Bed Of Lies

by King, Dean

  “No,” Rafe paced the room, his arms crossed in front of him and one finger tapping his chin as he thought. “No, I want to catch him at it. We won’t tell her just yet. I want you to keep an eye on those kids. If anything happens to them, I’ll hold you responsible.”

  “I understand, sir.”

  “Good. Let’s see if we can catch us a kidnapper.”

  *****

  Nina stood outside his apartment door. She was so relieved Beth didn’t put up a fight when she told her Miranda would be picking them up. In fact, she was surprised and pleased that they were in such a rush to go to Miranda’s. At least now she knew they would be safe and they could have fun while she…figured out what she was doing with her life.

  She’d had no trouble getting past the doorman. From the wide grin on his face, he’d been expecting her. He winked at her as he led her to the elevator that would take her to the eighth floor. She could only return his smile as she ducked inside.

  Her stomach rolled, thoughts of losing Rafe consumed her. He’d come to mean so much to her. Lifting an unsteady hand, she rang the doorbell. She bit her lower lip and looked left, right, and saw no one in the elegantly lit hallway.

  The door opened. Surprise widened Nina’s eyes as her arm was caught in a tight grip and she was pulled through the door and into a pair of strong arms. The door slammed shut behind her.

  Rafe tried all day to talk himself into just talking to her. The plan was to get her to trust him, to get her to confide in him, to make her believe his love for her was real. But the instant he saw her those thoughts all but vanished.

  The only thing he could think of was having her close, smelling her delicious scent, burying her in his arms, protecting her from the world. “Nina...Nina...” he whispered, raining kisses along her cheeks. “I need you. I need you like the air I breathe.”

  “Rafe…” Nina gasped, she reached for his shoulders, and melted against him. Her head was spinning, she knew she should stop this, but in the back of her mind lurked the thought of losing him. It threatened her sanity.

  “Ssh, don’t say anything. Just feel,” he eased her back until she was pressed against the door. Gentle hands roamed her body, cupping her breasts, tearing at the buttons that were keeping him from his goal. When he had the shirt open, he pushed her bra down until the dark red tips of her breasts were straining at him, begging for his kiss. He trailed kisses down her neck, collarbone, then to her breasts. Rafe inhaled deeply, and his eyes drifted shut. “I love the way you smell.”

  The tips of her breasts hardened as his lips played, suckling them into his mouth. Something like electricity shot through his body as she ground against him, clutching at him, pulling him closer. He ran his hands down and around to cup and squeeze her bottom through the brown skirt she wore. Rafe held her closer with one hand; with the other, he rolled her panties down her legs letting them fall to the floor. His lips tugged and suckled her breasts while his fingers found the soft curls that hid the treasure he sought.

  Nina couldn’t breathe. She kissed him as if there were no tomorrow, drinking of his sweetness. Lifting one leg, she curled it around his to pull him to her. Her lips plundered his, her hands in his hair. Then she tugged at his shirt, buttons popped everywhere but neither noticed. She ran her hands over his muscular chest, loving his heat and hardness.

  Muscles rippled with every movement as his hand curled around her. Lifting one of her legs, he pulled it up until it was wrapped around his hips. And Nina held on, suckling his tongue, nipping at his lips. Their breath became one.

  Rafe's persistent manhood pushed against the restraints of his clothes. With one hand, he unzipped his pants, letting them fall and kicking them aside.

  Nina reached between their straining bodies, her fingers wrapped around his hard hot shaft. Feeling the velvety smooth texture of his desire sent tremors through her. It was steel, unbendable yet smooth like silk, its heat matching her own.

  “Please Rafe, please, I need you inside me,” she whimpered, nipping at his strong dimpled chin.

  “Yes, baby, I know.” His voice was hoarse and deep with raging desire. Rafe removed his fingers from her sweet heat, her delicate nether lips were swollen with passion. He placed the head of his shaft at her entrance. Without further thought, he pushed forward, burying himself halfway into her welcoming heat. He wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight as his hips did their work, sheathing his length deeper until he could go no more.

