by Nina Croft
“I need to shave and shower. Come with me?”
He threaded his fingers with hers and led her into his bedroom. Once inside, she tugged at his hand and turned to face him. She didn’t want to wait. Her body craved his touch, hungered to be filled. The feelings were so new, and she felt lost, off-balance, needing his touch to ground her in this new world. “Kiss me, Rafe.”
Sliding his hands under her hair, he tilted her head and lowered his mouth to hers. The kiss was everything she remembered, hot and hungry. Her whole body tightened as his tongue pushed into her mouth, sliding against her tongue, and she melted from the inside.
He raised his head. Desire burned in his eyes as he plucked open the buttons down the front of her camisole, parting the material and slipping it from her shoulders. Bella lost the ability to think as his hands slid across her skin, up over her rib cage, to cup her breasts. Her skin flushed, sensitive; her nipples hardened to tight little points. His long, tanned fingers framed her curves, and Bella had never seen anything so sinfully erotic. Then he trailed a finger over one swollen pink nipple, and her body clenched with desire, a pulse starting between her thighs. Reaching up, she clutched his shoulders for support as her legs went weak and a wave of heat engulfed her. He kissed her slowly, his tongue thrusting leisurely into her, while his clever hands played with her breasts until she was a mindless mass of quivering need.
She hardly noticed as his hands went to her waist, opening the buttons of her jeans. He pushed them down over her hips without ever breaking the kiss.
…
The blood thundered in his veins, and he ached viciously to be inside her.
But he was sure there had been no one since Gary; he needed to take things slow though every cell in his body screamed to take her fast, make her his, show her how it could be between them.
Without releasing her mouth, he stroked his palm over the flat plane of her stomach and flirted with the curls at the juncture of her thighs. Her jeans were in the way, and he pushed them lower. She wriggled and kicked free of them to stand before him naked. For a second he stared, unable to take his eyes from her—he’d wanted this for so long. Then he cupped her in his palm, pressing upward, and she stilled in his arms. He rotated his hand against her softness and felt her melt.
“Oh.” She whispered the word against his lips.
Rafe raised his head and stared down into her wide-open eyes as he slowly slid one finger between the folds of her sex. Something relaxed inside him as he encountered the evidence of her arousal. Hot and slippery with desire, and his fingers glided over her with ease. He found the opening to her body and dipped one finger inside. She was so tight, her muscles clenching around him, and he had to fight for control as a wave of raging lust washed over him.
Sliding his moistened finger up to find the small bundle of nerves, he teased her lightly, taking note of her reaction. Her lashes fluttered, and a slightly panicked look entered her eyes. “I don’t…I can’t…”
But despite the protestations, her hips pushed toward him. He shifted her so one arm supported her around the waist. Pushing his middle finger inside her, he stroked the swollen nub with the pad of his thumb, and she fell apart in his arms.
He held her close as she jerked against him. As the tremors subsided, he touched her lightly, and she came again so sweetly.
He fumbled between their bodies and freed himself. Then he reached into his back pocket, pulled out the foil packet, tore it open, then quickly rolled the condom over his erection.
Glancing up, he found her gaze fixed on him, eyes wide. “I’ve been like this for the entire past week,” he said. “And if I don’t get inside you soon, I’ll likely go insane.” Unable to wait any longer, he backed her against the wall, grasped her hips, and lifted her. “Wrap your legs around me.”
Her long legs clasped him around his waist, and her scorching heat pressed against him.
He slowly pushed himself inside her, and the feeling was so fucking good. He paused when he was in as far as he could go, sighed against her skin. “You okay?” he murmured.
Her face was flushed, her eyes half closed, dazed, but she gave a small nod. He started moving inside her, shoving in and out of her slick heat, his hands holding her firmly in place, his eyes, then his lips, playing over her naked breasts, her face.
Her lips were slightly parted, her breaths short and fast. Part of him said to go gentle, but her hips bucked against him, urging for more. His speed increased until it was wild, the pressure building at the base of his spine, spiraling out of control, and he knew he was close. Moving one hand between their bodies, he stroked the most sensitive part of her until she exploded around him, her muscles tightening on his cock sending him tumbling headlong over the edge. Her lips parted in a scream, and his mouth came down on hers, silencing her, as raw pleasure flooded his system.
Afterward he slumped, head in the curve of her neck, her legs still around him, as his heart slowed to normal. He didn’t want to move, it felt so right, but the position couldn’t be comfortable for her.
Slowly he pulled away, lowering her to the ground and grabbing hold of her arms as her knees gave way. He picked her up and carried her to the bed.
“So much for taking things slowly,” he murmured as he sank down to the mattress with her still in his arms.
…
The frantic beating of her heart steadied. Slowly, Bella became aware of her surroundings.
She licked her lower lip—it was tender from his kisses. Little tremors of pleasure still rippled through her body, and she clamped her thighs together. She’d never known it could feel like this. Already she longed for more.
She was naked, cuddled on his lap as he sat on the bed leaning against the headboard, long legs stretched out. “You didn’t even take your clothes off.”
