by Ruff, K. S.
I rolled over to face her on the bed. “He’s been pushing to go to Ukraine with me. I told him I need to prove to my coworkers that I can do this on my own.” I sighed heavily. “He’s going to Paris to talk to Michael while I’m in Ukraine. He wants to talk to him in person about the two of us dating and his intentions for our relationship.”
A single eyebrow arched questioningly over Lexie’s bright blue eyes. “His intentions?”
I smiled. “For some crazy reason he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. He told me he has every intention of marrying me.”
Lexie groaned dramatically. Then she giggled. “I’m not surprised. I tried to tell you the guy was in love with you when he brought you to Great Falls in November, but would you listen to me? Noooo.”
I grabbed the pillow from behind my head and smacked her with it. I laughed at the stunned look on her face. “You are such a know it all!”
Lexie scrambled to her knees as she hit me over the head with the pillow. “Well, if you’d listen to me, you wouldn’t get into so much trouble!”
I reached for Lexie’s pillow just as Rafael cleared his throat. “If I’d known you were having a pillow fight, I would have come up a lot sooner.”
Lexie bashed me in the head with the pillow as I turned to face Rafael. I glared at her. “You don’t fight fair.”
She shrugged. “Never have. You’ve known me for thirty years, Kri. You should know that by now.”
Rafael laughed. “I hate to break this up, but someone has a flight to catch.”
I grudgingly climbed out of bed. I finger combed the knots out of my hair as I turned to face Lexie. “Do you want to come to the airport with us?”
She shook her head. “No way. I’ll cry, then you’ll cry, then your makeup will be a mess. They’ll make you sit in the back of the plane because you look so hideous, and then you’ll be mad at me the entire flight.”
I lunged for Lexie, pinned her to the bed, and whacked her with the pillow multiple times.
Rafael pulled me off of her. “Give her a hug and say goodbye.”
Lexie eyed me with a bit more respect as she climbed from the bed. “You’ve been working out.”
I nodded as I pulled her in for a rib crushing hug. “I love you, cuz.”
“I love you too,” she responded softly.
Rafael glanced at Lexie as he reached for my suitcase. “Are you still up for going out to dinner tonight?”
Lexie grinned. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“You’re taking my cousin out to dinner without me?” I whined irritably. “Why?”
Rafael laughed. “I kind of like her. How could I not after she threatened to kick my ass if I ever hurt you?”
I narrowed my eyes at Lexie. “You behave yourself while I’m gone. You can use my jeep, and you can stay here as long as you’d like, but don’t even think about redecorating my place with that wild, contemporary art you like so much… and don’t try to negotiate any cows or goats out of Rafael in exchange for my hand in marriage.”
Rafael’s face lit up. “She can do that?”
Lexie laughed. “I hold more sway than her dad!”
Rafael’s eyes met mine. He looked like he’d just won the Super Bowl. “Good to know.”
I tracked Nate down and gave him a quick hug before following Rafael out to his SUV, which he’d parked in front of my garage.
Rafael shoved both suitcases into the back before pulling the passenger door open for me. He reached for my arm just before I slid into the seat. “Wait.”
I tossed my purse onto the passenger seat and turned to face him. “For what?”
His eyes warmed. “For this.” He gathered me in his arms and gazed into my eyes for a good six or seven heartbeats. “I love you,” he finally breathed.
My heart stumbled against my chest as he held my gaze. “I love you too, Rafael.”
He crushed me against his chest as he pulled me in for a passionate kiss.
My lips parted on a sigh. Rafael deepened the kiss. I locked my arms around his neck. I didn’t want to let him go. He hiked my legs around his hips and staggered against the side of the SUV. My head fell back as he began kissing my neck. He nipped at my breasts through my thin cotton shirt.
Desire spun through me as he pressed every hard angle of his body into mine. I tangled my hands in his hair, then gently tugged him from my chest. “You can’t get me all worked up, then leave me hanging like this… not for eighteen days.”
