He walked slowly toward her and cupped her face. The worry in those sexy brown eyes of hers made him want to hold her and never let her go.
Not that she’d let him.
No, she’d push away and take care of herself because that’s who she was. Or at least who she usually was. This Sassy in front of him wasn’t that woman. He needed to fix that and alleviate her fears.
“Sass, stop it and breathe, cariña.” He brushed his lips against hers and she relaxed. “We’re just going to my parents’ home for dinner. You’ve had countless dinners with them before. The only difference is that now we’re a bit older.”
She grimaced and he kissed her again. “It’s not like it was before, Rafe. I used to be their ward or live-in or whatever. They knew I was dating you but I don’t know if they knew we were with Ian at the time.”
Rafe let out a breath. “I don’t know either, baby. We kept it to ourselves because we were afraid of what everyone would think, but we aren’t those people anymore. You know Ian would be here with us if he hadn’t had to work.”
They couldn’t ignore the possibility of misconceptions like they had when they were younger. Their relationship wouldn’t survive if they did.
He could sense her tension and see the uncertainty in her eyes.
They were doing this to her, turning the vibrant and sexy woman into a pile of nerves.
Damn it.
He ran his hand down her back and cupped her ass. The resulting flare of heat in her eyes made him smile.
There she is.
Sassy pulled back somewhat and looked down at her body before shaking her head. “What the hell am I wearing?”
Rafe held back, knowing if he smiled, she would hit him. Hard. “I didn’t realize you owned that sexy secretary get-up.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I believe they are called administrative assistants now.”
He held up his hands in mock surrender. “My apologies.”
“And if I were dressed as a sexy secretary, I’d be wearing a skirt so you could fuck me on top of the desk. Come on, now, you know that’s how all the good porn does it.”
Rafe threw his head back and laughed even as his cock hardened at the thought of Sassy in heels and a little skirt as he fucked her on top of his desk.
Or maybe Ian’s desk.
Yeah, that would be better since Ian had a bigger office, and the whole suit and tie thing totally fit those fantasies. Maybe he and Sassy could fuck Ian over that desk too.
“Oh my God, stop thinking about sex right now, Rafe Chavez!” Sassy slapped his shoulder and Rafe snorted.
“You started it, babe.” Well, maybe. This whole conversation was a blur of angst and sexy as hell heels.
“We are on our way to go see your mother. She’ll know what we’ve been thinking. She always knows.”
Rafe grinned. He sure as hell hoped his mom didn’t know everything that went on in his head. He wasn’t even sure that she knew about him and Ian. He’d always been bisexual, but had never been out of the closet to his parents. He didn’t know what they’d have thought about it.
What they would think now…
He’d been such a little shit as a teenager that when he’d finally found his way and learned to act like a man, he’d been afraid to break any trust he’d formed again. He’d hidden his feelings for Ian as anything more than his best friend from the family, and Rafe knew it played a role in Ian’s departure.
Ian and Sassy weren’t the only two who held blame for the demise of their relationship.
Rafe had his own failures and he knew he needed to redeem those.
Today was the first step in the right direction by bringing Sassy home. He’d hoped to bring Ian as well, but it might have been just as well he wasn’t with them. Taking baby steps sounded like a good way to approach this.
Jesus, this was fucking complicated.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. If he went into the day thinking the worst, he’d just stress himself out just as he was sure Sassy had been doing from the way she was dressed.
Rafe looked down at his own dark jeans and button down shirt, then at Sassy. “Cariña, put on jeans and keep that sexy as hell top. It shows off the ink on your arms and when you bend over, I’ll be able to see the ink on your back.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m not bending over in your parents’ house for you.” She gave a saucy grin. “And no promises, but I might tease you if you annoy me enough.”
He kissed her hard, sliding his tongue against hers. “Damn it. You get me worked up, Sass. But really, you’re welcome to wear jeans and anything you want.” He reached around and unclipped her hair. The long tresses fell over her shoulders in waves, and he sighed at the sight. Damn, his woman was fucking sexy as hell. He’d have to keep her hair up so he could pull it down again, but next time, she’d be naked.
Fuck. Yeah.
“You’re thinking about sex again.”
He licked his lips. “Hell yeah, but don’t worry. I can control myself.” Maybe. “Show your ink, let your hair down, wear what you want to in order to feel comfortable and be yourself. There’s no reason to hide.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them away, but not before one fell down her cheek. His heart ached as he brushed away the moisture with his thumb.
“Sassy, baby, what’s wrong?” He’d do whatever he could to make sure she knew she was special and his. God, give him strength.
“Other than you’re acting all rough and perfect at the same time?” She shook her head then rolled her shoulders back. “I left them too, Rafe. What if they hate me for it? I didn’t stay in contact because I was scared. I might’ve only lived twenty minutes away, but there could have been an ocean between us considering how it felt.”
He closed his eyes and cursed himself. Of course that’s what she’d be freaking out about. She’d lived with his family for a long time and walked out on them just the same. She’d done it to protect herself, and in doing so, she’d hurt his family. But not to the extent she must be thinking.
