"What is it, then?"
Taking a deep breath, I gathered my courage. "I don't know exactly. But I know I want more than temporary. More than convenient." My voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I want real."
Relief flashed in his eyes before he reached across the counter and cupped my face between his palms. "Real," he repeated.
"Real," I confirmed, turning my face to press a kiss to his palm. "If that's what you want too."
Instead of answering with words, Rafe stood, walked around the island, and pulled me from my stool into his arms. The throw blanket slipped to the floor as his mouth claimed mine in a kiss that left no doubt about what he wanted.
And as I melted against him, naked and vulnerable in more ways than one, I knew I wasn't just dancing through someone else's choreography. I was creating something new, something unexpected. Something that felt remarkably like home.
Chapter 31
Rafe
Real. A promise I'd never thought I'd make to anyone. Now, with Cecelia’s naked body pressed against me, that promise felt like the only truth that had ever mattered. I deepened the kiss, my tongue sliding against hers as my hands roamed the smooth expanse of her back to pull her closer until there was no space left between us.
She melted against me, fingers threading through my hair, tugging just enough to send sparks racing down my spine. The soft sounds she made in the back of her throat drove me wild—little whimpers that vibrated against my mouth as I backed her against the kitchen island.
"Rafe," she gasped when I finally released her mouth to trail kisses down her neck.
"I want real," I murmured against her skin, nipping at the spot where her pulse fluttered wildly beneath my lips. "I want everything. With you."
She pulled back enough to look at me, those green eyes blazing with an intensity that stole my breath. Whatever she saw in my face must have satisfied her, because she gave me a smile thatwas pure seduction before placing her palms flat against my chest and pushing.
I stepped back, confused for a moment until she sank to her knees in front of me, hands sliding down my torso as she went. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of her—naked, on her knees, looking up at me with those wide, mischievous eyes.
"My turn," she whispered as her fingers hooked into the waistband of my sweatpants.
I couldn't have formed words if my life depended on it. All I could do was watch as she slowly, torturously slowly, pulled the fabric down my hips, freeing my already hard cock. The gray sweatpants pooled at my ankles, and I kicked them aside.
She licked her lips, the gesture so unconsciously erotic I nearly groaned. She wrapped one delicate hand around my base and the contrast of her pale skin against mine made my cock twitch in her grasp.
"I've thought about this," she admitted as she stroked me once, twice. "About taking you in my mouth. Tasting you."
"Fuck, Cecelia," I managed, voice strangled as she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to the head of my cock.
She hummed against the sensitive skin, then looked up at me through her lashes. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes," I hissed, hands already moving to tangle in her dark hair. "Fuck, yes."
Her smile was victorious as she parted her lips and took the head of my cock into the wet heat of her mouth. I nearly lost it right then. The warmth, the pressure of her tongue as it swirled around the tip, it was almost too much. My fingers tightened in her hair, holding on for dear fucking life as she worked me like it was the only thing she was put on this planet to do.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the hypnotic sight of my cock disappearing between those perfect lips. When shehollowed her cheeks and sucked hard on the upstroke, I let out a string of curses that would've made a sailor blush.
"Just like that." The words came out rough. "Your mouth feels so fucking good."
She moaned around me, the vibration sending fresh jolts of pleasure up my spine. Her free hand moved to cup my balls, rolling them gently between her fingers in a way that had my thighs tensing with the effort not to thrust too deeply into her mouth.
"You have no idea how you look right now," I told her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face so I could see her more clearly. "On your knees for me. Taking my cock so fucking perfectly."
Her eyes darkened at my words, pupils dilating until there was barely a ring of green left. She took me deeper then, relaxing her throat until I felt the head of my cock hit the back. The tight, wet pressure was almost unbearable.
"Fuck, Cecelia," I groaned, fighting the urge to finish on the spot. "If you keep that up, I'm going to come down your throat."
She pulled back, replacing her mouth with her hand for a moment. "Would that be so terrible?"
The image of her swallowing my release, of those green eyes locked on mine as she took everything I had to give, nearly pushed me over the edge. But no, that wasn't how I wanted this to end. Not tonight.
