Rafe jumped up from the bench and began walking towards the street. Cade didn’t need to glance at his watch to see that it was nearly three o-clock in the afternoon. He took his time easing into the early afternoon traffic. It was always this last leg of Rafe’s journey that confused him most since Vin’s house was so fortified with security that Rafe couldn’t get more than a hundred feet from the iron gate that was surrounded by security cameras. There was no place to blend in either so Rafe usually sat in the cab at the end of Vin’s street and the only view of the house he would have had would be the roof and maybe a window or two. But he’d sit there for more than an hour before directing the cab back to the city and then he’d end up back in front of Dom’s apartment where he spent the rest of the evening drinking coffee in the café across the street.
Once they were back in the city, Cade parked his car two blocks from the coffee shop and made his way through the crowd of people until he reached the edge of the park next to Dom’s building. He had a clear view of Rafe who was seated in the patio area, his fingers tapping nervously on what Cade guessed was his third cup of coffee by now. There was a newspaper in front of him but it remained untouched. To the casual observer Rafe looked like any other tourist or regular and the only thing that set him apart was his good looks and confident demeanor. But Cade didn’t miss the many times Rafe nervously ran his hand through his hair or checked his watch. His expression was drawn tight and the agitation was clear in his shifting gaze.
Guilt went through Cade when he saw Rafe pull down one of his shirt sleeves that had ridden up. There were still red marks where the zip ties had cut into Rafe’s skin as he’d fought them. As infuriated as he’d been with Rafe, he hadn’t meant to truly harm him. Yeah, knocking the guy out had been a necessary means to an end but that was supposed to have been the worst of it. He sure as shit hadn’t planned to send the guy into a debilitating panic attack. And the scars…the fucking scars.
He’d seen marks like those before – had felt the same bite of leather himself. Whatever had happened to the youngest Barretti after he’d been stolen from the protection of his big brothers appeared to have left even worse scars on the inside than the ones on the outside and any justification Cade had felt in going after the guy to protect Dom and Vin and the rest of his second family had dissipated. Maybe Rafe Barretti did need his brothers to be there to welcome him home, no matter what kind of damage the young man inflicted before he got there.
Cade saw Rafe stiffen and he instantly went on alert. He glanced across the street and saw Dom and Logan walking hand in hand down the sidewalk, their heads lowered as they spoke softly to one another. Cade looked back at Rafe and saw the man was on the move, his dark gaze latching onto his brother as if he was some type of prey. With Rafe’s attention engrossed by his unsuspecting brother, Cade was able to keep the distance between them pretty minimal and when he saw Rafe start to go into the restaurant after Logan and Dom, he quickened his pace and reached Rafe as he paused just outside the entrance.
He grabbed Rafe’s arm and snapped “not one word” when Rafe opened his mouth to argue. It took just seconds to drag Rafe deep into the alley next to the restaurant and shove him back against the wall. They were hidden from the foot traffic by two huge dumpsters and though the smell left something to be desired, the privacy was what Cade had been looking for.
“So now the plan is to humiliate your brother in person?” Cade snapped.
Rafe was breathing heavily, his sapphire eyes glittering with anger and something else. Lust – hard and raw. Desire slammed through Cade like a bullet as his eyes fell to Rafe’s slightly parted lips. This was the man he remembered from that night so long ago in the club. Powerful, confident, in control. But there was a hint of vulnerability too and he knew Rafe was waiting for him to decide what would happen next. He’d seen this man at his weakest and Rafe was expecting him to use it against him.
“Fuck it,” he growled as he leaned down and sealed his mouth over Rafe’s. He’d meant the kiss to be harsh and demanding – proof that he had the power in this moment but the second the soft lips parted beneath his, all thoughts of punishment fled and he eased back so that his tongue could gently brush over Rafe’s. The man’s mouth was amazing and the feel of his slick tongue greeting his own had Cade pressing his body into Rafe’s until the wall at Rafe’s back gave Cade the leverage he needed to mold their bodies so nothing between them was left untouched. He let his hands close over Rafe’s wrists and brushed his thumbs across the bruised skin there before dragging his arms up to each side of his head. When he fisted his hands around Rafe’s, the other man’s fingers instantly intertwined with his.