His family was very forgiving when it came to people they loved.
He should know.
“Cariña, stop worrying. They missed you, and yes, they were worried, but they knew you’d left for a reason. Let’s go see them and get the hard part over with. They invited you over, Sass. They want you there. We’ll talk, laugh, eat good food, and then when we get home, we’ll make love, and hopefully, this time actually make it to the bed on the first try.”
She laughed softly, exactly as he’d intended. “We always say we’re going to make it to the bed and only end up sleeping there since we’ve tired ourselves out everywhere else.”
He cupped her ass, bringing her flush against his body. His rock hard cock pressed against her belly and she raised a brow.
“You did this,” he groaned.
Her hand went between them and ran along his length. “No, honey, you did this, but I’ll take care of it. Later.” She winked. “We’re going to be late if I don’t change now and head out. Two minutes!” She sashayed to the bedroom, his gaze following that generous ass of hers. He just shook his head.
Yep, that’s the Sassy he loved. It only took her getting him turned on and turned inside out for her to come back.
By the time she’d changed into ass-hugging jeans that he’d enjoy peeling her out of later, and made their way to his parents’ house, they were only five minutes late. Not bad considering Rafe had taken the time to make sure Sassy’s jeans fit just right using the palms of his hands.
From the way Sassy glowed, he had a feeling his mom would know exactly why they were late, but he didn’t care. He finally had the woman of his dreams next to him and the man of his dreams in his heart—and he hoped, waiting for them when they got home.
He didn’t need much else.
Before they could even make it up the porch steps, his mother opened the front door and approached them with her arms opened wide.
; “Sassy!” His mother pulled Sassy up the steps and enveloped her in those same strong arms that had held him countless times. Though his mother was at least a foot shorter and could practically fit in his pocket, she was stronger than anyone he’d known.
“Mrs. Chavez.” Sassy’s reply was a little stilted, but there was warmth there that went straight to Rafe’s heart. This was her family too—he just had to make sure she understood that and didn’t pull away.
Again.
His mom pulled back and frowned. “Mrs. Chavez? Do you think I’m my husband Carlos’s mother and not Rafe’s? No, honey, you call me Juanita or Mom. I’ll take nothing else.”
Sassy grinned and Rafe pulled his mother away a bit so he could kiss her cheek. “Thank you, Mom,” he whispered and she patted his cheek.
“You’re a good boy, Rafe. Thank you for bringing Sassy home to us.” There was a twinkle in her eyes he couldn’t interpret. “And next time, I expect to you to bring Ian too. It’s about time the three of you were together again.”
Rafe stopped breathing, his feet frozen to the spot. “Wha…what?”
His mom shook her head, then wrapped her arm around Sassy’s waist. “I knew then that the three of you were together. You can’t fool me, young man. You all were so in love you couldn’t hide it even if you tried. I know Ian thought he’d pulled off the cool and remote rich kid. He didn’t, honey. He was in so deep with you, just as you and Sassy were with him, it was obvious.”
Sassy reached and gripped his hand, but he still couldn’t process what his mom was saying. She’d known? This whole time, she’d known. He thought he’d hidden it so well. Apparently he shouldn’t have even tried.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Rafe, but know this, I’ve loved you since I first found out I was pregnant with you, and I will always love you. Your family feels the same. You have three sisters, two brothers, a father, and countless other members of the family in there waiting to see you and Sass. They love you and they won’t turn their backs on you for loving who you love. And when you bring Ian by, we’ll be the same.”
Rafe lowered his head, but pulled his mom close, bringing Sassy with her. He wrapped his arms around his girls, the weight of what he’d been holding close sliding off his shoulders.
“I can’t believe you knew this whole time,” he rasped, his body shaking. From relief or the overwhelming urge to run to Ian and bring him there too, he didn’t know.
“Honey, you can’t slide things by me.” His mom squeezed him one more time, then pulled away. “Now, let’s get you two inside and fed. They’re probably already pressed up against the window trying to see what the holdup is.”
“I’m surprised they haven’t come out yet,” Sassy said as she tangled her fingers with his.
He gripped her hand, thankful for the anchor. She’d always been his anchor even when she’d been the one on the run. Without her…well, he hadn’t been whole.
They walked inside and were greeted by his family, smiles and hugs bringing Sassy—and Rafe—into the fold. As much as Sassy had left them, he never forgot he’d done the same. Oh, he’d come back for holidays and births, but he’d made a home somewhere else.
Now he was back and he had to learn to blend with his family like he had before.
“Rafe,” his father’s deep voice pulled him out of his thoughts. The man had his arm around Sassy’s shoulder and a grin on his face. “Good to see you could make it, niño.”
“Dad,” he said and hugged the man hard, bringing Sassy into it like he had with his mom.
His dad grinned but there was tension in his eyes like there had been at work—something Rafe had hoped would fade with time. “When you get time, we need to talk about the shop. There are things…niño, you know that I trust you with everything, but some things do not need to change.”
When his father said everything, it didn’t mean what it should, but this was neither the time nor place. His family might agree with his lifestyle—which was a surprise in itself—but having a father and son run a business together didn’t always go smoothly.
