Betrayed: Days of the Rogue (54 page)

“I doubt I would have been up to
that.”

Rafe drew her close, resting his
chin on top of her head. “It was poor timing. If I hadn’t had to
leave right away, I could have helped you work through the
experience.”

Tilting her head, she looked up at
him. “A bit of distance was probably a good thing anyways. I think
I was so shook up by the whole episode I wouldn’t have been too
receptive to anything you had to say. All I wanted to do was to get
as far away from Grassy Hills as I possibly could. I needed some
time alone to sort things out and gain some perspective.”

“And now?”

“Now…” She took a deep breath. “I’m
ready for our relationship to continue, even if you are a
werewolf…if you want it to, that is.”

Rafe cupped her cheek and leaned
closer, his lips but a whisper away from hers. “I…” He kissed her.
“Definitely.” Another kiss. “Want to.” What had started out as a
quick peck grew into something longer, deeper, and far more
sensuous. When he finally pulled away, he exhaled slowly. “I really
did miss you, Eve.”

She licked her lips, savouring the
taste of him. He was watching the movement of her tongue and the
imp inside her spurred her onward. Wetting her lower lip, she then
dragged her teeth across it while looking up at him through her
lashes. “I’m not sure you’ve thoroughly convinced me.”

“Oh, no?” With a growl, he pulled
her flush against him and slammed his mouth down on hers. What
followed was almost an orgy of kissing as if he were trying to make
up for lost time. Lips slid over lips, tongues tangled, tender nips
were exchanged.

Clinging to his shoulders, Eve
savoured the feel of his body pressed to hers. Hard muscles under
her palms, the feel of his hand gripping her hair. He nudged his
thigh between hers and she rocked against it, not holding back the
whimper of need. It had been too long since she’d experienced
release.

She began to pull his shirt free
from his pants, then worked at the buttons, eager to feel his bare
skin. Rafe must have been of a similar mind for he was making short
work of her own clothing, bunching her sweater, unhooking her bra.
He worked one hand between them and cupped her breast, rhythmically
kneading her flesh.

Eve bunched the material of his
shirt in her hands; his palms, roughened by his days repairing the
cabins, gently abraded her skin causing goose bumps to appear. She
shivered in delight when, breaking off their marathon kiss, he
turned his attention to the cord of her neck. He gently bit down
while spanning her ribs with his hands. Leaning back to give him
better access to her flesh, she sighed in delight, and revelled in
his tender ministrations before the need to give as well as receive
had her unknotting his tie and dealing with the buttons on his
shirt. Once it was open, she caressed his chest, teasing him as he
was teasing her.

“Eve…” He hissed her name when she
raked her fingers gently down his chest to his stomach. “You’re an
evil minx.”

She made no attempt to disagree,
instead chuckling and pushing her hips against his. Rafe grabbed
her waist, holding her close and she undulated against him, feeling
his thick erection straining to be free. Memories of him filling
her, hot, hard and insistent had her trembling with need. It had
been so good; she couldn’t wait to feel that way again.

With shaking fingers, she set to
work on his zipper. The sound of it, as she slid it downward,
seemed incredibly erotic and she felt her excitement increasing at
the thought of what lay mere inches away.

Much to her surprise, Rafe didn’t
allow her time to explore further. He removed her hands from his
body and pulled her sweater over her head. Her bra quickly
followed, then her jeans and panties were roughly shoved down her
hips. Once he had her naked, he hoisted her up on top of the
kitchen island.

“Rafe what are you doing?” She gave
a squeal as her bare bottom came in contact with the cold marble of
the countertop.

He didn’t reply, but took one
breast in his mouth and began to tease the tip with his tongue and
teeth while he used his hand to play with its twin.

Eve held his head, raking her nails
over his scalp, loving the gentle tugging of his teeth, the way he
plucked and rolled the sensitive nub. It shot right to her core,
and she could feel herself growing wet.

He moved to her other breast,
giving it equal homage until she was arching her back, trying to
push herself deeper into his hot mouth. When he stopped, she almost
cried out with frustration but he didn’t give her long to mourn the
loss.

