Rafael's Woman

by Fiona Murphy

  “Ms. Whitney, I’m Hank Swanson. I’m here to pick up the boys. Mr. Castillo is having them work on my site, we just broke ground yesterday. We’re only about two miles away, the boys can catch the bus in the morning or if they’re okay with getting there at six with me then I don’t mind picking them up seeing as they’re on my way to work.”

  Her head felt too fuzzy to take it in. “I don’t understand. Why are they going to your site? Did they misbehave on the other site?”

  “No not at all, John told me they did good work, that’s why I’m willing to take them on. From what I understand Mr. Castillo was concerned about you driving back and forth, from the other site to here again.”

  His words made her feel faint. After last night’s cutting why was Rafael concerned about her? She wanted to figure it out but her sleep-deprived mind was screaming to go back to sleep. Giving into the sleep part of her brain, she nodded her acceptance. Knocking on the door to the bathroom she told the twins and stumbled off to bed. Resetting her alarm to give her another hour and a half of sleep she was out in seconds.

  She woke up minutes before her alarm went off and wondered frantically if she was late. A fumble for her cell phone told he she wasn’t and she sighed in relief. Then the phone rang in her hand, nearly scaring her to death. Seeing her best friend’s name she let out a little cry of joy. Bethany was more than her best friend, practically her sister, her casual offer of letting Carrie into her home had been heartily backed by her parents and Carrie didn’t want to think of what her life would be like without Bethany in it. “Bethany! Hey, stranger how are you doing?”

  “Stranger my ass, you have my number too bitch, you could have used it.”

  “You have got to be kidding, you and Jim were disgustingly lovey dovey for the last few months. You run off to Vegas to get married a month ago and you really think I’m going to take the chance of disturbing you two from doing god knows what. No thanks.” Carrie also winced as she realized she had been hiding from Bethany and her family for the last few months. Shame had kept her from letting on how badly things had gotten.

  Bethany laughed without a note of chagrin, “Oh yeah, it’s been a good few months. Now that is interesting, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard a note of wistfulness in your voice. Is my little girl growing up and has her eye on a man?”

  Carrie buried her face in the pillow and opened her mouth to deny it. Instead a sob came out, surprising them both.

  “Holy shit! Who is he? Where the fuck do I find him? I can be in Dallas in two hours, fuck three hours. I got my gun girl, it’s a twenty two, it just means no one will give the shot a second thought.”

  Hearing Bethany sound so serious made Carrie giggle nervously through the tears, she loved Bethany. It didn’t mean there weren’t times her friend scared the hell out of her. “Bethany, you are not going to shoot Rafael. It’s not anything he did, this is all me and my stupid feelings. He’s been a perfect fucking gentleman.”

  “Hmm, that sounded pretty bitter right there. Why don’t you tell me what happened and didn’t happen and you let me decide.”

  Rolling out of bed Carrie pulled out a suit and started talking as she dressed. Glad she had started taking her showers at night to allow her to sleep later. Turning on her flat iron she sprayed her hair and set the phone down as she finished to brush her teeth and give Bethany time to think over what she’d said. Wiping her mouth and her face she stuck out her tongue. This was her fault, not Rafael’s teeth, she needed to remember that. “So, like I said, it’s all my fault. There won’t be any shooting.”

  “Well, given everything you said a full shot doesn’t sound quite right. However, a careful graze would give him some real time to think over everything and see what an idiot he’s being.”

  “Bethany, you are out of your mind. He’s not an idiot, I am. He didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Maybe not, but it’s obvious he wants you and he’s not acting on it. Doesn’t make any sense, you are gorgeous, sweet, funny and even if you have a temper we all agree can be a might touchy all those things outweigh the temper thing. So, why doesn’t he want you?”

  “I don’t know and it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t want me, end of story.”

  “You should ask his brother, he might know.”

  “I’m not going to call Javier and ask him why his brother doesn’t like me. I’m not in junior high.”

  “Then you have only one option.”

  “What?”

  “You gotta sex him up, get him hooked on the pussy and give him time to get hooked on all of you.”

