My heart ricochets around my chest as I cut her off. “You want me so much, you’re willing to share me?”
She openly flinches before nodding. “I told you, Rafe. I’myours.”
My palm creeps around to the nape of her neck as I stare intently into her eyes, and when I finally speak, it’s low and dangerous. “Youaremine,Stellina. I want you more than I need air to fucking breathe. And I wouldnevershare you with another soul…”
I trail off, my eyes flitting between hers and over the contours of her face before I close the gap to press a chaste kiss to her lips.
“But I’m not marrying her. You can believe me when I say, I’ve beenyourssince the moment our eyes met.”
She gasps as her fingertips skim along my jawline, touching me as though she can’t really believe what she’s hearing.
“I’ve known from the first time I saw you on that balcony in Vermont. The stars aligned, and our worlds collided. It doesn’t matter what came before tonight, becausethis…you and me,us, right here and now, was as inevitable as the changing from night to day.”
ELODIE
My breath catchesin my throat, and blood rushes through my veins as Rafe murmurs against my lips. “I am yours and yours alone, Elodie Rivers. And someday, when the time is right, I will make you my motherfucking queen, for all the world to see.”
Euphoria overtakes my entire body when I wrap my arms around Rafe’s neck, pulling him close to cover his lips with mine. He stiffens, his hands moving from the nape of my neck to rest lightly on my shoulders, keeping me at a distance.
He groans huskily when I run the tip of my tongue along the seam of his lips, over and back teasingly, until he opens his mouth, giving me what I so desperately need.
What Ineedin order to wash away the stain of this night. What Ineedto reaffirm he still feels the same about me. That he still wants me as badly as I want him.
Our tongues dance together, slowly and sensually, until I’m squirming on the countertop.
Rafe pushes back suddenly, gasping for air as though he’s run a marathon. “We need to stop,bedda mia.”
I reach up, palming his cheek as my forehead creases in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
He sighs when he tips my chin up with his index finger, his thumb brushing across my lower lip as his eyes watch the action. “Tonight was traumatic, but I don’t think I can hold myself back if we?—”
“I don’twantyou to hold back any longer.” I tilt my head to one side, shaking it once. “Tonight could have ended very differently. At one point, I thought I’d never see you again, let alone feel your skin against mine.”
He swallows roughly, his eyes flicking between mine. “I don’t?—”
I silence him when I press my index and middle finger to his lips. His forehead creases as he regards me with concerned eyes, and I worship him all the more for it, even as his restraint frustrates me to no end.
“I need you to touch me. To take away the memory of this wretched night. To negate the feel of another man’s hands on my body.” His body bristles as I continue, my words pouring out of me like water from a broken dam.
“I need you to show me that I’m yours, Rafe. That despite everything that’s happened, or could have happened, you stillneed me as much as I need you. Words aren’t enough this time. I need…Ineed…”
I trail off as frustrated tears fill my eyes before he pushes my fingers from his lips. His jaw tics as his eyes darken so much that I can’t tell where his irises end and his pupils begin.
His voice is low and hoarse with raw emotion. “I’mterrifiedof hurting you, Elodie.”
My heart stutters as I swallow harshly, his words almost knocking the breath from my body. Rafe steps closer, his hips fitting between my legs when he grips my hair to tip my head back to meet his stormy gaze.
“I need you, Elodie. Sofuckingbadly. I don’t know if I can be gentle…”
He groans, his eyes flickering between mine as his tone takes on a desperation I feel in my bones.
“My bodycravesto be part of yours so intensely, my soulachesto be one with its other half…” He tips his head closer, his lips brushing over mine as he whispers softly. “My heart feels as though it’s finally awoken in the presence of its match, and the sheer force of how I feel for you scares theshitout of me.”
Having spoken words that are a direct line to my heart, my arms reach up practically of their own volition to wrap around his neck and pull his mouth to meet mine. We kiss frantically, tongues warring for dominance until Rafe’s hands drop from my face to rest on my thighs.
Strong thumbs move in languid circles that search higher and higher with each pass, and I press myself closer, my nipples brushing off his shirt deliciously. I moan into his mouth, and he pulls back slightly.
His eyes are dark pools that I would willingly drown inside when he brings his index finger to my wet pussy, slipping between the folds with a husky groan that makes me even wetter.