He glanced at his watch, then slammed the passenger side door. He locked the Navigator with his key fob as he carried me toward his garage door. I was still wrapped around his hips and neck.
I giggled as he struggled with the code to his garage.
He grew fiercely determined as he typed the code once more. The garage door hummed as it slid into the ceiling. “You’re lucky Reagan National Airport is ten minutes up the road,” he growled.
He strode through the garage before climbing the stairs to his kitchen. He sat me on top of the center island, pulled my shirt and bra off, then quickly unbuttoned my jeans. I kicked my jeans and panties off. He removed his shirt while I unbuttoned his jeans. I watched as they fell to the floor.
Rafael pulled me to the edge of the counter. I wrapped my legs around his hips. His warm mouth latched onto my breast just before he thrust into me. “Yes,” I moaned.
Rafael’s lips made their way to my other breast as he pressed me against the cold granite countertop. His hands tucked under my back and clamped down on my shoulders as he drove into me. Stars bit at the back of my eyes.
His lips met mine as he pulled me off of the counter. In two short steps, he had me pinned against the wall. His eyes were dark. His voice was husky, possessive, and raw. “I want you to remember this… remember how my body feels buried inside of yours… remember how much I want you… how much I love you, Kristine.”
Rafael held my hands against the wall as he slowly eased away from me. He plunged forcefully back inside, then stilled. My fingernails dug into the backs of his hands as my body quivered. I tightened my legs around his hips, trying to draw him in as he pulled away from me again. “More,” I whimpered.
He drove inside of me in long, hard strokes. I hung suspended with need as he released my hands. He reached behind me to brace his hands between my back and the wall before thrusting even harder.
I braced my elbows on his shoulders and tangled my fingers in his hair. “Yes,” I whispered. “Harder.”
That one word was his undoing. Rafael’s lips crashed against mine as he slammed into me hard and fast… winding me tighter and tighter… then pushing me toward release. We both stilled as he unleashed the perfect storm. I clung to his neck as the waves pulled me under, over and over again.
Rafael held me against the wall until we caught our breath. I untangled my legs from his hips and slid down his body until my feet were on the floor. Rafael kissed me one last time before he released me.
My legs shook as I gathered up my clothes. I glanced at Rafael as he pulled his jeans on. “How am I supposed to live without that for the next eighteen days?”
He tugged his shirt over his head, then grinned. “I make long distance house calls. You say the word, and I’m on the next plane to Ukraine.”
I laughed as I stepped into my jeans. “I just might do that.” I pulled my shirt back on and grabbed my shoes as we made our way back to the SUV.
Rafael helped me into the passenger seat before sliding behind the wheel. He glanced at me as he turned onto King Street. “Do you have your passport?”
I pulled the cell phone from my purse and snapped a picture of him. “Yes, I have my passport.”
He looked mildly annoyed as he turned onto Route 1. “What are you doing?”
I shrugged. “I want to be able to look at your handsome face while we’re apart.”
He chuckled as he reached for his cell phone and snapped a picture of me. “That’s actually a very good idea.” He glanc
ed at the picture and sighed. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to let you go?”
My heart clenched as my eyes met his. “This isn’t easy for me either. Saying goodbye to you has always been difficult for me.”
“I really wish I was going with you,” he noted softly.
I nodded. I was already regretting the fact that I’d told him not to come. “You need to talk to Michael. I think that’s far more important than tagging along with me. Besides, I’ll be teaching all day. The only time we’d get to be together would be in the evenings.”
He shrugged. “That’s not so different from the way our schedule works now. I doubt Michael’s going to want me hanging around in Paris after he hears what I have to say. What if I meet up with you in Sevastopol or in Zurich near the end of your trip?”
I smiled. “You really are determined to join me.”
Rafael blew out a breath as he merged onto the exit for the airport. “The past six weeks with you have been the happiest six weeks of my life. I want a future with you, Kristine. We belong together. I have never been more certain of anything in my life. I don’t like the idea of being parted from you… especially for eighteen days.”
