Uncaged Love, page 14
Harper knew what that felt like. For years, men had left her broken. But not anymore. She left them now before she had the opportunity to become attached. She knew that kind of pain. Compassion for Melina coated her jealousy.
Rafe folded his tall body into the limo and sat next to Harper. He looked away and remained silent for a moment, his hands clenched in his lap. In a roughened voice, he said, “Thanks, Harper. That was harder than I ever imagined.”
“Do you love her?”
“Yes, but not in the husband-wife way. She’s a good friend”—he glanced down at her—“with delightful benefits. I could never love a woman like her…forever. Her job is too dangerous. She likes living on the edge, and I’ll be done with that life very soon.”
“I completely understand.” Harper admitted. She loved the rush of adrenalin, knowing she could live or die at any minute made her feel alive.
“Do you?” Rafe’s gaze pinned her.
“Yes. I’ve had several friends with benefits. They’re the best kind.” Or so she’d discovered over the years. Being dumped soon after sex had been an on-going saga starting with Bobby Neels, who had humiliatingly broken up with her in the high school cafeteria the day after she’d succumbed to his pressure and given him her virginity. The few college boys she’d dated weren’t any better. But in the Army, she’d learned that she could be friends with a man, sleep with him, and still be friends with him. She’d had a few go-to guys who had understood her sex-only mandate, and the sex had always been so much better with them. Now, she had to really enjoy the man’s company before she’d allow him in her bed. Friends with benefits were the only men in her life now.
“Are they?” Rafe’s question had too many depths to it for her to handle.
“Yes. Sex is always better with a friend and no strings attached.”
“I like women who know what they want and are driven to get it.” He looked at her now with a feral smile. “In bed as well as out.”
She captured those deep blue eyes with hers. He wanted her, but only temporarily. She saw that now.
Before she could stop herself, she had to ask. “So, there’s never been anyone you wanted to keep for the long term?”
Rafe looked away and out the window. She waited. When she didn’t think he’d answer, he spoke but didn’t turn toward her.
“I was engaged. Beth and I lived together for almost a year while we were in the Navy.”
Harper heard the pain in his voice. “You don’t have to tell me what happened.”
He ignored her and continued. “She was part of a special project for the Navy Expeditionary Intelligence Command.”
Oh shit. Harper instantly saw the parallel with her own military career. She wanted to tell him to shut up. She didn’t want to hear any more, but he kept on talking.
The next word he said was, “Taliban.”
She knew the exact situation. It had been a case study for every female agent training with the CIA. The class had dissected the whole op from original orders through autopsy. She hoped Rafe didn’t know the extent of abuse his Beth had endured, especially the gang rape and sodomy.
Tears spilled down her cheeks from eyes that had seen too much. Fear that a similar capture and abuse could happen to her was the reason she’d considered resigning her commission and joining the ATF full time when her contract was up. She’d thought she’d be safe in that organization…until Narváez kidnapped her. He could still give her to the Cali cartel who could do much worse to her than Rafe’s fiancé experienced.
She finally managed to say, “I’m so sorry.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, and repeated the words over and over again.
Eventually, Rafe turned, and they held each other. Nothing more than meeting the other’s need for comfort.
“It was a long time ago.” Rafe kissed her temple.
Before he could say more, Bunny and Carlos crawled into the limo and sat across from them.
Narváez overflowed with excitement. As the car left the Solis house, he jabbered. “The police are on their way. The chief, who was there as a guest, was grilling Turi’s bodyguards, but the cartel rumor was rampant. That was a good lie.” He looked so pleased with himself. Bunny leaned against him and started snoring.
“It worked.” Narváez was ecstatic.
“Yes, it did.” Harper stared out the window into the night, hoping to end this conversation. She was beyond exhausted, and her body demanded sleep. The adrenalin rush had lasted for hours and pushed all her physical resources to the limit. The culmination of events in the past twelve hours left her empty.
“Come here.” Rafe pulled her to him, and she nestled her head onto his shoulder.
Safe. The word spread through her, smoothing the razor-sharp edges she’d been walking on for too long. Her SpecOps training flashed through her head. On your way down the adrenalin slide, pick an “s”: sex, sleep, or sustain. Harper added ‘safe’ to that list. She closed her eyes and was asleep instantly.
When the car stopped, she awoke and walked hand in hand with Rafe to their suite. As soon as the door clicked shut, Rafe pulled her to him. “I believe this is where we left off before we were rudely interrupted and forced to go to that dreadful party.”
Chapter 16
Harper guided Rafe’s hands around her waist as she stepped into him. Revived from her twenty-minute combat nap in the limousine, she was ready to pick another “s” from the post-adrenaline choices.
When she moved her hands to his solid chest, his pectorals twitched at her touch and she knew he felt the charge that ran through her.
Every nerve ending rushed to alert, sensitized to his body. The small of her back tingled where his big hands caressed her bare skin. She shifted closer, slowly so she could enjoy the spread of their contact. Thigh to thigh. Hips to hips. Her nipples hardened when her breasts touched his chest. She raised her head. Rafe’s eyes were half-closed, as if he enjoyed the heat they created just standing together.
