Page 119

He shook his head. “Actually, no. I know I don’t need to worry about that for some reason.”

I arched a brow. “You weren’t worried at all?”

He smiled. “No.”

“Well, you’re correct. You didn’t have a reason to worry.”

Rafe shrugged. “The least I could do was not put up a fight when he insisted you stay with him. I owe him whatever respect I can still give. He’s one of my oldest friends. As long as you’re okay with it, of course. I figured you’d let me know if you needed something.”

“Well, that was very mature of you.”

“I’m not saying it was easy…” Rafe sighed. “Has he given you shit about staying in my apartment while I’m away, though?”

“No, not really. He hasn’t said much about it since I told him my plans, and he hasn’t tried to stop me. I think he probably agrees it’s a good idea, all things considered.”

Rafe stopped walking and led me up some stairs to a building I didn’t recognize.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

He stopped at the front entrance and placed his hands around my face. “While I can accept you spending the night upstairs with Calder, what I won’t accept is leaving for Vegas without having you one more time. I booked this Airbnb so we can have some privacy for a couple of hours.”

A chill ran down my spine. I’d thought we wouldn’t have this opportunity before he left. Joy bloomed in my chest, and I practically skipped up the stairs.

Rafe and I barely got in the door before we tore off each other’s clothes, leaving everything in the middle of the living room.

We were both stark naked when Rafe carried me to the bedroom. He laid me on the bed and surrounded me on all fours. He kissed me, and I cherished his taste, trying to burn it into my memory since a part of me worried this might be the last time I’d get to experience it. You just never know.

I placed my hand on his chest. His heart was beating so fast, and that told me more than words could say.

“You feel that, huh?” he murmured.

“I do.” I nodded.

I was still looking up at his eyes when Rafe pushed inside me in one hard thrust. I moaned, sensitized by the pleasurable burn of his cock entering me. I raked my fingers through the tangled knots of his long, golden hair as I hung on for dear life as he fucked me.

“I need you to feel this after I’m gone,” he rasped. “It might be selfish as fuck, but I need you to remember you’re mine. You good?”

“Yes.” I could barely get the word out.

The bed squeaked as he continued ravaging me. My eyes rolled back as I gave myself permission to fall into a place of ecstasy, where worry about the future didn’t exist.

Ready to climax any minute, I dug my nails into his muscular back, certain I’d leave marks on him. His body shook, his balls slapping against my skin as he thrust one final time. Then I felt the heat of his cum filling me.

“Shit,” he apologized. “I’m sorry. It felt too good. I—”

I cut him off as I shrieked loudly, the muscles between my legs squeezing his cock as I came. Every ounce of life left my body and transferred into him.

Panting, he collapsed against me. “Holy fuck. That was good.”

I wanted to say something, but I was too breathless at the moment.

Rafe and I stayed in bed until the clock struck midnight. Then we reluctantly gathered our clothes and returned to the hot August night outside our hideaway.

Once back at the house, Rafe and I stopped at his apartment to say our final goodbyes.

He reached into a drawer. “Here’s an extra set of keys for you.”

“Thank you.”