by Piper Stone
“Your mother’s influence is special,” I said quietly, turning my attention back to the ocean as I curled my legs under me. “Would you like some wine? I have a second glass.”
“It sounds like you were hoping that I’d join you.” He walked toward the small table, accepting the gesture and pouring a glass for himself.
“This is your house. Your rules.”
While he did sit down, the tension remained swelling within him. He’d placed his weapon in the small of his back, no doubt loaded with fresh ammunition clips in case anyone found us, including the police.
“Do you ever have a chance to relax?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
He pushed the glass from hand to hand, his gaze transfixed on the water. “Sometimes, but it’s always in the back of my mind: ways to leave the situation or make certain I have protection with me.”
“That’s a horrible way to live.”
“It’s the only way I’ve known my entire life. I don’t second guess my family or the rules my brothers and I had to live by. I live a good life in comparison to so many. How could I complain?”
“Because you’ll always have a target over your head.”
He smiled again, dropping and shaking his head. “That is true. More so now than ever.” He took a sip of the wine, closing his eyes and savoring as if it was the last taste he’d ever have.
We remained quiet, only the sound of the waves slicing against the shoreline.
“Can I ask you a question?” His tone was so tender, almost loving.
“Okay.” I bit my lip in anticipation.
“What did you do in the United States? You certainly know your way around weapons and criminal activity and I honestly doubt it’s all about your stepfather.”
I smiled, rolling my eyes. “Nothing so glamorous as an assassin, doctor, or lawyer if that’s what you’re thinking.” When he kept his eyes locked onto mine, I shivered, the same heated electricity searing every nerve ending. “Please don’t laugh.”
“I would never laugh at you.”
“I was a teacher. An elementary schoolteacher. Nothing glitzy and certainly nothing spectacular.”
He reached over, taking my hand into his. As he brought it to his lips, another shudder carved through my very muscle and bone. “That is amazing. Being a teacher is probably the most amazing and honorable profession there is. I respect that more than you know.”
Floored, I swallowed the same lump of trepidation I’d felt so many times. “It’s all I ever wanted to do. Coming here was... far too impetuous. I just wanted something different, if only for a little while.”
“Just amazing,” he said under his breath. “My mother was a teacher before she met my father.”
“Really?”
“I believe this is what they call a small world.”
“Is that why she wanted you to learn music and have an amazing education?”
His eyes twinkled as he rubbed his lips across my knuckles. Every move he made excited me. Every time he touched me, my pussy quivered and my nipples hardened. And every time he looked into my eyes, I swooned like some schoolgirl with a crush. Today was no different.
“Yes, and I did try and please her.” His smile was almost infectious, as if whatever memory had surfaced was one that he hadn’t experienced in a very long time. “I was once an obedient son.”
I felt deeply sorry for him, wishing I could help ease the burden. As if I knew what the hell a girl like me from South Carolina could do to aid a dangerous man like Rafael.
He eased back in the chair, taking several sips of wine.
“Did you find him, this Calleja?” I dared to ask the question.
“Not yet, but it’s just a matter of time.”
I shifted forward, planting my feet on the deck. “My guess is that you have soldiers everywhere, more so than police officers and I also guess that your tactics have no particular... rules. And you can’t find one man?”
“A man who does not want to be found can easily lose himself in a country of this nature. Besides, he is truly a mysterious stranger.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means he keeps to himself with few around him and enjoys wearing certain disguises.”
I thought about what he was saying. “You don’t know what he looks like.”
“Only to a point.” He swirled his wine before taking a huge gulp. “I have a terrible feeling that he is one of my father’s business associates.”
“More betrayal.”
“Yes, even more so for my father.”
He seemed more reflective than I was prepared for, a man who hungered for a way out.
“I don’t know how you do it,” I whispered.
“If you’re asking if I find the life difficult, I do on several levels. I’ve worked very hard to get to the point I could imagine taking over my father’s helm. I always thought that in doing so, I could make significant changes to the organization, relying less on brutal tactics and more on developing powerful friends. Now, I’m not so certain.”
“What happened?”
He reached over, placing his hand on my leg. “I’ve already told you, I’m not going to pull you into my world.”
“Then why am I even here and please don’t tell me that it’s all because of protecting me because you’re feeling guilty. If that’s it, then stick me on a plane back to the States. I’m certain my aunt would understand if I bailed.”
He sucked in his breath, putting his wine on the table then moving to a standing position, his body tensing as he leaned over the railing. “I can’t do that.”
“Why? There has to be a reason other than what I mentioned. There must be. Tell me. Let me in like you did before. What can I do to hurt you?”
The silence was horrible, only the waves creating echoes in my ears. A lump formed in my throat. I wanted so much to tell him how I felt. Actually, I wanted to scream it to the silent ocean, but what did it matter? He couldn’t care about me any more than I should care about him. We were not destined to be together.
“I know about your stepfather.”
I couldn’t comprehend the words, at least not at first. “What did you say?”
“I said,” he stated slowly, “that I know exactly the kind of monster your stepfather is and what he did to you.”