When he lowered his lips to lightly touch hers, the explosion of sensation took her breath away. He was so tender, soft, and caring. She hadn’t expected the gentler emotions. For her, it had always been nothing more than sex. Hot and fast. Hard and sweaty. When it was over, it was over. Either she left or the man did. Admittedly, there was often a second round and occasionally a third. Harper liked sex. But that’s all it had been.
She wanted to stay in Rafe’s arms forever. She could kiss him and be satisfied. Well, maybe not. She really liked sex.
He pressed into her and deepened the kiss. She opened for him, welcoming his tongue. She dug her nails through his dark, wavy hair and pulled him closer. She needed more.
Rafe swept his hands down her back and unzipped the designer gown. She unfastened the halter clip at the neck and the dress fell to her feet in a pool of dark green fabric.
“Oh, Christ, Harper. I’ve wanted to touch you like this since you stood in the Bogotá moonlight giving me attitude.” He kissed his way to her ear then sucked on her lobe.
Her ears were extremely sensitive. She squeezed her thighs together and sucked in her breath. It was as if he were touching her, sucking her clit.
She moved to nip his throat and found where his heated blood rushed just under the skin. When she licked his pulse line, it raced faster.
He ducked to recapture her mouth. His large hands found her bare breasts.
He moved around her tongue and mouth in sync with encircling her breasts with a single finger. The motion was dizzying as he spiraled his way to her taut nipples.
He dropped his head and took a beaded point into his mouth. When he sucked gently, she clenched her fingers in his hair and pressed his head to her. She loved this and wanted more.
At the feel of teeth on her over-stimulated nipple, she whimpered on an exhaled breath. He moved to the other side.
She was already wet, but she loved what he was doing to her body right now.
They’d get to the rest.
She stroked his back, assuring him she liked it. When she ran her nails down his spine, he arched in pleasure and looked up at her with a sexy grin.
He kissed his way down her tight stomach and ran his tongue in a circle around her belly button before licking inside. Continuing the path downward, he trailed small kisses to the edge of the green lacy thong that barely covered her tight dark curls.
“Mmmm.” Enjoyment resounded in his hum. Now on his knees, he ran his hands the length of her legs. They’d never felt erogenous until Rafe’s hands skimmed her calves and thighs. On his next pass from hip to ankle, he took the thong with him then raised each sandaled foot, removing the scrap of cloth.
He cupped her bare bottom and nuzzled his face into her dark curls as he inhaled slowly.
“I’ve wanted to know what you taste like for days,” he growled through gritted teeth.
“I’m not stopping you.”
He’d immediately find out just how ready she was for him. How much she wanted him thrusting inside of her.
With his thumbs, he gently parted her. His tongue swept into her softness, claiming her. It felt cool on her most sensitive spot where every nerve congregated and begged for his caress. In seconds, his tongue brought her close to the edge. Her leg muscles tightened and shook in anticipation.
“Easy, baby. Let’s move this to the bed.” He picked her up as he stood. For the first time in her life, she felt small, almost delicate.
He set her on his bed then shucked off his tuxedo jacket and tossed it onto the padded chair. His shoulder harness, gun tucked securely in its holster, followed it.
When he started on his shirt, Harper jumped up to her knees. “No, I want to do that.”
She was hungry to explore his magnificent body. Any man of hers had to be in as great of shape as she was. Rafe met every one of her requirements and exceeded them.
With experienced hands, she pushed the onyx studs from their slits in his silk shirt. She ran the tips of her nails over muscles that quivered then gently scraped them down his back.
He pressed into her touch, begging for more.
She did it again before she placed her spread hands on his chest and smoothed them over his wide shoulders, taking the shirt with them. She ignored the garment as it dropped to the floor. After running her nails through the sparse dark hair on his chest, she opened her hand so it tickled her palm.
“You like that. I can tell.” Rafe clasped the back of her hand and brought her palm to his lips where he placed his soft lips in its center, then traced each line with the tip of his tongue.
Her thighs tightened once again.
When he released her hand, he started to unbuckle the designer belt, but Harper laid her hands over his.
“No, I wanted to undress you.” She brushed her lips over his then looked down to unfasten the belt and top button on the slacks. Before unzipping, she ran her hand down the full, hard length of his erection.
Rafe hissed in a breath.
“Oh, I knew this would be good,” she told him as he nipped at her neck.
Momentarily distracted, she stretched her neck, offering him more. He lightly used his teeth before she remembered what she’d been doing and unzipped his pants. Anxious, she reached inside and stroked him once again before following the waistband to the sides and shoving his pants, briefs and all, to the floor. He toed out of his shoes and made quick work of his socks.
Harper looked down and was impressed. She’d been with many men. They’d run the gamut; tall, yet small, to short, but well endowed. Rafe had it all, packaged in a killer body. One that would fit her so well.
“Like what you see?” Rafe’s voice was deep and coarse.
She’d been staring. And smiling. She couldn’t resist stroking him once more. The soft skin that covered the steel beneath fascinated her as she ran her hand up and down his shaft.
