University Park Series Box Set: Books 1-3 (69 page)

My eyes filled with tears, but I swallowed
them back. “When you love someone, you’re willing to do whatever it takes to
help them, and that’s exactly what I did.”

“And for that, I’ll always be grateful.”
His eyes closed and he kissed me, softly, passionately, instilling so much love
within me that it shook me to my core. In that one kiss, he showed me how
thankful he was that I had stayed with him, through the heartache and all the
pain. His gazed stayed fixed on mine. “You look radiant, Lexi. Happy.”

“That’s because I am.” I laced my finger
around his neck, resting in the warmth of his embrace and feeling completely
secure. We swayed to the beat of the music, my dress rustling against his
tuxedo pants as the lights danced around us. Today was one of the best days of
my life. No questions asked.

“Good. I want to keep you that way
forever.” He nuzzled by neck and that familiar rush warmed my belly. The fire
that only Raven could light.

“That’s easy. All you need to do is love
me, stay loyal to me, and be there for me and the twins.”

“Then it’s a done deal,” he said with a
voice more confident than ever.

I narrowed my eyes. “So just like that,
you figured it all out?”

He turned me and then drew me close
again. “Yep. I finally figured out what it will take to keep you trapped
forever.”

I tilted my head to the side. “I hate to
break it to you, but I was caught in your trap a long time ago.”

“Really?” His head jutted back. “How
long?”

I pressed my lips together, thinking
back to the first time I knew he had me. “Since the day I met you outside the library
to help you with that Stephen Crane paper.”

His lips spread into a wide grin. “That
far back?” He rubbed the slight scruff on his chin. I had clearly struck his
ego. And tonight, I’d be stroking something else. “Damn, that was like the
third time we got together.”

 “I know.” I ran my fingers through the
sides of his hair, glad that I had convinced him to let it grow back. “You’re
quite the charmer, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“There’s only one woman I want to charm,
and that’s you.” With his lips a fraction away from mine, he said, “Lexi,
you’re my end and my beginning.”

A new nest of butterflies came to life
and I reveled in their reappearance. He knew how to make my heart take flight.
“Raven, as long as you are with me, there’s no place I’d rather be.”

He twirled me around and then dipped me.
With his eyes appraising all of me, he said, “And where’s that?”

My smiled emerged from the depths of my heart
and I handed it to him without any doubt. “Right here, in The Raven’s trap.”

Need more of
Lexi and Raven?

Read the story
from Raven’s point of view in

A Different Side

Born and raised in the United States of
America in the great state of Texas, CM Doporto resides there with her husband
and son, enjoying life with their extensive family along with their Chihuahua and
several fish. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, where she is
associated with the Young Adult Special Interest Chapter. To learn more about
her upcoming books, visit
www.cmdoporto.com
 
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Other Books by

CM Doporto

YOUNG ADULT

The Eslite Chronicles

The Eslites (short story prequel)

The Eslites, The Arrival

The Eslites, Out of This World (Summer
2015)

NEW ADULT

The Natalie Vega Saga

Element, Part 1

Element, Part 2

The University Park Series

Opposing Sides

The Same Side

The Winning Side

A Different Side (Summer 2015)

My Lucky Catch - Luke
and Delaney’s Story (Spring 2016)