  Carrie blushed so red she got lightheaded. “Jesus, Bethany, I can’t believe you sometimes.”

  “Shit, you’re still a virgin? Damn girl, okay this makes it a little harder. He’ll be scared you’re going to start planning the wedding the minute he pulls out. So you’ll need to reassure him it’s no big deal, you’re just trying him and taking him around the block a bit before you want to buy. Stop hyperventilating, I can hear you and I’m telling you if you want him then you got to step up your game.

  It’s a sad fact of life, guys fall in lust, women fall in love. Jim is a great guy but when I met him, you remember he was still a pot-smoking, gamer nerd who barely left the apartment he shared with a roommate. I wasn’t in love with a pot-smoking, gamer nerd, I was in love with the funny, smart guy who thought my fat ass was hot. I didn’t care he probably only thought it was hot because he saw so few women. So yeah, I got him hooked on the pussy. He loved it enough I didn’t have to ask him to stop smoking pot or spending hours on his games. He figured out I didn’t like it and if he wanted more sex and to spend time with me then the other stuff had to go. It took a few months but he came around all on his own.

  Carrie, you’ve never been the type to back down before. What’s the matter? Are you scared about the whole virgin thing?”

  Sinking down on her bed she shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I guess I’m just scared I’ll be more in love with him than he’ll be with me. What if I do what you say and he walks away again?”

  “Huh, now the idea does seem scary but what about the alternative? You do nothing and nothing happens. It sounds like you’re already in love with this guy, you can have some time of something really great or nothing at all. Only you know what’s the right thing for you. Now, I love you but I have to go. We have to drop Jim’s car off at the garage, it needs new breaks.

  Call me soon, love you.”

  Staring down at the phone, she thought about what Bethany said. It sounded a little sneaky and manipulative and she hated the word game. She didn’t want to play games and wasn’t sure if she could pull it off. Yes, she wanted Rafael badly, it wasn’t even a question of giving up her virginity. She had remained a virgin simply because she hadn’t trusted someone enough to let them into her life, let alone her body. Seeing her mother become practically a slave to her boyfriend’s wants and needs had made Carrie wary of ever giving someone power over her. Of trusting someone would care about her the same way she cared about them.

  From that first day she had trusted in Rafael not simply because of how he treated her but on some basic level she knew he wasn’t a predator, out to only take and not give back. In the weeks she had worked for him the respect and admiration of those who worked for him was clear. Everyone made it clear he expected his worker’s best but he also paid them back with not just some of the highest salaries of others in their positions but a high number of paid time off and excellent benefits. He also paid out year-end bonuses, based on the performance of his company and knew his employees and their families on sight. As she had told Javier, she trusted Rafael and after more than two weeks of wanting and not having him, she was pretty sure she had fallen in love or at the very least complete and utter obsession with him. Alone in bed at night she didn’t just want Rafael, she craved him. Would what Bethany said work and how would she even get close enough to him again to try?

  The morning went by quickly, her m
ain support for the front desk was a funny Vietnamese extremely proud graduate of A&M Oliver Tang. Oliver and she had clicked from the beginning and he was easy to work with. Denise and she hadn’t clicked, then Denise had become abrasive. Carrie had asked for prospects to replace Denise and HR had been content to have her made any changes she saw fit. To fill in for her time off and later in the day when there was less traffic, Carrie had found an older, very experienced woman Linda who preferred the part-time hours.

  After handling an irate owner, she got a call that made her shiver. Kent Marshall, an extremely demanding owner, wanted her to come up to his condo. Of course he would demand her and she wouldn’t get away with sending Oliver in her place. She took a walkie-talkie and left the channel open, letting security know. Kent Marshall had come onto her more than once, in extremely graphic words. When she went up it seemed relatively innocuous. Jeff in maintenance was there, Kent was complaining about the poor job Jeff had done. Her defense down, she sent Jeff down for Walt, the head of maintenance. The door hadn’t even closed behind Jeff before Kent had his arms around her, pulling her roughly to him.

