Stormy Peril

by Victoria Pinder

  Raphael's face seemed grimmer than one of those vampires in a movie or television show. Kimberly bit her tongue. Now was not the time to decide on Raphael.

  He pushed his plate away.

  "Since we're friends now, can I ask a question?"

  He wiped his lips with a napkin. "Yes. What, Kimberly?"

  She craned her neck. "Where is it you sleep at night in the castle? You're not on my floor."

  He scooted further into his chair. "No, I'm not."

  She walked over to him and crouched beside his seat. "I’ve been exploring the castle. I found a secret door that led to a turret. Do you sleep in there?"

  "Kimberly, you shouldn't ask about my bedroom."

  "Why not?"

  "That's not a good idea."

  "Scared?"

  "Terrified."

  She smiled. She’d won this round, but the moment his hand brushed against hers, a wave of heat shot straight through her. "Every moment with you is torture."

  "I am nice." She playfully pushed her elbow into his arm. "I promise I don't bite."

  He stood up, and she rocked on her feet. She almost fell backward, but then his arms went around her waist. Heat coursed through her. Raphael held her close and told her, "You'd tempt a saint, Kimberly."

  Every cell in her body screamed to do whatever he wanted right now, as long as he made her his, at least physically. She ran her arms around his shoulders. "I was being friendly."

  "I saw." His fingers curled into her skin, and she melted like butter. "I can't be friends with you."

  Her body begged for him. She tried logic: "Why not?"

  His mouth came closer to hers, and she closed her eyes. He was less than an inch away from her. "I want you."

  Her eyelids fluttered, but then the moment his lips met hers, she opened her mouth and kissed him back. Whatever battles he fought internally were unimportant. Her breasts pushed into him, and she wanted them both to strip naked, right now. She sighed and ended the kiss. "What's held you back, Raphael? Was it the women in your past or something else?"

  His hands uncurled, and he stepped away. "How I answer this might change a lot of things."

  "Everything we do in life can change a lot of things. Why did you burn Tiffany's portrait?"

  His face turned red again. He swallowed then the glimmer in his eyes dissipated and his pupils seemed almost dead. "I kept that as a reminder to not trust a pretty face."

  She pouted. "Is that what I am?"

  "No. You're the angel sent to torture me."

  She rubbed his arm. "Raphael, you're living in the past and not the present. Are you married?"

  "No."

  "Engaged?"

  "No."

  "Dating anyone?"

  "No."

  "Then we're both free. Just relax and enjoy whatever happens."

  "There are things you don't know." He tore his arms away from her. "It's not in your best interest."

  "It's not in your best interest to deny what we both want."

  His body stiffened, though she saw his excitement in his pants. "I should go."

  He stormed out the door and she curled her hands into balls and shoved her hand on top of her mouth to not scream. What had she done? This was far from over, and next time, there might be no end. Would she survive Raphael Murphy? He might burn her far more than the plane crash did. She rubbed her arms.

  Next time, she'd say yes. She wouldn’t hurt Raphael, but it was time to open up and trust him with her heart.

  CHAPTER 15

  Kimberly's heart dropped into her gut, and her gaze swept the room with the secret door. This was not an old tearoom. The room's darkness held something else, but this wasn't her goal. Raphael had gone to the gym. She'd find out what the tower bedroom looked like. Did he see the ocean? It was the biggest question on her mind. She swallowed. The ocean view wouldn't bring a ship, but she'd know where to wish for one. She ran up the stairs and hoped she'd have time to look out. How big was the island? How much could he see from the tower?

  She held the candelabrum tight. "I feel like a teenager who just discovered fairytales can come true."

  Visions of Beauty and the Beast played in her head as she rushed up the stairs, but here, no enchanted objects would sing to her.

  At the door at the top of the stairs, she clutched the doorknob and tried to turn it. The door stayed shut. Strange. She pushed harder, but the door didn't move. There had to be a trick to it. She opened her palm and pushed at the oak door. "Okay, I can figure this out."

  She stood up on her tiptoes to reach the top half of the door. Raphael was much taller than her, but she swore she saw a lock. She placed the candelabrum on the step beside her, then jumped and brushed against the bolt.

  Nothing moved. She pushed her hair out of her face. "It appears five hundred years old and rusted."

  Then she jumped one more time, and pressed against the lock. It turned.

  She heard it click. A smile grew on her face, and she picked up her candelabrum and twisted the knob.

  This time the door opened. She slipped inside and closed the door behind her. The ocean's heavy surf caught her gaze. She clutched the medallion and realized she hadn't given it back. She should have. Then she saw the remains of the plane.

  Raphael must have seen the crash from here. She could see everything on the beach. The fires in her memory almost choked her. She turned away from the window.

  Her breath caught in her throat. What? She walked over to his bureau and picked up a wedding picture. She held it tight in her hands, not understanding what she saw in the glass frame. It was her sister, Erica. How?

  She stumbled back and sat on the bed. Erica appeared so happy and in love with a man who vaguely resembled Raphael. How did Raphael have this? Erica's face beamed with excitement. Kimberly brushed away the mist in her eyes.

  Heavy footsteps sounded outside in the hall. Kimberly didn't budge, but she assumed that Raphael came up. She held the picture to her chest and rocked.

  "Kimberly?"

  Her gaze flew to him, but she held the picture as tight as she could. "How do you have this?"

  He took a step closer to her and his shoulders blocked the view of everything else. "Have what?"

  "Erica's picture." Kimberly rocked, but she didn't show him the wedding picture. This was too personal. "Why do you have her wedding picture?"

  "The only wedding picture I have…" His voice trailed off and he glanced at the bureau. He swallowed. "Kimberly Mira."

  Her gaze met his. "That's my whole name. Why is that important?"