“I got carried away.” He stroked the hair back from her face. “Are you okay?”
She gave a weak laugh. “I’m not sure ‘okay’ covers it.”
“I know it’s been a while for you. I should have been gentler. But, querida, you don’t make me feel gentle.”
When he said querida in that husky voice, little shivers ran through her.
Would she ever get enough of this?
Chapter Eleven
Rafe worked long days, disappearing from their bed in the early hours. But he spent the evenings with her, and they ate dinner together in the small informal dining room, as opposed to the huge formal one that looked like it seated at least fifty. Mostly, Rafe would talk and Bella would listen. She loved listening to his voice. The topics were varied and impersonal, on purpose she presumed, but made her realize how cut off from the real world she’d been in Spain.
And he touched her all the time, little gestures he didn’t seem aware he made. A hand at her waist. A finger stroking her cheek. She warned herself they meant nothing, but she found herself waiting for them.
And afterward, they’d go to his huge bed and make love.
She never thought she’d get enough of him.
In bed or out.
She spent her days showing Spanish and French tourists around London and making friends with Charles. She’d also been to a doctor and sorted out contraception—whether they had a baby or not, it wouldn’t be yet. On the fifth day, Rafe arrived home early.
“I’ve brought you a present,” he said as he came through the door into the sitting room where she was curled up on the huge sofa reading. Bella sat up and waited for him to produce a jewelry box, or something similar, the refusal already hovering on her lips.
“It’s in the kitchen with Charles,” he continued.
In the kitchen? A coffeemaker perhaps? Her own personal freezer? Everything she came up with seemed highly unlikely. Curious, Bella followed him out and down the hallway.
In fact, the kitchen appeared empty, Charles nowhere in sight. She paused just inside the door and looked around. Then down, and found her present.
“He’s called Toby,” Rafe said. “I know
you like dogs. I thought he could keep you company.”
A dog. Rafe had bought her a dog. Toby was small, with black wiry fur and beady brown eyes that regarded her anxiously. He was actually quite ugly.
“He’s not a puppy, but I thought you’d prefer an animal from the rescue center instead.”
Her gaze shot to his face. “You went to a rescue center to get me a dog.”
“Yes, and for a while there, I thought they weren’t going to hand him over. Apparently, they do house checks, and I wasn’t a good bet as I’m out all day. I told them the dog wasn’t for me, but they said if he was living in my house… In the end, I explained about Charles.”
“And that worked?”
“Well, that and the donation.”
Bella stared at the little dog as he sat between them on the flagged kitchen floor, gazing up at her. She couldn’t believe he’d bought her a dog.
Crouching down, she reached out a hand, and Toby licked her fingers.
“I know he’s not the most attractive dog ever, but apparently he’d been there a while and…”
“You felt sorry for him.”
Rafe ran a hand around the back of his neck and looked vaguely uncomfortable. “Something like that. But we could take him back and get you a pedigree puppy if you’d prefer.”
Bella picked him up and cuddled him close to her chest. “Don’t you dare.”
She’d had a dog in Spain. A stray who’d adopted them as soon as they moved in, but he died last year, and she’d missed him terribly. She’d been waiting for another to turn up as they always did where she lived.
Toby would have loved Spain. As long as he didn’t get too used to living in luxury in Belgravia, he’d be okay. She had a momentary worry about what she’d do if her job came through. But she pushed it aside. Time to worry about that after the interview. Amazingly, the company had called her back for a second meeting in a few days’ time. She hadn’t yet mentioned it to Rafe.
“Thank you.”
She stepped close to Rafe, leaned up, and kissed him on the cheek, with the little dog between them. “It’s the nicest present anyone has ever bought me.”
Rafe shook his head. “Well, I did consider a diamond necklace, but I thought you might throw it in my face, and I wanted to give you something you could love.”
Charles appeared at that moment carrying a huge pile of doggy equipment, a bed, leads, blankets, bowls. He placed it all on the table and turned to face her. As usual, she had no clue what he was thinking.
“Where would you like them?”
“In my room, please.”
“Wouldn’t the kitchen be more suitable? Or the garage perhaps?”
She grinned. “Probably, but I’d still like him in my room.”
“I thought he’d keep you company,” Rafe said.
She glanced up from cuddling Toby. “You’re going away again.” It wasn’t a question. He’d warned her, but still she couldn’t believe her disappointment.
“I have to go to Rome tomorrow.”
“How long?”
“I’m not sure. You could come with me. Do some sightseeing. Visit the Colosseum. We could go together.”
For a moment, she seriously considered it. But she had work tomorrow, and the second interview coming up. She couldn’t take off. She needed to get her life in order—this was very likely a time-out, and she shouldn’t forget that. “I have to work. Besides, I can’t leave Toby alone so soon.”
He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. “Okay.”
