Chapter 45 FORTY-FIVE
Brienne finished packing her belongings and sat down, waiting patiently for Raven to return. After a moment, she stepped out of Janice's room and saw Janice busy cooking in the kitchen. Unable to hold back her gratitude, Brienne walked over and hugged her friend from behind.
"Thank you for everything, Nice," Brienne said softly. Janice turned around with a warm smile.
"Are you sure you’re leaving? You know you can stay here as long as you need," she said, concern evident in her tone. Brienne shook her head firmly.
"I’ve made up my mind. I’m going with him," she replied. "You’ve already done so much for me, and I can’t keep relying on you," she added. Janice wrapped her arms around Brienne, returning the hug.
"Stop that, Bree. You know I’d do anything for you. That’s what friends are for, remember?" she said, her voice light and comforting. Brienne chuckled, tears stinging her eyes.
"Still, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you. Thank you so much," she whispered. Janice gently tapped her back and smiled.
"You’re always welcome. I’ll let Sherry know about this later," she said, stepping back to continue cooking. "By the way, where’s Raven? Shouldn’t he be here by now?" she added. Brienne wiped her eyes and took a seat at the table.
"He went home to grab his things. He’ll come back soon to pick me up," she explained. Janice nodded her head.
"So, are you going back to his place?" she asked. Brienne hesitated before answering.
"Not yet. I told him I’m not ready for that, so for now, we’ll stay at the hotel he’s been staying in," she said. Janice gave her an encouraging smile.
"Take your time, Bree. You’re doing what’s best for you—and that’s what matters," Janice said. Brienne nodded, thankful that her friend understood.
Raven arrived just as dinner was about to begin, carrying takeout bags filled with food. He walked in, set the bags down, and gave Brienne a kiss on the forehead before taking a seat next to her.
"Nice, you cooked? I didn’t know. I'm sorry," Raven said, glancing at the dishes already on the table. Janice smiled and waved him off.
"It’s alright, Raven. No harm done—we’ll have plenty to eat," she said warmly.
"Yeah, don’t worry about it! I can eat half of this on my own," Sherry chimed in with a grin, making everyone laugh because they all knew she had a famously big appetite.
"Alright then, let’s dig in," Janice said, gesturing for everyone to start.
The group sat together, talking and laughing as they enjoyed the meal. They shared stories, teased each other, and savored the food. An hour and a half passed in the blink of an eye, leaving them all full and content.
As they finished, Brienne looked around the table. She knew she’d miss these moments with the friends who had supported her through so much.
"Take care, alright?" Janice said, standing by the door with Sherry. Her expression was a mix of happiness and sadness.
"Thank you, Janice and Sherry, for everything," Brienne replied with gratitude as Raven carried her luggage by her side.
"Janice, Sherry, I can’t thank you enough for looking after Brienne. I owe you both so much," Raven said sincerely, resting his hand gently on Brienne's waist.
"You’re welcome," Janice replied with a smile, though her eyes hinted at the emotions she was holding back. She turned to Brienne, pouting playfully. "I'm going to miss you at the office, though," she said, referring to Brienne's maternity leave. Brienne chuckled softly.
"I’ll still visit after work hours. The hotel isn’t far, right, Raven?" She looked up at him. Raven nodded his head.
"That’s right. I can bring Brienne here whenever you want to hang out," he offered with a kind smile.
"Perfect," Janice said, beaming. Then, with a teasing grin, she added, "Now hurry up and get going. It’s getting late, and it’s not good for my godchild," she added. Brienne laughed softly, her hand instinctively resting on her belly.
"Thanks again, both of you," she said, waving as she and Raven walked toward his car. Janice and Sherry stood in the doorway, waving back until they were out of sight.
Raven pulled the car to a stop in front of the hotel, quickly stepping out to open the door for Brienne. He then retrieved her luggage from the trunk, handing his car keys to the valet. Holding her hand, they walked into the hotel together.