His dick felt like a steel pipe beneath his jeans but he was enjoying the feel of Rafe’s hands clinging to his too much to release them so he settled for rubbing their groins together. But soon that wasn’t enough and he let go of one of Rafe’s hands and fumbled between their bodies. He said a little prayer of thanks when his hand easily slipped past the waistband of Rafe’s slacks and closed around the thick shaft that was already slick with moisture.
Rafe cried out at the contact and turned his head to the side as Cade began stroking him. He fastened his mouth over the pulse point on Rafe’s neck and sucked hard as he tightened his grip and began pumping his own cock against Rafe’s body. Moans spilled from Rafe’s mouth as he began thrusting into Cade’s hand and Cade managed to fuse their mouths once more as Rafe’s desperate cries grew louder. He felt a hand slide into his hair and then Rafe was taking over the kiss, holding Cade’s head the way he wanted it as he thrust his tongue in and out of Cade’s mouth in tandem to Cade’s merciless drags on his dick. The only warning Cade got of Rafe’s orgasm was the tightening of Rafe’s grip in his hair and he managed to close his mouth over Rafe’s just as he let out a loud shout. Warm heat slid down his hand and it was enough to send him over the edge. He jammed his hips against Rafe’s once more and then groaned as his seed flooded the inside of his underwear and seeped into his jeans.
Cade stroked Rafe’s softening dick gently as they both struggled to catch their breath. He finally pulled his hand out of Rafe’s pants and then licked off the evidence of Rafe’s orgasm as the other man watched him. Rafe ran his tongue along his lips at the sight and Cade took that as an invitation and kissed him again. He let his palms slide down to cup Rafe’s tight ass and dragged the man against his still half hard cock.
“I need to be inside you,” Cade groaned against Rafe’s lips. “Come back to my place with me.”
Cade dipped in for another kiss but Rafe suddenly shoved him back. “Get the fuck off me! No one fucks me,” Rafe snapped. “No one!”
The man’s rage was palpable and Cade remained silent as Rafe pushed off the wall and strode down the alley. He was glad to see that Rafe didn’t turn back towards the restaurant when he got to the main street. As for the rest of the shit that had just happened, he had no fucking clue.
Chapter 3
Rafe scrubbed desperately at the stain in his slacks, wishing like hell that removing the proof of what he’d just allowed to happen would eliminate the act as well. He cursed himself for the thousandth time as he flung the pants aside and ripped off his underwear. A quick shower removed the rest of the evidence from his body but no amount of brushing his teeth would get rid of Cade’s taste and how it had mixed with the salty, bitter flavor of Rafe’s own come.
Watching the man lick Rafe’s juices from his long, thick fingers had gotten Rafe hard again and when those big palms had cupped his ass, a thrill had gone through him at the rough contact. The whole encounter had proven that Rafe had little to no control over his body around Cade and that was unacceptable. No man would ever hold that kind of power over him again and the fact that Cade had just assumed that Rafe would bend over and take whatever Cade gave him was a good reminder that that was all he was to the bigger man – a piece of ass.
Rafe wrapped a towel around his waist and went to his computer. He was done – this wa
s going to end tonight. He should have pushed the button days ago but something inside of him had needed more. He’d worried that maybe a few clicks of the mouse wouldn’t be enough so he’d spent the next day doing more recon. Not because he was feeling any kind of doubt, he’d told himself. No, he’d needed to finish his plan and bear witness to the lives he was about to change. He’d only started at Logan Bradshaw’s foundation because it was closest to his motel, not because he felt some inexplicable draw to the place or the naïve young man running it. And he’d wanted to see Dom and Vin’s homes and business so that he could have a good ‘before’ image to go with the ‘after’. It hadn’t mattered if he would have happened to have seen his brothers. If he had, it would have been pure circumstance and nothing else.
