by K. S. Ruff
“We didn’t know it was you,” Brady answered.
Rafael looked confused. “Didn’t you get my text message? I texted all three of you.”
“Our cell phones died hours ago,” Jase gritted. “You scared the crap out of us.”
Rafael sized Brady up.
He folded his arms against his chest. “Don’t give me that look. It’s not like we knew we were taking an overseas trip.”
Rafael sighed as he knelt beside me. “Kristine, baby, it’s me.”
I flinched when he caressed my face.
“Maxim,” Jase growled.
Tears streamed down my face.
Rafael’s eyes widened. “He hit her?”
“No, but he caressed her face…” Brady’s voice trailed off when he saw the look on Rafael’s face.
I longed to crawl into Rafael’s arms, but my body refused. Anger. There was so much anger, and I wasn’t entirely sure these men weren’t angry at me. I tugged my knees to my chest as I began to rock. Rafael should be angry with me. I cheated on him when I let Maxim kiss me… how many times? I was a cheater. I was a cheater, and I was stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid echoed in my mind. I pressed my hands to my ears, but the words grew louder. They were so loud, they drowned everything else out.
Rafael tried to scoop me up.
I fell against the wall after scrambling away. I felt… cornered. “Don’t… don’t touch me.”
Rafael glared at Brady and Jase. “What the hell happened? What haven’t you told me?”
“She’s been like this ever since…” Jase eyed Rafael nervously. “Maxim said something to her… before kissing her. I think she’s afraid he’ll force her back to Ukraine.”
Brady’s voice dropped to a mere whisper. “She hasn’t been entirely… here. She’s been vacant, like she’s trapped inside her head. I think it triggered some memories. I… I’ve seen this before with combat vets.”
Rafael sat next to me with his back against the wall. “Can you guys give us a minute?”
I burst into tears.
Brady and Jase quietly walked away.
“We don’t have to talk,” Rafael assured me. “I just want to sit next to you for a while.”
We sat like that for the longest time, with me crying and Rafael sitting silently beside me. Rafael linked his pinky finger with mine when my hand finally fell to my side.
I stared at our entwined fingers. “I don’t deserve you,” I finally whispered.
His entire hand blanketed mine. “Jase told me what happened. You weren’t the one who initiated that kiss.”
“I shouldn’t have asked to speak with him in private. I shouldn’t have accused him of using me for my political connections. I should have kept my distance. I wanted to help him… to return that favor… but that encouraged him to pursue something more. I didn’t mean to encourage him. God, how could I be so stupid? How could I dismiss all his previous advances as harmless? How could I not know?”
“Do you still love me?” Rafael demanded.
My heart shuddered beneath the weight of his question. “Yes. Of course.”
His knee grazed mine as he turned to face me. “Do you still want to marry me?”
“Yes,” I whispered brokenly. The thought that Rafael might not want me… that he’d refuse to marry me… was what I feared most. That thought wielded more pain than I could possibly bear.
“Then don’t let Maxim ruin this for us.” He pressed his lips to my hand. “We’ll get through this, just like everything else, and we’ll be stronger for it.”
My head fell to his shoulder. I felt so tired and defeated, I could no longer argue how unworthy I was.
Rafael’s arm slid beneath my knees. He pulled me to his chest and stood with very little effort. “I’m sorry, love. We need to take our seats so the plane can depart.” He sat me in the seat furthest from Brady and Jase, then snapped my seatbelt into place. He dropped into the seat next to me and fastened his seatbelt.
Kari placed a basket of pastries, two steaming mugs of coffee, and two bottled waters in front of us while the plane taxied down the runway.
I glanced at Brady and Jase. “I feel bad, dragging them to Portugal.”
Rafael quirked an eyebrow. “You would deny them a trip to Portugal?”
“No, not if they wanted to go.” I held my coffee so it wouldn’t slide against the table.
The nose of the plane lifted. “Their departure may have been a bit unexpected, but I think they’re looking forward to this trip. I’ve arranged for them to train with some of my friends while they’re in Lisbon.”
