Page 19

“Let go, Rafe.” I try to yank my hand away but he tightens his grip and tugs me down the hall and into another room.

Once we are inside and the door is closed, Rafe turns to me. “Finally, I have you all to myself.” He stalks forward, and I take the same number of steps back—until my spine hits the wall. He stops suddenly. “Are you afraid of me, Lyric?”

“No.” I straighten my back and glare at him, but it’s a struggle because what I really want to do is kiss the crap out of his sinful mouth. “What do you want, Rafe? I already told you to go home. I don’t want you here.”

He chuckles, but his eyes never leave my face. “But do you really want me to go, K-pop?” Before I let out a huff of irritation, Rafe presses his entire body against mine. “You might not want me here, but I can feel that your dick does.”

Damn my traitorous dick. I turn my head before Rafe plants a kiss on my lips. “My dick might want you, but it doesn’t always get what it wants. Now back off me, Rafe, before you lose yours.”

“But, baby,” he says, pressing tighter to me for just a second before he quickly pulls back and spins me around. He then pins my arms to my back while he pushes me forward until my front is plastered to the wall. “I know how you like to be fucked hard while you’re pressed against the wall. I just wish I had brought my ropes to bind your arms.”

“I can’t,” I whimper, but my body is already submitting to his dominating words. I become pliant as the familiar, heady buzz Rafe’s nearness always elicits sizzles through my body. I turn my head and find his lips waiting for me. Without hesitation, Rafe captures my lips in a bruising kiss, and I open without complaint.

As he grinds against my ass, I move my hips, rutting my own stiff dick against the wall.

God, do I want this? Do I want him? Hell yes. Yet, do I need Rafe—especially when I’ve been trying to ween myself off the euphoria he always puts me in whenever he touches me?

No.

One look from this man and he calms me. But it doesn’t matter if Rafe settles my mind, tamps down the chaotic whirlwind of thoughts and feelings that flows constantly through my head, because he also riles me up until I feel like a disturbed hornets’ nest. I’m on edge whenever he’s around.

Rafe’s a contradiction, and he’s everything I don’t want in my life. There’s enough turmoil going on. I don’t need him adding more disorder to my life.

“Lyric.” Rafe slowly turns me back around and cups my face. “Look at me.”

I don’t want to, but I can’t help but stare into his dark blue eyes and melt. “What?”

“Are you saying no because your friends are in the next room and they can hear us? Or are you saying no because you truly don’t want me?”

Why does he have to be so gentle right now?

I want to lie and tell him that I don’t want him, but I’ve long suspected that Rafe can see through my falsehoods. Therefore, I phrase my answer very carefully, so that it’s only a partial lie. “As much as I want you, Rafe, what we have between us won’t work. I told you from the beginning that all I want is a hook up, nothing more.”

Rafe drops his hand and steps away. “Why do you think I’m here? Besides finding out why you didn’t say goodbye to me.” Rafe’s admission throws me, because I’m not sure whether he’s joking or not. No one flies all this way for a booty call. But as I stare at his face, there’s no smile that conveys that he’s jesting with me.

“Are you serious?”

“Why is that so hard to perceive?”

“Well, yes.” I can feel my composure cracking. He can be so frustrating. I take a breath and continue. “Rafe, I can’t be your booty call. And I already told you the reason why I left without saying goodbye, so let’s move on from that subject, please. As for being your tour guide, l have commitments here. Find someone else and then go back to the States.”

“Are you saying you are moving back to Korea for good?” One thick brow rises. “What about the band?”

“I don’t know, but now I’m here to take care of my grandmother,” I admit honestly.

“Grandmother? I like to meet her⁠—”

“You can’t,” I cut him off fast.

“Okay. Then how about a quick fuck for the road?”

I don’t think twice and push the bastard away from me. “Fuck off, Rafe. Leave.” I point to the door. “I can’t believe I let you touch me.”

Rafe raises his hands in surrender. “What did I say wrong?” There’s hurt in his eyes.

Good.

“Really? You’re such a bastard for asking me that. We aren’t fucking around.” I curl my arms around my chest and turn away from him. If he won’t leave, then I will.