  “Oh yeah, finally got your sweet ass alone. Damn, you’re a sexy little bitch. Come on, baby, open up and give me a kiss. Fuck, a thong, it’s always the quiet ones.”

  His hands seemed huge and wet everywhere tugging at the top of the thong she wore, his fingers digging into her skin. Fear flooded her, she screamed loudly but he covered her mouth. Feeling faint, she did the only thing she could do, she bit down on his tongue. He pushed her away and seconds later the room was filled with maintenance and security. She was still trembling as Walt wrapped a protective arm around her. Kent was yelling Carrie had come on to him, not aware the open walkie-talkie told a different story.

  Carrie was embarrassed, wanting it all to go away. Once she was back in her office she talked with Roger, the head of security, it was agreed she wouldn’t press charges. Kent Marshall would be warned, another misstep with female employees or residents and he would be forced to sell his condo and leave the premises.

  She managed to get through the day by doing her hardest to not think about what happened with Kent. Every time she did she flinched from the memory, the boys mentioned she was quiet but she waved it off saying she was tired. They took the hint and went to bed early without her asking. Yet the idea of going to bed and laying in the dark had her up pacing, not wanting to close her eyes. The mindless television blared at a commercial and she turned it off. Okay, maybe tonight she’d sleep with the light on in the bathroom. Turning off the light in the kitchen her heart stopped at the pounding on the front door. Without thinking she opened the door. Rafael looked angry and disheveled, his tie was half-undone and his hair was finger brushed. Her mouth went dry and her stomach flipped at the sight of him.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “What’s the matter? You were sexually assaulted and you barely gave the man a slap on the wrist and you ask me, what’s the matter? Have you lost leave of your senses?” The words were tight and angry, as if he were speaking to a child.

  Hating his anger, she turned away and shifted the robe tighter around her. “It was nothing. He made a grab, there was no damage. Walt was on his way up, there wasn’t much he could have done. I don’t understand why he took a stupid chance. Please leave it, it’s been dealt with.”

  “Bullshit, a typical sexual assault takes less than ninety seconds. The bastard laid his hands on you, he violated you, a virgin and you say it is nothing. It is fucking something and it will not be brushed away. He has been removed from the building a forced sale will be done on his property. His name is dirt in this city.

  If not for yourself, than the other women in this building deserve consideration. This is their home, they expect to be safe here, not have to worry about a fucking pervert running the halls.” He grabbed her wrist but she cried out in pain. Going still, he pulled up the sleeve of the robe and saw her wrists were covered in bruises. The look on his face was scary.

  “Rafael, please don’t.”

  “That bastard.” He hissed out the words and he started for the door.

  Terrified of what he would do, Carried grabbed him, her arms going around his waist and clung. All she had been thinking was to keep him from leaving, now she knew the anger was for Kent not her and now she was afraid of what Rafael would do if he got ahold of the man. She had no idea she was trembling until he whispered the words.

  “Calm down, sweetheart, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere, he’ll never touch you again.”

  Slowly, she was able to calm down, simply enjoying being in Rafael’s arms again. Then something he said struck her, too embarrassed to look at him, she hid her face in his chest. “How did you know I’m a virgin?”

  He went stiff and began to pull away. She clung, not letting him go and he sighed and ran a soothing hand down her back. “Just things you said and the way you reacted.”

  “Is that why you don’t want me anymore? You don’t to be with a virgin.” If she had been thinking, she never would have said the words.

  Sighing, he shook his head. “Carrie, you need to rest. Go to bed.” Taking her arms, he gently but firmly pulled away from her.

  “Do you want to know what scared me the most? He would take the first time away from me when I wanted it to be with you.” She whispered the words, pleading.

  He shuddered, his hands tightened around her arms and Carrie was past thinking, past being scared, past shame at wanting him so badly. Pressing a kiss to the center of his chest, he shook his head and his throat worked but he didn’t speak.

  “Rafael, please. I want you so badly, every time I closed my eyes today I saw him but it’s you that I want. Take me to bed, please.” He groaned her name and she rubbed against him. She was rewarded by the feel of him thick, hard and straining against her stomach.

