"Goddamn, D, you need to take pity on an injured man," he pants out as I smirk up at him.
"Andyouneed to let me do my job," I tell him. "You'll come when I say so, Raffi. Not before."
He chuckles. "Yeah, sweets. I know. You're in charge, no arguments."
I change things up, using my hand to stroke him while I suck on his balls a little more. His breath grows faster, harsher, more desperate, but I'm determined to keep him on the edge for as long as possible.
Finally, my jaw aching, I return to sucking him, deep and slow, the way he likes to fuck me. I make sure to stroke him in time with my bobbing lips, and this time I don't stop when I know he's almost there. I give an encouraging hum, letting him in as deep as I can, and a second later, I taste the flood of his hot cum as it coats my tongue.
I swallow him down, trying not to waste a single drop, and then I sit up and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. "How do you feel?" I ask.
He has his arm over his eyes, but he gives a lazy grin. "Like I'm floating on a goddamn cloud, D. That was amazing." He reaches out for me, wincing only a little at the movement. "Get up here."
I crawl up to lie next to him, on his uninjured side, and I'm very careful not to jostle the bed too much or put my arm around him. But he pulls me close so I can nestle into him.
"If you move a little, I could get you off, too," he says hopefully.
But I firmly take his wandering hand and put it back around me. "You need to rest. That was a—a medicinal blow job."
He snorts, hands stroking up and down my back, and presses a kiss to my hair. I hum, nuzzling closer. But his hands gradually still on my back, and I can feel his mind wandering. I look up to study his face. Worry creases between his brows, mouth drawn into a tense line.
"What's wrong?"
Raffi hesitates, reluctant to voice his thoughts. Finally, he says, "D, I know you like him. Or—if notlike, at least have some simpatico thing going on with him. But I think Julian was the one who scared you in the redwood grove the night of the housewarming party."
"What?" I jerk away from him, and regret it as he grimaces in pain. "Oh, Raffi, I'm sorry—but—" Denial rises swift and strong. Julian would never do something like that. But then I remind myself of the darkness beneath Julian's charm. Of the pleasure he takes in manipulating others.
Of the possessive, almost obsessive way he treats me and the other people he claims to have a fondness for. He wouldn't let anyone else hurt me, of that I'm sure. But that's only because he doesn't like people touching histhingswithout permission.
I know how his mind works. I've had to figure him out, find ways to manage him.
"Because—I know you were scared," Raffi is going on, "and threatened, too, but you weren't actually hurt. What if that whole thing was a setup? Julian wanted his shot at AJ. He got it tonight."
"That was Don Castellani's decision."
"Yeah. But the final straw happened the night of the housewarming, right? The lighter we found. Lying there in the middle of a damn spotlight, right after you'd been terrorized in the trees."
Yes. Raffi is right. And now that I think about it, I had a little trouble locating Julian inside the Retreat when Raffi sent me to find the higher-ups.
Julian was the last one of them I found and sent to the bedroom.
I prop myself up on one elbow and look down at Raffi. "If you really think he did it…then I'll help you prove it."
"Absolutely not. This is way too dangerous, and Julian is way too unpredictable. I won't have you put in danger again."
"He likes me, Raffi. Maybe even trusts me—as much as Julian actually trusts anyone. You know I'm right." I reach out, resting my hand on his chest. His muscles flex under my touch. "If Julian really is involved, we need to know. We need to end this, one way or another. It's driving you…"
"Crazy?" Raffi says with a harsh laugh. He's silent for a long moment. But I can see the fight draining out of him. Finally he sighs, capturing my hand in his and bringing it to his lips. "It's true. Julian does like you. You sure you want to get mixed up in this, though? This is definitely Family business."
"I know." I smile to reassure him. "And I know you'll keep me safe."
"Always," he says fiercely. "Okay. We'll go see Julian tomorrow and get to the bottom of this—for once and for all." He pulls me back into his arms and I go willingly, resting my head gently on his shoulder.
"Raffi," I whisper after a few minutes. "You never told me about the holes in the wardrobe."
But he's already asleep.
CHAPTER 49
