Rafe’s growl against her mouth made her need him even more. She pressed her hips up, ignoring the ache in her right hip as she fought to get closer to him. She felt the hardness of his shaft as it rubbed against her core and did her own bit of whimpering.
“Baby, we need to stop,” Rafe said as he pulled his mouth away from hers.
“You are not doing this to me again,” Becca said angrily, balling up her fist and doing her best not to haul off and belt him.
“No, baby, I’m not,” Rafe said quietly, giving her one more brief kiss before easing back and tugging at her jeans. “Lift.” The order was spoken softly, but it was a definite order.
Becca had a moment of defiance that was made stronger by a big heaping dose of pissed off. She gripped his hands as he tugged her jeans over her hips, pressed his thumbs into the muscles of her upper thighs, and massaged upward to her hips. Her resolve to remain angry flew right out the damn window when the immediate relief from pain that she felt made her entire body relax for the first time in such a long time.
“Rafe,” she whispered. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Rafe smiled and sighed with relief. He didn’t want Becca to ever be in pain. He wanted her safe and healthy. He wanted her to be free from the constant agony that he knew she suffered with.
“Just relax, baby,” he said gently. “Let me help you.”
Becca closed her eyes and gave herself over to the man that she adored. His touch may be intended to ease her pain, but it was also causing her desire for him to ramp up to epic proportions.
Rafe massaged the muscles in Becca’s thighs, rubbing them firmly with the pads of his thumbs. He massaged deeply, dragging his thumbs up her body and pressing firmly into the muscles and tissues of her incredibly sexy hips. When he reached her waist, he worked his way back down to her hips and took firm hold of them. He began a gentle rocking of her hips, feeling the way the bones of her pelvis and spine popped as the tightened muscles relaxed their hold.
“Try to take deep breaths and relax, Becca,” he told her gently. “I’m not stopping until you’re completely free from pain.”
“Then you’re going to have to keep touching me all the time, Rafe,” Becca told him, knowing that what she was saying was true. “I don’t think you’d be willing to do that.”
Rafe leaned forward and looked directly into Becca’s unique brown eyes with the beautiful flecks of blue in them. He saw the peace and relief in them and knew that he had to be the one who brought that to her. It was time to face his demons. He had to tell Becca the memories that haunted him each and every day. Only then would he be able to know for sure if Becca would ever forgive him.
“I have a lot to tell you, Becca,” Rafe said softly. “If you still want to be mine after you hear what I have to say, you’ll make me the happiest man alive.”
“Rafe, I think it’s about time you tell me whatever it is that’s been keeping you away from me for so long.”
Rafe nodded then leaned forward and kissed her slowly and thoroughly. If she never wanted to speak to him again after he confessed what he had to tell her, he needed one last taste of her before that happened.
“Unca Rafe, why are you on top of Aunt Becca?” Robbie asked innocently as he stood beside the couch and rested his head on Becca’s shoulder.
“I’m trying to help Aunt Becca feel better because her hip is hurting her,” Rafe told him, sighing against Becca’s neck as he looked at his nephew.
“Aunt Becca, your hip hurts?” Robbie asked, worried for her.
“Just a little bit,” Becca admitted. “Uncle Rafe helps when he massages my hip and my leg muscles.”
Robbie was a smart kid. Becca knew there was no way he would believe anything but the truth. When Robbie looked at you, it was as if he saw right into your soul—just like Melanie did.
“I saw Unca Rafe helping you in my dream,” Robbie said softly, thinking about the dream that he had a lot. “I saw that when you were sleeping, Unca Rafe’s hand glowed. It was a really pretty gold color.”
“It glowed?” Becca asked, amazed by the little boy’s ability. “Then what happened?”
“I saw you were smiling at him,” Robbie continued. “You were really happy, Aunt Becca. I liked that you were happy.”
Becca smiled at the little boy. She reached out and touched his cheek gently, laughing softly as he threw his body at her and hugged her tightly.
