Elizabeth Morgan was no one's second prize. With Rafe, she might wish for more but she'd settle on friendship, if she must, and work out time for Brandon. Nothing else. She swallowed as he led her, the nanny and Brandon down the small path that returned to her home. As soon as the shadow of Peter's mansion was far enough away and she was sure that Jennifer wasn't close, she lowered her gaze and asked Rafe, "What happened? We agreed and then you make that announcement without talking to me first."
Rafe placed his hand on her arm. She glanced up and saw he nodded. "I'm sorry."
Sorry was a good start. "Why did you?"
His hand held hers but his gaze stayed on the Intracoastal beside them. "I made a mistake and it slipped out with Jen. I knew she'd tell Peter and our mothers. It was better coming from us."
She opened the door to the house and waited for the nanny to take Brandon down the hall. Once they were alone, she slipped her shoes off and left them at the door. Rafe did the same. "You told Jennifer accidentally? How did that happen?"
"Yes. We’ve known each other forever and despite all her faults, she depends on me." He led her to the living room. At least he wanted to talk to her, she thought. She'd listen to his apology, knowing that it was sincere.
Perhaps she might help him accept that he’d lost out on Jennifer. If it wasn't a deep love, then Liz had a small shot in the future. Her heart soared.
She pointed toward the couch, but Rafe settled into a chair. She took the seat beside him. "So what did you find out about the wedding?"
Rafe scooted closer. "It's Jennifer's wishful thinking. I hope I find more information concerning Belle soon and then her hopes are dashed. She needs to move on to someone she might fall in love with without having to convince them they care."
"Like you?" Electricity buzzed in her veins.
"No. That ship sailed long ago. We're friends, only."
She lowered her lashes and told herself that she deserved a man who might love her and only her. Her skin was cold as she said, "We're friends too, are we not?"
"Right. Friends and parents." His hand reached out across the space between the chairs. "I owe you my loyalty, not Jennifer."
Loyalty wasn't love and his heart was taken. Bitterness swelled in her throat as she felt her soul grow small inside her skin. "Do you wish for more than friendship, Rafe?"
He let go of her hand. "I shouldn't."
The space between them rose like a mountain. She had to place value on herself. One day she might find a guy she'd care about half as much as she did Rafe.
She couldn't change the past or the future. Goosebumps grew all over her body as a chill raced through her. "Shouldn't means neither of us gets to be happy then.”
“I’m happy with you.”
If he thought about more than friendship with her, she needed him to tell her. She adjusted her necklace. “All my life I've known loneliness and isolation. Unlike you, I've never had a family that cared what I was doing or not doing. Everything here is so different now, and it's trippy. I have brothers, a sister, a mom. The one I love most is my son, and the one I depend on is you."
He scooted his chair next to her and took both of her hands. The voltage that pushed through her turned her on and she wanted nothing more than to kiss him. If only his heart was free. "It's hard when all my life I've been assigned to work for the House of Morgan. I've never had the right to ask myself what I want when it came to your family. You are so beyond my world that I can't imagine my feelings lasting for long."
The pulse of that arrow caused her lips to part. "You have a sister, Caro, who is going to marry my brother. We have our son. This connection will last for the rest of our lives.”
“I believe you.” Rafe’s fingers brushed against her cheek.
She reached across the divide and touched his forearm. ”But I want to know if you can offer your heart."
"I'd rather spend all my days with you and Brandon, but first I need to get back to tracking who is after you. You're not safe yet, and that is my first priority."
Perhaps he put his job first as a way to protect his heart. "I get that but you said we're safe in the house."
"Yes, your security system is top notch and I would protect you with my life.”
She and Brandon were not a secondary prize, then? Liz wanted to believe him. Her brain screamed that she deserved love, and so did Rafe. They had a shot, if he could get past his upbringing. She stood and pulled her hands out of his. "The nanny is putting Brandon down for a nap now. I should go to the gym."
It was time to work off thwarted desire.
"Liz, wait." He stood and followed her.
