Raven

Raven woke with a searing headache, her whole body also ached she could not move without causing herself more discomfort. She felt so tired.

She hadn't even opened her eyes yet when she had heard Angelo's deep melodious voice, it soothed her. She could feel at ease around him and that felt amazing and scary at the same time.

She strained to listen to his words, he was calling her beautiful. Then she heard his phone ring and the sharp noise made her frown, she turned and cocooned herself in the warm duvet. Only then did it hit her, she was in his bed. The masculine cedar and leather smell surrounded her.

The duvet that she had cocooned herself in her was larger and bouncier than her own and her own vanilla scent was missing.

She felt the bed dip and realized he had stood up to answer his phone, straining her ears again she heard a small click.

Realizing he had left her and closed the door, she sat up quickly. Too quickly, she groaned. Her body protested against her movements and her head spun.

She glanced around the room, this was defiantly Angelo's bedroom, the furniture was dark wood, and had no feeling of home. It was nothing like her tiny apartment, which was packed with paint brushes and piles of clothing everywhere. Here everything had a place.

She was not usually messy, but she often lost herself in a project resulting in a chaotic home environment. Everything in Angelo's room had a place, even the aftershave labels faced forward.

She grinned, she wanted to turn the labels facing them the other way to mess them up in his room to see how he would react.

She looked down and she wore a large black Hadley t-shirt. She glanced at the door before lifting it up and sniffing the collar.

"Oh, dear." She murmured to herself.

She couldn't afford to be swept up by Angelo. He had his world and she should remain in hers she thought.

She untucked her legs from the comfortable duvet and they landed on the soft carpeted floor. She looked around for her clothes.

Finding nothing she cursed, "Fine then, I am borrowing all your clothes, Mr Russo."

Her first few steps were slightly wobbly, but she took her time and approached a set of doors. She picked the door on the left and thankfully found the bathroom. She used the facilities and then glanced in the mirror as she washed her hands.

"God I am a mess. How can he call me beautiful?" She shook her head and opened the drawers. She borrowed an unused toothbrush to brush her teeth. Then she found a hairbrush and she used it on her unruly wavy locks.

As happy with her appearance as she could get she left the bathroom and opened the next door, it was as she thought. It was his closet.

One side was empty and the other with filled with grey and black men's clothing. He had rows of suits and trousers hanging but she couldn't see any casual clothes. She opened a drawer and found his underwear first.

She took a pair of unopened black boxer shorts and black socks. She closed the drawer and opened the next one.

"Bingo." She said with a smile.

The drawer had casual t-shirts and joggers. Although he was much taller than her own five foot two frame she took out a black pair of joggers. They were incredibly soft against her skin. She still felt tired and sore, she could easily cuddle up in his clothes and watch a movie marathon right now only that couldn't happen.

She rolled up the top of his joggers and left the closet. Coming out of his closet she looked around, the coast was clear.

Now back in his bedroom she had nowhere else to go but out the double bedroom doors and face Angelo.

She stood at the double doors and took a deep breath before opening them. Angelo had his wide back to her and he was still on the phone as he turned to her he put his phone away.

He wore a black shirt with the top two buttons open and black tailored trousers, he was even more handsome than she remembered. They were teenagers the last time they met, but now a man stood before her. She didn't know how to act around him anymore as the innocence of youth was now gone and life had now shaped both of them.

They were now basically strangers.

To try and keep some distance from him she used his name, "Mr Russo I…"

Angelo rushed to her and engulfed her in a tight hug before scooping her up and placing her across his lap on the large leather sofa.

Nervously she sat on his knee, "Mr Russo…"

Again he stopped her words, "Yes, la mia alba our last name is Russo, or will be soon. But I would prefer you to call me by an endearment as I do."

She was speechless.