“Okay,” I relented in mock exasperation. “Meet up with me when you’re done in Paris.”
His jaw fell open. “Really?”
I laughed. “Really. I’ll be equally miserable without you, so if nothing more pressing comes up at work or in Paris, then come. Meet me in Ukraine.”
He visibly relaxed as he turned into the short term parking lot.
I shot him a curious look. “Why are you pulling in here?”
Rafael looked confused. “I’m walking you through to security.”
I shook my head. “Seriously, Rafael. You don’t need to do that. Why don’t you just drop me off? God only knows how long that security line is going to be.”
He smiled as he slid the Navigator into a parking spot. “The longer that line is, the more time I get to spend with you.” He retrieved my suitcases from the back of the SUV as I jumped out of the vehicle. He wheeled both suitcases as we made our way toward the ticket counter for Lufthansa.
I checked both suitcases so I’d only have to carry my purse and Kindle onto the plane. Rafael tucked me against his chest as we joined at least eighty other people in the security line. “Now, remember what I said. Don’t trust anyone… not even the authorities. Get a SIM card for Ukraine first thing on Friday. Check in with the American Embassy in Kiev as soon as you get your SIM card. Let them know what you’re doing, where you’re going to be, and how long you plan to be in the country.”
I rolled my eyes.
He tightened his hold on me. “Don’t roll your eyes at me! Call me when you get settled into your hotel each night, so I know you’re safe. Try not to stay out too late. Stay away from the mafia, and don’t let anyone buy you drinks. Don’t take your eyes off your drink if you order one. Scratch that. Don’t drink anything.”
My eyes widened. “Don’t drink? Anything?”
He shook his head at my sarcastic tone. “You know what I mean. Don’t drink alcohol.”
I laughed. “But coffee’s okay?”
Rafael grinned. “Coffee is fine.”
I glanced at him as we moved forward in the security line. “Did you know that we’re not supposed to drink the water unless it’s been boiled? We’re not even supposed to use it to brush our teeth. We’ve also been advised not to eat any fruits or vegetables that haven’t been cooked or peeled. No salad. Nothing that would be rinsed in water.”
He nodded. “You should buy a case of sparkling water and keep it at the hotel. Don’t drink any bottled water that isn’t carbonated. Bottles of uncarbonated water could be filled with tap water. You don’t want to spend your entire trip in bed sick with some parasite or bacteria your body isn’t used to.”
I sighed as we approached the TSA agent. I handed him my passport and my plane ticket before wrapping my arms around Rafael’s neck. “Looks like this is the end of the road for you. I love you.”
He lifted me off the floor as he kissed me. “I miss you already,” he said as he set me back down.
The TSA agent smiled. He nodded toward Rafael as he stepped away from the line. “What’s the matter, you couldn’t squeeze him into your purse?”
I laughed as the guy handed me my plane ticket and passport. “No. Sadly, he wouldn’t fit.”
I waved at Rafael, then blew him a kiss as I joined a short line of people standing in front of an x-ray machine. I kicked my shoes off, placed them in a gray container with my purse and Kindle, and set everything on the conveyor belt. For some unexplained reason, I was chosen for a security pat down. Once I was cleared, I turned around for one last look at Rafael.
He was leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. “Wish it had been me,” he mouthed with a crooked smile on his face.
I grinned as I slid my shoes back on. I reached for my purse and Kindle, then blew him one last kiss.
Shae, Sammi, and Cory were already at the gate when I arrived. Shae gave me a hug when I joined the group. “I was worried you weren’t going to make it in time. They’re boarding in ten minutes.”
I eyed Starbucks longingly. “Do I have enough time to grab coffee?”
Sammi turned toward me and laughed. She was holding a Starbucks cup in her hand. “You better make it quick.”