Nuzzling her neck, trailing his
lips gently over her features, he ran his fingers over her ribs,
her stomach and then back up again only to repeat the gesture over
and over. Each time, his fingers venture lower, to her hip bones,
her abdomen, the soft curls at the juncture of her thighs. With
each pass, her skin grew more sensitive, her anticipation
heightened. Would he touch her…there…next time?

She bit her lip and gripped his
shoulders, rocking her hips, hoping to encourage him to delve into
her wet folds but he merely chuckled and skimmed his fingers down
her inner thighs instead. “Do you need something, Eve?” The corner
of his mouth curled upward.

“Um…” She couldn’t bring herself to
say it. “You know.”

“This?” He brushed a kiss over her
collar bone. It was nice but not what she was hoping for. “Or
this?” He trailed a kiss along her jaw to her ear lobe and nipped
it while his fingers barely skimmed her nether curls.

“Rafe…” Her voice rose to a needy
whine and he chuckled softly before relenting.

Slowly he traced one finger along
her waiting folds, brushing the sensitive nub then moving away only
to return again as if he couldn’t resist exploring further.

Touch, retreat, touch, retreat. His
ministrations took on a rhythm and she found herself rocking her
hips in time to his movement. When he finally dipped into her
wetness, she almost went over the edge.

“Not yet,” he warned, his breath
hot and moist against her trembling lips. For long moments he
kissed her, his teasing fingers keeping her on the edge, inching
her higher and higher until she was unable to hold on any longer
and spasms of release overtook her.

She cried out, arching her back,
lost in the glory of relief before slumping against his shoulder
weak and panting.

“So beautiful,” Rafe murmured,
stroking her back in soothing circles. She lifted her head and
smiled at him.

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” he murmured. “But
that was only round one.” Keeping his gaze fixed on her, he pulled
his turgid flesh free of his pants.

Eve gasped, staring at him. He was
standing at the end of the counter framed between her knees, still
dressed, only his shirt unbuttoned. There was something incredibly
naughty and exciting about being naked before a dressed man.

A devilish glint flashed in his
eyes and she wondered what he was thinking. “This—the kitchen
counter—is Reno’s fault, you know. He gave me the idea when he was
at my house and I’ve been fantasizing about it since. But…” He
shocked her by gathering her in his arms, “this isn’t the place for
us. Not this time.”

Tenderly, he carried her to the den
and laid her on the rug in front of the fireplace. It was warm and
soft compared to the cool surface of the marble counter.

“This,” he reached out and tenderly
brushed her hair from her face, “is my other fantasy. You, naked on
the rug in front of my fireplace.”

Rising to his feet, he flicked a
switch and gas fire began to burn in the hearth. Then he moved
about the room, dimming the lights until only the softest glow
illuminated the space.

Eve relaxed into the carpet. The
room felt warm and cozy, a perfect intimate space to share with the
man she loved. When he returned to stand over her, she watched with
a lazy smile as he shed his clothing, his body being revealed inch
by inch.

When the scar on his abdomen came
into view she winced, thinking of the pain that must have
accompanied such an injury. She rose to her knees and stilled his
hands where they rested on his waistband.

“Wait.” Reaching out, she gently
pushed the material away, his clothing sliding down his legs with
barely a whisper. She traced the scar with her fingertip, looking
up at him through her lashes. “What really happened?”

“A fight with one of the rogues at
my clinic.” When she puckered her brow in worry, he cupped her
face. “Don’t look so concerned.”

“But…”

“I’ll tell you the whole story some
other time.” There was a haunted look about him as he spoke and she
knew the scar was significant, that it pained him mentally rather
than physically. It was something they’d have to discuss but for
now…

She leaned forward and flicked her
tongue over the puckered skin, kissing the length of it. His
stomach muscles quivered at the contact, the heat of his body warm
under lips. He raked his fingers through her hair and when she
would have moved on to explore more of him, he pulled her back.

