“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can,” he said as he stepped closer.
She stepped back and shook her head.
“I wanna know.”
Her eyes met his. “And I want you to kiss me again.”
Surprised by her directness, Rafe hesitated for a second too long.
Bailey’s expression fell, and she tried to sidestep him. Before she could escape, he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him, her back to his front.
“Don’t think that was me denyin’ you,” he whispered against her ear, inhaling her sweet lavender scent as he pressed a kiss to her jaw.
When his lips trailed to her neck, Bailey stopped resisting, leaning into him.
He dragged kisses over her shoulder, then back to her neck, his hands flattening over her belly.
She cupped his head and held him, tilting her head to give him freedom to explore the smooth expanse of her beautiful neck.
“Are you sure you want to do this, Bailey?”
She nodded.
“What about Holt?”
“He knows where I am,” she whispered.
Rafe didn’t know how he felt about that, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. Having her in his arms, the only thing he cared about was sating this ache that had been building for three long, painful years.
***
Bailey knew the guilt would come atsome point, but it was too hard to focus when Rafe was touching her.
She’d wanted this for so long. She’d fantasized about him, his kiss. Not even her most incredible fantasies had come close to being as explosive as what she felt when he kissed her the first time. She’d felt that kiss deep in her soul.
And now, as his breath fanned her neck, her skin felt too small to contain her. Every part of her was on high alert, aching and eager to feel him.
The gentle tug on the tie at her neck had her holding her breath. When it released, her halter top fell, freeing her breasts. She gasped as cool air chilled her skin seconds before Rafe’s hands cupped her, warming her instantly.
“I’ve dreamt about this,” he whispered in her ear.
He was leaning forward, staring over her shoulder as he fondled her breasts. Bailey kept her arm back, her fingers linked in his hair as he tormented her, plucking her nipples until they felt diamond-hard.
Reaching back with her free hand, she tugged on the other tie. It came free, and her top fell to the floor.
Rafe’s groan made her skin prickle, giving her the courage to unbutton her shorts. She shimmied them down her legs, kicking them away along with her flip-flops. She stood there, her back against his chest, wearing only her panties and in desperate need of his body against hers.
His arms fell away, and Bailey suddenly felt a chill. He dragged his fingertips down her arm as he moved around her. She wasn’t sure what was happening, why he’d stopped, but she started to feel self-conscious when he stepped back, his gaze moving over her from neck to ankle and back.
“You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.” His voice was deeper than usual, sending ribbons of desire curling in her belly.
When she started to move toward him, Rafe shook his head. “Stay right there. Let me look at you for a minute.”
Her nipples tightened, and her pussy clenched as his gaze raked over her. What seemed a good idea a moment ago now made her feel slightly embarrassed. Here she was, throwing herself at him again, and Rafe was still fully dressed, staring at her.
Bailey was just about to chicken out when Rafe finally stepped forward, his gaze lifting to her face.
