Turns out, the price tag was higher than I expected, but here I have him, and I’m not even kissing him. What a waste. Rafe is such a good kisser.
Swaying forward until my torso is resting against him, I loop my arms around his neck, lean my head on his shoulder, and start dancing with him. There’s no music playing, but I put some on in my head. He’s so warm. So strong. I love the way his skin feels.
I want to feel more of his skin. I want to feel it everywhere, all over me. I want to taste him.
Arousal stirs at the thought of my lips across his skin, at the memory of his eyes, sparkling with fondness.
Mine. All mine.
Still sort of dancing against him, I start kissing my way across his pecs. His nipple is just right there, so I open my mouth and swirl my tongue around it, sucking, then flicking it with my tongue. I mean to move my attention to the other nipple, but God, his abdomen. I want to kiss all down his abdomen, so I do. Every inch of him is so sexy. Even his hips are sexy.
“I used to dream about you all the time,” I tell him, sinking to my knees so I can reach him better.
“Yeah?” he murmurs, one corner of his mouth tugged up. “I bet that was better than the reality, huh?”
I shake my head. “No. I mean, in some ways, sure, because it was a dream. But that wasn’t real. You’re my dream come true. You’re real, and real is better than perfect. I just wish you’d be my friend again, like before you found those stupid tapes. Love isn’t magic; it’s compatibility and chemistry and friendship, it’s honesty and communication. We’re good at all that. We could still love each other, but you won’t let us. And you’re probably doing all sorts of things so I won’t be able to love you anymore.”
Oh, shit, I forgot about that. Abandoning the trail of kisses, I sink to the floor, then lie back and stretch my arms out. “I don’t know why you can’t just let me love you. I’d do such a good job at it. I do a good job at everything. I’m very good at things, you know.”
Sounding vaguely amused, Rafe comes over to peel me off the floor. Once I’m sitting, he slides his arms beneath my body and lifts me up in his arms bridal style, like I weigh nothing.
“Wow, I’m impressed,” I tell him.
“I’m bound to impress you once in a while. Statistically, it’s bound to happen.”
“You impress me plenty,” I assure him, as he deposits me on the bed. Before he can move away from it, I grab his arm and pull him toward me. “Don’t leave tonight. Please. Stay with me. I want you to cuddle with me like you did when you liked me.”
“I still like you,” he informs me. I know I’m not pulling very hard, but he climbs on the bed anyway. “I’ll stay.”
That lightens my load plenty. I tunnel under the bedspread and so does he. He didn’t bother turning the light on when we came in, and he kicked his pants off at some point, so we’re both ready for bed and nearly skin to skin. I’m only wearing a white lace bra and panty set, and he’s not wearing anything.
I scoot over and snuggle close to him, pleasure wrapping around me like a warm blanket. Then his arms wrap around me and he pulls me against his body. Peace washes over me. We could have this all the time, if only he would let us. I would fight his demons with him, if only he would let me.
“You don’t have to be a perfect husband,” I tell him, with my eyes closed. “I don’t expect that. I know you won’t always do the right thing and that’s fine. You’re human, and you never even wanted this. Just don’t cheat on me. Please don’t cheat on me. And if you already have this week, please don’t let me find out, because I won’t be able to forget, and I won’t be able to get past it, and I won’t be able to love you anymore….” I trail off, too sad to continue.
“Hey,” he says, his tone so fierce, I open my eyes just in time to see his hand coming to cradle my face. “I have not cheated on you. I haven’t, and I won’t. I told you, I had to work.”
“I know, but… you don’t even want to fuck me, so it stands to reason—”
Now his hand slides over to cover my mouth and he shakes his head. “No.” Shifting his hand, he drags his thumb across my lower lip. “The only lips I want to kiss are yours.” Dragging his hand down my body until it’s between my legs, he cups me in the palm of his hand. “The only pussy I want to fuck is this one. I am not going to be unfaithful to you, Virginia. I promise.”
“You make such good promises,” I tell him, caressing his face. “But you’re dreadfully bad at keeping them.”
Rafe shakes his head. “Not this one. I won’t do that to you. I’ve had plenty of random pussy in my time. I know what else is out there. No one can give me what you give me. No one compares to you.”
I smile, burrowing my face into his shoulder. “I like all the words you’re saying.”
“Yeah?” he murmurs, his lips lightly brushing my neck.
I nod g
ingerly, dragging my nails down his back.
“Then how about we put my mouth to even better use,” he suggests.
“Mm, I like the sound of that.”
40