Until then, he’d show her.
Threading his fingers through her hair gently, he kissed her forehead. She sighed when his lips met her skin. Rafe almost did too. He was starved for her touch and wanted to wrap himself around her. But it was more important that he not scare her. He had to show her that he could be gentle and take care of her.
“When I saw him with his hands around your neck, my heart almost stopped beating,” he whispered before he kissed her again, on her cheek this time.
Diana angled her head slightly to allow him better access, but he tightened his fingers in her hair. He didn’t want her moving too much and hurting her neck.
“Shh. Easy, sweetheart. Just let me hold you. I need to feel that you’re okay. Need to feel you here with me.”
Rafe knew he was rambling and probably sounded like an idiot, but he didn’t even care. Because everything he was saying was true. He’d almost lost her today, and if he had, his heart would have been as good as gone. Now that he knew what it was like to love someone, he couldn’t imagine going back to his prior cold, hard existence.
“I’m so sorry,” Diana mumbled. “You could have been killed because of me.”
Rafe snorted at the idea. “They aren’t a threat to me, but they are a threat to you. And I’m going to make sure they never get anywhere near you again.” It wasn’t bravado that made Rafe so certain. It was simple observation. If those goons were anywhere near his level, they wouldn’t have had to recruit a woman to do their dirty work for them.
He didn’t even want to think of what they might have on her to force her to take a job like that. Did she owe money? He cursed. He could only hope they hadn’t kidnapped one of her kids or her parents.
“Sweetheart, how did those guys force you to work for them? They didn’t take your baby hostage or anything, right? Because if they did, I’ll go and get him for you. Hell, Noah and his whole team will suit up if necessary.”
Diana’s eyes shone as she looked up at him. “It’s nothing like that. I don’t have any children, and my family… my whole family is gone now. I’m all alone.” Tears welled in her eyes and spilled over. “I don’t have anyone.”
Moved beyond words, Rafe cradled her closer. “That’s not true. You have me, and I’d die before I ever let anyone hurt you. I’m in love with you, Diana.”
Rafe kissed her, allowing his lips to dance gently over hers.
Diana clung to him, her fingers digging into his biceps. “You can’t love me.” She sobbed. “You don’t even know who I am.”
He moved closer, kissing her the whole time. “I know enough. I know how I feel when I’m with you. And I know I’ve never felt like this before.”
Diana moaned softly as he put a hand on her back, right below the hem of her shirt. Rafe slid his fingers over the warm, soft skin bared to his touch. He could never get enough of this. She was perfect for him.
“Don’t kick me in the balls this time,” he warned teasingly.
She smiled against his lips. “I really am sorry about that. I’m rather fond of those, actually.”
He pressed against her and was rewarded with a soft moan. “I can tell. I’m fond of every single part of you. Especially these.” He cupped her breasts gently, squeezing them in his palms.
Rafe growled as her hands tightened on his shoulders. He loved the way she felt in his arms, her fingers trailing over his back. His eyes closed at the sensation. He could never get enough of her touch.
She lay back on the bed, and Rafe crawled over her. Then before they could get too carried away, he got up and locked the bedroom door. If Matthias or Jonas walked this way and got a glimpse of her naked, he’d be forced to hunt them down. That was the last thing he needed, especially when he was so on edge. They were just starting to forgive him for the misunderstanding when he’d tried to kill them before.
Diana pulled her sweater off, revealing her bare breasts. The leggings he’d put on her before they left were quickly pushed down and kicked to the side. Rafe didn’t waste any time getting out of his clothes either. There was a part of him that was desperate for her, that wanted to bind her to him before she figured out what a bad bet he was. No matter what she’d fallen into recently, Diana was a sweet girl at heart. Her inno
cence shone out of her like a beacon, tempting the darkest parts of Rafe to ravage and consume. He wanted to eat her up.
So he would. Why deny himself?
He settled between her legs, and her thighs fell open to welcome him. When he licked her little clit poking eagerly out of her folds, Diana sighed and squirmed beneath him. Her fingers tangled in his hair as he licked and sucked her to her first screaming orgasm. She’d barely had time to catch her breath before he was working to get her to number two.
“Oh my God, Rafe. That was too fast.” Diana panted.
“No such thing as too fast when I want you this much, sweetheart. Plus it just means I get to do it again.”
She laughed heartily when his head dipped and he went back to work. By the time she was squirming beneath him again, he was hard as a rock and leaking all over the bedsheets. He rolled on a condom and sank down on top of her, savoring the feel of warm skin against warm skin. When he came down on top of her fully, her breasts were presented to him like ripe fruit. He took a nipple between his lips and tugged lightly. She rewarded him with a throaty moan.
At the same time, he slid into her, growling as she instantly clamped down on him.
“Fuck, Diana. You’re always so damn tight.” The firm clasp of her pussy held him lovingly, her spasming muscles massaging every inch of his cock.