“If it’s any consolation, I’m not sure I’d care if you did that. And believe me, that’s so far out of my comfort zone, we’re talking beyond this galaxy into the black hole of the universe.” She grimaced. “You’re not the only one obsessed.”
He suddenly grinned. “So the sex is that good?”
“Fuck you.” But she was smiling.
“You say that so often, I’m beginning to think you mean it,” he said, hushed and low.
His deep voice resonated through every sexually addicted nerve in her body with predictable effect. She winked in open invitation. “So—wanna see if you can keep up?”
“You say the sweetest things, Miss Parrish.” Straightening, he leaned forward and kissed her gently, a young boy’s kiss, the kind he hadn’t given even when he was a young boy. But she made the world seem fresh and new, brought with her an incomprehensible joy, made him believe in the word relationship as a meritorious concept. “Keeping up shouldn’t be a problem, pussycat,” he whispered, with another brushing, butterfly kiss. He ran his hands down her arms and smiled. “But let’s get out of here first. I’ll find you something to wear.”
Nicole’s eyes flashed wide. “If you say you have a closet full of women’s clothes, I’m going home.”
“You can wear one of my robes. And I’m not letting you go home,” he said, tapping her bottom lip with his index finger. “So take that option off the table.”
“You can’t make me stay.”
“Don’t start,” he said pleasantly. “I don’t want to fight anymore.”
“You can’t, that’s all.”
“You’re absolutely right. Forgive me.” This wasn’t an argument she was going to win, nor one he wished to have; she’d leave when he let her leave. “Now let’s wash up in some rudimentary fashion and have Simon drive us home. You good with that? Please?”
His smile was freaking beautiful, and cautious, like he was a little worried about her answer. She nodded. “Yup. I’m good.”
He exhaled. “Thanks.” Then he grinned. “First time walking on eggshells for me.” He quickly put up his hand at her lifted brow. “All good, seriously. You’re teaching me a lot.”
Nicole smiled. “I know what you mean. Obsession’s a bitch, right?”
“Hey, as long as you’re in the picture frame, I’ll deal with it willingly. Now I’m calling Simon.”
He told Simon to park out back, then picked Nicole up, rose from the sofa, and carried her into the bathroom. His office held a minimum wardrobe, and once they’d cleaned up, he changed into jeans and a T-shirt, offered her a choice of sweats or a robe, helped her into a light blue cambric robe, and carried her through the back corridors to an exterior door.
Manned by beaucoup security.
Nicole lifted her brows as the door was opened for them and they walked out into the summer night. “You must be important. Or is the crowd down here so rowdy?”
“Neither. The casino’s close, a security issue; so is Ganz.” Not to mention Rafe’s usual list of enemies. “That’s why I like the house. It’s private. Hi, Simon.” He handed him Nicole’s shoes. “Mission accomplished. We’re going home.”
Nicole liked the sound of the word home. It was a total fantasy, of course, but screw it, she intended to enjoy every second, every breath, every lush sensation while she was here. Call it Zen, call it magic, call it bewitchment or the perfect alignment of the planets. It was pleasure, pure and simple.
And all because of a superbeautiful, badass, charming, incredibly talented sex god currently holding her in his arms in the backseat of his armored car.
She sighed softly.
He dipped his head and held her gaze, a faint frown visible under a fall of dark hair. “Everything okay? Need something? Just name it, you got it.”
She smiled. “That was a happy sigh.”
He exhaled. “Good. I’ll see that it stays that way.”
And for the first time in his life, he wanted to make a woman happy, keep her happy. Keep her close. It was a strange, unapologetically glorious feeling that didn’t bear close scrutiny. “Want some music?” He reached for the control; no point in getting maudlin. This was about sex. Good sex, crazy, obsessive sex, but that was all. “Who do you like? The car playlist has pretty much everything.”
Chapter 16
Nicole fell asleep in the car.
Looks like keeping up isn’t going to be a problem, Rafe decided with a good-natured smile. Apparently hours of mind-blowing sex exhaust some people; he’d have to think about practicing a little discipline. She was more fragile than hard-core party girls, like a feisty kitten—all sharp claws and hiss—but surprisingly innocent underneath. Not as worldly as she supposed.