by Unknown
“Hmm. Let me check that out.” Rafe rolled them over until she was on sprawled on top of him. Then he slid a finger inside her. “Yes, indeed. I think you--” He stopped when he heard her gasp. “Am I hurting you, Lacy? I swear, if this is too soon…”
“No!” She sat up and grabbed his cock, guiding him into her. “Come on, Rafe. I swear I’m going to die if you don’t--” She moaned when he gently eased inside. “Oh, God, but I needed that. Yes, all the way. Don’t you dare hold back even an inch.”
Rafe held onto her slim hips, still afraid this was too soon and he’d hurt her. But she’d have none of his careful handling. She snarled at him and raised her hips then slammed down, taking him all the way to her core. Then she threw back her head, tossing her hair and howling her pleasure.
“Lacy, honey, stop it. I can’t--” Rafe worried that she felt too tight. What if he tore her? She’d told him in one of their phone calls that she’d had stitches. Could she really be totally healed?
She glared down at him and began to move. “You fuck me hard, Rafael Castillo. I mean it.” She shook her head. “Oh, yeah, another reason for me to be mad as hell at you. That last name. Were you ever going to tell me your real one? You asked me to marry you. What name would I take? Huh?” She shuddered, her eyes closed for a moment. When he didn’t move she glared down at him. “Move, damn it! Fuck me hard now or I swear I’m taking the next plane home as soon as we hit Santa Cruz.”
“Fine. But you tell me to stop if this hurts.” Rafe winced when she slammed down on him again. Lacy had never been into pain before. What the hell was this about?
She slapped his face and it wasn’t a love tap. “Shut up and fuck, Rafael.” She leaned forward then, brushing her breasts over his chest before bracing one hand on his shoulder so she could kiss him, angrily, with teeth and tongue. She was pissed and taking it out on his body.
Rafe didn’t mind it. He held onto her hips and finally set the rhythm himself so he could force her to ease up. He kept one hand on her hip and another on her breast and kissed her this time. He teased with his tongue until her mouth relaxed and she gave him what he wanted, the kind of kiss they shared when they made love with pure pleasure.
He knew what she liked and this new aggressive Lacy was going to have to calm the hell down. Her orgasm was about to shudder through her, he knew the signs. She dug her claws into his arms, arched her back and growled like she was about to shift into her cat. He knew she wouldn’t but it would be a near thing when he took her over the edge.
He rolled again, sliding her under him so he could look down at her when she came. He loved to see her look of bliss when that happened. He moved a hand down to find her swollen clit. A stroke of his fingertip and she howled.
“Rafe!” She held his sacs in her hand, squeezing, squeezing as if to punish him. He could take it. His own release thundered through him.
“I love you, Lacy.” Rafe pushed into her one last time, holding onto her so that she got every last bit of him. They shuddered together and he felt her toenails rip a path up his legs.
“God help me but I love you too, Rafael.” She sobbed against his neck, clearly spent as she held him tightly. “You demon bastard. I don’t know why I’m forgiving you. Promise me. No more secrets.”
Rafe pushed back her tangled hair and rubbed away tears from her flushed cheeks. “Look at me, Lacy.” He waited until her eyes met his. Glorious eyes, the color of new grass. Did she have secrets? He knew better than to ask.
Chapter Twelve
“I promise. No more secrets.” He pulled out from her and lay back so she could rest on his chest.
“Thank you.” She purred as she stroked his stomach. Her fingers circled his navel. “I know I was a bitch to you.”
“Feel free to mistreat me like that any time.” Rafe kissed the top of her head. “But are you sure you’re okay? You were rough on yourself, not just me.” He sat up and looked her over. Was that blood streaking her thighs? He got up and went into the bathroom, wetting a washcloth. “Baby, you’re bleeding.”
“It’s normal. I need some feminine products.” She flushed and glanced at the door. “It’s what happens after childbirth since I’m not nursing anymore. I’ll have to ask Chica.”
Rafe went back into the bathroom and came out with a box of tampons. “Will this do?”
“I’ll shower first. And the answer to your question is that I’m fine. How about you? I got a little carried away.” She got up and walked around him. “Your legs are bleeding.”
