Seduced by the Heir(27)

"Okay. What are you and the Italian stallion doing tonight?"

Despite herself, Paris laughed. "Don't call him that. His name is  Rafael, and if you must know we're having a quiet, romantic dinner at  home."                       
       
           



       

"That means you ordered Chinese takeout!"

"No, I cooked," she said proudly, admiring the spread on the candlelit  table in the middle of the bedroom. "I made Caesar salad, tilapia with  chili cream sauce and for dessert, Mom's German chocolate cake. And I  made the icing from scratch."

Kennedy gasped.

"Oh, stop, you act like I don't cook."

"You don't, and never for dates, so you must really like Rafael."

I passed "like" a long time ago. I've fallen hard for him, and every day I find something new and wonderful to love about him.

"When are you coming home? Your nieces and nephews miss you, and so do I."

"Dad asked me to stick around until his assistant returns to work,"  Paris said, stealing another glance out the window. "We're working hard  on several international projects, and if everything goes according to  plan, Excel Construction will expand into the overseas market in 2020."

"Just make sure you're back in Atlanta in time for my anniversary party."

"Kennedy, we discussed this already."

"I know you have another engagement that night, but I'm hoping you'll  change your mind. It would mean the world to me if you were there to  celebrate with us."

"I'll try my best," Paris said quietly, touched by her sister's words.

"That's all I ask. Oliver is coming, and it would be great to see you both."

Paris heard the front door slam and jumped to her feet.

"Honey, I'm home! Where are you?"

Her heart melted, and a soft sigh escaped her lips. Rafael's greeting  was spoken in jest to make her laugh, but the longing in his voice made  her feel like the most desirable woman in the world. "Kennedy, I have to  go." Paris put on her high-heel shoes, straightened her negligee and  fluffed her hair. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"Have fun, sis. I love you!"

Rafael strode into the bedroom, spotted her standing beside the window  and frowned. "What's all this?" he asked, gesturing to the table.  "Valentine's day isn't for another month."

"I know, but you're always doing sweet, romantic things for me, and I  wanted to return the favor." Paris crossed the room and kissed him  softly on the lips. "Do you like?"

"You have no idea." He took her hand in his, twirled her around and  whistled. "If I knew you were waiting for me in this sexy getup, I would  have been home hours ago!"

"Did everything go okay at the office? Is your security system back up and running?"

Rafael shook his head. "I don't want to talk about work. I want to talk about us."

"What's on your mind?"

He sat at the table, pulled her down on his lap and held her tight.  "Coming home and seeing you here like this reminds me of the weekend we  spent together in Cape May."

"I'm surprised you remember. That was eons ago."

"It was, but I never forgot how incredible it felt holding you and  kissing you as we made love for the very first time. It is my most  cherished memory."

His words left her speechless.

"Paris, I want you in my life, for the rest of my life." His fingertips  caressed her cheek, her neck and her shoulders. "Tell me what I have to  do to prove my love, and I'll do it."

"Rafael, what are you saying?" she asked, reuniting with her voice.

"I want you here with me, permanently, and I'll do whatever it takes to make you mine."

The candlelight cast a faint glow across his face, magnifying the  intensity of his gaze. She saw the longing in his eyes, heard the  vulnerability in his voice and melted in his arms. Something stirred  inside her, but she tempered her enthusiasm. She'd been burned by love  before and had promised herself the next time she met someone she would  take things slow. So why was she considering his outrageous proposition  after dating for only a few short weeks?

Because you've loved him since you were nineteen and nothing's changed!  said her inner voice. You can trust Rafael. He loves you and he'd never  do anything to hurt you.

"We just reconnected, and I live in Atlanta. Don't you think we're rushing things?"

"No, I don't. I don't believe in playing games or beating around the  bush. I know what I want, Paris, and it's you." Excitement twinkled in  his eyes, and he broke into a lopsided grin. "I'll come down to the ATL  and help you pack. When's good for you?"

"Rafael, I'm serious."
                       
       
           



       
"So am I. I mean every word." He tightened his hold around her waist and  brushed his mouth against her neck and the delicate slope of her ear.  "I took a risk opening up to you tonight, so promise me you'll give some  thought to what I said."

Paris did. His words played in her mind for the rest of the night-during  dinner, as they slow danced in the light of the moon and when they made  love passionately in the shower-and the more she thought about his  heartfelt declaration, the more excited she was about their future.  Rafael was, and always would be, her first and only love, and she wasn't  going to let fear control her life anymore-or her father.





Chapter 14

I haven't been this tired since my college days. Rafael swallowed a yawn  and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Waiting for the light to change at  the busy downtown intersection, he took his cell phone out of his jacket  pocket. He then reread the latest sexy, salacious text message he'd  received from Paris. He'd dropped her off just moments ago at Excel  Construction.





I'm feeling adventurous, so bring whipping cream, a blindfold and  handcuffs when you come over tonight. I want to experiment in the  bedroom. Are you up for a little role-playing?





Hell yeah! Reading the message made Rafael hot under the collar. Sweat  clung to his Kenneth Cole suit and his heart pounded in his ears. He was  desperate for her, desired her more than ever before. Paris was a woman  of incredible beauty, intelligence and passion, and it didn't matter  whether they were having drinks or making love, she always left him  wanting more.

His thoughts returned to last night, and he replayed every minute of  their impassioned encounter in her hotel suite. She'd whispered naughty  words in his ear, moaned in pleasure with every grind, every urgent  thrust. Paris made him feel whole, complete. They couldn't be more in  sync, and although they'd been dating only a few weeks, Rafael was ready  to make the ultimate commitment to her. His feelings for Paris were  stronger than ever. They had a rock-solid relationship, and he loved the  idea of her becoming his lawfully wedded wife.

He'd planned to be at Morretti Inc. bright and early that morning, but  when Paris suggested they meet at the U Street Café, he'd readily  agreed. They'd spent two hours talking and laughing over a luxurious  breakfast. Thinking back on their time together made him grin from ear  to ear. Every day with Paris was an adventure, an exciting new  experience, and seeing her was the highlight of his day. They had dinner  at noteworthy restaurants, danced for hours at trendy nightclubs,  played miniature golf and had even recently ventured into paintballing.  Paris got a kick out of shooting at him and cracked up every time he  fell to the ground. Rafael had so many bumps and bruises it hurt to  move, and as he crossed the street he felt sharp pains stab the back of  his legs. My dad was right, he thought, trying not to limp, a man in  love will do anything for his woman, including make a complete and utter  fool of himself.

Rafael heard his cell phone chime and glanced at the screen to read his  newest text. It was from Cicely. I need to see you. It's important.  Without a second thought, he deleted the message and her phone number  from his contact list. Rafael wanted nothing to do with her, and  although he'd made it perfectly clear the last time they spoke, she  continued calling and harassing him. He didn't want to have to get a  restraining order against her, but if Cicely didn't stop blowing up his  phone 24/7, that's exactly what he'd have to do.

Pulling up his jacket collar, he strode down the block toward his uncle  Mario's jewelry store. Morretti Jewelers, a by-appointment-only boutique  with a star-studded clientele, was located in a neighborhood overrun  with cafés, art galleries and expensive restaurants. Shoppers crowded  the streets, which were filled with laughter and animated conversation.

A bearded man wearing sunglasses and dark clothes bumped into Rafael and  kept right on moving. No apology, no nothing. Rafael caught a glimpse  of the stranger as he sped past, and a cold chill snaked down his spine.  The guy looked like a heavier, darker version of Nicco's ex-best friend  and former business partner, Tye Caldwell.