“Are they staying with us?” I fought a yawn and lost.
“They’ll be staying in our flat, but we won’t be joining them until Sunday.” He cracked open a bottle of water and handed it to me.
I drank half the bottle. “Where are we staying?”
“Someplace safe,” he assured me.
I nodded wearily.
“Come lie with me.” He released his seatbelt and mine.
I quietly considered him. “Why did you fly to London?”
“I was worried Maxim would do something stupid.” His arm slid beneath my knees. Gently, he lifted me.
My arms wrapped loosely around his neck. “More stupid than the kiss?”
“More stupid than the kiss.” He carried me to bed.
I shrank against the bed. “I’m scared.”
He pulled the blanket over us and drew me to his chest. “I won’t allow any harm to come to you.”
Like a pendulum my life swung between fairytales and nightmares.
* * * * *
“We’re here,” Rafael announced softly.
Grudgingly, my eyes opened. I’d fallen asleep within minutes of climbing into Rafael’s Porsche. “How long was I asleep?”
“About forty minutes.” Rafael stepped out of the car.
My eyes widened when he walked in front of the car. Rafael opened my door and offered his hand, but I didn’t budge. “We’re staying here?”
His broad shoulders filled the doorway as he knelt beside me. “Is that okay?”
I gaped at the medieval castle towering before me. Rafael’s Porsche seemed sorely out of place parked in front of this ancient fortress. I counted five stone towers, two square and three round, although there could have been more on the other side of the building. The castle was enormous. I slowly stepped from the car. “It’s… a castle.”
“It is.” Rafael chuckled.
The wind whipped my hair while I surveyed the rugged landscape and the massive stone wall winding away from the castle. I half expected an archer to shoot an arrow between one of the merlons forged atop the castle. Dark clouds formed an ominous backdrop behind the rocky hilltop. “This place is huge. Where are all the tourists?” Not a single soul walked the treacherous looking grounds.
Rafael anchored a duffel bag over his shoulder before reaching for my carry-on luggage. “Obidos Castle is not open to visitors unless they’re staying the night.” He offered me his arm.
We picked our way through the loose pebbles and the uneven ground. “But there are no cars. Where did the staff and all of the other guests park?”
“A valet parks the cars in the town located on the other side of that wall. The front of the castle overlooks a very quaint town.”
I was stunned. The castle and the castle wall had hidden the town so well, I’d assumed we were the only two people around for miles. The only other building I could see from this angle was a white limestone chapel peeking over the hillside. “This place reminds me of the Moorish Castle in Sintra, only bigger.”
Rafael smiled. “The Moors built Obidos Castle during the 8th century. This castle was in ruins, much like the Moorish Castle, but it was renovated after the earthquake and eventually converted into a luxury hotel.”
I thought he might be using the word “luxury” a bit loosely, given the rustic structure looming before us. Still, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t believe we were staying ins
ide an 8th century castle.
The heavy wood door creaked open as we approached. Rafael spoke with the distinguished looking gentleman who held the door for us. He took Rafael’s keys while another man claimed our luggage.
I clung to Rafael’s arm while my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. The inside of the castle was dark and ominous, which I found oddly soothing. Rafael checked in while I admired the tall, scenic tapestries hanging against the stone walls. The place smelled musky, like soil after a storm.
Rafael linked his hand in mine. “They’re sending food up so we can eat in our room and rest awhile.”
“This place is amazing.” We walked down a long, windowless hallway, dimly lit by thick candles in rustic metal sconces. Shadows danced along the stone walls and floor. “It certainly feels authentic,” I whispered. The atmosphere demanded a whisper.
“There’s electricity and Wi-Fi, but they prefer to keep things as authentic as possible,” Rafael replied.
I smiled. It was my first genuine smile since the fiasco with Maxim. I rather liked the idea of turning back time with my modern day knight. We had yet to see another guest, so I doubted anyone would think to search for us here.
