Breaking the Limits: Rafe & Nicole Book 2 (18 page)

Glancing up, he saw the pink flush rising on her throat and cheeks, eased back fractionally and said, ‘Not yet, OK. Wait.’

She heard him that time, but the pink glow of Nirvana was lighting up every erogenous zone in her body, so she grabbed handfuls of his hair instead and pulled his mouth closer.

It was all well and good to be assertive if she hadn’t been dealing with a man whose sexual skill set was world class. A man who knew how to keep her just short of orgasm, how to forestall each peaking climax, how to bring her back up again, slowly, teasingly, licking and nibbling her clit, gently massaging her G-spot with his talented tongue, only to leave her hovering incomplete, throbbing and ravenous each time.

‘That’s it,’ she finally gasped, twining her fingers more firmly in his hair. ‘I’m coming and if you dare move you’re going to lose some hair.’

He did move though because, hair loss or not, he didn’t take orders. Pulling back, he lifted his head and looked up past her smooth stomach and lush boobs to meet her laser sharp gaze. He suddenly smiled. ‘Ready then?’

She gave him a don’t-fuck-with-me look.

A look that had only ever worked with her; a look that reminded him that the world worked in mysterious ways. ‘Let me apologize,’ he said, sweet as hell.

‘You know how you can apolog
—
’

He did. Perfectly. Coming up on his knees, putting his dick right on target and entering her no-hands, smooth as silk, deep, then deeper still to that outrageous, fanatical point that instantly triggered her explosive orgasm, an hysterical scream and a grunt of satisfaction from Rafe.

But before Nicole had even caught her breath after her long-delayed orgasm and could consider offering Rafe her dreams-really-come-true thanks, he was moving inside her again, cramming her so full her brain and body instantly lit up in wild, insatiable accord. She whimpered, then sobbed as blazing hot rapture melted through her at warp speed.

Capturing her hips, Rafe splayed his fingers wide and flexing his legs, drove in deeper. With a gasp, eyes closed, she ground herself against his hard, stiff length, as ravenous and frantic. Both testing the limits of orgasmic bliss to blot out cold reality, their priorities in sync.

But Rafe said, ‘You can stop me anytime,’ because he wasn’t in the mood to stop and he wanted her to know she could.

‘Later,’ Nicole panted.

‘You heard me, right? Tell me you heard me.’ For a man who prided himself on control, he was seriously out of control.

‘Yes, stop you, I heard, not now though,’ she murmured in a breathless rush, wrapping her legs around his waist and clamping down hard.

He was the last person in the world to believe in mystic principle, but at that moment he almost smiled because they’d somehow found each other in the vast anonymity of the world. ‘We’re lucky,’ he whispered.

She was either clairvoyant or on the same mystical wave length because she whispered back, ‘Fate.’

‘We agree on unbridled orgasms too.’

‘Soon I hope.’

He chuckled, hitched her closer. ‘How about right the fuck now?’ But he rolled back on his knees just to tease her – grinned at her shriek in dismay – then gave her what she wanted: multiple, tempestuous, wild, glorious, screaming orgasms. Some less vocal ones for himself as well before she finally gasped, ‘Stop, stop, stop . . . ’

He nodded, and braced on his elbows, tried to catch his breath.

His phone suddenly rang.

He recognized the ring tone ‘Give me a second,‘ he murmured and rolling off Nicole, he grabbed two towels from the bedside table, dropped one between her legs, quickly wiped himself off, sat up and reached for his cellphone. With Nicole in earshot, he answered cautiously. ‘Yes?’

He recognized the ring tone.

‘Give me a second.’ Slipping his arms free, he swung his legs over the side of the chaise, sat up and grabbed his cell phone from the table. With Nicole in earshot, he answered cautiously. ‘Yes?’

‘I’m in Split,’ Dominic said crisply. ‘I’ve come for Nicole. It has nothing to do with you. Nicole’s sister was in a bad car accident. She survived, others didn’t, but they don’t know whether she’ll live. I need you to alert your men that my chopper’s coming in. Fifteen minutes.’

‘I’ll take care of it,’ Rafe said.

‘Is Nicole’s phone on? I’ll call her next.’

‘Yes.’

‘Help her out.’

‘Of course.’

A second after Rafe ended his call, Nicole’s cell rang. Even before she answered it, she knew something was wrong because Rafe picked up her iPhone from the table and, without looking at the caller ID, handed it to her.

After she put the phone to her ear, she didn’t move, didn’t say a word. Just listened. With a final nod, as though in answer to something, she handed her phone back to Rafe.