“I love you, Aunt Becca,” Robbie said softly as his aunt hugged him back. “I like your kids.”
Becca looked at Rafe. He was just as surprised by Robbie’s words as she was. When he looked at her, Becca could see the happiness that lit up his eyes.
“Were there lots of kids for you to play with, Robbie?” Rafe asked his nephew, never taking his eyes off of Becca.
“Yup. I liked playing in the room with all the toys,” Robbie said as he reached out and touched his uncle’s hand as it rested against his aunt’s face. “I liked painting all the pictures with you, too.”
Rafe closed his eyes and took a calming breath. If Robbie saw Rafe’s art supplies and canvases then the kids that Robbie had seen had to be real, and they belonged to him—not some other man. No one ever saw the cabin where he painted—except Becca.
His parents had constructed that cabin just for him. It was his sanctuary. It was where he had painted for days on end to try to release the agony within his soul when he had been much younger. It hadn’t helped. Only being with Becca helped him. Robbie’s description of the cabin and what he saw there gave him hope that Becca would not only forgive him, but she would also share his life and give him the kids that Robbie would someday play with.
“You paint good, Unca Rafe,” Robbie told him, patting his uncle’s forearm repeatedly. “You’re a good daddy, too. Just like my daddy.”
Becca looked up at Rafe and saw the happiness in his stunning blue eyes. Rafe was always so serious. He was also very reserved and direct. Becca knew that he showed his tender side only to her, Robbie, and now Cooper. She also knew that he would show the same tenderness and care to any children that they might have together. She just wished that Robbie’s dream would come true. Becca ached for that life with Rafe.
The front door to the ranch home opened and the rest of the McKade men and their friends entered. It was a normal happening each week. They all came here to share dinner every Saturday night. They were family, and they shared the end of every week with each other. It was then that everyone was caught up with the happenings of the ranch, the construction company, as well as the happiness and the problems of each of the family members. Everyone rejoiced in each other’s accomplishments and aided in the solving of any problems or needs that any of them might have.
Becca hadn’t shown up at the last few dinners. Being close to Rafe was just too painful. But, tonight, Lainey had convinced her that she should attend. Lainey had told her that Becca was a member of the McKade family despite Rafe’s inability to commit himself to her. Lainey was right. The McKade brothers and their friends were her family. They had watched out for her and had taken care of her since her injury. She knew she shouldn’t isolate herself from their love and caring just because Rafe couldn’t love her.
She pushed herself up on the couch, pulling up her jeans and zipping them closed before anyone could see her in that state of undress. Rafe eased back and moved to sit next to her, his hand still on her shoulder as she settled herself. He grabbed for one of the throw pillows and tucked it behind her to stabilize her lower back and hip.
“How do you feel, baby?” he asked her quietly.
“I’m good. Thanks,” she told him, taking his hand and removing it from her shoulder to place it firmly on his own leg.
“No pain?”
“No, my hip is fine.”
She looked at him with an even stare. She wasn’t about to admit that her hip was fine but her heart hurt.
Rafe’s eyes were intense as he looked at her. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against the
side of her face. “Don’t lie to me, Miss Becca,” he warned her.
She pushed at his chest and gripped the arm of the couch to help her stand. She was only a little unsteady on her feet. She was relieved to find that she had absolutely no pain.
“You have no right to tell me what to do, Rafe McKade,” she told him calmly as she leaned down and got right in his face. “If you were my mate, you might have something to say, but you’re not.”
“Becca,” Rafe said, the warning very clear in his voice.
“What? Are you going to tell me something different? No? Then keep your warnings and your hands to yourself.”
Straightening, she stepped carefully around the couch and headed toward the dining room table. She was going to ignore Rafe McKade. She was going to ignore Robbie’s dream. She had a life of her own, and she was going to do what she wanted to do. Maybe it was time to move away. Now that the diner was gone, she had nothing holding her to this place any longer. She could easily start a new bakery in a nearby town. She would have to talk to Lainey about it. Even if Lainey didn’t want to start a new business with her, she could easily do it alone. Yes. That’s what she would do. She would do it alone.
