Until Rayne

by Elle Christensen

  I sighed and used a single finger to lift her chin. “What if we went there together, baby?”

  Her dark eyes became anxious and she shifted edgily.

  “Haven’t you figured it out yet, Rayne?” I asked, failing to mask the impatience in my tone. “I’m not going to let you go.”

  She attempted to extricate herself from my embrace, her face betraying her panic. I kept her there for a moment, but I could tell she wouldn’t really hear me while she felt constricted. I would take Trevor’s advice and back her into a corner, but I had to do it carefully. At the moment, she needed room to breathe.

  “You have to!” she cried out as she crossed her arms and rubbed her arms vigorously. She grabbed my shirt from the floor and slipped it on, the covering acting like a wall for her to retreat behind. “I can’t stay, Nick. I’ll leave eventually and it’s better I do it now before we get truly attached.”

  I bounded out of bed and stood before her, grabbing her biceps firmly enough to keep her in place but not hurt her. “How can you not see that we are already fucking attached? You want me as much as I want you, Rayne. If you’d just drop your defenses and look inward with honesty, you’d have to admit that you want to stay.”

  She shook her head and wrenched out of my arms, dashing to the closet. She came out a minute later, haphazardly dressed and carrying her bag which she started frantically throwing her things inside.

  My hands clenched in frustration as I squelched the need to trap her in my arms and demand she be truthful with herself, and me.

  “I’m not what you want, Nick. You’ll see that when I’m gone.”

  I cursed in exasperation and closed the gap between us. “You’re wrong, baby.”

  With a hand on her waist and another cupping the back of her head, I tugged her up against me. My eyes locked with hers as I told her what I’d been dying to share, what was in my heart. “You’re my boom.”

  “Your what?” she asked in confusion.

  “My boom.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” She placed her hands on my chest and tried to push me away. I wasn’t having that and kept my hold on her secure.

  I tried to explain, “See, there’s this curse and…the Mayson family…it might be contagious...” I sighed. “You know what? Never mind. What I’m saying is, you’re it for me. The moment I saw you it was like boom! I knew you were mine. My one.”

  Her jaw dropped and I took her mouth in a deep kiss. When I pulled back, I told her with all seriousness, “I love you, Rayne. And, I know you love me, too.”

  I attempted to kiss her again, but she used the skills I’d recently learned she possessed and maneuvered herself out of my arms. She grabbed her bag and ran from the room.

  With a string of curses, I dragged up the jeans and T-shirt I’d discarded earlier, then took off after her. I caught up with her just as she was dashing out into the storm.

  “Rayne!” I yelled over the loud pounding of the rain. I grasped her arm and spun her around.

  “Please,” I begged. “Let me in, take down the walls around your heart.”

  She stepped back but didn’t try to free her arm. “We are too different, Nick,” she argued desperately. “I’m a risk taker, always searching for the next adventure, I…”

  “Baby,” I interjected. “There is no greater risk than giving away your heart. I’ve put mine in your hands and I promise, if you let me, I will protect and cherish yours.”

  A softness crept into her expression and I felt hope spring at the possibility that I was getting through to her.

  I kept going, not giving her a chance to come up with a reason to resist. “There is no adventure that isn’t a million times better when you can share it with someone. I want to be with you, to see the world through your eyes, to give you the freedom to choose where we go.”

  Her body lost some of its tension, so I pushed forward. “But, you’re not your parents. I also want to have a place where we can have a stable foundation to rest. Somewhere we can have a true home, leap into the adventure of raising a family. Your spirit can be free, even when you are standing still. Loving you sets me soaring, you free me to be who I am. Let me do the same for you.”

  “I…” she pressed her lips together, fear churning in her eyes. I brought her close and cupped her face, using my thumbs to wipe away some of the wetness on her cheeks. It was quickly replaced as the rain poured heavily over us. “I do love you,” she admitted, her voice raised to be heard over the rain.

  I smiled tenderly. “I know you do, baby.” I placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Stay with me. Take me with you. Be with me, no matter where we are.”

  “I don’t know if I can change,” she said, her voice trembling.

  I shook my head and ghosted another kiss over the corner of her mouth. “I don’t want you to change, baby. I want you to show me every side of you.” I smiled cheekily. “Your Jekyll and Hyde.”

  She snickered, and her lips turned up into a small smile.

  “I’ve shown you mine,” I whispered as I placed my hands on her back and urged her forward until she was only a breath away. “Now show me yours.”

  She hesitated for a moment and I held my breath. Then she threw her arms around my neck and I lifted her up as the air rushed out in relief. Her mouth crashed down on mine and she kissed the ever-loving fuck out of me.

  We were both soaked to the bone, but our trembling was caused by the raging passion between us rather than the cold torrential rain bursting from the sky.

  Eventually, we stumbled inside and headed for the bedroom, discarding our wet clothes and stopping to kiss and touch each other along the way.

  As we entered our bedroom, I swept her into my arms and stalked to the bed. Laying her down, I drank in her beauty, knowing it was a much inside her as out. “Damn, I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Her cold, wet hands slid up my chest to grip my shoulders and I shivered a little. “Cold?” she asked sassily. “I know how we can warm each other up.”

  We burned up the sheets and were warm in no time. After fucking hard, we took it slow and easy, whispering words of love and pouring our souls into each other.

  Epilogue

  Nick

  “Are you ready to go back?” I asked Rayne as I admired her gorgeous body. She was stretched out on a beach in a red bikini, her skin glistening in the heat of the sun.

  It had been six months since Rayne moved in permanently and we were on our first trip together. The beaches in Greece were breathtaking but not nearly as gorgeous as Rayne.

