Broken Together (12 page)

He
returned a few minutes later. “I’ve secured a private yacht. We’ll be ringing
in the New Year and celebrating our engagement while cruising the Potomac
River. That way, there’s no prep work involved, and we don’t have to clean up.”

My
eyes widened. “Are you serious? How did you secure a yacht this close to New
Year’s Eve?”

“Clearly,
you don’t know who you’re marrying,” he taunted with a cocky smile.

I
practically snorted my coffee. “Clearly. I don’t.”

*
* * * *

Rafael
bolted upright. There it was again. A gentle rap on the door. He lunged out of
bed and tugged a pair of sweats on. “Matias isn’t getting any pastries this morning.”

I
glanced at my cell phone. It was eight o’clock in the morning, right on the
nose.

Rafael’s
voice echoed briefly from the other room. Within minutes his broad frame filled
the doorway to the bedroom. He was tapping an envelope against the palm of his
hand.

I
eyed the envelope. “What’s that?”

He
slid a formal looking invitation from the envelope. “Chief D’Souza has
requested our presence at the PSP’s charity ball tonight.”

“PSP?”

“The
Public Security Police. The event benefits those who are injured in the line of
duty and the families of fallen officers.”

I
poked a single toe out from under the comforter and shivered. “Are we going?”

He
tapped the remote for the fireplace. “I believe it’s expected.”

I
planted both of my feet on the floor. “Is this a formal event?”

Rafael
set the invitation on the nightstand. “Yes. I have to wear my tux, and you need
a formal gown.”

I
joined him on the other side of the bed. “Can I have your cell phone? I’d like
to see if Eva can help me shop.”

Rafael
grinned. “You don’t want to shop with me?” He handed me his phone.

“I’d
rather you be surprised by the dress.” I kissed him on the cheek before
scrolling through his contacts. “
Olá
, Eva?”

“
Bom
dia
, Kristine. Is everything okay?”

I
cringed. “Oh, God! I’m so sorry. It’s crazy early.”

“
N
ão, não.
It’s fine. I’ve
been awake for an hour.”

“I was just wondering if you were free to go shopping
with me. We just received an invitation for the PSP’s charity ball…”

“Oh, you’re going!” she squealed delightedly.
“Benjamim and I are going too. Most of the Templar will be there as a show of
support for those serving in law enforcement.”

“Really?” I breathed.
No pressure there
.

“I’ll pick you up in one hour. I know the perfect boutique.
Oh, and I’ll secure an appointment for you at the spa. My appointment’s at
noon. Don’t worry, they serve lunch. Tell Rafael I’ll have you back by five
o’clock.
Adeus
,” she called cheerily.

I
glanced at the phone. That woman had entirely too much energy for eight o’clock
in the morning. I looked at Rafael. “I need lots and lots of coffee.”

*
* * * *

I
stepped in front of the mirror. Truly, this was the most romantic dress I’d
ever seen. The full, blush colored gown served as a canvas for deep forest
green leaves, ivory, lavender, and burgundy flowers. The images were soft and faded
like a Monet. The strapless gown forced a considerable amount of cleavage above
the rib-crushing corseted top, which Eva assured me was okay. A blush crept
over my cheeks. The corset pushed everything up, so that my very average
breasts looked much fuller than they really were.

With
a slender shrug, I decided to let Rafael be the judge. He was waiting patiently
in the living room, oblivious to the fact that I was wearing thigh high
stockings, a light pink garter, and a matching thong beneath the filmy skirt. Soft
pink heels completed the ensemble.

Rafael
scrambled to his feet. His jaw clenched while his hands circled my waist. “I
don’t know whether to kill or kiss Eva.” His thumbs scaled the corset before grazing
my breasts. “I’m going to have to beat the rest of the police force off with my
baton.”

“You
have a baton?” I wondered if he knew his hands were clenching my breasts.

Rafael
frowned. “Maybe I should take one of my swords.”

I
laughed. “Good luck hiding that in your tux. You look gorgeous, by the way.” The
traditional black tux displayed his broad shoulders, trim waist, and muscular
legs perfectly. The man looked devastating in a tux.

His
hands shifted, circling my neck. He forced my chin higher with his thumbs.
“Kiss me,” he demanded gruffly.

I
stepped closer, so that every hard angle of his body was perfectly aligned with
mine. I slid one flawlessly manicured hand behind his neck and forced his lips
to mine. With painstaking precision, I traced his lips with the tip of my
tongue. When I was certain he couldn’t bear it any longer, I delved deep inside
his mouth.

With
a groan, Rafael wrested control of the kiss. My blood burst into flames as he
thrust deep inside my mouth. He stroked my tongue again and again; circling…
tempting… teasing until the kiss grew frenzied. He ventured lower, layering passionate
kisses all along my jaw and thoroughly ravishing my neck.

My
breasts swelled against the corset, demanding his attention. “We’re going to be
late.” I prayed he didn’t care. I wanted him in the worst possible way.

His
thumbs dipped beneath the corset. “Everyone will be late.” He latched onto my
breast.

“I’ll
never get enough of this… of you,” I breathed.

Rafael’s
hands slid down my back. His eyes darkened when he cupped my bottom. “You’re
wearing a garter?”

I
nodded, somewhat fearfully. The desire rolling off him was a little unsettling.

“If
you value that thong, you’ll step out of it. Now.”

I
dug beneath the beautiful skirt, unfastened the garter, and quickly removed the
thong. My hands shook like a junkie needing drugs.

Rafael
loosened his pants. In one fluid motion, he lifted me. Like a man possessed, he
thrust. We slammed against the wall. I closed my eyes and savored the moment he
lost all control.

He
claimed everything at once; my breasts… my neck… and mouth… while destroying every
nerve ending between my legs. He thrust harder than he ever dared before.