I clung to the stone wall while Rafael and I climbed a steep flight of stairs. There was no banister or railing to speak of. Each candle we hiked by flickered, casting shadows that made it difficult to see the stairs. My thighs were burning by the seventy-eighth step. I lost count after that. “I’m glad they’re sending food up. These stairs are a bit much.”
Rafael buried his shoulder in my stomach so he could carry me the rest of the way. I was too tired to object.
The stairs emptied into a large stone room. The room righted itself when my feet touched the floor. The hard wood floor was stained the same dark color as the open beam ceiling, the window frame, and bed. A masculine four-poster bed was anchored over a rich burgundy rug. The white duvet and pillows stood in stark contrast against the heavy furs draped across the foot of the bed. The room felt toasty warm. A very real fire was already crackling inside the fireplace. A stack of wood lie between the fireplace and an ancient metal chest. Our luggage was sitting on top of the chest.
I peered out the only window I’d seen inside the castle. The thick, wavy glass revealed a raging storm. The thunderclouds finally broke, but the wind and the driving rain were barely audible through eighty inch thick walls.
Rafael swept my hair aside so he could nuzzle my neck. “What do you think?”
I tore my eyes from the storm. “This place is everything I needed and more.”
“You should check out the bathroom.” He walked backwards while leading the way.
“Oh!” I gasped. “This… this…”
“It’s unbelievable,” Rafael agreed.
The large copper tub was simply breathtaking. I crossed the room so I could examine the decorative handles. My fingers trailed along the smooth copper rim. The oval tub was large enough to fit both of us. The tapestry that hung against the stone wall behind the bathtub depicted two maidens bathing a young woman with porcelain skin. A narrow, arched entryway sat on either side of the tub. Both entryways led to a cavernous marble shower with more jets than I cared to count. I walked slack-jawed through the shower, from one entryway to the other. Thankfully, a very modern toilet was hidden behind a stone wall on the far side of the bathroom.
Rafael was studying a simply constructed wood vanity with the same dark stain as the open beam ceiling and the hard wood floor inside the bedroom. The bathroom floor was stone. The sink appeared to be half of a large round stone, hollowed out and polished so the inside was smooth. Wall sconces bracketed the ornate copper mirror. The fire crackling inside the bedroom extended into the bathroom. The windowless room literally glowed.
I reached for his hand. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He pulled me close.
My eyes filled with tears. “I missed you so much. My heart hurts when we’re apart. I don’t want to live apart anymore. I want to move to Portugal.”
“I want you to finish school.” Rafael looked sad when he cupped my cheek in his hand. His thumb lifted my chin as he fit his lips to mine.
My body surged to life.
Rafael’s hands tangled in my hair. There was no give and take, only take. Warm, firm lips demanded my chin… my jaw… my ears… and neck. He unzipped my dress.
“Rafael,” I groaned. My dress pooled on the floor.
“Now,” he ordered. With an unyielding grasp, Rafael forced me toward the bed. He unclasped my bra, dragged the straps down my arms, and let it drop to the floor. He eased my panties over my hips. They slid to the floor.
I pulled Rafael’s shirt over his head when he lowered me onto the bed. Our lips met in a feverish kiss. My hands branded his shoulders, abdomen, and back while I drank him in.
Our eyes locked while Rafael removed his remaining clothes. The determination in his eyes made me tremble. The muscles in his shoulders bunched when he lifted my foot. He licked the arch of my foot, my calves, and thigh before settling between my legs. His tongue stroked, tasted, and teased while I pleaded for release.
His fingers clenched my hips when I squeezed my breasts. “Please, Rafael. I need you. Now.”
Still, he denied me. His tongue dipped inside my belly button, circled my breasts, and carved a trail to my neck. He feasted on my neck.
My eyes slid closed when our bodies aligned. My arms and legs clenched his back as I urged him closer.
