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He laughed at the hopeful note in her voice. ‘You liked the bike, huh?’
She gave him a wicked grin. ‘I loved the bike. Especially when you did that corner thing where it dipped low.’
‘The lean-in.’ Setting his hands to her waist, he pulled her closer. ‘I love that you love my bike.’ He kissed her long and deep, making her body quicken.
Desire consumed her in a flame of need and she moan
ed, threading her fingers into his hair and flattening her body against his. Rafe made an indistinct sound that was somewhere between pain and pleasure, his hands on the sash of her robe. ‘If this goes any further we won’t make it out of the apartment.’
‘Oh, then we have to stop.’
Stepping back, Alexa retied the sash on her kimono and smoothed her hair.
Rafe shook his head. ‘Tossed aside for a hunk of metal. Nice to know.’
Alexa gave him a teasing smile. ‘It is a really big hunk of metal, though...’
He reached for her to give her a punishing kiss but she danced out of the way, laughing as he threatened retribution for her impudence.
* * *
Breakfast was as large and decadent as he’d promised and afterwards Alexa didn’t think she’d be able to eat for a week.
Rafe teased her for her measly attempt and hoovered up her remaining eggs and spinach as if he hadn’t just devoured a plate twice the size of hers.
The café he’d taken her to was warm and low-key, like she suspected he liked to live his life. Exactly the opposite to how she lived hers, which was all polished silver service and structured decorum.
Tossing money onto the table, Rafe took her hand and led her from the café as if they were just a normal London couple enjoying a springtime weekend on the town.
Throwing his leg over the big black bike, Rafe kicked the stand up and helped Alexa settle herself on the back, her body automatically moulding to his. He’d given her his leather jacket again and she curled her fingers into the over-long sleeves for extra warmth and tucked them against his stomach. The cool spring temperature wasn’t so bad with the visor covering her, but she didn’t really care about the cold anyway. She was just enjoying being with Rafe.
‘Where to now?’
‘I don’t know. You decide,’ she said, wrapping her arms around his waist as the bike moved off from the kerb.
Rafe was an exceptional driver, his movements smooth and confident as he navigated his way through the congested city streets. But then he was exceptional at most things. His business enterprises, his coffee-making—okay, that was mostly the machine, but still—his dancing, and most of all his love-making...
Hugging him tight, she stopped daydreaming and tuned into the world-famous landmarks that dotted the city. Rafe was clearly enjoying his new role as tour guide, but her attention was more on the man she was wrapped around than anything else.
Until the bike zipped past a relatively normal-looking building bursting with pedestrians and shoppers. Tapping him on the shoulder, Alexa indicated that she wanted him to stop and when she saw that it was a bustling market she clapped her hands with glee.
Ever since she was a young girl she’d been enthralled by the sights and scents of a busy market, loving the combination of old and new, and the anticipation that came with finding a hidden treasure. She still had the pair of lurid green sunglasses her father had once given in and purchased for her on a trip she had tagged along on and, much to Sol’s disgust, she’d worn them constantly for months afterwards.
Rafe groaned good-naturedly when he realised how keen she was to explore, swapping their helmets for two caps and tucking her hair out of the way.
‘Don’t make eye contact with anyone and don’t leave my side. I don’t feel like getting into a fight.’
Alexa rolled her eyes. They might have left their security detail behind for the day but she’d never felt safer—or happier. Shelving that unsettling thought, she rolled her eyes. ‘As if.’
‘Sweetheart, with those exotic green eyes of yours I’m almost tempted to keep you indoors.’
Alexa grinned at him; she couldn’t help it. ‘Compliments like that will get you kissed.’
‘In that case, you’re not only beautiful inside and out, but when you slid down my stomach earlier and put your mouth on—’
‘Rafe!’ Knowing exactly what he was about to say, Alexa laughed and reached up to kiss him. His mouth immediately turned hungry and desire coursed through her with unnerving force.
Moaning into his mouth, she extricated herself from his arms and stepped back. Being with him like this, so relaxed and natural, had a freeing effect on her. It was as if all her fears and inhibitions had been washed away and she didn’t have to worry about what the future might bring. It was just the two of them here and now.