"Are you okay, darling?" Raven asked once they entered their room. He placed her luggage by the corner and turned to her.
"I'm fine," Brienne replied softly.
"Are you sleepy?" he asked, guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed.
"Not really," she admitted, her lips forming a slight pout. Raven smiled, cupping her face in his hands as he leaned closer. His voice dropped to a tender whisper.
"Then... may I kiss you?" he asked.
Brienne's breath hitched, her cheeks flushing with warmth at his question. Her heart raced, but she gave a small nod, unable to form words. Raven leaned in, his lips gently capturing hers in a soft, loving kiss.
The moment lingered, filled with tenderness and unspoken feelings. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a promise, a quiet reminder of the love they shared. When they pulled away, Brienne looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide.
"You're so beautiful," Raven murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "Let's sleep," he whispered and turned away. Raven clenched his hand into a fist, controlling his urge to take Brienne, but Brienne had another plan in her mind.
"Raven," Brienne softly called, bringing him to a halt. When he turned to face her, she leaned in and kissed him, this time with more intensity and urgency.
"Darling, wait," Raven whispered, his voice strained with restraint. "I don't want to hurt you. We... we don't know if it's safe now that you're pregnant," he added, but his resolve began to waver as Brienne slipped off her top, revealing her figure.
"It's fine," Brienne said, her voice steady yet filled with desire.
"How... how can you be so sure?" Raven asked, his voice thick as he took in the sight before him. He couldn't help but notice how her body had changed—her breasts fuller and more enticing than before. He swallowed hard, cursing under his breath.
"Damn it," he muttered before removing his shirt, unable to resist any longer. Raven pulled her gently into his arms, kissing her deeply. He laid her down carefully on the bed, his hands moving to explore her sensitive skin. His fingers grazed her breasts, and he teased her nipples lightly.
"Ahhh," Brienne moaned softly, her body responding immediately. Her nipples had become a sensitive spot for her.
"You like this?" Raven asked and sucked her nipples alternately.
"Y-Yes!" Brienne answered and grabbed a handful of Raven's hair. Brienne's moans gave him the boost. Raven could feel himself getting harder, but he had to do it carefully as he didn't want to hurt Brienne and their child.
"D-Darling...more," Brienne moaned. Raven froze, gazing at the lust-clouded Brienne.
"Fcking beautiful," he whispered. "And fcking mine. All mine. I love you, darling," Raven added.
"Y-Yours..." Brienne said. Raven smirked and took her underwear off. He then thrusts a finger into her, causing her to gasp in delight.
"Ohhh," she moaned, and yet Raven did not stop. He leaned and licked her pussy. The room was filled with moans and grunts. Raven took his underwear off and positioned himself. He intertwined their fingers and thrust himself inside of her.
"Fck!" Raven exclaimed as Brienne continued moaning his name.
"I'm almost t-there," Brienne gasped, her voice trembling with pleasure. A wave of intense delight surged through her as Raven moved within her, his movements deep and rhythmic. The pressure building inside her reached its peak, and with a cry of ecstasy, she let go, her body quivering as the sensation washed over her.
"Me too, darling," Raven groaned, and with one final thrust, he released himself inside her. Both of them lay panting heavily, their bodies still trembling from the intensity of their shared moment.
After catching his breath, Raven got up, grabbed a tissue, and gently cleaned Brienne before settling down beside her. Pulling her close, he wrapped her in his arms, holding her as though she was his entire world.
"I love you," he whispered softly, his voice full of sincerity.
"I love you," Brienne whispered back, her eyes fluttering closed. Once again, Raven froze, her words sinking in deeply. When the realization hit, he chuckled.
"You really like giving me heart attacks, don’t you?" He chuckled, his heart pounding loudly in his chest.
Brienne chuckled quietly, the sound light and carefree. She rested against him, unaware of how her words had affected Raven. In that moment, everything felt right. Their hearts were fully aligned, their love finally spoken and deeply felt.