“My wildcat.” He pulled her to him and kissed her hungrily. Finally he brushed her hair back from her face and smiled. “I’m just surprised someone didn’t come to check on us. The clan is taking my word for it that you’re okay. For all they know you’re another Shiloh, out to kill another potential clan leader.” Rafe followed Lacy into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature. “Of course I wouldn’t be a popular choice anyway. That look at my demon earlier sealed the deal.”
“Clan leader? You?” Lacy stepped into the small shower stall.
Rafe realized there was no way two of them could fit into the tiny stall so he sat on the closed toilet while she washed off. When she got out and dried off, he jumped in for a quick rinse.
“Rafe, answer me. Are you thinking of staying in the Canary Islands and leading the clan?” Lacy left the bathroom to pick up the sweat pants again.
“It will never happen, Lacy. My grandfather expected it, but he’ll still run the clan now that we have the antidote.” Rafe left her alone in the bathroom for some privacy. When she came out, she was dressed and frowning.
“What if he doesn’t make it?”
“Then either my grandmother takes over or Tomas should be the leader.” Rafe had wrapped a towel around his waist. His clothes were in another cabin. “The clan would never accept a demon in charge. Besides, I know we shouldn’t live this far from your family. It wouldn’t be fair.”
“To who? Me? The children?” Lacy sat on the bed then jumped up again. It was a mess and she quickly made it up until you couldn’t tell they’d just acted out a scene from a hot novel there.
“Both. If the kids turn out to be cats, they need to be raised near a family of were-cats. And I’ve been away from the clan too long to suddenly come in and take over now. Even if the demon thing wasn’t a factor.” Rafe thought about how the village had looked. Someone needed to step up though. He hated how things had gone so far downhill. He and his grandfather needed to have a serious talk. With Shiloh gone, maybe Abuelo would stick close to home now anyway. His brush with death should convince him that his priorities needed adjusting.
“Well, I don’t want you to sacrifice your heritage for us.” Lacy bit her lip. “Maybe there’s a compromise.”
“Baby, I turned my back on the clan long ago. Did you look at the other people with you when I showed up in my demon form earlier? Horrified is an understatement. I left in the first place because they hated my demon side. I was bullied, taunted, and treated like a second class citizen.” Rafe wasn’t about to share all of the things he’d put up with as a child. He decided then and there he’d never tell his children about their demon heritage. Not unless… No, surely they would be untainted.
“That’s terrible!” She rushed to put her arms around him. “Surely, after what you did for them tonight, all that will change.”
“Don’t count on it, Lacy. I did what I had to for my grandfather. He was always decent to me. But the rest of the clan, except for my brothers and a few cousins, are very wary of me. Of demons in general. Who can blame them for that?” Rafe held onto his woman. He took comfort in her warmth, her acceptance. It was a miracle to him.
Rafe wanted to make sure Lacy understood the clan attitude. “We’ve seen those demons who gave Glory hell. My mother is one of the worst. Can you blame people for wanting to get me out of the clan? They had no idea how much of her depravity I would eventually manifest. Trust me, what I did tonight was all well and good, but it w
asn’t nearly enough to buy my acceptance.”
“That’s not right.” She looked ready to face off with the lot of them.
“Maybe not, but it’s reality.” Rafe kissed her and left her to find his clothes.
He saw Chica with a hair dryer enter Lacy’s cabin as he headed for the deck. His brother surrounded by the others. Tomas had the shifters spellbound as he described the scene with Shiloh.
“I tell you, Rafael was outnumbered but he stood up against all of them. Then he dragged that bitch by her hair to her house. That was after he set half the village on fire with just a look.”
“Not quite half the village, hermano.” Rafe stepped up beside Tomas. He would have liked a show of affection, the abrazo that men give each other when they are moved by pride. Instead, everyone in the clan took a step back and eyed him warily.
“But you did start the fire with your eyes. I saw you do it.” Tomas leaned against the rail, trying to make the distance between them look casual, not like he was now afraid of his brother after he’d seen his demon in action.
