Till Justice Is Served (19 page)

"Really?" A small lift at the corners of her mouth sent his blood pressure through the roof. "How so?"

"Yep. You've always had this strange pull on my libido." He moved quickly, lifting her and pulling her across his legs, then turning her so she straddled his thighs. "I wish I had had a dollar for every hard-on you caused."

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Why didn't you do something about it?"

He pushed a fallen strand of hair off her cheek. "Maybe because you hated me?" She relaxed, easing herself down onto his thighs.

"That's true enough."

"And I was leaving at the end of the year. You already thought I was a dick. I guess I didn't want to prove you right by making a move on you then disappearing. Besides, I figured you'd kill me if I tried anything."

"There was that possibility."

Rafe swallowed the questions her answer had stirred up. Like, why had she been living under a bridge? What had happened to turn her into a runaway? He'd hold those questions for another time. Right now, his thoughts were on the rotation of her hips and the effect she was having on his erection. 

"You know," he said, sliding his hand under her ponytail, tracing the bare skin on the back of her neck. "We can eliminate one of my regrets right here, right now." Her shiver was all the invitation he needed. One tug, and her lips met his.

Without breaking the kiss, he slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Now his erection not only strained against his zipper, it pressed into the softness at the juncture of her thighs.

A soft moan vibrated through her chest into his. Her hands cupped the back of his head as she took control, sweeping her tongue inside his mouth. Oh, yeah. Erin had grown up. She'd become bolder, more sure of herself, and Rafe liked her this way.

"Rafe?" She leaned her head back and whispered into his lips.

"Hmm?" He hoped her next question wasn't a tough one.

"I won't break." Her lips grazed his.

"And that's a good thing." He bunched the edge of her blouse, pulling it off in one motion, then ran his index finger over the tops of her creamy breasts. "Because I have unfinished business with you."

Before he could blink, she'd unhooked her bra and peeled it off her shoulders. His eyes feasted on her beauty before he lowered his head and took one delicious nipple in his mouth. Her back bowed, offering him better access to her delicate flesh. Her soft sighs swept him deeper and deeper into a world where only the two of them existed. He wanted her to call out his name. Wanted her to need his body as badly as he needed hers. Wanted this day to never end.

Erin's hand tugged at his shirt. She pressed her hands against his chest, forcing him to tear himself away from her rigid nipples.

"Sit back and be still for a minute." Her mouth was firm, but her eyes danced with mischief.

"Yes, ma'am." He liked this aggressive side of her. If she wanted control, he'd gladly give her the reins. This time anyway. Rafe leaned back against the couch and dropped his hands to his sides.

Half of his shirt was tucked in and half out. Her long slender fingers finished pulling the cloth from his jeans and then went to work on the buttons. The urge to help sent his blood boiling through his veins, but she appeared to be enjoying herself, so he watched the rapid rise and fall of her breasts as she worked.

"Lean forward." Her words had been barely audible. Mission accomplished, she tossed his shirt on top of her blouse. Her hands smoothed across his shoulders up to his neck, then glided down his chest. Her index finger drew a circle. "You didn't have this"—she gave the hair a slight tug—"back in school." Her gaze traveled over him, laying down a trail of napalm. "I like it."

"How do you know what I had or didn't have back then?" His skin sizzled under the warmth of her touch. Could she get any more sensuous? He didn't think so.

"You ran track. I watched you change shirts."

"You pervert." His hands had been empty too long. He remedied that by cupping her breasts in his palms and stroking her nipples with his thumbs.

"Hmm." Her eyelids fluttered closed, and her hips gyrated in that slow, insistent rotation again. "In fact, you were always the beautiful one," she said without opening her eyes.

"I'm calling bullshit on that." Rafe huffed out his denial.

She looked straight at him with one brow raised in defiance. "Go ahead. It doesn't make me wrong." The impish sparkle in her eyes shimmered.

"You want to see true beauty?"