‘She’ll be ready,’ Rafe said.

‘Did she hear me?’ Dominic asked.

‘I don’t know.’ Nicole was staring into space, barely breathing, her hands palm up in her lap as if dropped there and forgotten. ‘Gotta go.’ Tossing the phone on the table, Rafe picked up Nicole, carefully placed her on his lap and wrapped his arms around her gently. Even in the sun, she was cool to the touch, utterly still, in shock. He’d just decided to call one of his doctors when Nicole looked up, her gaze unfocused. ‘I sent Isabelle a message.’ Her voice melted away in a whisper. ‘She heard me. She’s going to be fine.’

‘I’m glad,’ Rafe said, softly, pulling her closer, pressing his cheek against hers as if he could give her his warmth. ‘If she answered you, that means she’s getting better. You know what though? We should go inside.’
He’d have Alexei look at her, see if she needed medication.
‘There’s not much time.’

Her eyes widened and she looked at him, actually saw him. ‘Why isn’t there time?’

‘Your uncle’s coming in from Split. He’s going to land in a few minutes. Didn’t he tell you that?’

A tiny catch of her breath. ‘Did he? I don’t remember.’

Rafe spoke in an even, hushed tone, not sure of her reaction. ‘I’m guessing he did. So you have to get ready. What do you need?’

Nicole’s eyes flicked up. ‘You.’

He put his palm to her face, bent low and brushed her lips with a kiss. ‘You have me, Pussycat. Always.’ He let out a long breath, his thumb moved just a little on her cheek. ‘I meant, do you need anything packed?’

She shook her head.

He glanced at her tiny polka-dot bikini, looked up, hoping some of the staff were around so he could send them to fetch her clothes, remembered they had orders
not
to be around and softly swore.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing. We should probably get out of the sun so you don’t burn.’

‘Weren’t we going to the tower room?’

He was seriously out of his depth. ‘Give me a second to make a phone call.’ He needed a professional opinion; he’d have Alexei come out to the pool.

‘Dominic just called.’

He turned his head, his phone in his hand. ‘You remember that, yeah?’

‘Of course, why wouldn’t I?’ Her voice shifted up a gear, her brows arched. ‘He said Isabelle was in a bad car accident. He’s coming to get me. But I told you, she’ll be fine. I said, that right?’

‘Yeah, absolutely.’ He set his phone back on the table. ‘I’m glad she’s going to be okay. Good news.’ His baby was in shock, still loopy, but half there now; better than not there at all. He’d take it. ‘You know, you should get some clothes on before your uncle gets here. Or I could have someone pack a few things for you.’

‘Don’t bother. I’ll be back soon. Isabelle is strong.’

He wasn’t about to bring up the Geneva attack, the ostensible reason his life was hectic of late, nor that he might not be on the island much longer. ‘We’ll get a jacket at least,’ he said, giving her a little smile. ‘How about I take you into the house and we’ll see if there’s anything else you need.’ Coming to his feet with Nicole in his arms, he started walking toward the palazzo.

Nicole caught hold of Rafe’s arm, stared up at him. ‘You’re not trying to get rid of me, are you?’

‘God, no!’ His expression of surprise quickly turned to affection. ‘Hey, no way.’

She lifted her left hand. ‘You sure? You want your ring back?’

‘Jesus, Tiger, I couldn’t be more sure.’ He stepped off the pool terrace onto the garden path. ‘We’re engaged. You better not be changing your mind.’

Her smile was unimaginably fragile. ‘I won’t. Just checking on you.’

‘There’s nothing to check. You’re my girl. Now, tomorrow, next week, next month to infinity, okay?’ Without missing a stride, he dipped his head, gave the bridge of her nose a brushing kiss. ‘Know what? Why don’t you and Isabelle talk about our wedding while you’re home? That’ll give you something to do while she’s recuperating.’ This wasn’t the time to deal with the harsh facts of life and the uncertain future. Nicole was just returning from some frightening place; she needed a distraction. ‘Whatever kind of wedding you want is fine with me.’

‘I want a small wedding,’ Nicole said. ‘Nothing fancy.’

‘Great.’ He shot her a grin. ‘Just you and me.’

She smiled. ‘Good try. But I have friends, you have friends, there’s family. And Isabelle has always talked about a wedding on horseback or scuba diving off the Great Barrier Reef, or a hot air balloon wedding in Napa. She’s into theatre.’

Rafe laughed. ‘Whatever. Just tell me when to be there.’ There was something to be said for pure fantasy. It beat reality with Nicole’s sister on life support, him facing a war zone, and the possibility they might never see each other again all too fucking true.