“We can talk about it later,” Rafe said with a smile, not wanting to cause an issue when today needed to be about Sassy—and later Ian. “For now, let’s eat good food and show my girl off.” He kissed Sassy’s brow and she laughed.
“I can usually show myself off, sugar, but if you want to do the honors, I’m all yours.”
He smiled and nodded at his father who got the message, then walked to the backyard where his family was partying.
It was odd how much he wanted Ian to be there with them, celebrating their time together as a triad. He knew Ian had planned on going public with the three of them and with the fact that Rafe’s family accepted him. This just might work.
He looked down at the woman in his arms and sighed.
It better work because he’d do anything for her, anything for Ian. He just needed to make sure that it wouldn’t be for nothing because if they ran away from him again…well…
He didn’t know what he’d do then.
He’d been broken once before and if it happened again, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to put himself to rights. Sassy and Ian had quickly become his whole world and that scared him.
Rafe would just have to prove to them that they could make it work. With the scent of his mother’s cooking, the sounds of laughter and happiness, and the feel of acceptance surrounding them, it just might be possible.
Once dinner was over, they made their way to her place in record time. He barely had the engine off before Sassy was out of the car with him following. He chased her up the stairs, a grin on his face.
When she opened the door, he pushed her through it, held on to her wrist, and slammed her against it as it shut.
Her eyes widened and she grinned. “Eager, are we?”
He cupped her face. “Did I hurt you?” He hadn’t meant to slam her into the door that hard, but damn, after hours of being with others and unable to be near enough to her, he couldn’t hold back.
She squeezed his ass and rocked against him, the hard ridge of his cock digging into her belly. “I liked it. You held my wrist and used the other hand to hold the door so I wouldn’t hit too hard. The door just made a loud sound, that’s why it made it look like you were rough.” She grinned. “Well, you were rough, but in the sexy-alpha-way. Now, go on and finish your plan. I hope you’re going to fuck me against it.”
He shook his head. This woman understood him so fucking well it scared him. “I’m going to eat you out against the door and then I’ll make love to you in your bed because I promised.”
Her eyes darkened and she gave him that little smile that always went straight to his cock. He tugged off his shirt and watched the way her gaze followed the lines of his abs and chest. He’d work out even more if he could keep getting her to look at him like that. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and brought her in for a kiss. He loved the way she tasted, all sweet and spicy at the same time.
He pulled back and tugged up her shirt. She lifted her arms and he took it off her then gazed down at her in her bra and sexy jeans. He’d told her that he loved the way they molded to her thighs and ass and he’d meant it.
God, he fucking loved her curves.
He undid the front clasp of her bra so her breasts were bare. Her rose colored nipples were hard and begged for his mouth. He lowered his head and sucked one into his mouth, using his hand to plump her breast as he nibbled and licked. He moved to her other breast and knelt down. She was just short enough that he could suck on her nipples and get a face full of breasts.
Seriously, he loved this part.
He moved down her body, leaving kisses and bites down her stomach until he came to the top of her jeans. He undid the button and zipper and pulled her pants down over her ass, bringing her panties with them.
“Rafe,” she moaned as she wiggled out of her jeans and he threw them to the side.
“God, I love your taste,” he said b
efore he pulled one leg over his shoulder and licked her slit. She put one hand on his shoulders to steady herself and he lapped her up. He spread her and fucked her with his tongue and then two fingers. Each moan she made coincided with the sexy flutter of her pussy and he knew she was close.
He reached around with his free hand and probed her hole, knowing they hadn’t done anal play yet, but it would be coming.
Soon.
“Yes, Rafe, just like that. My vibrator with the attachment doesn’t do it like your fingers do.”
He about came in his pants at her admission but kept his mouth on her clit, wanting her to come. His Sassy liked to play with herself all kinky like?
He was one lucky man.
He hummed against her clit as his fingers passed the tight ring of muscles. He only had her own juices as lube so he only put the tip in, not wanting to hurt her.
“Rafe!” She came on his tongue and he kept the pressure on her clit, knowing she liked it best that way.
With her eyes still closed, he stood up, keeping his hand on her hip so she wouldn’t fall, then picked her up. He carried her to the bedroom like he’d promised before, her head on his shoulder, her body still shaking.
“How do you want it, Sass?”
“Fuck me on all fours. I love it when you go deep like that.”
He grinned. “You’re a dirty girl.”
She rolled her eyes and he put her on her feet. “You’re such a dude for saying that.”
He slapped her ass as she turned and moaned even as she looked over her shoulder to raise a brow at him.
“Get on all fours in the middle of the bed, cariña. That way when you get weak-kneed, you won’t fall on your face.”
She laughed, exactly as he’d wanted her to, and he pulled off his pants after he took the condom from his wallet. He rolled it on his length, his cock beyond ready to sink in to that pretty pink pussy.
He slid into her in one thrust, and they both sighed at the same time. He pumped into her, his fingers digging into her hips as he fucked her. He leaned over her so his front was to her back, even as her hips lifted to meet his thrusts.
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