  Nina's body pulsated around him where they were attached. Hot, raw, fire burned her mind as she pushed against him, holding tight. She worked her pelvis until his ground against her exposed jewel. She saw stars behind closed eyelids. Her whole body was one throbbing ache. Throwing her head back, she screamed her release as she clutched at him.

  Rafe wanted to hold on for as long as possible, but Nina pulled him deeper. Her body gripped him, squeezing his shaft, making it impossible to think of anything other than the rapture he knew awaited him in her arms.

  Despite his good intentions, he found himself on her fierce and hard. Pushing her onto the door, he held her legs up around his waist. Thrust after mind-shattering thrust, he filled her. His heart raging, his blood pounding in his head, Rafe knew the moment was at hand. The point where she made him forget his name, his age, and simple things like how to breathe or how to stand. His legs turned to water. His harsh cry was lost in her hair as he buried his face in her neck and filled her body with his seed.

  *****

  Hours later, they lay in his bed, all the lights off except for one on the nightstand. It was dark outside; now was the time to put his plan into motion. He would force her to trust him. Share all her secrets with him. Then he would tell her of his love and ask her to marry him.

  Rafe caressed her head where it lay on his chest. He knew she was not asleep, they had just finished a second, slower, round of lovemaking and her breathing had yet to slow.

  Rafe tangled his fingers in her hair and kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to get some water. Would you like some?”

  “Mmmm, no thank you,” Nina stretched against him yawning, one hand trailing over his stomach. “Don’t leave me Rafe,” she whispered with a teasing smile. The meaning behind the words was lost in her soft sigh.

  Rafe looked down at her, all tousled from their play. She looked so good that his heart ached to have her always by his side. Tenderly, he kissed her passion-swelled lips. “I’ll be right back, sweets.” He pulled away from her and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Standing, he forced himself to move towards the light switch beside the door, but her voice halted him halfway there.

  “Do you know how sexy you look walking around like that?” She grinned, red highlighting her cheeks.

  Rafe turned to find her leaning on an elbow, watching him, her sparkling emerald eyes running up and down his body. Her hair fell in wild disarray around her shoulder to lie on the bed. He went back to her. Kneeling beside the bed, he kissed her softly. “Have I ever told you how sexy you look laying around like this?” Nina flushed but nodded. He snapped his fingers. “I did?” She nodded again, laughing. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to keep on saying it.” He kissed her nose and stood, heading for the door once again. Rafe closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. Just before leaving, he flicked off the light, and then closed the door behind him.

  “Rafe!” He heard her frantic voice, but held still. Then he could hear her moving about the room. “Rafe!” The panic in her voice was all too real and he couldn’t stand it a moment longer. He thrust the door open and turned on the light. Nina fell into his arms shaking like a leaf.

  “Baby, what is it?” He held her close and she clung to him. He lifted her head from his shoulder to look in her eyes. Tears turned those beautiful eyes mossy as she stared at him “Tell me, Nina.”

  But she shook her head. “Just hold me, please.”

  “Come here,” Rafe lifted her in his arms. Laying her on the bed, he slid in beside her, pulling the b
lanket over the two of them. “Something scared you, Nina. I need you to tell me what it was.”

  “I can’t,” her voice was that of a child, thin and wispy. “I don’t want to think about it.”

  Rafe put one finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. “Trust me, Nina. I’m here for you.”

  “This is…” she shook her head, her lips trembling.

  “Tell me,” he insisted, his eyes searching her averted face.

  Nina hesitated a moment, then pulled away from him. Sitting up, she wrapped a sheet around her naked body.

  Rafe sat up and leaned back against the headboard. When she looked at him, he opened his arms to her. Like a frightened child, she burrowed into them. He waited, praying she would confide in him.