Feeling a swift, painful pang of despair, he came to a sudden stop in the middle of the sun-filled, fragrant garden. Shifting Nicole higher in his arms, he fixed his hooded gaze on her from very close range and said, softly, ‘Have I told you lately how much I love you?’

Her arms tightened around his neck, the blaze in his amber eyes spreading a life-giving warmth through her senses, his body solid and strong against her. ‘Yes, but tell me again.’
Tell me that we have all the time in the world.

‘I love you Nicole Parrish. Fiercely, unconditionally.’ A smile rippled across his face. ‘Obsessively.’

She smiled a tiny smile. ‘Crazy in love; that’s always been us. I love you, Rafe Contini, bone deep, heart full and madly.’ She swallowed hard. ‘I’m not going to cry. You’re going to come and get me soon or I’ll come back here. There’s nothing to cry about.’

‘Not a thing. I’ll be in San Francisco before you know it.’ Rafe’s eyes closed for a second, a flicker of tension caught the tip of his smile, but his voice was smooth when he said, ‘A few more days of this mess I’m dealing with and I’ll come for you. I might be out of phone range for a couple days, but I’ll call as soon as I can.’

‘Promise?’

The soft plea in her voice broke his heart. ‘Promise. Same page now?’

‘Yup.’ She swallowed hard, blinked harder. Then, in her fearless way, she said, ‘Come back or I’ll come looking for
you
.’

He smiled, knew she was going to be okay. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be back. You’re unforgettable, Pussycat.’ Familiar with masking his feelings and moving on through a world of soul-destroying trouble, he started walking again. ‘Make sure to say hi to Isabelle from me. Tell her I’m looking forward to meeting her. And don’t give me any shit,’ he added now that Nicole seemed rational again, ‘but we’re getting you some clothes. No one looks at you half naked like this but me.’

A smile flickered at the corner of her mouth. ‘Wow. Is that an order?’

‘Goddamn right it’s an order.’

‘Okay, then.’ Her smile was sweet as hell. ‘And Isabelle really is going to be fine. I’m not delusional. We talk to each other ESP-wise, always have, ever since we were kids. So relax.’

He didn’t argue about having been worried. He just said, ‘If you say so, I believe you. I’m glad you’re okay. You would have freaked out your uncle.’

She smiled. ‘I doubt it. Dominic’s hard to freak out. But he might have blamed you. No way I want that.’

Since the sea breeze could be cool, Nicole dressed in jeans and sweater. Rafe just pulled on shorts and a T-shirt. They were waiting on the verge of the landing pad a few minutes later, her hand in Rafe’s, her backpack slung over his shoulder. Dominic’s chopper was just setting down.

Rafe had asked whether she wanted to take any of the clothes he’d bought her, but she’d said, ‘The clothes will be here when I come back.’

Knowing better than to insist, he replied as calmly, ‘I won’t move a thing.’

Then she’d tucked her hand in his and looked up, clear-eyed and unflinching. ‘Whatever’s going on, be careful, okay?’

‘I will,’ he’d said.

They both should have been on the stage.

Leo and Dominic exchanged a few words after Dominic stepped off the ramp, then Leo moved aside, Dominic smiled at Nicole and walked toward her. He was thirty-seven now, tall, tanned, handsome, but still a surfer at heart, wearing blue and white chequered Vans, cargo shorts and a T-shirt from a surfing competition in Bali. ‘Sorry I’m not here with better news,’ he said, wrapping Nicole in a hug. ‘I see you’re ready. Good.’ He put out his hand to Rafe. ‘Appreciate your help.’

‘Rafe thinks I’m nuts,’ Nicole announced, ‘but I’ll tell you anyway. I did that ESP thing Isabelle and I have been streaming since we were like four and six and she answered. Everything’s gonna be okay. But she needs me, she said, so I’m all set to go.’

‘Hey, ESP, whatever it takes. I’m with you.’ But Dominic was surprised at Nicole’s bland assurance that Isabelle would recover. His reports had been less sanguine and he’d given Nicole a relatively accurate assessment of her sister’s condition. He wasn’t about to argue though, pleased that Nicole was dealing with the tragedy in whatever fashion. Not that he wasn’t above hoping that ESP was the newest medical marvel.

‘More good news too,’ Nicole said, grinning. ‘Ta da!’ She held out her hand to her uncle. ‘I’m engaged.’ She shot a smile at Rafe. ‘
We’re
engaged.’