“If you do that, I won’t be able to
last.” At his urging, she settled back on the rug and he lowered
himself beside her. The light of the fire played over his skin,
highlighting his muscular form, reflecting in his dark eyes.
Slowly, he reached out and touched her, stroking her from shoulder
to ankle and then back up again, exploring her carefully, learning
every inch of her body.

“You are so beautiful.” He
whispered the words reverently, brushing his nose against hers.

As his weight settled over her, she
gave a happy sigh and traced his features with her fingertip. “I
love you.”

“I love you, too.”

They kissed and caressed, slow and
tender, long and loving, the heat of desire building until they
were both panting with need.

He braced himself over her and she
opened to him, her breath catching as he slid in deeper and deeper.
The feeling of fullness had her trembling as did the knowledge that
he was more than a man.

Pausing, he loomed over her, his
dark chocolate eyes burning into hers, sweeping over her nakedness,
lingering on her breasts before staring at the point of their
joining. Her own eyes followed the direction of his gaze and a rush
of warmth flooded her at the sight.

He laced their fingers together and
then started to move.

In, out, long strokes then short.
He seemed to know exactly what she needed and, of course, he did.
His mind was gently probing hers, his emotions seeping into her,
sliding over her own and then spreading out to fill her completely.
As if he were offering every bit of himself with nothing being held
back. It was heady, exhilarating, and she couldn’t help but
reciprocate. Tentatively, she opened to him as well, exposing her
innermost feelings, leaving herself bared for his perusal.

With quick efficiency the bridge
formed between their minds, emotions twining together with familiar
ease, forming bonds stronger than ever before. Feelings slid along
the pathways like shimmering droplets, merging together, becoming
one indivisible unit. It was glorious and freeing, even more so
than the last time they’d been together.

She could sense his approval of the
fact that she hid nothing from him and she basked in the warmth of
that feeling. He was proud of her for taking the chance, for
sharing herself with him. The feeling grew inside her, warmth
spreading throughout to her fingertips and toes and then slowly
receding like the tide, only to return again. It took up a rhythm,
matching that of his strokes, filling her then retreating and
leaving her wanting more.

Rafe felt it, too. She knew it in
her mind, could see it with her eyes. His gaze was fixed on her,
hot and intent, burning into her very soul.

“You’re mine, Eve. Forever and
always, you’ll be mine.” The words he spoke were deep and guttural,
his movements becoming faster, harder. Each thrust an act of
possession as if he were staking his claim, ensuring she’d never
forget.

Small gasps of pleasure escaped her
as he drove into her over and over. Eve basked in the knowledge of
the depth of his desire, her heart pounding with love. Pulling her
hands free of his, she grasped the small of his back, pulling him
closer.

“Yes,” she panted the word. “I’m
yours, just as you are mine. Forever and always.”

A light flared in his eyes, the
muscles of his face grew taut, then he kissed her long and hard and
his feelings flooded her mind.

What she’d thought had been a
complete sharing mere moments before was nothing compared to this.
They were one. One mind. One heart. One pulsing aching being filled
with tension and need. Straining and panting. Reaching…

A sheen of sweat covered them,
adding to the slick slide of skin against skin. Their entire being
focussed on the point of their joining, on the exquisite feeling
tightening within.

A slow trembling began as the crest
approached.

Eve arched her back, her neck
strained. She dug her fingers into Rafe’s shoulders, desperately
holding on as her vision blurred, as her breath caught, as… as…

She shattered and lost complete
control. Exploding outward, her body quivered and shook, pleasure
completely overwhelming her in wave after wave until it finally
left her feeling limp and breathless.

How long they lay there, Rafe had
no idea. He was slumped over Eve, his head resting on her breasts.
Her hands were idly stroking his back. His eyes drifted shut,
contentment filled him. Only the knowledge of their disparate size
had him moving from his comfortable position. Not wanting to crush
her, he gave a shuddering breath and forced himself to roll over.
After a moment, he propped himself on his side so he could see her
face.