Two Sides to Every Story (Love Spectrum Romance) (14 page)

Rafe was a bit annoyed that Angela had accepted the switch that the direction her massage was taking with not so much as a sound, other than the sighs of pleasure that would be driving him wild if he knew for sure that she knew it was him. She had to know that it was him. He was insane and his angel was the culprit. She was driving him insane, making him jealous of the pleasure he was giving her.

“That feels good but could you move to my back for awhile?” Angela moaned.

Without a word he moved his hands from the silky heat of her thighs and lingered for a moment on her rounded derriere before moving to her back. He was hard. His annoyance hadn’t prevented his arousal.

The little witch
, he thought as he began to pound on her back with the same intensity as the professional masseur had done.

“Rafe, stop that.”

He did.

“You knew it was me?”

“Of course I knew it was you,” Angela said, turning to face him. She grinned. “Did you really think I couldn’t tell your touch?”

“I don’t know, you never said a word.”

“Do you think I would let just anyone do the things to me that you were doing?”

Rafe could feel himself growing ever harder as he watched his angel. Her brown eyes held a hint of mischief. He allowed his eyes to rake over her body that was no longer covered by the huge white towel but simply soft shimmering brown skin. She followed his gaze before her eyes traveled over him, stopping at his crotch. Then she laughed deep, throaty and hot, and he melted.

A knock sounded on the door and stopped what he’d wanted to do for the past three hours. He couldn’t make love to her here. Besides, her day wasn’t done. He would give this day to her if it killed him. The painful erection warned him that it just might.

“Mr. Remeris, are the two of you still in there?”

Rafe leered at Angela, then walked to open the door.

“I think I want him to finish the massage,” Angela announced.

“Not a chance in hell,” he grunted, pointing a finger indicating that Angela should cover up. No way was this guy going to touch his woman, not now, not ever.

When the massages were done, the brutal male for him, a masseuse for her, they went back to their suite.

“Rafe, this is wonderful!”

“If you had a fantasy would this be a part of it?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“I haven’t thought much about it but that look on your face when you thought I didn’t know it was you was priceless.”

“You like playing with me, don’t you?”

A hand slipped around him and he groaned as she squeezed. A tremor shook him and he grabbed her roughly, shoving his tongue into her mouth and pulling her close. “Angel,” he whispered, breathing in the scent of the massage oil lingering on her skin. He licked her neck and felt her shiver at the same moment that his own flesh quivered in her hand.

“I want you,” he moaned, “now.”

“What are we waiting for?”

His eyes closed and he sighed. “My surprise isn’t over.”

“Skip it.”

“What about dinner?”

“I want dessert,” Angela replied and gave another squeeze.

Raphael thought about the dinner he’d planned, the bath after. Then he thought about the warm hand kneading him and his own hand began its search, pushing into her hot moistness, feeling her juices flow over his hand. Dinner or her? There was no question.

A knock that he ignored only served to bring about a louder, more insistent one, followed by a voice bellowing for them. Damn it, he should have taken into account how hot he would be by this point. But no, he’d listened to four women tell him what his angel would want.

“You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”

He glanced at her, moving his hands. “What do you mean?”

“All of this. You don’t have to seduce me. Our arrangement means you don’t have to try.”

A lump of pain twisted in Raphael’s gut. Their arrangement? Seducing her? Hell, that wasn’t what he was going for. This was meant to make her love him. She was running hot and cold, confusing the hell out of him.

Raphael pulled away, disappointed. Closing his robe he made his way to the door. How could she even think this was just to get what he already had? If he’d just wanted to get into her pants, he could have done that without driving for hours and depleting his savings by a hefty amount. He glanced back over his shoulder and caught her watching him, a wary expression on her face.
She knew
, he thought. She knew what he was doing and she was still afraid.

Chapter 16

Angela felt a prick of conscience as Rafe’s look of pain rolled over her. He wasn’t used to being vulnerable, not like this, and she’d thrown what he was trying to do back in his face. It was unintentional. The words had just sort of tumbled out of her mouth.