God, when had he become such a bad liar that he couldn’t even fool himself? His entire life had been about manipulating those around him to get what he needed. It had all been done to bring him to this point and now he was reduced to trying to convince himself that his insane behavior the past three days had been part of the plan. And what the hell kind of explanation did he have for what had just happened with Cade? In an alley. Behind a fucking dumpster.
Rafe dropped his head in his hands. He’d like to say that the unexpected sight of Dom with his young lover had been the cause but it would be yet another lie. It was true that seeing his brother had set something off in him and he’d followed the two men in a fit of fury, but what had happened with Cade would have happened either way because his body wanted the other man, pure and simple. Not once in his twenty-eight years had sex been about pleasure for him and he’d finally accepted that it never would be. It hadn’t even become a biological need anymore - at least not beyond what his own hand could do for him. And now this. An undeniable craving for a man bent on taking from Rafe what he wanted – his body and his surrender. Just like all the fucking others.
Rafe flinched when a heavy pounding rattled the door to his room and he closed his eyes because he knew exactly who it was. It didn’t surprise him in the least that Cade knew exactly where he was. More pounding had Rafe rising to his feet. He steeled himself for the inevitable battle and yanked the door open. But the sight of Cade in his tight black T-shirt and still stained jeans silenced any forthcoming words. Cade looked exactly like Rafe was feeling – confused, frustrated, angry…needy. Cade didn’t speak or enter the room. He just stretched his arms along the doorframe and waited. His eyes held Rafe’s and Rafe knew he was being given a choice. He finally did the only thing he could do – he took several steps backwards.
Cade was on him before the door even slammed all the way shut and his towel hit the floor as Cade’s tongue thrust between his lips. Desire shot through him as Cade’s tongue swept into his mouth and licked over every surface. Big arms wrapped around him and skimmed over his back, blunt fingertips pressing into his heated flesh. But when a hand drifted over his ass, he froze and pulled back.
“I can’t-” he started to say but Cade stopped his words with a hard kiss before drawing back. Cade’s hand grabbed his and pulled it behind him so that Rafe’s fingers were resting on the firm muscles of Cade’s ass.
“Whatever you want, Rafe,” Cade whispered before kissing him again.
Disbelief went through Rafe as Cade’s words sank in. Cade dragged his shirt off and Rafe’s fingers moved on their own and began tracing the tattoo that covered much of Cade’s left pectoral muscle. Cade’s skin rippled and flexed beneath his touch and he heard the other man’s breathing pick up as Rafe trailed his hand down over the six pack abs to rest just above the waistband of his jeans. He let the hand he still had on Cade’s ass drift up to his lower back and then stopped at the feel of cold metal. Cade stiffened when Rafe carefully pulled the handgun free of Cade’s pants but he just reached past Cade and placed it on the small table next to his computer. And then Cade was kissing him again as Rafe fumbled with the fastenings of Cade’s pants.
Rafe felt a fist close around his cock and he stifled a moan as the rough skin of Cade’s palm dragged over his sensitive length. Hunger went through him and he grabbed Cade’s jaw to force the man to stop kissing him. “Get me ready,” he said huskily and felt his whole body draw tight when Cade dropped to his knees without any hesitation.
A hot mouth replaced the fingers on his shaft and he watched Cade’s slick tongue make its way down to his balls. One testicle was drawn into liquid heat, then the other and then Cade was sucking his crown into his mouth and flicking his tongue over the slit.
“Yes,” Rafe snarled as he pushed his cock deeper into Cade’s welcoming warmth. He let Cade give him a few sucks, then pulled his dick out and ran the head all around Cade’s parted lips, his pre-come glistening on the supple skin. He shoved his cock back into Cade’s mouth and rammed it down his throat and pulled back only when Cade began to gag. But then fingers closed around his ass and Cade was drawing him further in as he began to work Rafe’s dick over until Rafe was sure he would explode. “Enough,” he bit out as he slipped his cock free of Cade’s tight, suctioning grip.
When Cade started to rise, Rafe put a hand on his shoulder. An inner darkness swept through him as he used his hand to press Cade down until his hands were braced on the floor. He knew he should take Cade on the bed but he needed to remember this for what it was – a good hard fuck that they both needed to get each other out of their systems. The bed was soft and the last thing he wanted to be around this man was soft.
