Alana (10 page)

By the time she was at his door, her nerves were taut. The desire to feel his hands on her, his lips on her, and hear his gentle voice in her ear was the force that made her push his door open without knocking.

After closing the door behind her, she turned and froze. He was lying in the center of the bed, his naked body aglow in the candle’s faint light. She took it all in, every inch of his sleeping might, until she could no longer hold herself back.

“Rafe,” she called in a soft, tremulous voice. When he did not respond, she walked to the bed. Placing the candle on the dressing table, she bent over him.

She could smell the brandy that he’d drunk earlier, but overpowering that scent was the fragrance that was Rafe’s own essence. As it struck her, a flashing memory of last night’s lovemaking riveted her to the spot, and as it did, her love for him erupted within her.

Lowering her mouth to his, she kissed him softly, her lips whispering across his in a brief touch. When she raised her head, she saw his eyes were open.

Rafe gazed at the vision of his love that had awakened him, and his mind spun with the knowledge that she had come to him as he’d asked.

He reached up to her, his fingers stroking her cheeks as he watched the play of candlelight on her face. Emotions rolled across him like the swells of a stormy sea. In the moistness within her blue eyes and in the tight corners of her mouth was the story of the battle she was fighting with herself.

But the scent of her reached him, and with the sweet perfume that was her femininity, Rafe gave himself up to her even as she had done to him last night.

He started to speak, but she would not let him. He sensed that it was because she feared that any word spoken might destroy her willingness to be with him tonight.

So instead of speaking, Rafe drew her to him and accepted the subtle warmth and softness of her mouth on his. The kiss lasted for a long time, and when it ended, their eyes again locked, and the desire and passion that was within them was plain to see.

As Alana slipped from the bed and started toward the candle, Rafe called out, “Leave it. Let me see all your beauty.”

Turning, Alana looked at the man she loved and started toward the bed. Standing beside it she undid the lace of the nightdress and let it slide from her shoulders.

The whisper of fabric upon skin was loud in the room, and when the dress was gone, she heard Rafe’s sharp intake of breath.

Still silent, Rafe ravished Alana with his eyes as he gazed unashamed at the perfection of her body–a perfection already imprinted within his mind.

Then Alana went to the bed, and as Rafe started to sit up, she placed her hands on the tight skin of his shoulders and pushed him back.

Rafe started to protest, but when he saw the bold gleam in her eyes, he let himself fall back onto the mattress. His skin was alive, and when her fingers released his shoulders, he felt low sparks tingle from where they had been.

He watched as she drew herself closer to him, her torso above him, her eyes locked with his. She bent and covered his lips with hers, and the already-hardened tips of her breasts pushed into his chest.

Her tongue entered his mouth to weave with his, the heated tip maddening as it danced within the warm cavern. Then his arms rose to capture her, but even as they did, she pulled her mouth from his and slipped away.

Then her lips were pressing warmly on his neck, her tongue flicking across it in a random, seeking way that forced him to accept the pleasure she was bestowing upon him.

His hands rested lightly on her back, caressing without holding, exploring without stopping her.

Alana’s lips were molten against his skin, tracing a blistering path downward from his neck to his chest. Her fingers toyed with his nipples, tracing circles with her nails even as her lips replaced them and her teeth nipped at the hard, small tips. Soon Rafe was lost within the passion that Alana was unleashing.

Her mouth flowed downward, her lips and tongue making a damp outline of his finely etched muscles. Explosions of fire burst within him, but he willed himself to stay still and not to hold her back. While her hands caressed every inch of skin, his body responded to the love she lavished upon him.

A muscle trembled in his inner thigh when her fingers stroked it ever so gently. His hardness grew, pressing against the leanness of her abdomen. The heated points of her nipples seemed to burn holes into his skin, and her hands threatened to chase the last vestiges of sanity from his mind.

Alana was caught within the magic of Rafe’s body, the taste and feel of which drove her on. She was lost to time as the exciting reality of his flesh became hers.

Her lips traced paths everywhere, crossing beneath his stomach as she teased and bit at the fine hair that covered his torso, relishing the taste of his skin and the hair that tickled her nose.

Her hands stroked his thighs gently, but soon they were pressing harder against him as she tried to grasp her fill of him. Lower yet, her hands wandered, and as she traced the outlines of his calves, her breasts rubbed across his arching hardness.

Like a burning rod laid against the sensitive skin of her breasts, Alana had to bite her lip for an instant to stifle her surprised cry.

Then slowly she retraced her path, and when her hands reached the top of his thighs, she paused to look down at him.

Her breath, already forced, seemed to become even more ragged. The flickering light made his manhood glow as it arched proudly before her. Gently, she grasped it with one hand and felt the silky smoothness of his throbbing member. Bending her head, she tasted the tight skin just below his navel.

She felt his body arch beneath her, while her hand stroked him, rising along his length, then slowly returning back until it rested in the bed of curled hair that was its base.

Rafe accepted the pleasure she bestowed upon him, even as his hands went into her thick raven mane and tried to bring her back to him, but Alana would not respond to his urging.

When he eased his grip on her hair, Alana moved closer to the pulsing staff she held trapped in her hand. Even as she caressed its hardness, her lips met the joining of skin and hair, and an explosion of fire spread through Rafe.

Her lips moved upward, bestowing glancing, moist kisses upon him, while her other hand found the heavy sack between his legs and caressed that with the most gentle and fleeting of touches.

Alana shuddered at the pleasure she felt Rafe accepting, and within her even more love began to come forth. There was no part of him that she was afraid to touch, to kiss, or to love. She was being driven by a need that pushed aside any hesitation, any doubt, and that made her and her love the most powerful force in the world.

