I nodded. “Yes. Before I left your place I thought about how good it would feel to get into a nice hot bath with some candles and a good book.” I let out a sigh. “But the cabin doesn’t have a bath, I cannot use my kindle account and there are no candles at the cabin.”
“Yes, there are.” He started the truck, slowly turning it around and driving in the direction of his house. “In the bottom pouch of the emergency kit. First aid in the top part, candles, flares, flashlight and space blanket at the bottom.”
“For real?”
“City, there is always a chance the power goes out around here, candles are kind of a necessity.”
By the time we arrived back at the house my mood had lifted, despite still being cold and wet. A lot better, actually. I hadn’t had a good cry since I left home. Of course I had mourned my dad, but even at the funeral, I could hold myself together. Then again, a lot had happened since then. I had to be separated from my sisters, I met my long lost brother, then found out he dragged my father into a money laundering scheme and was trying to kill me.
The drive back to the house took longer than I was used to. As usual, Rafe helped me out of the truck. All thoughts of deviousbrothers and mudslides disappeared as he lowered me to the ground, and my gaze met with his very transparent shirt.
“Rafe.” I looked up at him. I knew what I wanted. I was almost sure I knew what he wanted. But he wouldn’t let himself have it.
I lifted my hand to his jaw and his face leaned into my touch. “Fuck it.”
He pulled me close and crashed his lips to mine again.
CHAPTER 11
Rafe
The Bath
Havingmy mouth on hers was all I had been able to think about since the fight in my office. The softness of her lips, the taste on her tongue, which carried a hint of coffee. Her hands gripped my wet T-shirt, pulling me close, as if she never wanted me to leave.
I had no intention of going anywhere. One of my hands moved up her jaw and into her hair, angling her head how I wanted it, needed it. My other hand moved around her waist and rested on her ass and pulled her closer to me. The small noise she made, spurred me on and I lifted her, allowing her legs to wrap around my waist.
The contrast was not lost on me the last time she was wrapped around me not even thirty minutes ago. Then she needed safety. As I walked up the steps to my front door, the rain still falling, I knew her clinging to me had nothing to do with need. Not in the same way. No, it was about want.
I wanted Rory with a fierceness I had never felt before. I wanted her in my bed and in my life. There was a whole part of me that had remained hidden and tucked away until she arrived. And now that part wanted out. Wanted to claim the woman. Not tame her.
As I kicked the front door closed, the sound of the rain echoed off the roof. The smell of the smoke from the fireplace and the savory scent of the stew we ate earlier tickled my nose.
I pushed her against the door, my cock letting her know exactly how much I wanted her. Or maybe she couldn’t know since she had on so many layers of clothes.
I took a step back from her. “Let’s get you out of those wet clothes.”
She pushed my hands away and pulled down the zip of her coat.
“I get that we’re both desperate.” She pulled the coat off and dropped it alongside the puddle that accumulated where she stood. “But this may go quicker if we each took off our own clothes.”
Of course, she considered the most practical solution. I cocked my head at her and my mouth lifted into a smirk. “Always the smart one.”
“Also.” She gestured her head up and down as she undid her overalls. “I want to watch you take off those jeans.”
My eyes narrowed. She was not trying to be sexy. “You’re going to kill the mood by laughing at me, aren’t you?”
“Firstly.” Her smile was bright and I knew I would do whatever it took to keep it. Even fall flat on my face. “Nothing could kill this mood. I’ve wanted you since the first night I met you. But yes, I absolutely intend to have fun watching you peel wet denim off those thick thighs.”
God, I loved her honesty. She didn’t play games or hide what she was feeling. It was both endearing and scary as fuck.
Laughing during foreplay. That was new for me. Pulling my T-shirt over my head, I watched as her eyes darkened as they landed on my torso. Her overalls dropped and pooled around her feet. I watched, stifling my smirk as she struggled to take off those yellow boots before standing before me in her T-shirt and panties. Her legs were pale, no doubt from the cold air, but the flush in her cheeks was what had my attention.
“You okay there, City?”
“Just peachy.” She pulled the black fabric over her head, revealing a lace bra playing peek-a-boo with pretty pink nipples. “Your turn.”
She was right, getting off my boots and jeans was not the easiest thing. It was highly probable we both would have face planted if we had tried to take off each other’s clothes. Once I was in nothing more than my briefs, I ignored the pile of damp clothes on the wooden floor and picked her up once more and took her upstairs to the one place I wanted her. My bed.