  “Carrie.” It came out of him a strangled whisper. He had stopped trying to push her away and she knew he was close to giving in. She’d do whatever it would take to push him over the edge.

  The silky white robe matched the see through thigh length nightgown beneath it. Tugging the robe off, she heard him gasp. “I want you to touch me, you asked me if I was inviting your touch that day in the shop and I was. I was just scared by how badly I wanted you. I wanted you to take me then and there, not caring who saw us.”

  His mouth came down on hers and Carrie’s arms went around his neck to hold him to her. Opening her mouth to him, his kiss was as hot as fire, making her blood burn through her entire body. His arms came around her and flattened her against a wall of muscle clenched tight. Her breasts swelled and her nipples hardened with the need to feel him against her bare skin. Even the silk of the nightgown felt rough against her heated body. Rocking her hips to invite more she was rewarded with his growl along her ear.

  Hot air flooded her ear, “Carrie, we can’t.”

  His body betrayed him. He might be saying the words but they weren’t what he meant and Carrie knew Bethany was right. She went still and his arms loosened around her. Without a flicker of shame or embarrassment Carrie slid down his body until she was on her knees. “Fine, it doesn’t have to be we, don’t move and it will just be me.”

  Her hands barely fumbled, it had been something she had dreamed of often enough. In only seconds his pants were undone and she was pulling them down, along with his boxers. When his thick cock was free, she was wet at the sight of him and the need to have him inside her. She saw nothing but the marvel she had set free. Trying to wrap a hand around him wasn’t easy, he was so large her hand didn’t wrap all the way around him. He was so hot and soft yet hard at the same time, she wanted to know what he tasted like. Her mouth was hungry as she licked at the tip of him. Beads of moisture escaped and the taste of him was shockingly good to her. Her tongue swirled around the end of him, wanting more. The tip of his cock was thicker and flared out from the length of him, when her tongue teased the skin beneath his tip he moaned her name louder.

>   Inside Carrie wanted to turn cartwheels at the moan coming out of him. She had no real point of reference on what to do to make this good for him. While she’d seen a man naked before it had been in movies and once years ago a porn Bethany had stolen from her parents. She had only been thirteen, too embarrassed to pay attention and laughed through the few minutes she’d watched. It had been years and Rafael was much larger than she remembered the man being in the video.

  Carrie was also incredibly turned on and her body was screaming with the need for more, thinking was becoming too hard. Need pushed her on, opening wide, she sucked him deeper. His hands went into her hair and her hand grasped him tighter. Her hand began to work the long length of him that her mouth couldn’t reach. Rafael groaned, his hands twisted in her hair. She was relieved when he stopped trying to pull away and began to move deeper into her mouth. When he hit the back of her throat she moaned her disappointment, he groaned and she felt him thicken even more inside her mouth. She moaned again, drawing out her breath, he surged deeper and deeper each time. Carrie understood, it was making him feel good. Keeping up suction she pulled out and then back down and moaned. Rafael swore long and low in Spanish. She didn’t have to know Spanish to know the words were curses. He allowed her control for only a minute longer before he took over again.

  Carrie felt like he was ravaging her mouth and she clung to his hips and reveled in his thrusts. Again and again he met the back of her throat and she would moan at her disappointment. Each time he ground deeper until she thought she couldn’t breathe before at last easing out of her throat. Confusion was high until she watched him grasp his own cock. She understood, then, knew he was coming but didn’t want to do it in her mouth. Not even sure why it meant so much to her, it angered Carrie. She grasped him at the base of his cock and sucked him back into her mouth. Her tongue worked around the head of him. Then he began to spurt inside her, her name on his lips escaped him in a sigh. As he flooded her mouth, she swallowed and she figured out why he had attempted to pull away. She knew most women would have preferred he not release into their mouth but not Carrie. The taste of him while thick and salty was different from anything she had experienced it wasn’t as bad as so many women made it out to be. She also knew she wanted to experience everything with Rafael. She didn’t want him to hold back and protect her from anything about their lovemaking.