She shivered, suddenly afraid of her emotions and of Rafe’s. There would be no turning back once they’d said the words. Angela had never felt like this about anyone. She remembered the first time they’d met, the hatred and the fire, now the love. He made her want things: him, love, home and family. The same things she’d accused him of wanting.

The knowledge that to love Rafe would create future chaos and dissension in her life colored her decision slightly. She could get over her brother’s anger but she didn’t know if she could get over the hurt that he thought she wasn’t doing her best for him, that her relationship with Rafe was clouding that. She knew in the back of her mind that the thought of her parents, her entire family, thinking she was a traitor was holding her back from admitting her love to Rafe.

Still, there had been no need to throw his love for her back in his face and she was ashamed of her actions. She’d have to make it up to him.

Angela watched as he walked toward the door. She looked at the way he moved, the sinewy muscles of his thighs, the way his backside moved. She loved his tight butt. She loved his body and she loved him.

A tingle of awareness touched lightly at her scalp and she knew then what the burning was about, what it had been about from the moment they’d first touched. He was right. They were soul mates.

“We have to get dressed for dinner,” Rafe said when he returned to the room. She noticed that there was a coolness about him; the playfulness had vanished. She sat on the bed as he disappeared into the shower without even asking her to join him.

Latin men and their macho BS
, she thought, then cringed that she’d even thought such a thing. It wasn’t that he was Latin; it was the simple fact that he was a man. She’d hurt his feelings and like a man he had to prove he didn’t need her, even if he did. He knew it and she knew it. They needed each other.

Two could play the same game, Angela thought as she went silently into the shower that Rafe had exited. The steam from his water lingered, fogging the mirror, while the clean scent wafted across the room and wrapped itself around her. She might not cave entirely, but she would definitely bend, Angela thought as the steam filled her head and thoughts of Rafe touching her filled her heart.

When she came from the shower, she purposefully let the towel drop from her body and pool around her feet. She propped her leg on the bed and rubbed her body with lotion, giving him a clear view of all her secrets. She resisted the temptation to smile. She kept her head turned away as she put on each item of clothing.

Angela knew without a doubt Rafe’s eyes were glued to her body, watching as she went through her antics. By sheer force of will, she prevented herself from turning to see how he was handling her little floor show.

One thing was certain: There was no need to face him in order to know the effect she was having on him. She imagined how hard he was and could barely keep from laughing out loud.
This should be fun
, she thought.
He wants to ignore me, let him try
. She gave her behind an extra wiggle, pulling the nylons up slowly. She heard a low guttural moan and laughed deep in her throat. He would not ignore her, of that she was positive.

“I’m ready.” She turned. “Are you?”

Fire and ice greeted her. A salacious grin spread across Rafe’s face and he turned from her and waited for her to pass. A swat on her behind meant to make her turn startled her.

“That’s for playing with me.”

“I thought you liked it when I played with you?”

“Not with my feelings, Angel,
mi amor
. You’re evil, do you know that?”

“Yes,” she answered. “I’ve tried telling you that
angel
doesn’t fit.” Her breath caught in her throat at the look in his eyes.

“Let’s go and eat, Angel.”

Two hours later, Angela walked back into the suite with Rafe. A nice glow filled her; she was more than ready to accept the pampering he had provided.

“Give me a minute,” she called out to him as she made her way to the bathroom. But he came behind her, kissing her senseless.

Angela stood looking in the mirror, looking at Rafe behind her, holding her, kissing her. It was an erotic image that had been held at bay since their arrival.

“Rafe,” she murmured.

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

“Look around you, Angel.”

She did as he asked, laughing, wondering how on earth she could have missed the huge tub filled with water. She moved from Rafe and dipped in a finger. It was hot. This was definitely well orchestrated. She noticed a huge bowl of fruit and cheese perched on the wide back of the Jacuzzi and another filled with chocolates. Rose petals floated on the water. There was a television descending from the ceiling and positioned for the bather.

