“Top—on top,” she panted.
Arms around her back, he flipped them, never losing his lock inside her.
She ground on him in a familiar way, like she had before, except this time they were tied together. Her hair skimmed his face, anointing him with the scent of orange blossoms. Her moans grew louder, faster. They started to turn to sobs as she rubbed hard against him, her insides clenching him so tight that his vision blurred and he gripped her ass with both hands. Knowing she was close was pushing him over the edge.
“You’re almost there, baby. Show me,” he encouraged.
She sobbed out, “You’re making me—oh God, Raff. Raff…” He felt her from inside, convulsing, heard her wails, and when she collapsed into his arms in spasms, and he knew he’d given her that feeling, that was it. His muscles locked up, and months of tension released as he pumped his love and longing, his gratefulness and belonging, for this woman.
He held her, spent, more in love than he knew was possible. He closed his eyes, his body tranquilized. He ran gentle fingers through her soft, thick hair and kissed her temples and cheeks.
Ani’s voice was breathless as she murmured, “That was incredible. I’ve never— I don’t think I’ve ever come like that.”
“Same here. You are a marvel, my Ani.”
They rested there, wordlessly enjoying soft touches of each other’s skin.
After what could have been five minutes or fifty, he asked, “You want kids one day?”
She laughed, surprised. “Kids? I mean, yes. One day.” She stared at him suspiciously. “Why?”
“Just checking. Because I definitely do.”With you, only with you. The first woman who has ever made me have that thought.He’d be brave enough to tell her that eventually. To tell her he loved her. He was too chickenshit now, though. What if she didn’t love him yet? He couldn’t take it. He needed a little more time, more reassurance.
She sat up on one elbow, appearing amused. “You proposing to me, Raffi?”
He brought her in for a quick kiss. “Not yet. And you won’t have to ask when I propose. You’ll know. It’ll be worthy of you.”
She blushed and covered her face. “Oh my God.”
He whispered, somewhat worried now, “That doesn’t scare you?”
She strummed fingers across his jaw. “Not in the least.”
The ease flowed through him, followed by a new rush of blood. They spent the rest of the morning and afternoon together, in bed, blissfully unaware of the rest of the world still at work.
29
Ani
Ani walked throughthe doors of Kami’s family’s mansion, so sore between her legs, she was sure everyone could tell. No one could, of course, but she felt like it was written all over her face: fucked into oblivion.
Oh my God, Raffi was a sex god. It wasn’t just his technique; it was howintensehe was about everything. She could practically feel his possessive thoughts about her as he drove in again and again.Mine. Mine.
They’d spent hours together, and still she could have more. A lifetime more. Wow.Thatwas a thought. A big thought, and she liked it. Oh, she held on to it like a precious creature, stroking its soft ears and whispering to it, encouraging it to grow and thrive.
He must have put that into her head when he asked her about kids. An irrational part of her brain almost wanted to yank out her IUD with her bare hands and tell him to go for it. Obviously not, but as she’d told him,one day.
She took a deep breath and slunk into her room. They didn’t need her today, so she’d spend it prepping for tomorrow. The actual wedding. Today, the tea ceremony was run by one of Grace’s family’s planners. It must have been over by now because Kami’s family was back at the home, from what Ani could tell. And tonight, the family wanted to lie low, inviting Grace’s close family over for a private chef dinner right here at the house. Everything was taken care of by the house staff, so Ani could hide away. Relax and plan.
She woke up to a knock on her door, not realizing she had fallen asleep. The sun had set now, and Ani tried not to sound groggy when she asked, “Who is it?”
“Grace,” came a voice.
Her client. Ani jumped to the edge of the bed, straightened out her clothes, and called, “Come in.”
Grace entered and Ani rose. Ani meant to give her a quick hug, but Grace held on a bit tighter, then let go. “I’m so sorry,” Grace said, “about the article today. That’s horrible, and you should not have had to go through that.”
“Oh. Oh, that is so nice of you to say.”
