Kidnapping His Bride

Chapter Nine

“All right,” Cat whispered, her expression softening after he pulled away from the kiss. She swayed toward him, feeling dizzy from his heady words. She couldn’t believe he admitted that. Wanted so badly to believe he meant what he said.

Did he? Would they spend the next few days together, cocooned in such delicious intimacy that the outside world couldn’t invade their happiness? Only for him to ditch her the moment she returned to Italy?

Steeling her spine, she stood straight, pushing all worry from her mind. She was tired of living in fear. Tired of living in the simple, boring little bubble of her life. To get what she wanted, she had to grab hold of it and never let go.

She needed to grab hold of Rafe and show him just how much she wanted, needed him in her life.

Without a word, he grabbed her, swept her into his strong arms, making her gasp in surprise. He strode down the hall, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable as she stared up at him. Her arms were looped around his neck, his hands gripped her backside, and she almost felt like a bride on her wedding night, just about to be carried over the threshold.

Did newly married couples still do that sort of thing? Or were her thoughts as old fashioned as the marriage agreement that had been arranged oh-so many years ago?

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered as he walked into his bedroom, slowly setting her down on her feet. “And you’re mine.”

Chills swept over her skin at his possessive claim. She wanted to be his, in every sense of the word. But did he really want her like he promised? She still had her doubts…

“After tonight, you’ll belong to me.” He spoke very matter-of-factly as he pulled the dress up, exposing her panties, her breasts, until he was tugging the dress over her head and tossing it onto the floor. “Keep the shoes on, love. I’ve been fantasizing you wearing them and nothing else since you tried them on in the store.”

A bolt of lust moved through her, settling warm and damp between her thighs. The man could look at her, say a few choice words, and she would let him do whatever he wanted to her, no questions asked.

It was almost frightening, the power he held over her.

“Climb onto the bed,” he said, his voice edged with heat.

She did as he asked, propping herself on the mountain of pillows, feeling sexy in just her skimpy white lace panties and the nude platform stilettos. She spread her legs, braced her heels into the mattress and his eyes widened as he drank her in.

“That pose would be perfect if you weren’t wearing the panties,” he said darkly, his gaze dropping to said scrap of fabric, staring at her as if he could see right through them.

Shyness crept in, making her snap her legs back closed, but he reached out, his hand lightning fast and settling on her knee, slowly pulling her leg back.

“Rafe…”

“Don’t be embarrassed, Kitty Cat.” He kissed her, his hand moving to her breast, his thumb caressing her nipple. “Do you know how fucking gorgeous you look, half-naked and sprawled across my bed? I’ve dreamed of this, you know.”

He spoke so plainly. There was no pretense, no wondering where she stood or what he wanted from her. What he thought of her. She hadn’t a clue how relationships worked, how men and women really talked to each other. Her parents were a terrible example. Her sister was essentially dateless. Annalisa didn’t spend much time with the few friends she had anymore, always too busy either working or tending to her mother.

So her expectations when it came to Rafe, to any man, were impossible to dictate. It was a mystery for her to figure out—and more than anything, a mystery that left her woefully confused and insecure. She didn’t want to mess up this tentative connection they shared.

“What’s going through that pretty head of yours?”

She snapped her gaze up to his face, her insides going loose and hot when she saw he was unbuttoning his shirt. How she wished she were the one doing that. Her fingers literally itched to brush against his skin, explore all of those firm, hard muscles. Lick them. Nibble them. “Do you want the truth?”

“Always.” He shed the shirt, letting it flutter to the ground, and she gaped like an idiot. His chest was smooth, olive skin stretched over finely sculpted muscle. He was beautifully built, trim and lean. Confirming her earlier thoughts that he was lickable.

Definitely lickable.

“I was thinking how much I like it when you talk to me like that,” she admitted softly.

He tilted his head. His gaze dark, his smile wicked. “I can do it again if you want.”

“Really?” Her mouth went dry when his hands went to the waistband of his dark rinse jeans, undoing the buttons one by one. Shedding them with a simple push, revealing black boxer briefs that clung to powerful thighs…

And a rather impressive erection that strained against the thin cotton.

“What would you like to hear, my sweet little Kitty Cat?” He crawled onto the bed and she slid over, making room for him, a shuddering breath leaving her when he moved over her, his hot flesh pressing against hers, pushing her into the soft mattress. “How insanely sexy you look wearing those shoes? How I wish I could see through your panties?”

A laugh escaped her when he dove in, his mouth on her neck, raining wet kisses all over her skin. “I knew you were trying to see through them.”

“I wish you weren’t wearing any at all.” His hand drifted, down the slope of her belly, lower, toying with the waistband of her underwear. “Of course, this adds a hint of mystery, so I suppose I shouldn’t mind.”