Unless they were showing erotic movies, Angela couldn’t imagine sitting there watching it, not with the way Rafe was watching her. Anyway, he was the only thing on her mind at the moment.

Her skin burned with the trail of kisses he laid and she shivered in his arms.

“This can wait, Rafe.”

He drew back.

“Not you, this.” She said pointing to the tub.

“Wouldn’t you like to soak, Angel?”

“Yes, but there are other things I’d like more.”

“I’d like to bathe you,” he insisted, pulling at the zipper at the back of her dress, running his hand down her back over the lace of her bra.

She watched him undress her in the mirror, finding the picture strangely riveting. Angela had never thought of herself as an exhibitionist but she couldn’t tear her eyes away, not even when the one expensive dress she owned slid to the floor. She remained where she was, waiting for him to take the bra from her shoulders. When he slid down to his knees she trembled and closed her eyes.

His lips were pressed against the silk of her stockings and he peeled them from her legs with his lips. His hands cupped her butt as he used his teeth to tease the silk panties away from her skin. Angela opened her eyes, expecting to be embarrassed by the image. She wasn’t.

Instead, she watched fascinated as Rafe’s dark head moved downwards, slowing as he continued taking the panties from her hips. His mouth lingered at the juncture of her thighs and she heard him groan, but he continued. The juices from her body now ran freely down her legs and she sagged involuntarily against him. His touch was filling her with desire.

Unexpectedly he came up, lifted her into his arms and plunged her into the water.

“Rafe.”

He didn’t answer. His green eyes, darkened by his passion, blazed with heat. His hand trembled against her skin as he rubbed her with a cloth and she moved away from his touch.

“No.”

He glanced up, his vision clouded by lust, not understanding what it was that she wanted.

“If you want to bathe me you will do it from inside the tub,” Angela whispered. She watched as a smile of understanding filled him and he rapidly peeled away his clothes and jumped unceremoniously into the tub, spilling water in his haste.

“I thought you would want to have the tub to yourself.”

“Are you crazy?”

“My sisters thought it would be romantic.”

“So this was all your sisters’ idea?”

“Yes, they all told me their fantasies.”

“It’s all nice, very nice,” she amended, “but since this is for me, my fantasy is now fulfilled: to have you in the tub with me, not me alone. What’s your fantasy?”

He grinned.

“That’s going to be your reality. What’s your fantasy?”

Raphael’s fantasy was the wish that he could undo the past, his own and their combined one. There were many things in Raphael’s life that he wished had never happened. Taking part in that gang war over two years ago was one of them. But that that been his job. He’d done nothing to be ashamed of. Still, if he was talking fantasy, he wished that the woman he loved would not judge him by the past.

Raphael pulled her close, resting his head on her back. In his fantasy the things that had made him a cop would have never happened.

“Rafe, don’t you have any fantasies?”

“Yes,” he murmured against her skin. “You’re my fantasy.” Then he pulled her around to face him and he looked at her with the intensity of his feelings. “I love you, Angel.”

A lump formed in his throat. He’d not planned on telling her tonight. He’d wanted to wait until the end of their trip. “
Te amo
, Angel,” he couldn’t help repeating. He’d never before said those words and for some strange reason they now wanted to burst out of him.

“I love you, Angel,” he repeated for the third time. “
Te amo
,” he said, this time softer. She’d not answered. He took her face into his hands and kissed her lips, her eyes, her hair, pain welling in his chest with the need to do something other than look at her face. He’d been wrong. She didn’t love him as he’d thought.

“I know you love me, Rafe,” Angela suddenly whispered back.

He crushed her to him. He would not ask; it had to be freely given. He held her tighter, wishing he’d waited, that he’d not said it, not yet, not until she was ready to say it back to him. Damn, he’d ruined everything.

“Rafe.”

“Yes,” he answered.

“
Te amo
.”