Rafe watched his woman walk away. He loved her strength. He also loved it when she got right in his face and denied him. It made him smile. He closed his eyes and sighed, taking a calming breath to center himself. He said a silent prayer to the Great Spirit asking for help so that he would have the courage to finally make Becca his.
“Unca Rafe?” Robbie called to him quietly.
Rafe opened his eyes and smiled down at his nephew. Robbie was patting Rafe’s knees worriedly and looking up at him. Reaching down, he drew Robbie up onto his lap and cuddled him against his chest.
“You’re a good cowboy, Robbie,” he whispered against the top of his nephew’s head. “I love you.”
Robbie laughed sweetly and kissed his uncle’s cheek sloppily. “I love you, Unca Rafe.”
Luke McKade walked over to the couch and settled his forearms on the back of it to look down at his son and his brother. “Hey, little man. Did you have a good day?”
“I did, Daddy,” Robbie said as he scooted up Rafe’s body and stood on his uncle’s thighs. He lifted his little arms and waited for his daddy to scoop him up into his arms and kiss him hello. “Did you have a good day, Daddy?”
“I sure did,” Luke told his son, kissing his forehead quickly. “I was really busy, but I thought about you and Mary Grace all day.”
“You did?” Robbie whispered, looking up at his father with all the adoration he had for him.
“Yup. And I thought about your mommy, too. I missed all of you very much.”
“Daddy, we missed you, too,” Robbie said quietly, hugging his father tightly and cuddling close.
Rafe looked up at his brother as he held Robbie. Rafe’s arms felt empty without the little guy cuddling against him. He thought about having a family with Becca and smiled. He wanted her pregnant with his baby. He wanted to hold their child in his arms and hug and kiss him or her. He wanted that with Becca.
It was about damned time he did something about it.
Chapter 22
Jake opened the back door of the ranch home that led to the kitchen. He smiled when he saw Claire in there placing the last few items of food on to the serving platters.
“Now, that’s a beautiful sight to come home to,” he said as he stepped into the kitchen.
“I knew you would be glad that we’re having baked chicken and mashed potatoes,” Claire said, laughing as she wiped her hands on the dish towel before tossing it onto the counter beside the sink and walking over to her man to wrap her arms around his waist.
“I wasn’t talking about the food, angel,” Jake told her quietly. “I was talking about coming home to you.”
“Oh, Jake, you’re going to make me cry,” Claire whispered as she looked up at him.
“I don’t want to make you cry, darlin’. I want to make you come,” Jake told her, his blue eyes flashing with desire.
Claire laughed and leaned into him, kissing his throat and humming against him. “Now, you’re just making me need.”
“That’s what I want,” Jake told her, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her gently.
“I’ll just bet you do, sir,” she teased him.
Jake eased back slightly and looked down at her, his eyes narrowing as he viewed his mate. She was looking at him with an innocent expression on her beautiful face, but he knew better.
“Are you trying to push my buttons again, Claire?” he asked her calmly.
“Depends. Is it working?”
Jake tried really hard not to smile, but he was unsuccessful in his attempt. “You know it is,” he said finally.
“I’m glad,” Claire whispered.
Jake pulled her tighter against his body, pressing his hips against her core as he backed her up against the counter. Moving his hips slowly, he rubbed against her at just the right angle to stimulate her clit. He knew he was successful in giving his woman pleasure when he heard her soft gasp and felt the way her hands tightened on his waist as she closed her eyes to experience the stimulation.
“Angel, I need you to pack up some of that food,” he told her quietly, punctuating his words with soft kisses against her closed eyelids, her cheeks, and her lips. “We’re going somewhere special for a picnic.”
“We are? Jake, it’s pretty cold outside,” she said, laughing softly. “There’s snow on the ground.”