He moved his hands to her backside, grabbed hold, and stood. Before he could tell her to hang on, her legs had wrapped around his hips, and she had his earlobe in her teeth. Shit, his knees weakened. He carried her to his bedroom, stopping in front of the dresser. He gently put her feet on the floor where she was facing the mirror. Standing behind her, he slowly peeled down her pants, kissing her from her waist to the backs of her thighs as he went.

"Rafe," she murmured.

"Shh." He turned her into his arms and covered her lips with his, sweeping his tongue in to sample her sweetness. Her hands tugged at his jeans, but he stopped her. "Not yet."

He faced her toward the mirror again, easing her lacy beige panties down and tossing them aside. "What you see in the mirror is beautiful." His hands held her breasts as if they were fine china, tenderly stroking her nipples until they were red and firm.

"You're embarrassing me."

"Your body is nothing to be embarrassed about. Surely, some man has told you how gorgeous you are."

"Not like this."

His hands skimmed lower, feeling her stomach muscles clench as he slipped even farther down past the soft curls. She spread her legs slightly, leaned her head back against his chest and closed her eyes.

"Keep your eyes open." Rafe slipped his finger inside her wet heat. She rocked against him, while her gaze seemed locked on his movements. When her knees relaxed, he wrapped his free hand around her waist to hold her steady, but didn't let up on the pressure on her core. "Your face is the most erotic thing I've ever seen. It's beauty defined."

Her breathing got faster and heavier. Her heated gaze met his. "You're going to make me come."

Rafe abandoned her sweet spot long enough to take her hand and place it between her legs, covering it with his. "Show me."

Together, they found a rhythm, circling her clit, his hand on hers, until she stiffened and gasped. Taking the cue, Rafe plunged their fingers deep inside her just as her inner muscles clenched and spasmed.

The corners of her mouth curved, and she arched her back like a cat. Sweat beads formed across Rafe's forehead. Her cry at release and her limp body against his just about sent him over the edge. He held her there, allowing her to tumble back to earth in her own time.

She lifted her gaze to his. "Inside me." 

"Great idea." He swept her into his arms, walked to the bed, and carefully deposited her. When he started to join her, she stopped him by lifting her finger. Lying there with her legs slightly spread, her bare breasts begging to be kissed… Hell, he'd have moved a mountain if she asked.

"Not with all those clothes on. Lose the jeans and underwear."

God, he couldn't get out of his clothes fast enough. He fumbled a condom from his wallet and tossed it to her. 

C
HAPTER 17

Erin made no attempt to keep the smile from spreading across her face. She'd left her inhibitions on the floor in front of the mirror. Now, she felt no discomfort staring at Rafe's bare shoulders, muscular chest, or narrow waist.

But those features weren't what she found mesmerizing. His erection, jutting toward the ceiling, throbbing and beautiful, drew her attention. She couldn't pull her gaze away as he moved over her. She had to touch him. Reached for him, but he moved just out of reach.

"No fair."

"You touch me right now, and things will be over way too soon." His eyes gleamed with desire as he captured her hands, leaned forward, and kissed her.

Her bones melted into the mattress as his lips demanded and took everything she could give him. She buried her hands in his hair and held him to her, showing him how much she wanted him. Her heart pinched when he moved to her neck and nipped his way to her breasts, gently taking one and then the other into his mouth.

Way down deep, an ache blossomed. A need to hold him in her arms forever worked its way through her body as sure as blood flowed through her veins. She couldn't let the spark of affection she'd carried for Rafe all these years get out of hand. The last thing she needed was to fall in love with him.

He caught her hands and pulled them over her head and under the bottom bar of her brass headboard. "Don't move."

Tension balled between her thighs. The ache in her core turned to a throb, a need almost painful.

Rafe shouldered her thighs open wider and lowered his head. His fingers parted her outer lips, and he stroked her with his tongue. Erin was lost in sensations. She lifted her hips, seeking more of the release his mouth offered, surrendering herself completely as he drove her higher and higher. The wave hit her rapidly, sending every fiber into convulsions. Her brain shut down, and nothing existed but the two of them. Tears filled her eyes, but she held them back, fearing he'd misunderstand.

His hand was splayed across her stomach as if to keep her from floating away, which she might have had he not been holding her in place. He placed small kisses in a trail up her body while she regained her senses.