“Yeah, that’s one of my tricks.” Rafe gazed around the crowd. They’d seen his ugliest form and it had changed the dynamics of the group forever. Of course he’d never planned to take over leadership of the clan, but now there wasn’t a chance in hell that these people would accept him in that role.
“Rafael.” Marguerite, ballsy woman that she was, actually stepped closer. “We know you did that for Matias. And we appreciate it.”
“Yes, Marguerite speaks for all of us. We are headed now to the fueling station to meet Paco. He will take you and the antidote to Santa Cruz. It’s too far for you to shift and we think the fastest way to get it there is by speedboat.” Miguel wasn’t moving any nearer or looking Rafe in the eye either. “I,” he cleared his throat. “Well, I don’t know how you do what you did, but I’m sure none of us could have handled that witch. You are a hero tonight, Rafael. We won’t forget it.”
There was a murmur and nods from people in the loose circle that had formed around Rafe. Oh, he believed that. That they’d never forget this night. He knew his demon was a horrifying reminder of his mother and how she’d stolen his father from the clan. He didn’t bother to thank Miguel, just turned when Lacy came up the stairs and straight to his side. The fact that she showed no fear, even put her arms around him, should have shamed the group. Instead, they studied her as if even more suspicious of this were-cat from America. He overheard a whispered question. Could Rafael’s woman have demon blood as well?
“How soon until we get to Paco and the boat?” He kept his arm around Lacy.
“Half an hour.” Miguel glanced at the sky. “The weather is going to be bad, amigo. Maybe you should wait until morning. Paco doesn’t want to take you tonight. I talked to him on the radio.”
“If he won’t take us, we’ll use his boat anyway. Grandfather can’t wait.” Rafe gestured to Ed who stood head and shoulders above the rest of the men. He’d stayed in the back of the crowd. “Eduardo, I seem to remember you are handy on the water. Could you take us to Santa Cruz in Paco’s boat? Will you?” Ed was one of the few men in the group who didn’t seem afraid of him. He appreciated his loyalty and wouldn’t forget it.
“Sure.” He looked back at the steering station. “Let me check the weather. If a really bad storm is expected, it would be stupid to strike out now.”
“Stupid or not, we need to chance it. Grandfather can’t afford for us to wait.” Rafe looked down when he felt Lacy’s elbow in his ribs. “What?”
“I’m going with you.” She was deadly serious.
“Not a good idea, sweetheart.” Rafe dragged her to the stern where they could have some privacy. “Seriously. You hated your first ride in that little boat. Now, with bad weather sure to dog us, it will be even worse. Are you willing to risk that?”
“Rafe, I’m going.” She held onto him.
“If we have trouble, Ed and I can shift out of there and fly on into Santa Cruz. You can’t.” Rafe hated to play that card, but it was the damned truth. “You’d be a liability. I’d be worried sick about you.”
“Give me a life jacket and leave Ed and me on the boat. You can fly in alone with the antidote. Surely you can take it in a pocket or something. I’ve seen you carry stuff before when you shifted into something small.” She had a stubborn tilt to her chin. Rafe wanted to kiss it.
“Yeah, it’s in my pocket now, well protected.” Rafe patted his cargo pants where he’d stashed it after getting it back from Tomas. “I can take it if I shift, but, baby, you have no idea how horrific the weather can get on the Atlantic. The boat could capsize. You could be thrown into the water.”
“So we hang onto the hull and you send out a search and rescue team. Ed will stay with me. I won’t drown.” Lacy ran her finger down his cheek. “That bitch marked you. She must have had sharp fingernails.”
“You have no idea. And you have no idea how crazy you sound right now. That speedboat probably doesn’t have a transponder and the Atlantic is huge.” Rafe grabbed her hand. “Shit. You’re determined, aren’t you?”
“You can’t leave me here with people who think I might grow horns and speak in tongues any minute.” She sighed and hugged him hard. “Yes, I see how they’re looking at us. I love a demon. So in their eyes that likely makes me a demon too. Understand?”
“Chica tell you that?” Rafe rested his cheek on her soft hair. Lacy had come on deck looking like a fashion model. She’d even found a dark green t-shirt that made her eyes look like emeralds. If she was going with him, she’d do better to put on one of Ed’s shapeless sweatshirts.
