“Yes, you can. And you will. I’ll do everything in my power to help you,” he mutters against my hair as he rubs soothing circles on my lower back. “You’re not alone anymore, Brie. I promise.”
I pull back from him even though all I want to do is melt into his embrace. To allow him to comfort me. But this is all too much.
“Why, Rafe?” I ask, wiping away an escaping tear. “Why are you so insistent on helping me? You barely know me.”
He tips my chin and covers my mouth with his, giving me a searing kiss. His other arm secures around my waist holding me tighter to him. It’s as if he’s giving me his answer without words, and for some reason, it’s more than enough.
He breaks the kiss and caresses my cheek. “I wish I could tell you.” His voice is rough, and for a brief moment, he looks away. Almost as if there is something more than his masculine need to be the hero on the white steed. More than wanting to save the damsel in distress. But then his gaze returns to me, and he gives me an aloof smile as he runs a hand through his hair. “I wish had the perfect words to put you at ease, but the truth is I don’t, and I won’t lie to you. This is a mystery for me, too. All I know is that there’s something about you I can’t stay away from. I don’t want to stay away, but I don’t want to scare you either.”
Gazing up into his eyes, I see the truth. “You don’t scare me, Rafe. And I don’t want you to stay away.”
Relief floods his features, and after one last tight embrace, he lets me go. “I won’t let him hurt you anymore. He won’t own you. You need me, Brie, but it’s a two-way street. I have a feeling . . . I need you, too.”
I wonder what he means, what I could possibly do for him, but before I can question it, he backs away and starts towards the door turning just before he reaches it.
“Goodnight,” I tell him, a whisper of a smile on my lips.
“Goodnight, Brie. Please don’t let him ruin the memory of what we shared. Remember me and how I felt, how you felt. And, Brie? When you’re ready to be free of him? To finally be done with him once and for all . . .” He pauses, his eyes flicking to the pair of panties on the counter then back to me, a wicked expression on his face. “When you’re ready, wear those. I’ll be ready, too.”
My eyes widen, and he gives me one last smile before slipping out of the door, leaving me standing there, trying to comprehend what he’s saying.
Suddenly, I realize what he means, and all the turmoil, the pain of Adrian’s reminder, washes away.
With Rafe, I’ll erase him from my memory, erase his touch from my skin, and eradicate any sense of ownership he had over me.
As soon as I’m ready.
When I climb into bed, soothed and sated, I heed Rafe’s words. I remember him, his touch, and I realize I’m more than ready now. But can I really fool myself into believing he’s just going to be a rebound?
WHAT THE FUCK AM I doing?
This wasn’t in the plan. She wasn’t in the plan. At least, getting intimate with her wasn’t.
Still, when I saw her there, barefoot, damp hair, in nothing but a T-shirt, I couldn’t help myself. I had to put my hands on her. I had to touch her. I needed her to trust me, and I knew that that would be a good start. I knew that it could work to my advantage.
The thing is that I wanted more than for her to be a means to an end. More than a good fuck. More than a fucking rebound.
When I looked into her eyes, wide and trusting, it touched something deep in me, and a fierce longing for her rose from within. The idea of Morningstar ever placing another hand on her burned deep, and I knew I couldn’t let it happen.
I wanted the one thing I couldn’t—I shouldn’t—have.
For all intents and purposes, I want Gabrielle Latham, and even though it could cause this whole thing to blow up in my face, I won’t stop until I get her.
I meant what I said to her. I can’t stay away, no matter how hard I try, and even though I have other work to do, I’m making it my mission to make Adrian Morningstar’s woman my own. Not in the sense that he possesses her like a material possession who’s only there for his own amusement and satisfaction. Which is exactly why I need to be cautious, be the man she needs—the complete opposite of him.
I don’t just want to fuck her. I want to care for her, cherish her, learn every inch of her beautiful body and her sharp mind as she breaks free of him.
But if either of them find out the real reason I’m here, this whole thing will blow up in my face. Still, I can’t help it. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.
After having a taste of her, I know I can’t go back. I’m already too far gone. I’ll just have to be careful and hope she won’t hate me when it’s all said and done.
And I hope like hell I can protect her in the aftermath.
FOR THE FIRST TIME in months, I wake with a smile on my face and a delicious ache between my thighs. Not the ache you get after a night of mind-blowing sex, but an ache for Rafe. For his fingers. His tongue. All of him. And if I have my way, I’ll be getting it—him—today.
As I stare up at the ceiling, I know I should get up and get ready for work—work! Just another reason to appreciate the man. But I can’t help but let the memories of the night before replay in my mind.
He made me feel special. Desired. Wanted. He gave and took nothing in return even though I’d have gladly given it to him.
Until I opened the offending package. Yet, even still, with both of us given a reminder of Adrian’s humiliation from days earlier, Rafe offered comfort, held me like I was precious, and the memory of his warm embrace eradicates any remaining hurt from the panties.