Then Alana stopped what she was doing and raised her head to look at him. She saw Rafe’s eyes locked on hers, and she felt the flood of love that came from him.

Moving through the fog that was both desire and love, she released her hold upon him and went into his arms. She stayed above him, pressing her entire length upon him, as he had done with her last night.

Alana felt the powerful hardness pressing against her lower abdomen, felt heat radiating from its velvet smoothness even as a matching moistness began to flow from within her.

Her mouth went to Rafe’s, hungrily seeking his lips. Passion exploded when their mouths joined, and his hands suddenly grasped her about the waist and lifted her upward.

Moving without thinking, Alana’s hips rose and her legs went to either side of Rafe. With his hands guiding her, she lowered herself onto him, gasping aloud when his length slid quickly into her, impaling her upon a rod of fire.

Alana’s head dropped. Her hair cascaded across Rafe’s chest. Her breathing was loud as she held herself stiffly. But her body soon adjusted to the heated spear that rested within her, and again her hips began to move with the ageless pattern of love.

She flicked her head back, and her hair whipped behind her head. She stared directly into Rafe’s eyes and drew upon the love she found there. Then his hands left her hips and went to her breasts, to fondle and caress them, while their bodies moved together in perfect harmony.

Alana rode Rafe, her eyes never leaving his. She abandoned herself to the full glory of their lovemaking and found security within the warm caresses of his hands on her breasts.

But as strong as her passion was, she did not let it rule her. She held herself back, moving on him slowly, as he moved within her. Then she felt a change. She saw his eyes begin to glow within the candlelight and felt his hands leave her breasts.

Suddenly his hands were on her hips again, and he was pulling himself up. An instant later their faces were only inches apart. Rafe guided her legs around him, adjusting them both to this new position, and then he pulled her against him, his mouth covering hers in a passionate kiss that burst her thin threads of control.

He filled her completely, and as her ankles locked behind his back, she rocked on him, guided by his own body’s movement. A moment later she cried out when his mouth left hers; but his lips returned quickly to the hollow of her neck, and when they did, her back arched and her eyes closed. She could feel her hair brushing the small of her back as his mouth went lower to capture a rigid nipple.

Suddenly there was nothing except the catapulting sensations of leaving her body even as Rafe held her close. She felt him grow within her and felt her own muscles contracting around him, squeezing him as if she would keep him within her forever.

And then it happened as it had the first time. Her senses spun, her body arched within his grip, and when she felt him burst forth within her, she reached that same dizzying universe she had visited last night.

Her hands held on to his back, her head whipped forward. To stop herself from giving voice to the scream that was building within her throat, she buried her face into his shoulder and only then allowed the sounds of her unending release to go forth.

Waves of pleasure flowed through her. Her body shuddered and trembled upon his, and her arms and hands held him more and more tightly to her. She was afraid to release him, and afraid not to at the same time.

But Rafe was not trying to move. He held her clasped tightly to his chest, and as the aftereffect of their love washed across them, he stroked her head gently.

Only when their breathing eased and they were able to look at each other did Alana unlock her limbs from around him. When she did, Rafe helped her, his hands strong and sure. Finally, Alana found herself cradled within the crook of Rafe’s arm, breathing deeply of their now-mingled scents.

Against her will, tears formed and fell from Alana’s eyes. Rafe caught them with his fingers, and Alana’s heart skipped when he carried his tearstained fingers to his own lips. When he did it again, she stopped him, kissing the tears from his fingers.

She pulled away from him and sat up. She looked at him, and as her words poured forth, she remained unaware of her nakedness. “I love you, Rafe. I love you with every part of me: with my heart, my soul, and my very life’s blood. I would give myself over to you; I would give my life itself for you, so strong is my love.”

“Then no more need be said,” Rafe began as he sat up and reached for her. Alana shook her head and held off his arms.

“There will never be another man who will fully have my heart. But yes, my darling, there is more to be said.” With that, she reached out, took his hand within both of hers, and brought it against her breasts.

“Jason needs me. You are a man, whole and complete. Your strength is only a small part of you. You are a man who can survive in the world. And more, Rafael my love, you are a man who will bend the world to your own bidding.

“Jason cannot,” Alana stated without bitterness. “I could no more leave him now than I could deny my love for you.”

Rafe’s throat was dry, his voice rough-edged. “Alana, I cannot leave you behind.”

Alana smiled through the tears that fell from her face. “And you shall not. I will be with you always,” she whispered. Releasing his hands, she bent toward him and pressed her lips to his chest. She could almost taste the beating of his heart as her lips lingered above it. When she raised her head again, she looked into his eyes. “I will be there, within your heart–and here too,” she said as she stretched herself upward to kiss his forehead and then his temples. “In your heart and in your mind forever.”

“Alana,” Rafe called, but again she would not let him speak.

“No more,” she pleaded, her hands going to each side of his face. “For the love I give you always, say no more before I crumble and shame myself. Love me, Rafael, love me one last time before the sun comes. Love me so that I may carry your memory and love to my grave.”

Rafe’s eyes misted by the emotions that filled him. He did not speak; rather, he took her into his arms and covered her delicate mouth with his. Gently, he did as she had commanded him, and they came together one final time, giving of each other in a way that would never be forgotten by either of them, for neither took, but both gave totally and unselfishly. Each was giving the other the gift of their promise of a love that could never be but that would always stay alive.

When they once again reached that special place that only they two would ever know, they clung to each other, denying that there would ever come a tomorrow.