  Nina looked at his bronze chest beneath her cheek. Small whirls of black hair covered it and trailed down his stomach. How many times had she followed it with her finger?

  She had to tell him of her past, it was time to get it over with. If nothing else, this would make him see her for who she was. After he learned the truth, he would never be able to look at her again, but she would know. One way or the other, she would know.

  She began hesitantly. “I told you I grew up with the nuns at the Manchester orphanage. It’s thirty minutes south of Houston. Most of the nuns were very good to me, they treated me like I was their child. But there was one, her name was Sister Bethany-Ann.” Nina stopped, her eyes closed, she shivered and turned to look into Rafe’s gray eyes. “When I tell you this, it will be the last time I speak of it. I'll never even think of that time. It’s behind me now.” Rafe nodded, his expression grim.

  Nina lay on his warm chest, she listened to the strong reassuring beat of his heart. “Sister Bethany-Ann hated me. She was our Mother Superior. Anything she said or did was gospel. No one could fight her. She took pleasure in my pain. To this day I still don’t know why. For years I was told beauty was a sin, I was made to cover up. She told me I was a child of the devil that I was sent here to tempt the weak flesh of others. I had no idea what she meant, but I believed her. I believed her because she said so. And I was afraid of what I thought I was. My hair was always cut short, my clothes always too big in order not to tempt anyone.” Rafe felt her stiffen, he pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

  “She punished me often, and taught me never to look anyone straight in their eyes or else I would be their damnation. Everything I did was wrong. She locked me in the closet for days with little or no food or water.” She stopped. Rafe caressed her shoulder, rubbing his hand up and down one of her cold arms. He sighed with relief when she took a deep breath and continued.

  “Some times… she would join me in the closet,” her voice caught on a sob. “She made me take off all my clothes so that she could… So that she could beat me for my sins. She…she touched me. In the dark, she touched me, telling me that I made her do it. How I, in all my wicked ways, tempted her, a good servant of the Lord. I was bad and she would beat me harder.”

  Rafe couldn’t stand it, his heart breaking for the pain she’d endured. Small shudders wracked her body as she began to cry while still talking, barely able to get the words out. “Wh…en I turned twelve my…my bo…dy started to change. One da…y she…she pulled me into that damned closet… she touched me…in my private places. She said it was wrong and I was the blame for making her do it. It hurt so bad.” She choked on the words, but they continued to flow. “How I cried. I told her this time I would tell. I would tell everyone who would listen. She beat me with a thick stick. It had thorns on it and it ripped my flesh everywhere it touched.” She turned sorrowful green eyes up to him. “I couldn't walk for weeks. My jaw and one leg was broken.”

  Rafe had to look away in order to keep his composure. “It's okay, Nina,” he tried to hush her, her pain was too much for him. “You don't have to say any more.” But she continued.

  “I was in the hospital for weeks. Sister Mary stood up for me. Finally, she and the other Nun’s tried to force Sister Bethany-Ann to leave the church, but they couldn’t. The woman took a vow of silence and stayed in her room. I never saw her again.”

  Nina's heart crumbled at the way Rafe turned from her. He was repulsed, who wouldn’t be? The pain was worse than she could’ve imagined. Despite his words, she knew he would never want to touch her again. She had thought it would be okay, that she could handle his rejection, but she was wrong. She had to leave before he found out how much his rejection truly hurt.

  His eyes blurred with tears, Rafe turned away so she couldn’t see his weakness. His grip on her never lessened. He didn’t know what to say that could possibly make up for what she’d endured. He wanted to tell her everything would be okay. But the words would not push past the lump in his throat. She jumped from the bed and ran into the living room. His heart in his throat, he followed her.

  “Where are you going?” He asked as she rushed around the room gathering her things.

  “I have to go home,” Nina cried as shame, anger, and the pain of a battered heart ate her soul. She pulled on her clothes looking everywhere but at him. She was taking the coward’s way out by running, but she had too. Sympathy was a hard pill to swallow, but pity was even harder. In the name of pity, people did crazy things. There was no way she could face him and his pity right now!