I
welcomed every blow.

Rafael
pinched my breasts, catapulting me toward release. I screamed deep inside his
mouth. He groaned his response as he filled me. I fell slack, savoring the
pulsing heat.

Rafael
collapsed against me, his heartbeat as wild as mine.

I
wiped lip gloss from his chin when my feet finally found the floor. “I… I need
a minute to freshen up.” I patted my hair, wondering how much damage had been
done.

A
warm chuckle rolled through his chest. “You look fine. A little mussed… like we
just had sex, but that works for me. It’ll keep the other officers away.”

I
just shook my head. Within ten minutes time, my makeup, thong, and dress were
back where they belong. I joined Rafael in the living room.

He
pulled me in for a hug. “Thanks for indulging me.”

A
single eyebrow rose along my forehead. “Have you looked in the mirror recently?
How could I possibly resist?”

Rafael
twirled me around so my back was to his chest. He clasped a necklace around my
neck.

“What’s
this?” My fingers skimmed the smooth, cool beads that sat too high to see.
Slowly, I turned around.

He
glanced at the necklace. “Those are my mother’s pearls.”

“Rafael,”
I objected.

He
cupped my face in his hands. “Please. My mother would want you to have these.”

I
choked back tears. “I don’t deserve you.”

He
smiled. “You do. You deserve me, and this, and so much more; and I’m going to
spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

My
heart clenched. “I love you.”

“I
love you too.” He kissed me, gently. “Ready?”

“Yes,”
I whispered breathlessly. We took the elevator to the garage. “Did you speak
with Chief D’Souza today?” Rafael made his decision before I left with Eva. That
decision had left me feeling vulnerable and sad, but I was trying my best to be
supportive.

Rafael
helped me into the car. “No, love. He’ll be expecting an answer tonight.”

“I
can’t believe we’re going to live apart.” We’d practically lived together for
nine months, fourteen if you counted our time together in Paris. I forced my
composure back into place. “I shouldn’t complain. This is a small sacrifice to
make. I’ll finish my degree, and you’ll nail every last man who abused those
children. Then, we’ll be together either here or in Virginia, and we’ll never
be parted again.”

Rafael
nodded although a scowl marked his face. He pulled out of the garage.

I
pulled my skirt a little closer so it wouldn’t interfere with the clutch. “What
do you want to do about the wedding?”

He
turned onto the
Avenida da Liberdade
. “We’re going to proceed as
planned. I reserved the Monserrate Palace. I told them we want to be married while
the sun is setting. Should we plan to have the reception there? They offered to
set up a large tent with tables and chairs.”

I
nodded. While we originally discussed having a small, intimate wedding, the
guest list had taken on a life of its own. We were now up to fifty-three people;
to include my family, Kimme and Dan, our friends from Virginia, Benjamim, Eva,
and Rafael’s friends from the police force, some of whom I suspected were
knights. I hadn’t given much thought to a reception, but I liked the idea of
having everything in one place. “That sounds good. Will they allow us to bring
in a caterer?”

He
nodded. “Yes, but there’s only one caterer who is allowed on the premises.”

“Well,
that’s one less decision we have to make,” I noted gratefully. I was still
questioning how I was going to pull this off while immersed in school and
working on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Rafael
glanced at me. “I’m happy to manage the logistics. Honestly, planning our
wedding will help keep me sane while you’re away. If you send the invitations,
choose the dresses and the flowers for your bouquets, then I can manage the
rest.”

“I
would like to choose your ring,” I interjected. “Although, I do want your
input. Maybe we can go ring shopping after Christmas.” I couldn’t believe Christmas
was only three days away.

Rafael
stopped in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. He helped me from the car before handing
his keys to the valet. “Shall we?”

I
tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. “We shall.”

Rafael
nodded at the doorman. “
Boa noite
.”

He
nodded politely while holding the door. “
Boa noite
.”

My
heels clicked against gleaming marble floors. The lobby offered a number of
sitting areas anchored by sage and gold embroidered rugs. Large windows lined
the wall opposite a contemporary painting depicting centaurs. “Interesting
décor.”

Rafael
assessed the crowd while I admired the décor inside the Pedro Leitão ballroom. Long
ceiling to floor tapestries framed an entire wall’s worth of glass doors. The tapestries
were pulled back and the doors were open, beckoning guests into a softly lit
garden. Little specks of light from the crystal chandeliers danced along the
ceiling, the rose colored walls, columns, and marble floor. “Wow,” was the only
word I could muster.

Rafael
handed me a glass of champagne just as Benjamim called our names. Our friends
stood beneath a massive painting of a mythical tree with metallic gold leaves.
Rafael cut through the crowd with his hand planted possessively on my lower
back.

Eva
kissed my cheek. “You look lovely, Kristine.”

“Thanks,
Eva. You look stunning.” She was wearing a red formfitting dress with a
sweetheart neckline that revealed even more cleavage than my corseted bodice.
The embroidered sleeves scrolled over her shoulders and arms as if they’d been
tattooed directly onto her skin.

Benjamim
kissed my cheek. “Truly, you rival the artwork and the garden with that dress.”

My
cheeks flushed pink. “Thank you, Benjamim.”

Rafael
shook his friend’s hand. “That reminds me. Are you available May 21
^st
?
That’s the day we’ve chosen for our wedding, and I’d like you to be my best
man.”

“I
would be honored.” Benjamim’s eyes glistened as the two men fell into a hug.

Rafael
reached for my hand. “Now that I’ve secured my best man, would you like to
dance?”

“I
would love to.” I set my glass on the table next to his.

He
gave Eva a quick kiss. “Please forgive me, but I’m anxious to dance with my
fiancé.”