Cade didn’t utter any protest when Rafe dropped into position behind him and yanked his pants and underwear the rest of the way down. He ran his hands over the perfect globes of Cade’s ass, then parted them and settled his gaze on the small opening twitching in anticipation. As badly as he wanted inside, he wanted a taste too and he bent down to lick his way around the wrinkly skin before teasing the hole with the tip of his tongue.
“Fuck, yes,” Cade moaned as he pressed back against Rafe’s probing tongue. Rafe leaned back enough to dribble saliva onto the opening as it flexed and then he sucked on it hard. Cade cursed again and he felt the man shift beneath him, likely reaching for his cock.
Rafe reared back and swatted Cade’s hand from his dick and used his own to give Cade a few light tugs.
“My wallet,” Cade whispered as he glanced back at Rafe. Rafe shuddered at the unbridled lust in Cade’s eyes and he had to force back the emotion that was welling deep inside of him. It was just fucking, he reminded himself sharply as he searched out Cade’s wallet and found a condom and a packet of lube. His fingers shook as he rolled the condom on and he tried to ignore Cade’s whimpers as he worked the lube into his body.
He knew he should prep Cade more but he was already on the verge of losing it so he rose up and pressed his cock between Cade’s cheeks and pushed. Cade bore down on him and moaned again as Rafe began to breach him. The pressure and heat on his dick was nearly his undoing and when he finally sank all the way in, he quickly pulled out and slammed back in again. Cade grunted but pushed his hips back on the next thrust. Rafe shuddered as Cade’s body sucked him in on every down stroke and tried to keep him there when he pulled out. The pace he set was brutal but Cade’s groans told him the other man was right there with him.
Rafe looked down to watch his cock glide smoothly in and out of Cade’s body and he instantly wished the latex barrier gone so he would know what every part of Cade felt like. A tingle went through him and he glanced up to see Cade watching him over his shoulder, his eyes shining with passion. Something inside of Rafe uncoiled at the sight but he shoved it away and pressed his hand down on Cade’s shoulders, forcing his upper body to lay flush with the floor. He grabbed both of Cade’s wrists and pinned them behind Cade’s back and held them there with one hand while he braced the other on Cade’s hip and began hammering into him mercilessly.
Rafe knew he was being too harsh but Cade’s complete submission had shredded what little control he had left. Since he had no way to brace himself, Cade’s cheek and shoulders scraped b
ack and forth over the hard floor with every one of Rafe’s brutal thrusts and Rafe knew he should release Cade’s hands. But he needed this too badly and he was too close. And it was what Cade wanted, he reminded himself. The man was here to get off and that was it. It wasn’t about emotion. Hell, it was barely even about feeling good. It was about coming hard and long and nothing more.
With that in mind, Rafe ignored the ridiculous desire to lean over Cade’s body and savor the warmth of their flesh pressed together. Instead he reached around Cade’s hips with his free hand and viciously stroked Cade’s cock. Cade’s grunts increased every time Rafe slammed his hips forward and within a minute he was screaming in pleasure as his orgasm ripped through him. The feel of Cade’s release spilling into his hand had Rafe’s body unfurling as the pressure exploded and he shot over and over into the condom as Cade’s inner muscles rippled around him. Before he could stop himself, Cade’s name tore free of his lips and then he was slumping over Cade’s back, the man’s arms still between them.
***
Cade closed his eyes as his body continued to convulse every time Rafe rocked into him. His arms burned from the angle Rafe had been holding them in for so long and the added weight of Rafe’s body didn’t help, but there was no way in hell he was going to move while his sated body continued to enjoy the aftershocks of what Rafe had done to him. He lowered his hips to the floor and was surprised when Rafe’s hand stayed on him and continued to massage him gently. Their bodies were touching nearly everywhere now and Cade just wished it could have been like that from the moment Rafe had pushed him to the ground. He didn’t give a shit that they’d ended up on the floor instead of the bed, but something about the position had him wondering if it had been Rafe’s way of keeping them disconnected as much as possible.
Redeeming Rafe Page 4