“Yes, she’s the only one here who seems to like me. But your demon show has everyone here eager to see the last of both of us.” Lacy stepped back. “Now are we going together or do I have to swim after the boat until you turn around and pick me up?”
“You’re impossible.” Rafe kissed her then, he couldn’t help himself. “You ready to accept this first?” He dug into one of his deep pockets and pulled out the ring box he had kept with him since that night Lacy had thrown it in his face. It had been in his pocket when Tomas had basically kidnapped him. Now he was glad to have it.
He got down on one knee. “Lacy Devereau, love of my life, mother of my children. You are insane to love me but I can’t imagine a better woman to spend the rest of my life with. Will you marry me?” He opened the box and held it out to her.
Lacy teared up. God, how he loved her.
“Yes! I’ll even take your name, whatever you decide to call yourself. Castillo, Valdez. I don’t care.” She snatched the ring and shoved it on her finger, then dragged him to his feet and threw her arms around him. Her kiss said it all.
Rafe was aware of applause and shouts of approval from the crowd. He might not be Mr. Popularity here but love was always a good thing to his people.
“Well now. You have made me very happy.” He kissed her ring finger and smiled at Chica who came up to hug Lacy. A few other women edged closer to admire the ring.
Lacy was glowing as she held his hand and accepted best wishes. He was just relieved that this was settled. He wanted to stake his claim on her. He’d spend the rest of his life making sure she didn’t regret her decision to take a chance on him.
“Too bad you’ll just get your hair wet again on the speedboat. Chica must be a hairdresser in her regular life. You look fantastic.” He knew they were getting close to the harbor where Paco was docked.
“She is. She’s a genius with a brush and blow dryer. I wish she’d come back to Austin with us, if that’s where we end up.” Lacy tossed her hair back over her shoulder.
“I do think Austin is where we belong.” Rafe glanced toward the part of the deck where the men in the clan had gathered. Tomas was gesturing, still trying to calm them down about his brother the demon. He saw several of them crossing themselves after looking his way. Lacy obviously noticed too.
“Austin. Good. If these people are going to treat you like y
ou’re the Anti-Christ, then to hell with them. I sure don’t want to raise our children in such a negative environment.” She held onto Rafe’s hand. “They’re going to grow up learning that their father is a hero, facing down evil when he has to. They will certainly never hear a whisper that he could be from the Devil himself.” She glared at the gathered shifters. “Ungrateful sods.”
“Hmm. Well, thanks.” Rafe saw lights in the distance. “Look, we’re there. Last chance to change your mind and stay aboard. You and Chica can stay in a cabin and play beauty salon. It’ll only take a day, two in bad weather, to get to Santa Cruz on this rig.”
“Play beauty salon?” Lacy popped his arm with her fist. “You make me sound like an airhead, Rafe. I’m coming. So grab what you need while I go get that sweatshirt. I know it’ll be cold on the water.” She raised an eyebrow. “Bet you thought I wouldn’t think of that, didn’t you?” She turned and ran to the stairs, blowing him a kiss as she disappeared. In a few minutes she was back by his side, obviously determined not to let him out of her sight in case he tried to leave without her.
Rafe realized he was glad she was going. By the time he and Ed had commandeered Paco’s boat and made sure they had a full tank, he was on edge and glad of Lacy’s warm presence as they struck out across the dark Atlantic in strong winds and a choppy sea. Ed assured them he knew what he was doing and could use the GPS on the boat to get them to Santa Cruz. He revved the motor and they took off, the encouraging shouts of the people on the No Reglas ringing in their ears.
No Rules. Too bad that applied to the water and the weather. It kept getting worse, the waves running against them. This was not the night for a fast ride in a small boat. When the rain started, Rafe insisted Lacy stay inside the small cabin while he helped Ed steer against swells as high as skyscrapers. The boat was tossed about and made little headway as driving rain lashed them. They all wore lifejackets now and Ed insisted they tie themselves to the boat when waves kept washing over the gunwales. It was obvious that shifting and trying to fly in the horrible weather conditions would be suicide. They were going to have to wait for it to clear.