Finally, everything is looking up, and even though I’m still in this monstrous house, I don’t feel like it’s a prison anymore. More like a halfway house. And as soon as I can stand on my own two feet, I’ll be gone. Or, like Rafe suggested, be with him—temporarily—because staying in the same house with Adrian is no longer an option. I sealed that deal last night.
My phone chimes with my morning text from Adrian, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think he has a direct line to my thoughts. His timing is suspiciously perfect.
Adrian: Good morning, sweet Gabriella. I hope you enjoy your gift. As always, be good.
Any guilt I may have felt about what happened last night or what I intend to happen today melts away with just one text. Adrian wants me to enjoy his “gift”? Fine, I will.
And so will Rafe.
I type out a messaging telling him that I plan on it, but I quickly delete it. There’s no need to poke a sleeping bear, so instead, I send my thanks quite begrudgingly.
With a renewed spirit, I push the covers off and head to the bathroom to get ready for my first full day of work. And to get ready for my first—fingers crossed—day full of Rafe.
As I make my way to the trailer, my cheeks flush with embarrassment when I get catcalls and hollers. Usually, I’d be offended, but I know how I look. I’m dressed in a denim skirt—perfect for those black crotchless panties—a long-sleeved, scoop-neck tee that hugs my breasts, and a pair of cowboy boots, my long, dark hair hanging loose in waves down my back. I’m about to lower my eyes to the ground when I hear a loud curse and a chorus of, “Sorry, boss,” which causes me to grin. My eyes glance around until they fall on him, and I smile wider.
He’s leaning up against a backhoe, his arms folded, and a delicious scowl on his face. I can read the confliction in his expression. He likes what he sees. He just doesn’t want anyone else to see it. A shiver runs down my spine, and I take my lower lip in between my teeth, biting down to help stamp out a bit of my arousal. It backfires, however, because Rafe’s eyes heat as he watches my movement. His jaw tenses, and the memory of his head between my legs has me on fire for him.
With quick, long strides, he moves towards me. Then he takes my elbow and leads me to the trailer, trying to shield my body from the other men. It’s entirely endearing. He opens the door for me, and just as I’m about to enter, he grips my hips and stills my movements. Even though he’s stopped on the step below me, his frame still engulfs my own. His face comes to the crook of my neck, and as he places a light kiss there, his stubble scrapes against my skin, causing me to quiver.
“I was going to give you space, but dammit, Brie. Are you trying to kill me?” he whispers gruffly against my neck.
Tilting to look up at him, I smile broadly. “Killing you would do me no good. Especially after last night.”
He groans and lifts up, his teeth nipping at my earlobe. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you last night. I was so fucking hard remembering the way you came in my mouth.”
A tremble rumbles through me, and I turn in his arms, leaning up to steal a quick kiss. “It didn’t have to end there.”
“I know. Fuck. I know, but I’m trying to be better for you, unlike . . .” he trails off, and I shake my head.
“Rafe, there’s no comparison. I promise. You showed me that last night.”
He swallows hard and nods as his eyes sweep down to the swell of my breasts. He lets out another curse. Then he places his hands on my shoulders and pushes me forward. “If I don’t get out of here, I’m going to be hard for the rest of the morning.”
“You know I can take care of that for you,” I tease. “I’d hate for you to be distracted on the site.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Brie. One a lesser man might take you up on.”
“Then maybe I’ll have to find a lesser man,” I challenge.
He growls and takes a step up into the office, pushing me inside. Just as I think he’s going to give in to me, the phone rings, breaking the spell. Muttering a curse, I break our contact and enter the trailer, crossing to the desk as the door slams behind him.
“Brie,” Rafe calls right before I pick the phone up.
Pausing, I glance up at him.
“You’ve already been with a lesser man. Give this one a chance.” With that, he turns and exits the trailer, leaving me to gape after him.
Give him a chance? I’m already signing on the dotted line. He just needs to give in to me. And while I appreciate his sweet hesitancy, I don’t need it. Nor do I want it. I just want him, and I plan on letting that be known as soon as I can.
The rest of the morning passes slowly and without another appearance from Rafe. I try not to let disappointment creep in, but the longer the minutes tick by, the harder it gets. Then again, this is his career, his work site, and now that he’s my boss, I know I shouldn’t push the boundaries. But, God, do I want to.
Letting out a sigh, I push back from the desk and start filing. Just as I’m finishing up, I hear the door open, and take a gamble that it’s him. Hoping like hell that it is. I bend over in an exaggerated fashion, knowing that my skirt is just short enough for him to get a peek of what’s underneath.
A sharp intake of breath comes from behind me, and I hear his work boots as he crosses the room, coming closer to me. He stops, and I glance back to see him studying me, his eyes locked directly on my ass. Slowly, they rise to meet mine, and a delicious, wicked grin crosses his face.
“It’s been killing me, Brie, all day knowing you’re in here, looking like that. I tried staying away, but this is as long as I’ve lasted. And holy fuck did I pick the perfect time. Does this mean what I think it does?” he asks, a hint of hope in his voice.
Straightening up but not fully turning around, I nod. “It does. I’m ready, Rafe. I don’t need to wait any longer. I can’t wait any longer.”