"I could make love to you forever." His smile was that of a man who knew he'd pleased a woman. "You're so responsive."

She reached for him, pulling him in for a kiss and tasting herself as his tongue swept inside. "I respond to you," she uttered a confession. "I need you inside me."

Rafe retrieved the condom from the nightstand and laid back. Before he could open the package, she had to touch him. Had to feel his hardness in her hand. She wrapped her fingers around him, sliding her fingers up and down. His moan pulled her gaze up to meet his. Dark smoldering eyes were watching her every move. She squeezed. He groaned then leaned up and captured her mouth with his. Hot and needy. Deep and demanding. They matched each other's passion. Both were breathless when he broke away and ripped open the packet.

"You do it," he said, handing the condom to her.

"My pleasure." She spoke the truth, enjoying every second. When she'd covered him, he lifted her on top. She opened her thighs around his hips.

"You're in the driver's seat."

Erin placed the tip of his penis at her entrance. Sliding down slowly, she enveloped him inch by inch, pausing to allow her body to adjust to his size, until she'd taken all of him. She stilled for a moment, savoring the fullness their being joined gave her. Then she started a slow ride, leaning forward so her body was aligned perfectly.

He thrust hard, sinking even deeper, pushing farther into her body. Soon, they were in sync, moving together as if they'd been made for each other.

Her orgasm surprised her, rising more quickly than she'd expected. Nerve endings screamed for release, pushing her closer and closer. Rafe's hand slipped between them and found her most sensitive spot. As he rubbed in circles, his gaze locked with hers.

"Let go, baby. Let go," he said softly. "I'll come with you."

Her heart seemed to shatter in a million pieces as every part of her system rocketed to a place she'd never been. She wanted to laugh. Wanted to cry. Wanted not to be in love with Rafe Sirilli. She collapsed on his chest.

Sweaty and satisfied, her cheek resting on his shoulder, they lay in silence for a long time.

"God." She mustered the one word.

"You can still call me Rafe," he said with a chuckle, kissing the top of her head.

"Smartass. I was just about to give you a compliment, but now you get nothing." She laughed with him.

"You're wrong there. I got it all."

Every fiber of her being had turned to rubber. Satiated, content, and at peace with the world, she rolled off Rafe, waiting while he disposed of the condom, then cuddled up beside him. He snuggled her against his chest and smoothed her hair off her face before kissing her on the forehead.

She was on the edge of sleep when he spoke. "I'm glad you got to know Dad. I called when I could, but that wasn't a lot. Did you know he had heart problems?"

The tenderness and anguish in his voice were agony to hear, but that he'd opened up to her gave her hope. "No. Jeff had no idea either. Your dad's heart attack was a shock to everybody."

"Dad never wanted to appear weak or soft. Not even in front of family. He didn't tolerate it in his boys either. Nick felt like he was a constant disappointment to the old man."

"That was a lot of pressure—"

Rafe's cell buzzed from somewhere on the floor. His chest rose and fell with a big sigh. "I'd better get that."

Their moment of intimacy was over. Erin moved off his shoulder. Rafe pulled his jeans onto the bed and fished out his phone. She'd cling to the memory of today. It would be her lifeline, a piece of Rafe to hold in her heart after he returned to his first love. The FBI.

"I'll check it out." In one motion, he returned the cell to his pocket and slipped on his jeans.

"What's wrong?" Erin stood, sliding on her panties while he dressed.

Rafe zipped his jeans and reached for his shirt. "Maybe nothing. That was Jeff. He drove by your house and saw a car in the driveway."

"We forgot about Linc." She continued to dress. "But he shouldn't still be there."

****

A pinch of regret hit Rafe when she pulled her blouse across her breasts and started buttoning it. He walked around the foot of the bed to her, leaned down, looped his arms around her waist, and rested his forehead against hers. "Things ended a little too abruptly for my liking. I didn't get the chance to tell you how wonderful you are."

"We did okay for a first time." She moved away, flashed an impish grin, and finished dressing. "I'll call Linc."