I sprinted toward Starbucks. God only knew what kind of coffee they served in Ukraine. Thankfully, there was only one person ahead of me in line. I ordered a venti toffee nut latte, extra hot.
I breathed in the rich aroma as I approached the gate. Cory chuckled as I joined them in line. “Are you going to drink it, or do you plan to sniff it the entire flight?”
I grinned. “I’ll drink it once it cools off. I ordered it extra hot, so it should last awhile.”
We boarded the plane and inched our way toward our seats. I dropped into the seat next to Shae. Sammi and Cory settled into the seats across the aisle from me. I leaned my head toward Shae. “Are they an item?”
She laughed. “You’re just now figuring that out?”
I tucked my purse under the seat and snapped the seatbelt into place. I leaned back in the seat, held the coffee to my nose, and inhaled deeply. “I should have let Rafael join us.”
“If I had a smoking hot boyfriend with a flexible schedule who wanted to traipse across the world with me, I would have begged him to come,” Shae responded, fastening her seatbelt.
“Sometimes I can be really, really stupid,” I replied sullenly.
Shae patted my hand. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you plenty entertained.”
Chapter 7 – Set fire to the rain
We arrived in Germany early the next morning. I was surprised Frankfurt was such a metropolitan city. The place had a New York City vibe with its cluster of skyscrapers tucked along the Main River. I was also surprised by the diversity of the population. Thankfully, quite a few people spoke English.
We dropped our luggage at the hotel so we could go out for breakfast while we waited for our rooms to become available. Sammi and Cory were sharing a room together. I was bunking with Shae.
We decided to have breakfast at an outdoor café, which we discovered in a large public market called the Kleinmarkthalle. The weather was crisp and cool. We sat at the café for hours as we sampled a variety of meats, cheeses, breads, and jam. Shockingly, German coffee put Starbucks to shame. It was strong, very rich, but incredibly smooth, with none of the bitterness that I was accustomed to. If it didn’t rival the coffee in Paris, then it came darn close. I purchased a bag of coffee to take home to Rafael before we left the café.
We wandered through the crowded market place after breakfast. I purchased an international calling card from a convenience store, so I could call Rafael when we got back to the hotel. He wasn’t expecting me to call until I arrived in Ukraine, but I was missing him and really wanted to hear his voice.
I w
as exhausted by the time we arrived back at the hotel. We were planning to sleep for four or five hours before taking Sammi out to dinner for her birthday at the King Kamehameha Club. The waitress at the café had recommended the Hawaiian themed dance club. She claimed the place had its very own beach.
I glanced over at Shae, who was already sprawled out on her bed. “Do you mind if I call Rafael before we go to sleep?”
She yawned sleepily. “No. I’m sure I’ll be asleep before your call is even over.” She rolled over and pulled her pillow over her head.
I smiled as I dialed the international number on the hotel phone. I sank back into my pillows as I waited to hear his voice.
“Hello?”
“Hey handsome! All of Germany is missing you.”
He laughed. “An entire country is missing me?”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “It sure feels that way. I’ve looked at your picture at least a hundred times. I really should have taken more pictures of you. I’m a little sad you’re wearing a shirt in this one.”
Rafael chuckled softly. “If you promise to be good, I’ll have your cousin take a picture of me with my shirt off, and I’ll text it to you.”
I paused as I thought through his plan.
“Kristine? Are you still there?”
“Yeah. I’m here. I’m just weighing how much I want that picture against my cousin getting to see you with your shirt off,” I explained.
He laughed. “Your cousin is a happily married woman.”
I giggled. “I know. Have her take the picture, but tell her I said she’s not allowed to touch your chest… because I know she’s going to want to. How was dinner last night? Where did you take them?”
“I took them to Komi.”
I flashed to our tryst with the chocolate mousse. “You didn’t eat chocolate mousse without me, did you?”
“They didn’t serve chocolate mousse this time. They served crème brûlée instead.”
I smiled. “So how did they like the synchronized waiters?”