  “No, stay here! Stay with me Nina,” he pleaded. Going to her, he stood and watched her dress.

  “I have to leave. Please just let me go home.” Rafe stepped aside as she grabbed her keys and purse and ran from the room.

  *****

  “Gran, is Frank around?”

  “Rafe, how are you boy? It’s been so long. When are you coming to see me?”

  “Soon Gran, very soon, but it’s important that I speak with Frank. Is he there?”

  “Yes, here he is,” Rafe could hear his grandmother yelling for Frank and he cringed. She didn’t sound happy. He could imagine her slapping Frank across the back of his head for sleeping so long.

  “What is it?” Frank growled. “I just got in. Can’t it wait?”

  “It’s ten in the morning over there. What do you mean you just got to sleep?”

  “I had other things to do,” he sneered. “What do you want Rafe?”

  “I need you.”

  Frank was quiet for a moment. “I’m on the next flight out.”

  Rafe listened to the dial tone. It was good to know at least that hadn’t changed between them.

  *****

  Rafe arrived at Nina's house with not a little trepidation. Three long and hard days had passed and still he hadn’t heard from her. Would she welcome me? Would she send me away? She hadn’t returned any of his messages.

  Neither had she answered the e-mails he’d sent. She didn’t know he was coming. But he couldn’t wait any longer, he had to see where he stood in her life. It was time to make his move. Frank hadn’t made it to town yet, so he’d had to keep his own counsel for now. He had no doubt Frank would come, but when was the issue. Rafe wondered briefly if he should’ve told his mother everything. But there was no helping it, she knew he was dating Nina. Nina had left him that night and gone straight to Miranda.

  He knew this because when he had arrived at his mother’s house, Nina's car was in the driveway. He pulled into the garage and entered through the servant’s entrance. By the time he found Miranda, she was alone. The moment he stepped through the door and into the tiled hallway, she was on him.

  “What do you think you're doing, Rafael? Tell me before I do something you’ll regret,” she demanded. Her hands on her small hips, her eyes snapping with anger, she confronted him in the dark and echoing foyer.

  “If you would let me come in, I’ll tell you what’s going on.” He barged through and walked past her, then headed down the hallway and into the spacious library. At the far corner of the room he opened a cabinet and poured himself a large drink.

  “What are you talking about? I saw her face when she came here to get the kids. W
hat did you do to her?” Miranda rounded on him, following him into the room. “She wouldn't even talk to me, her face was red and puffy from crying.”

  “Sit down, mother, it’s a long story,” Rafe took a deep swallow from the tumbler, then paused to catch his breath. He turned to find her perched on the edge of a chair, waiting. The fury in her eyes was no match for the turmoil in his heart. “I love her, mother.” He fell into a nearby chair.

  Miranda leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. “What did you say?”

  “I said I love her. I have for a long time.”

  “What exactly is a long time?” She slid into a seat and crossed her arms over her chest. She waited with pinched lips, impatience shining in her eyes. “And what is this crap about being transferred? Does she not know you own the company?”

  “Mother, please,” he reached up and rubbed the icy drink against the side of his aching head. “Let me explain one thing at a time.”

  “You seem to have made a fine bed for yourself,” she snapped.

  He sighed, “Don't you think I know that?”

  “Well, get on with it!”

  He opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. “I met her some time ago. At first I just wanted to sleep with her. Actually, I didn't even want that,” he chuckled dryly, “I just wanted to scare her, she was someplace she shouldn't have been. Then I looked into those eyes and…” Rafe lifted his hands, then let them drop helplessly into his lap. “I love her. But I couldn’t get over the fact that she loved someone else. That she loved him so much she gave him children and planned a life with him.”

  “What?” Her frown had been tremendous as she came out of her seat. “Are you telling me I raised you to be that shallow?” Her gray eyes snapped like lightening.