The space between their bodies was minimal. She pushed even closer, though she knew that skin-to-skin contact this close was dangerous. She wanted to believe him that his heart was free. She lowered her gaze and stared at his lips. "There is nothing more to say."
She refused to force anything between them. “The therapist thinks Brandon was taken care of but happy to be home with you.”
“I can only pray your right. Good night.”
“Wait.” She stopped fidgeting when his hand brushed against her face. She lifted her stare and met his eyes as he said, "I spend every second of my day with you or thinking about you. You drive me crazy with the possibility of what might happen between us."
How he brushed against her hair sent a rush through her that she hadn't expected. Her body ached for more. "I need to know that my father isn't standing in our way from his grave. You are a good strong man who I could fall hard for."
She probably had already, not that she said that. She turned, but his hand dropped to her shoulder as he said, "You're wrong."
"I'm not."
"Why?"
"Because your world and mine are in a different category and love isn't enough of a bridge."
"Could you admit that you want me?"
"That's not the point."
Yes it was. She had no in between when it came to him and she'd have no safety zone of indifference if she opened her heart toward him. She had to be right.
“I want you, Liz.” She turned her head to process what he said as he whispered into ear, "Let me prove it to you."
Yes. If there was a way for him, then she'd love to be his. Her gaze returned to his full lips. "How?"
"I’m willing to take a chance. We'll start with this." He pressed forward and claimed her lips. With a sigh she brushed her hands in his thick coarse hair.
Cells she never knew existed lit up as the spark sent waves through her body and made her come alive. His kiss sent her into overdrive. She pressed her body closer to his. Nothing else in the world existed.
As his lips broke from hers and they both breathed the same air, she whispered, "Rafe?"
"Yes." The word choked out of him. The sound alone made her lose her doubts. Perhaps he could fall in love with her.
"A kiss isn't enough." She pressed her lips to his and sighed as he took control. Longings forgotten surged through her.
His hands traced her spine as he tugged at her dress slightly. When their kiss ended he whispered in her ear, "Then let me do more."
"Please." He didn’t need to ask if she wanted this, but at his core Rafe was a good man. She felt safe with him.
His hands caressed her body; she burned for him. They had a chance, if he let them. She kissed him harder. Then she sighed as her hands slipped under his shirt.
Nothing could stop them. She had to have him. His hands squeezed her bottom and fire coursed through her blood. Yes, this was what she wanted. She needed him, right here, right now. She'd been with no other man since him.
She slipped her hands further up his shirt and felt his hard muscles. Her fingers traced his abdomen as she circled her grip around his waist. He felt solid and strong and could protect her. No one else ever made her feel stronger just from being next to him. Rafe Soliz was all muscle, and nothing about him was scrawny or small.
Energy coursed through her and felt like it jump started her soul. Her body was ready for him. Rafe's hands went lower and he lifted the bottom of her dress. She nodded her head. "Yes."
"We should go to the bedroom."
"No, don't stop. No one will come in here." She had locked the door. If she didn't have him right now, she might evaporate into a pile of needy mush. She couldn't risk moving or waiting one more second.
She lifted her dress, but then he helped pull it off and threw it onto the coffee table. She sighed and lifted his shirt. His muscles quivered at her touch. Once she undressed him, she threw the shirt next to her dress. Her lips pressed against his Adam’s apple that shook with desire. He wanted her too. Her hands slipped lower and she unbuckled his belt.
His eyes widened as she slipped her fingers in his pants and his lips met hers again. His kiss drove her wild and she needed to feel him inside her.
He took control as he quickly undid his pants while directing their kiss backwards. She followed his lead and the moment he let his clothes slip on the floor, her thighs brushed against the couch and his hard muscles.
No, she didn't want the softness. He was hard and her body needed him. She ran her hands through his hair and tugged him close.
They'd not make it to the couch and it didn't matter. She pulled him toward the floor and wrapped herself around him. Without waiting, she pushed herself on his shaft and moaned as the world went black. Rafe was everything she ever wanted.