…
Four days later, and Rafe still wasn’t back. After Rome, he’d headed for Madrid. She missed him desperately, even though he called her each day. And that scared her. Maybe she wasn’t the sort of person who could sleep with someone and not feel emotion. She remembered Rafe’s warning that this would change their relationship. And he’d been right. She doubted she could ever go back to thinking of him as just a friend. So where did that leave her? Would she have to cut him out of her life when their affair was over? Just the thought made her queasy.
She passed the time, though. Amy had come for dinner one night, and Charles had served them in the huge formal dining room where they’d giggled uncontrollably through the whole meal. But he had refused to let Toby sit at the table.
Afterward, Bella had taken Amy on a tour of the place, including the swimming pool and gym in the basement. Amy had been very impressed. They’d ended up in Bella’s favorite room—the wine cellar—drinking a bottle of red Charles assured them wouldn’t be missed.
“So how’s it going?” Amy had asked.
“I don’t know,” she replied. Though truthfully, it was more that she was trying not to think about the future. Just living in the moment. Which was new for her and left her feeling as though she balanced on the edge of a precipice.
On the morning of the fifth day, Rafe phoned to say he’d be back that evening. It was also the day of her second interview. If she was successful, she’d have to talk to him about her new job and the fact that she’d very likely be leaving.
…
“Mrs. Sinclair, could you come in please?”
Bella stood, smoothed the skirt of Amy’s little black suit, and went back into the office.
“We’d like to offer you the position. Starting next month.”
Bella waited for some sort of emotion. But she felt numb.
“This is a management training program and as discussed, you will be expected to spend time in our other offices. You’ll have a month of orientation in London first, and then you’ll move to our head office in San Sebastian for a year. I take it that’s still not a problem.”
Was it?
With the starting date they’d mentioned, the end of that first month in London would just about coincide with Rafe’s three-month time limit for a relationship. Would he even want to see her after that? Maybe this was for the best. A good clean break. She tried to ignore the stab of pain to her heart. She had to be strong.
“Of course,” she murmured.
The job was perfect for her. She could use her languages, and it was an excellent opportunity for someone with no experience. She should be really happy.
And she would be. One day. Soon. Maybe.
They spent half an hour going through details. Bella tried to take it all in and not to think what having this job might mean.
She switched her phone on as she stepped outside. There was a message from Gary’s father asking if they could meet, and she punched in his number.
“I have to go away for a while,” he said. “I wondered if you had time to meet for a drink. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”
She planned to meet Rafe in a bar close to his office. But she had an hour before he’d arrive, so she arranged to meet the colonel there.
“Call me Mark,” the colonel said as he led her to the table.
She glanced at his face. “I’m not sure I can.”
“Well, try. You can’t keep calling me colonel.” He grinned. “You could always call me dad.”
The idea boggled her mind. “I don’t think so, Mark.”
The table was situated in a small window alcove, and Bella sat and stared out onto the street, watching the people walk past. It felt weird sitting here with Gary’s father. He’d been such an authority figure when she was younger, which had always increased her underlying need to behave badly.
“You look fabulous,” he said. “Positively glowing. So how are things going with Rafe?”
Bella wasn’t quite sure how to answer. What was she supposed to say? The sex is out of this world, but it’s only temporary. It hardly seemed an appropriate comment to make to one’s father-in-law. She broke off a piece of breadstick and nibbled it while she attempted to come up with a more politic answer.
“Okay. But his life is just so different.”
“He’s rich. Very rich.”
“I know.”
“You don’t sound happy about it.”
“It
doesn’t really affect me so I try to ignore it. But…” She shrugged. “That sort of wealth is unreal—I can’t even begin to comprehend it, so I don’t try.”
“Yeah, you can buy anything with that sort of money.”
She glanced at him sharply. Was he going to accuse her of going after Rafe’s money as well? “He hasn’t bought me.”
“I never said he had,” Mark replied. “But you’re not his usual type.”
Bella snorted but decided not to comment.
“What?” he asked.
“Well, you’re not the first person to mention that.” She studied him for a moment. “Did you think I married Gary for his money?”
Shock flared on his face. “Never.”
“So it really was just that you thought we were too young?”
“That, and you were a little wild.”
It was true. Though maybe “little” was being kind. Now she could see she’d been hurting. “My dad didn’t want me,” she said. “I guess I was making him pay.”
The colonel regarded her, one eyebrow raised. “Why would you think that?”
“My mother told me…” She trailed off. “My father refused to take me, even for holidays.” She could still remember the pain those words had caused, spurring her to make her father pay.
“If she told you Sam didn’t want you, then she lied. God, that woman was a bitch. It’s good you take after Sam and not your mother.”
“I do?”
“Yeah. Did you know your dad tried to get custody of you when your mother left him?”
“No.” This meeting was rewriting history. Why had she never questioned what her mother had said after the divorce? She shook her head. “Oh God, and I was so horrible to him.”
“I think he enjoyed it. Used to call you a chip off the old block, said you would have made a great soldier—apart from the fact that you were crap at taking orders.”
“I never did what he told me on principle—I was a brat.”
“Well, Sam was the same—he was busted down to private more times than anyone I know. He could never do what he was told—but all the same he was a great soldier; his men loved him.”