“Kristine,” he breathed. Determinedly, he filled me. He pinned my wrists over my head when our hips finally met. His eyes darkened. With a groan, everything spiraled out of control. Our bodies slammed together, raped and ravished one another, until we fractured.
The air rushed from my lungs when Rafael collapsed on top of me. I relished his weight. He wrapped his arms around me, held me close, and rolled so that I was lying on his chest. I tucked my head beneath his chin and listened to his thundering heart while we tried to catch our breath.
Rafael shifted unexpectedly. “When did the food arrive?”
I followed his gaze. “That food was there when we stumbled into bed.”
“Thank God,” he whispered. “I was afraid someone walked in on us.”
I laughed although that would have been embarrassing. “Are you hungry?”
“Yes.” His response contradicted the sated look on his face.
I sat up. Rafael was still inside of me, so that one simple move forced him even deeper.
His eyes hooded.
I braced my hands on his chest and curled my hips against his. “You’re mine now.”
He chuckled. “I have always been yours.” He sat up and pulled our hips even closer.
My hands tangled in his hair while he suckled my breasts. My head fell back. My hair had grown so long, it brushed against his legs. “God, I love making love to you.”
He murmured his agreement while coaxing my lips into another passionate kiss. His tongue chased mine in a dance as old as time.
I could feel him swelling inside of me. Our hips barely moved, but he was buried so deep I could feel him brush against my womb. That had to be the most erotic feeling in the world. When he came, I knew. He was part of me now… the only part anchoring me to this world.
We were both spent, but Rafael climbed out of bed so he could throw another log on the fire. The room was cold so we wrapped ourselves in the fur throws before inspecting the food they’d delivered for us.
The bench under the window held a wooden bowl filled with grapes, oranges, apples, and pears. A wood cutting board held two blocks of cheese and a crusty loaf of bread. A dagger had been stabbed directly into the board. A small metal bowl offered a variety of olives. A jug of wine and a ceramic pitcher filled with water sat next to two pewter wine glasses and two medieval tankards.
The dagger made me smile. “Is that for the cheese?”
Rafael grinned. “I believe it is.”
I poured the wate
r and wine while he moved the food to the stone hearth in front of the fireplace. He spread his fur blanket over the floor and wrapped the two of us in mine. We picked at the food, talked, and made love long into the night.
* * * * *
Someone snuck into our room during the early morning hours. We were shocked we didn’t hear them deliver breakfast. “They take room service to a whole new level,” I mused. “What kind of food did they deliver?”
“Mulled wine, meat, fish, and bread.” Rafael poured the wine. He filled two metal plates and carried everything to bed.
“What an odd breakfast.” My stomach growled regardless. “I can’t believe we’re drinking wine for breakfast.”
“What do you want to do today?” Rafael threw another log on the fire and joined me beneath the blankets.
“I want to take a bath in the copper tub.” The roast beef nearly melted in my mouth. “How is this still warm?”
“They lined the bottom of the ceramic pot with hot rocks.” Rafael sipped his wine.
I tried a hearty wheat and nut filled bread. “This is really good.”
“Anything else, besides the bath?” He cut into the flaky fish.
“I’d like to explore the castle. Maybe we can find the key and open the chest.” Obidos Castle was filled with ancient chests. Rafael told me there was one chest in particular, an iron chest that had yet to be opened. All guests were encouraged to search for the key that would unravel its secrets.
“How do you feel about eating in the dining room tonight?” Rafael tossed a piece of rye bread into his mouth.
“What sort of attire is required? Aside from the dress I wore to work yesterday, I don’t really have anything to wear. My carry-on contains textbooks. I thought I’d be reading and knocking out some coursework while I was on the plane. I thought I’d have access to my wardrobe at your place, so I didn’t pack any clothes.”
“No wonder your suitcase was so heavy,” Rafael murmured. “I’ll see if Eva can stop by the flat and deliver some clothes today. We’re only forty-five minutes away.”
“I’m sure she has better things to do on Valentine’s Day.” I frowned. “I really should have thought of this yesterday.”