I was thrown, more so than the very day I found out my sister had been murdered. Murdered by the asshole who’d beaten my mother, a man who’d destroyed my life because of his alcohol abuse and his violence. I hadn’t realized I’d risen to my feet until I was swaying back and forth. The reality of his words from before were finally sinking in. “How. Dare. You.”
He turned his head further away, as if what I said didn’t matter.
“Are you fucking listening to me? I said, how dare you. You looked into my life, my private world. For what? To see what you could use against me? To make certain I wasn’t working with your enemy? What?” When he didn’t say anything, I lost it, tossing the wine in his direction. My God. The man didn’t even budge as the glass smashed against him, tumbling to the deck and breaking into a solid twenty pieces. He just didn’t give a shit.
My entire body shook from the sadness and rage, the horrible memories rushing to the surface. “My sister was the only good thing in my life. I thanked God every day my mother didn’t live to see that monster destroy her. My beautiful baby sister. My wonderful friend. Now, you use it against me? You are more of a monster than that pig could ever be.” I moved quickly toward the door, determined to stay the fuck away from him.
He snagged my wrist, yanking me back and into his arms, gripping the back of my head. “What that man did was a crime. He hurt you and your sister. He took from you what no man should ever be allowed to take.”
“You take from people all the time,” I hissed, struggling to get out of his hold.
“Not from women. Never from a woman. They are sacred. They are beautiful. They are life. You are life. You are amazing.”
“As if you care. I’m nothing to you. I was simply a night of freedom from those demons you have buried deep inside of you, the ones eating away at what’s left of your black soul.”
He snarled, his breathing ragged as his nostrils flared. “That is not true.”
“Then what is the truth? Can you even tell me any truths about your life? Or is it all a lie?”
“You want the truth?”
“Yes!”
“I love you. That’s the reason. If I could break your stepfather’s neck with my bare hands, I would. I would destroy all that he has for what he did to you.”
I was in shock, unable to take my eyes off his. The burning fire in them was different than when we’d shared such intense passion. The way his body shook, his mouth twisting in rage and despair was as beautiful as it was terrifying. “You can’t love me. You don’t know how to love.”
“You are the only woman I could ever care about. I will die to protect you. Do you hear me? I will choose. To. Die.”
“You love me?”
He took a deep breath, the intensity of the look in his eyes unlike anything I’d ever seen. “For good or bad, my sweet Savannah, I do. I am so sorry what happened to you. I want that man to die for his sins.”
Sins.
I was finished with the word. Love. That’s the word I wanted to concentrate on, even though I knew better. I was a big girl. What Rafael felt was short-lived. I’d be tossed away the moment he was out of immediate danger.
I shoved my fists against his chest. I didn’t want to hear his bullshit. I didn’t want to be used by anyone ever again. “You don’t know what he did to my family. You have no idea how he crushed the spirit of my sister. He was horrible. He was supposed to take care of us after our mother...” I didn’t realize that tears were spilling from my eyes until he pulled me against his chest.
“I will find a way to destroy him. I make you that promise.”
A huge part of me wanted nothing else than to have my stepfather crushed like the bug he was, but I wasn’t that kind of person. “You can’t do that.” I pushed hard against him again, trying desperately to yank back on my emotions.
“Why? You deserve revenge for what he did.”
He allowed me to ease away from him, even though all I wanted to do was to remain in his strong arms. Perhaps I was weak after all. “I wanted that too. I tried to do things the right way, accusing him of the crime. I even had evidence, but they didn’t believe me. He was too powerful, his friends protecting him. Then I thought about doing exactly what you are talking about. I had it all planned out. Then an angel intervened, my aunt. I knew if I didn’t come here that I would follow through with killing him. That’s not me, Rafael.” I glanced toward the ocean, the very last place I’d spend time with Lily before that horrible night.
“I’m so sorry. I am so very sorry.”
I pushed back even further, my nerves as rattled as my heart. “I’ve fallen in love with you, but I’m no fool. What we have will never be enough for you. No matter what your mother was and how she shaped you, at the end of the day, I’m just a schoolteacher from America. I don’t understand your ways or your business and in truth, I don’t want to.”
“You are truly the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. I can’t let you go. I can’t allow you out of my life and I won’t.”
There was such honesty and adoration in his voice that as had happened since the day we met, I fell into a spell that I was terrified I’d never be freed of. The moment he crushed his mouth over mine, pulling me tightly against his chest, I lost all my resolve. I wanted this man.
I craved this man.
I needed this man.
For absolution? Maybe.
For the passion I’d never felt before him? Absolutely.
For the love I so desperately wanted to experience? That I couldn’t answer.
He slipped his tongue past my lips as he brushed his hand down my back, cupping my buttocks and lifting me onto my toes. The taste of him was bittersweet, the wine and a hint of scotch driving me to the point of madness. I slipped my arms around his neck, weaving my fingers into his thick curls. The heat of his body was explosive, his heart beating in the same rapid manner as mine.
I heard the slight growl slipping past the kiss as his tongue dominated mine. He was so powerful yet capable of such gentleness, only at this moment, he would take what he wanted.