“Yes, there is.”
“Then how are we going to have a picnic?”
“Pack the food then get your coat, angel,” Jake told her. He kissed her lips softly, licking at them sensuously before gently pushing her away from him.
“I just need to bring this food out to the rest of the family, and I’ll be ready to go wherever you’re taking me. I like this secret excursion, Jake. It’s exciting.”
“I’ve already called Deuce and told him that I’m taking you somewhere special for dinner,” Jake said, smiling at the concern she always showed for the comfort and care of the family. “He’s ready to take over so we can leave.”
“Okay,” Claire said softly, opening the cabinet next to the sink to take out four plastic containers.
She placed several pieces of baked chicken in one, a good helping of mashed potatoes in the second, and sweet corn with butter in the third. Opening the refrigerator, she took out the cheesecake that she had made that afternoon, cut two pieces, and put them into the last container.
Jake walked over to the large pantry that was to the right of the kitchen and opened the doors, stepping inside to look for the large picnic basket that he knew was in there somewhere. He smiled at the organized rows of canned goods, and food supplies, knowing that it was Claire who kept everything stocked in order to take care of all of them.
Spotting the picnic basket on the top shelf, he gripped the handle and pulled it down. He carried it out of the pantry and placed it on the kitchen table, going back to close the pantry doors before returning to the table to lift the wicker lid of the basket. He accepted the containers of food that Claire handed to him and tucked them away in the basket. Once it was packed, Claire added plates, napkins, and utensils.
“Is water okay with you, Jake?” Claire asked as she opened the refrigerator and looked inside it at the variety of drinks that were available to them.
“Water is fine,” Jake said as he stepped toward her, took her firmly by the shoulders, and turned her away from the refrigerator. “Go and get your coat. I’ll take care of the drinks.”
Claire nodded, excitement filling her at the sound of Jake’s deep, commanding voice. She loved the way he was taking control. She felt her channel clenching and begin dripping with desire as small pulses of need traveled through her. She had to stop and lean against the table until she was able to walk without feeling the throbbing.
“Is something wrong, angel?” Jake asked as he came up behind her a
nd wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her back against his body.
“You know what’s wrong,” Claire said, reaching up and taking Jake’s right hand and sliding it into the waistband of the soft, lounge pants that she was wearing. “Feel what you do to me.”
Before she could say another word, Jake slid his hand down her stomach, into her soft pants, and over her mound to brush the curls at her core. He reached her lower lips and parted them carefully to slip his middle finger inside of her. Claire moaned as his finger filled her. She wasn’t embarrassed by the wetness she knew he was feeling.
“What you do to me, Jake McKade,” she whispered when she felt his fingers sliding through her folds and easing inside of her. She gasped when he pumped into her over and over again, pressing the heel of his hand against her button and bringing her so close she couldn’t prevent the whimper that escaped her.
Jake pressed deep and held still. He could feel the pulsing of her clit and knew that it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge. Withdrawing his fingers from her hot heat and removing his hand from her pants, he turned her around and had her watch him as he placed his fingers inside of his mouth and sipped the dew of her arousal from them.
“We’re going to wait a bit before you come, angel,” he told her, his blue eyes dark with desire. “Get your coat.”
He watched with satisfaction as Claire slowly walked from the kitchen to retrieve her coat. It was obvious that she was shaky with need. He was looking forward to helping her slake her thirst. She returned quickly, buttoning her heavy coat and walking directly toward him to stand in front of him.
“Okay, I’ve got my coat, Jake. Where’re we going for this picnic?”
The kitchen door opened and Deuce, Luke, and Rafe entered, followed by Spence, Tim, John, and Marc. Claire watched in silence as the men picked up the platters of food and left them. Deuce opened the refrigerator and removed the two large pitchers holding sweet tea and water. He tucked the carton of milk against his chest and turned to face them.
Jake's Angel [Cowboy Mates, Psychic Connections 4] (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 21