He drew in a ragged breath and fisted his hands at his sides.
“Definitely.” She pulled him onto the bed and down on top of her.
“Now, where were we before you got sidetracked with my clothes?” Rafe rolled to the side and traced her body with his palms, gliding over her every curve, dragging fingertips in their trail. He kissed her slowly at first, but as soon as the heat hit her, she deepened it. She was ravenous.
They were both breathing hard when his deft fingers parted her wet lips and encircled her clit. Everywhere he touched her, caressed her, kissed her, sent sensations to that nub. As he pressed and massaged her, she shook in anticipation.
Rafe kissed his way down her body, never changing the pressure or speed of his touch, until his tongue finally replaced his fingers. She loved the feel of his warm breath on her inner thighs, but when he licked her sex, she raised her hips and moaned his name.
He slipped a finger inside her wet channel, and her internal muscles clenched around it. She felt his chuckle between her legs before he looked up and grinned. Her hands fisted the bed sheets as his tongue circled, teasing her. He slipped a second finger in, stretching her gradually. When he began to suck and rhythmically move his fingers in and out of her, she couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Rafe, now! I want you inside me.”
He didn’t stop but increased the speed and intensity.
When she hit her peak, his mouth took hers. His tongue mimicked his fingers as he took her over the edge.
As she shuddered through post-orgasmic waves of pleasure, he continued to kiss her and hold her tenderly.
Before she regained her breath, he kissed a path from her jaw to her ear then lightly ran his tongue around each sensitive outer curve. Her legs tightened reflexively, and he resumed the circling motion of her drenched softness.
“Give me time to recover.” Harper kissed him on his neck, the only part she could reach at the moment.
“No. Again. Now. You can do it.” He pressed two fingers deeply into her, and her hips involuntarily pushed to meet him. There was a desperate urgency in his eyes.
Rafe looked toward the side tables but couldn’t reach either of them with his free hand. “I don’t ever want to stop touching you, but the condoms are in the top drawer.”
“Top drawer,” she repeated, breathless. She reached blindly and opened the drawer, grabbing a packet. “Convenient.”
“This place gets used a lot for sex.”
Had Rafe had sex with someone here before? Not a thought she wanted to pursue. He stroked her hard, and all thought was gone.
“Very considerate of them.”
“You can thank the staff in the morning. But, right now, you’re going to thank me.”
Normally Harper didn’t like domineering or demanding men, but she’d do anything for Rafe as long as he kept touching her, giving her more pleasure than she’d ever had.
She watched with hungry eyes as he ripped open the pack and tossed it aside. She reached for the condom and silently begged to do the honors.
“I’d let you, but I’m not sure I’d last through it. Just listening to you come, I almost lost control.” His hands shook a little as he slid on the condom.
“Next time,” she commanded.
He grinned. “Next time.”
Harper was sure she’d met her match in bed.
His touch alone ignited her and brought her higher, faster. He nipped her over-sensitive nipples, and she thought she might come right then. She pulled his head up from its path to other breast and gazed into his ocean blue eyes that sparkled with silver.
“Now.” Between breaths she demanded, “I want you inside me now.”
“Your wish is my command.” Rafe moved up to kiss her and slid inside then stopped.
She knew there was more. And she wanted it all. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in. “Don’t hold back.”
“Don’t let me hurt you.” He watched her carefully as he pulled out then slowly slid into her, completely. She smiled up at him as he pulled out then thrust this time. She met him with raised hips. They soon found their rhythm.
He grit his teeth, fighting his release to prolong both their pleasure.
She was close. “Almost,” she managed between gasps.
He reached between them and found her center. His first nudge shoved her over the edge. With the next thrust, he arched his back and groaned, and she took him with her.
Rafe lay on top of her, biceps shaking as he held his large body off hers. He finally caught his breath and pushed over, pulling her on top of him. She started to move off him, but he held her in place.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked between pants.
“I’m too big,” she insisted. He wouldn’t let her move.
“Honey, I’m five inches taller than you and have at least fifty more pounds of muscle. You’re not too big. Fact is, I think you’re just right for me, everywhere.”
There was that damnable grin again. Harper might actually be blushing.
And it was a fact. Rafe was a big man…everywhere. She’d never had a man like him before. He cuddled her to him and caressed her back with soft strokes.
“Stay right there for a few minutes, and we’ll try this again. I’m sorry I was a bit quick, but it’s your fault. You’ve had me primed for hours…hell, days.” He was teasing her. That was new to her, too, especially in bed.
“You don’t mind the female superior position?” She rose up a little to watch his face. She could tell when men lied to her. They’d done it enough. She’d made it her business to be able to read people, and she was very good at it.
“I prefer it,” he said.
No pupil dilation. No side glances. His eyes crinkled at the edges with a hint of devilish smile.
“You really do.” She was shocked. Few men really liked giving up control.
He cupped her breasts as if they were a precious gift and ran his thumb over her nipples, which peaked immediately.
“This way my hands are free to play with you.” He slid a hand down and rubbed his thumb over her clit.
She tightened her legs involuntarily as the muscles deep inside her grabbed onto his growing erection.