Claiming me as his own.
Every part of my body was on fire, my skin tingling from his rough touch. I could no longer breathe or even think clearly and in truth, I didn’t have any desire to remember the world or my life. I simply wanted this afternoon of sheer pleasure.
He tugged at my shorts, easing his hand under the thick waistband until he was able to caress my bottom. My pussy ached, longing to have him inside of me as I ground my hips against his. His cock was swollen, throbbing as if in desperate need of relief. As our tongues entwined, I seemed to be floating on air, my heart racing as I tried to catch my breath.
The moment he broke the connection, he cupped my face, rubbing his thumb back and forth across my cheek as he stared into my eyes. “I want you,” he growled before nipping my bottom lip, sucking on the tender tissue as he forced my shorts down my hips.
The wafting breeze as gravity took them to the floor was invigorating, the electricity we shared like bottle rockets. I tugged at his shirt, jerking until he allowed me to yank it over his head. We were crazed with desire, unable to think clearly.
The look on his face was utterly carnal as he jerked at the thin shirt I’d found, almost ripping it in two before managing to tug it over my head. He was a wild man, refusing to take no for an answer.
Rafael slid his hand around the back of my neck, his fingers digging in as he forced me back into a deep arc. The moment I felt his tongue sliding down from my lips to my neck, I moaned, closing my eyes as the dazzling sensations swept through every cell and vein.
I gripped his arm, wrapping my leg around his as he sucked on my neck, his teeth grazing over my pulse of life. He held me in position as he brushed his lips over my shoulder, rolling ever so slowly over my arm to my chest. I took scattered breaths, goosebumps popping along every inch of skin as he took his time dragging his rough tongue down a few centimeters at a time.
Nothing seemed real as he swirled his tongue around my nipple. Every move was in slow motion, every swipe of his tongue driving me closer to a state of bliss. I held on as if for dear life as he savored me like sweet candy, growling like a wild beast as he moved from one breast to the other.
“Oh. Yes. I...” A nervous laugh pushed past my lips as I allowed my hand to fall to his belt, trying desperately to unbuckle the thick brass. He refused to let me go, still feasting on my tender flesh.
When he bit down on my hardened bud, I couldn’t stop the series of moans as my entire body began to shake. I was lost to him, to this man who was far too dangerous to love, yet I did.
I loved him.
And...
He loved me.
The realization was riveting, amazing and I knew I could be the death of him. His enemy would never stop until Rafael was gone. I wasn’t certain I had the strength to watch that happen.
Whatever I’d been in my life had just changed forever. I was no longer the schoolteacher or the gallery worker. I was a woman who would forever be haunted by a man with no soul.
Love. What a dangerous concept.
He eased me to a standing position, the smile on his face carnal and savage. I knew he would ravage every inch of my body as he’d done before, only this time everything would be more intense.
My mind reeled as I fumbled to finish what I’d started, finally able to unfasten his belt, unzipping his dense jeans. When I was finally able to wrap my hand around his thick shaft, my heart raced from anticipation, my mouth watering.
He allowed me to slide the coarse fabric past his hips, slowly lowering it to the deck as I tugged his jeans all the way down. The scent
of him was breathtaking, filling my senses until I was almost drunk. The man had become a drug that I wasn’t certain I would ever recover from.
When the hindrance was gone, I rubbed my hands along the insides of his legs, marveling in the feel of his muscles. Even his heated skin felt different, scorching the tender flesh on my fingertips. I enjoyed teasing him, blowing across his cockhead as I rubbed his skin in small circles, moving only an inch at a time. I loved the way his chest rose and fell, the subtle yet strangled sounds erupting from his mouth.
I darted licks along his thigh, pressing feathered kisses in a long trail. When I slipped my hand between his legs, cupping his swollen testicles, he let out a gruff moan.
“You’re such a tease,” he huffed, placing one hand on my head and gripping the railing with the other. He widened his legs, allowing me even more access. I scooted forward, barely brushing my lips across the tip of his cock before moving to his other thigh. As I rolled his balls between my fingers, I studied his pinched face, the way his voluptuous lips twisted provocatively.
Purring, I dragged my tongue down the side of his shaft while I squeezed his balls with just enough pressure so another guttural moan escaped his lips. I rose onto my knees, darting my tongue back and forth across his sensitive slit. Almost immediately drops of pre-cum trickled out, glistening in the late afternoon sun. I lapped them greedily, savoring the tangy flavor, thirsty for more.
His entire body seemed to shudder, his thigh muscles tensing, the grip on my head tightening. “Suck me.” The command was not to be denied, his dark eyes boring into mine. He jutted his hips forward, rolling onto the balls of his feet.
I took just the tip inside, using my strong jaw muscles to suck fervently. While I continued to clamp one hand around his testicles, I rubbed the other up to his tight stomach, caressing gently. Every one of his muscles remained tense as I took him down an inch at a time, doing everything to relax my throat. I wanted to devour every inch, to suck every drop of his sweet cream.
Exhaling, he threw his head back as he tangled his fingers in my hair. “Your mouth is damn hot. Perfect.”