’t having sex until I found a man who was kind and good.

So here I am. Nineteen and still a virgin.

Not only do I have to spend my summer with the very woman I despise, but there’s the uncomfortable fact that she is now engaged to Jett Powers.

Yeah, not happy. Not happy at all.

I take a deep breath as my mind goes to the infamous Jett Powers. He’s considered a god in the news. I’ve been tossing around the idea of pursuing environmental or constitutional law. So I’ve heard his name a lot. He’s fearless and confident. One of my professors even used the term legend to describe him. Whatever, so he’s a master at convincing people.

He’s still human, with flaws, big ones if he’s marrying my mother. I take a deep breath and try to slow down my racing pulse. This has to be nerves and curiosity, nothing more.

I’m making this a way bigger deal, honestly. If I see the man at all, it will be in passing.

I cross my leg and toss my giant bag to the floor. Smirking, I muse that he’s probably short, with hair plugs and a flabby gut that his expensive suits have to cover.

Turning, I smile reassuringly at Maria while she puts on her seat belt. Great, she’s still frowning, and suddenly I shiver, and it’s not because of the air conditioner.

Maria seems worried. That’s never a good sign. Fantastic. All the energy I’ve put

forehead. She smiles up at me and places her hands on my chest.

“I’m sweaty, my love,” I state and move away. “Make yourself at home, Raven.” I walk out, drinking my water, my eyes doing one more head-to-toe appraisal as I pass.

I’ll rub one out in the shower, and all thoughts of Raven will be gone. As soon as I come, I won’t even remember that she’s going to be living with me alone, for days…

Yeah, I won’t remember that at all

I can’t. I have to tell him. I go to open my mouth, but a voice stops me. My body freezes because, no!

Not him.

He can’t possibly have seen this.

“I don’t know who the fuck you are, but get your pathetic face out of Raven’s cunt.”

Instead, I walk us into my shower, push her against the glass wall, the water spilling down on us, and lower myself to eat her cunt.

to my mother. So screw it—you only live once. And Mr. Jett Powers has a giant cock, a magical tongue, and muscular, porn-star arms.

“Raven?” His demanding voice makes my nipples instantly harden.

With a deep breath, I take the plunge.

“No. I’m perfect, Mr. Powers,” I respond, straightening my shoulders. Good thing I don’t believe in hell. Clearly, I’m a sinner.

“Good. I’ll see you soon.” The line goes dead, and my legs almost give out.

into convincing myself that I’m being ridiculous evaporates.

“What’s wrong?” I reach for her hand. This dread I’m having is exhausting, and my head is pounding.

“You just stay in your room and study, okay?” Her voice sounds harsh as she squeezes my hand back.

Okay, this is absurd. I’m a grown woman. I refuse to be any more uncomfortable than I already am.

I clear my throat and recross my legs, preparing to tell Maria that it’s summertime and I’m not spending two-and-a-half months hiding in a room.

Instead, I squeeze her hand back, smile, and say, “Of course. Trust me, Maria, no one will even know I’m there.”

I fucking love my job.

So I told them until I get a hard-on at the thought of running for office, like I do every time I step into a courtroom, I’ll go to my grave as a defense attorney.

“I didn’t have time to let you know my schedule. My main focus is Jett and my career now.” Rachel’s voice goes up a notch, causing me to grit my teeth. I guess along with water, I should take some Advil.

A loud snort and a bored “Thanks, Mom” makes me stop right at the entrance. Christ, the daughter. I forgot about her.

“Oh please, you’re fucking nineteen. My job is done. Did you expect me to lie to you?”

“Well, since that’s what you usually do…” I can’t help but smirk at the sass coming out of the daughter’s mouth. Not that I blame her. Fucking snakes make better mothers than Rachel.

“Knock it off, Raven. I will not let you ruin things for me. Now go get dressed. Jett should be back—”

“Ruin things for you?” the daughter interrupts, her voice raspy as if she just woke up and rolled out of bed. And that’s when my cock decides it’s time to wake up.

Perfect.

“Look, clearly I cramp your style. So why don’t you just buy me the apartment in Manhattan, I’ll go back to New York now, and it will be like I was never here.”

Again, clever…

I adjust my erection to the other side before I enter, my headache completely forgotten, now replaced with a need to meet my future stepdaughter