“You love me?” Raphael asked. “You’re not just parroting me, saying it to be nice?”

“I wouldn’t tell you that I love you to be nice.”

“It would be rude if you didn’t. You sure you don’t just want to not be rude?”

“Has being rude ever been a problem with me?”

“No,” he laughed. “You’ve never had a problem with being rude. Do you really love me?” He held her chin with his finger. “Don’t lie, Angel.”

He felt her shiver, saw her eyes veiled, unreadable, her lips curving gently into a smile. Then her eyes cleared as if she’d fought some inner demon.

“Te amo
, Rafe Remeris.”

The demon had been destroyed and Rafe had won; his angel loved him.

“
Te amo,
” she repeated.

“You’re learning,” he whispered. “Welcome to my world.” Then he took her lips between his teeth and bit down, causing her to flinch just a little, but as she did so, her lips opened and he was in. He was no longer waiting for her to grant him her favors. She loved him and he was taking his pleasures from her just as she would take hers from him. They were now in a relationship. They had love.

He sucked on her tongue, tasting the sweetness from the wine and the tartness of the key lime dessert they’d had at dinner. He deepened the kiss, drawing on her essence. He wanted to lick away all but the taste of her, the sweet, sweet taste of the woman he loved. His hands roamed over her body and he groaned, feeling himself growing harder with each breath. His erection was pressing against her abdomen, jumping without even so much as a touch, wanting to be inside her.

Raphael looked at Angela’s closed eyes, her writhing body, and went to his knees, stooping to lave her chocolate drop nipples with his tongue.

She smelled wonderful, all woman, all tantalizing softness. He was determined to lick every drop of that damn massage lotion from her body. He pulled one puckered breast into his mouth and held her firmly. She was so close to his body that not even the water in the tub could find a place to go. She moaned and he suckled her harder.

He positioned his body lower, raising her hips upward. He dipped his fingers into the wetness and pulled her closer as she tried to pull away.

“Rafe,” she moaned and he ignored her, knowing that she knew what he was going to do, knowing that she didn’t want him to. For some reason he couldn’t fathom, she’d never allowed him to bring her fulfillment in that manner. Now all of that was over. She was his, and he was going to bring her satisfaction in every way.

“Rafe, no,” she repeated and attempted to squirm away.

“Hush, Angel. You asked if I had a fantasy. This is it, to make love to you in every way possible
. Te amo
, Angel, every inch of you. And I want to taste you from bottom to top.”

With that he dipped his head and tasted her. The hot water sloshed over them. He tasted the soapy water, the rose petals, then he tasted her and he continued tasting her until she cried out her pleasure. Even then he tasted her until her body went limp and she sagged in his arms, moaning low. Then he worked his way back up, kissing her thighs, nibbling on that little dimple on her belly, swirling his tongue over the crest of her mound, swooping down and back again. All the emotions they’d tried to deny in the beginning had built up in the weeks between them. It had now culminated in this moment of acceptance of their love.

It was done.

Angel was his.

Angela lay limp in Rafe’s arms. It had happened so fast. He had ignited a fire in her and quenched it. The orgasm had taken her completely, making her weak with the release. She’d known it would be like this from the first time they’d made love and he’d attempted to taste her inner core. She’d pushed him away as the liquid fire from his tongue had threatened to consume her.

It had been bad enough that a man she hated made her burn with his touch. But they’d not loved each other. She couldn’t give him the ultimate power over her, so she’d held back, always letting him go so far and no farther, and tonight he’d not allowed her to hold him at bay. He’d pushed on and taken her as if he had the right and he did. She’d given him that right. She’d told him she loved him.

Aftershocks of her climax continued to rupture through her. She’d never felt so naked, so vulnerable. Rafe was the first man she’d told she loved him. He wasn’t the first man to make love to her in that fashion but he was the only man she’d known who would have the power to possess her. Angela didn’t want to be possessed, but it was too late now.

“Open your eyes, Angel.”

“No.”