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“All right. I’ll go downstairs and call Mark. Be right back.” He returned half an hour later. “Congratulations, we have a deal. About the furniture, you’ll have to buy them.”
“No way,” Arianna blurted. “They must come with the studio, or you can remove them,” she suggested boldly.
Greg gasped. “What would I do with it?”
“Sell it or throw it away. Not my problem, but I’m not paying a penny for used furniture. There are only three large pieces and a few small ones.”
Rafael suppressed a smile at her bargaining skills. Apparently, Arianna had learned a lot during her meeting at the bank.
“Come on, Greg. Arianna’s right. This furniture isn’t worth much. You’d better leave it and save yourself the headache of finding people to move it or buy it. Besides, by buying the studio right away, Arianna is saving you money on advertising and stopping you from wasting your time.”
Greg scratched his bearded chin, adjusted his glasses, and sighed. “All right, all right. When can we close?”
They spent the next hour polishing the details. After Greg left, Rafael lifted her and pirouetted. “Congratulations, babe. The place is yours. Well, officially yours next week.”
“Oh my God. I bought a condo. Oh my God, I have my own place now. Stay with me tonight, Rafael. I’m happy, but so nervous. I can use a massage.”
“I have a better idea. I’ll fill your bathtub. We’ll soak in it, share a drink, and toast your new condo, and then I’ll massage you, and do whatever else pleases you.”
She giggled and collapsed against his chest. “You’re the best, Rafael.”
“And you’re my one and only.” He grabbed a bottle of premixed whiskey sour and two plastic cups and dragged her into the bathroom. She opened the faucets, adjusted the temperature of the water, and threw in a packet of lavender bath salts, letting the bubbles form. Piling a few towels on a stool next to the bathtub, she reached for her blouse.
“May I?”
He peeled off her blouse, unhooked and removed her bra, and lowered her pants and thong.
“Wait, before you go in.”
He pulled her against him for a searing kiss, then he helped her climb into the bubbling water. After shedding his clothes, he poured two whiskey sours.
“Hold these.” He climbed in and sat behind her. Reaching around her, he took his glass and clinked it against hers. “Congratulations on the new condo. May you always feel safe and happy here.”
“With you beside me, Rafael.”
“Always, babe.” He set his glass on the ledge and massaged her neck and shoulders.
“So relaxing.”
Slowly, his hands glided to her chest and covered her breast, kneading and teasing their peaks as his lips nuzzled her throat and ear.
She sighed and moaned. “Love it.”
“How about a more intimate massage? The kind that makes us forget the world.”
His fingers traced a path along her belly and squeezed in between her legs, digging deeper, and gently rubbing. Her head fell back on his shoulder as he accelerated the pace of his strokes until she cried out his name. He turned her around and slowly lowered her on his erection. She wound her arms around his neck. Following his lead, she raised her hips, mimicking his pumping against her. Heat burned between them. He crushed her mouth with a scorching kiss, rubbing her nipples between his fingers. Soon the caressing and pumping had the lovers exploding in passion. He immediately lifted her away from him but kept her in his arms.
He heard her whisper, “Love you, Rafael.”
Startled, he answered, “Love you, Arianna.”
Her head felt heavy on his chest.
“Arianna.”
She’d fallen asleep, and the water had cooled. Had she been aware of her words?
He eased her away and gently shook her. “Let’s go to bed.” Supporting her shoulders, he climbed out and helped her out, wrapping her in a bath towel.
Half asleep, she dried herself and padded to the bed, collapsing on it. He rubbed himself dry and donned a pair of boxer shorts. After moving her under the cover, he lay next to her, gathering her against him, and reconsidered his theory ofno love, no commitment.
What should he call the urge to be with her, the incredible fire blazing between them, his continuous need to protect her, all these powerful feelings swirling in his heart?
But there were things about her he didn’t understand, missing pieces in the puzzle of her past, proof that she didn’t trust him enough yet.
