Rafael returned and picked me up off the chair.
“You don’t have to carry me,” I croaked.
“Shh. Let me.”
Rafael set me on my feet right outside the bathroom. “Lean against the wall for a second.”
The rescue team did a check, and I didn’t show signs of a concussion—just a big knot on my head. Rafael didn’t need to do all of this. He had to be exhausted from trying to keep me and himself afloat for so long. I wanted him to stop over-exerting himself.
He started undressing me with the utmost care. Once I was naked, he guided me into the shower. The warm water felt glorious on my body. I sighed in relief as it cascaded down my back, over my head, and flowed down my chest.
I wiped the water from my face and opened my eyes to see Rafael undressing himself. He entered the shower, and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
I was standing in that shower because of him, and I wanted to make sure he knew.
“Rafael. You saved me,” I told him.
His eyes glistened with emotion, and he kissed my forehead. “No, you saved me,” he replied.
“We saved each other.”
“You’re right,” he agreed. Rafael’s eyes squinted shut. His body shuddered as a gasping sob escaped his mouth, and he started weeping. “I’m so sorry, Cody.” He cried as he kissed my lips, cheeks, and forehead.
“You don’t have to apologize,” I assured him.
“Yes, I do. I scared you. You came into the water to get me. I put you in harm’s way.” He sobbed again, the choking sounds coming from his throat broke my heart. “I’ve been so stupid, Cody. I’m so sorry.” Rafael rested his head on my shoulder and broke down. “I could have lost you. I’m so stupid. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
My poor, sweet baby. I knew he wasn’t apologizing for just the lake. He was apologizing for everything. I kissed his sweet head and held him for as long as it took for him to cry what I could only imagine were years and years of tears. I’d let Rafael stay in my arms like that for eternity if I could.
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “Just…please don’t do that ever again. I care about you so much. No matter how dark it gets, please always remember how much I love you, Rafael.”
He leaned back and looked me in the eyes. “I love you, too, Cody.”
We kissed again, and Rafael wouldn’t let go. He pressed me to his lips, and we embraced as the water warmed our bodies.
As the passion settled, he leaned back and looked into my eyes. A sense of wonder spread across his face as Rafael reached for the soap bar on the dish mounted to the wall. He lathered his hands, fell to his knees, then began washing my feet.
“Rafael, you don’t have to do that.”
He looked up at me, his blue eyes glistening with emotion. “Please, let me. I need to feel you. I need to feel your skin in my hands to know it’s real—to know I won’t wake up and you’ll be gone.”
Tears escaped my eyes as I looked at his sad, beautiful face. I would give anything to return to that day and help him—carrying this terrible burden alone was too much for anyone.
I nodded, and he continued, washing my feet and legs, then making his way up my body to lather me with his gentle caresses.
Rafael was meticulous as he did it. His face was a mix of gratitude and determination. It wasn’t sexual; it was something more—something so profound and emotional that I couldn’t compare it to anything I’d ever experienced.
He savored every touch. My body became a tabernacle, and he devoted himself to worshiping.
The touch of his hands on my body ignited a flame of longing deep in my belly. No other person in the world could make me feel like Rafael did.
I knew at that moment that I’d love Rafael until the day I died.
The water grew cold, and he turned it off. He wrapped me in a towel and dried me before drying himself. Then, he picked me up and carried me to the bedroom.
I didn’t argue anymore. I could tell what he was doing was as much for him as it was for me. He needed to do this.
The cabin was dark, save for the bathroom light, providing just enough visibility. When we ascended the stairs, he carefully set me on the bed and turned on the only bedside light he hadn’t tipped over.