  When she’d first removed her T-shirt and shorts, I almost dragged her back to our hotel room, unwilling to let anyone else see her like that. She glared at me, demanding I keep my mouth shut. I smiled and gave in, but I made her walk to a relatively deserted part of the beach.

  We’d spent the afternoon laying in the sun and splashing around in the sea. I had special plans for the evening, but they were a surprise, so I was trying to be casual about it.

  She raised up on her elbows, gazing out at the pristine water. With a deep, contented sigh, she turned her head and smiled at me. “Sure.”

  We’d been in Greece for a few days and had another four before we returned to Tennessee. I was hoping we’d be spending those days celebrating.

  I helped her clean up our towels and other things before we trekked back up the beach to our hotel. When we arrived at our room, Rayne dumped everything on the bed and headed to the bathroom. I was putting everything away when something flew out of the bathroom, distracting me. It turned out to be the top of Rayne’s bikini. Laughing, I picked it up and was making my way toward her when the bottoms were tossed out and hit me in the center of my chest.

  I pictured her naked body in the shower, rivulets of water running down every inch and was instantly hard and aching for her.

  Tossing her bathing suit away, I walked into the bathroom. My imagination never did justice to the real thing. All I could see through the frosted gla
ss door was her silhouette, but it was enough to have me aching to have her. “Was that an invitation, baby?” I asked with a chuckle.

  She opened the door and poked her head out, her brown eyes heated as she looked me up and down. Her gaze caught on my tented trunks and she smiled seductively. “What do you think?”

  I dropped my trunks and enjoyed the sight of her drinking me in. She licked her lips, then backed up to give me room as I joined her in the shower. “I think you want me to lick every inch of your delicious body,” I stated as I pulled her up against me. “I think you want me to eat you as an afternoon snack. To bury myself so deep inside you that you’ll feel me for days.”

  She moaned and leaned in to lick some of the drips of water off my chest. I took her chin and brought her mouth up to mine. I nibbled and sucked on her bottom lip before sweeping my tongue inside to tangle with hers. I groaned and gathered her up close, leaving no space between us.

  After a few minutes, I slowly backed her up to the wall. I tore my mouth from hers and slowly kissed my way down her body as I dropped to my knees. I gently pushed her thighs apart, so she was standing in a wide stance, exposing her pussy to me.

  I lapped up her juices, moaning at the taste of her on my tongue. “Fuck, I swear you taste better every time.” I threw one of her legs over my shoulder and feasted on her.

  By the time I was done, she’d come twice and was clawing at my shoulders.

  “I need you, now,” she whimpered. “Please.”

  I stood up and grabbed her ass, hoisting her up so her legs circled my hips. Drawing one nipple into my mouth, I bit it lightly before moving to the other rosy peak. My mouth returned to hers, slanting over it to deepen the kiss.

  With the wall supporting her back, I entered her in one smooth thrust. I was practically delirious with my need for her. I fucked her hard and deep, whispering in her ear all the dirty things I’d like to do to her. I drove her up and over the edge twice more before following. I roared her name as I let go and detonated inside her, splashing my cum all over her inner walls.

  When we had both come down off the high of our orgasms, I was still rock-fucking-hard. So I flipped her around and placed her hands on the wall. “Don’t move, baby,” I growled. Then I drove back in and took us both to bliss once more.

  I dropped my head into the crook of her neck, panting hard. “I love you so much,” I mumbled.

  One of her hands came up and reached behind her to caress my face. “I love you too, Nick.”

  Lazily, we washed each other before I turned off the water and stepped out of the shower to grab two towels. I wrapped one around her and secured the other at my waist.

  It took us a little longer than I’d planned to get ready because we kept stopping to kiss and touch each other. Still, we managed to make our reservation. Dinner was full of laughter and talk as we simply enjoyed each other’s company. When the time came to head back to the hotel, I felt my nerves fraying in fear and anticipation.

  We arrived at our room and I opened the door. As Rayne entered, she stopped short and gasped. I’d paid for an extra package and while we were gone, people had come in to spread rose petals all over the room, light candles and left us a silver top hat with champagne chilling.

  Rayne spun around and locked her arm around my neck. She went up on her toes and planted a loving kiss on my lips. “It’s beautiful, Nick. Thank you.”

  I steered her inside and shut the door behind us. She moved into the room and over to the table with the silver bucket. “Are we celebrating something?” she asked.

  I reached into my pocket and took out the item that had been burning a hole through it. Grasping her elbow, I turned her to face me and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

  “We are celebrating us, baby. We are forever.” I took her left hand and held it over my heart. “I want to make it official so everyone else knows that we belong to each other.” Taking her hand from my chest, I slipped a two-carat diamond ring on her third finger.

  Her mouth had formed a small O as she stared at the ring. After a moment, she looked up at me. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

  I raised a brow and smirked at her question. “If that makes you feel better, baby. But, just know, we are getting married.”

  Her lovely brown eyes narrowed. “Sure of yourself, aren’t you?”

  I shrugged and lifted her hand to my mouth, placing a kiss on the ring. “Just telling it like it is. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. For you to be my wife. For everyone to know your mine.”

  Her face softened and she seemed to melt. “Forever huh? You sure you can handle me for that long?”

  I smiled widely and slipped a hand behind her neck, pulling her face close to mine. “Without a doubt, baby. Your screams and moans tell me that I handle you just fine.”

  Rayne shifted, and I knew she was pressing her legs together under her dress. “Forever?”

  “Forever,” I confirmed.

  A bright smile split her face and before she sealed our mouths together, she whispered, “Suit yourself, Loafers.”