  He came closer and they shared the same air. He looked down at the picture in her hand. "I have met your sister, Erica."

  "Clearly. You have her picture." She stared up at him. Raphael shouldn’t have this. Her fingers ached as she clutched the picture. Why would Raphael know Erica? "Did you eat at one of her restaurants?"

  "No. She married my brother." Raphael placed his hand on hers. "I was there. I'm Raphael Murphy, Gabriel's brother."

  She blinked. How? No. She hadn't expected to be related in any way to Raphael. Erica was too special. "I saw Erica's wedding announcement online. They only married a few weeks ago. It prompted my return home."

  "To get some of their money?" Raphael crossed his arms.

  "How dare you? You don't know anything about me."

  "You couldn't buy a ticket to come home, that’s what everyone thought."

  "Do you have any idea how much it costs to fly from Tahiti to Miami? It's the other side of the world, but that’s beside the point. I make enough money to support myself. I didn’t find out in time."

  He closed his eyes and answered, "I swore to my brother that I'd never harm the family name ever again. Kimberly, that kiss was a mistake."

  She rolled her eyes. "Those kisses are unimportant right now. Why didn't you tell me you had this?"

  "I didn't connect the dots with you."

  She stood up with the picture. "And you always know everything? Is tha
t why you assume the worst about everyone and everything?"

  He followed her and stayed at her side. "Kimberly, I shouldn't have said your name and money. I am sorry."

  She trusted Raphael. She lowered the picture to her side. "Why did you say it?"

  "I don't know honest women, and I was out of line."

  "You have a thing where you mention honesty, a lot." Kimberly let Erica's picture fall to her side, and then reached out to brush Raphael's arm. "I'm not out to hurt anyone."

  "I believe you."

  She pointed for them both to sit on the edge of the bed. She held up the wedding picture, and smiled at her sister's photograph. "How did they meet?"

  Raphael sat a foot or more away from her. "They were snowed in together, and she helped him solve a mystery related to his dead wife."

  “Tiffany?” Kimberly patted her chest and the medallion beneath her shirt. "Sounds morbid."

  "Gabriel is happy." He nodded. "I'm happy for them, and I swore I'd never do anything to my family ever again."

  She stood up and spun around. "I'm just checking. You didn't sleep with my sister, did you?"

  "No." Raphael got to his feet.

  She nodded, and the world made sense again. "This is just screwed up. Do you have any alcohol up here? I think I need a drink."

  He swallowed and she watched his Adam’s apple bob as if he’d accepted a mission. "Wine. I have a bottle somewhere."

  She smiled. "Perfect. Can I have a glass?"

  He took a step toward the closet door. "Fancy glasses are downstairs."

  Now was not the time. She shook her head. "I don't need fancy. Whatever you have."

  He nodded then poured into a beer cup. He handed her the glass, but then spoke like he was a boy. "I ruined Gabriel's life and caused Tiffany's…err…death. I swore to never hurt anyone in my family, no matter the cost to myself."

  Raphael's dark features had stains of red. She reached up and took the glass and his hand to hold. "I thought you must have loved that woman. You held on to Tiffany's portrait and today burned it."

  "No. I never liked her." His face cleared up. "I don't remember more than waking up in the bed with Tiffany, and I shouldn't have been there. If you are a decent woman, full of kindness and honor, then Kimberly, you deserve better than me."

  Now was not the time for his excuses. She placed the picture next to her and swallowed the red wine. "So if my sister and your brother were snowed in, where were you?"

  "You ask a lot of questions."

  "Where? Raphael, what happened after you had an affair?"

  He answered in a low voice, "I left home and joined the CIA. I never wanted to set foot back on US soil. My family deserved better than me for a son, but then I wound up involved with another woman who I thought was the one. She dumped me right after I introduced her to your sister and my brother as they announced their engagement."

  The Marines then the CIA. He knew how to fight. Yet another woman who broke his heart must have put the wall around his heart. She sipped her glass to take her words slowly and not upset him. "Then what happened to you? How are you here?"

  He sipped from his glass too. His eyes were dead, and he had edges of sadness in his voice. "I was shot, and it ended my career."

  She scooted over and told him to sit back down. He followed her directions. She then turned to face his profile. "So you live on an island in your hidden castle?"

  "I'm prepping the hotel to reopen." He sat straighter. "Next winter I intend to remodel more rooms."

  "This is the first conversation we've had where you've been totally up-front with me." She drank the remaining liquid. "I could get used to this. I miss friends."

  He took her wine and placed both of their glasses on a nightstand. Her heart raced. Would he kiss her again? She felt that slight tingle of excitement. He turned back to her. "Friends are not what we are."

  Her eyelashes fluttered. "We're not?"

  The warmth of his body heat sent a thrill down her spine, as he scooted closer to her. He came close enough that she could feel his heart beat in tandem with hers. Then he stopped.

  She kept her arms to her side. "What's wrong?"

  He swallowed. "Let's get you out of my room."

  Then why was he still so close? She couldn't believe him. She shook her head. "I wanted to see the view from the tower. You won't hurt me if you kiss me."

  The hum in her body strengthened. He came closer to her, and she closed her eyes. His shadow was palpable and her lips tingled for that kiss. The fevered thrill of his closeness overtook all thoughts in her brain. "Raphael, please."

  His lips were fractions of an inch away. He whispered his tortured plea: "Tell me not to dream of you."

  She shook her head. "I can't. I want you."

  His hand squeezed her hip and a wild longing grew deeper. She let out a sigh. Why hadn't he kissed her? "Kiss me, now."

  She parted her lips, and the headiness grew the moment his hard mouth brushed against hers.

  His hands circled her back, and she wiggled closer into his embrace. His erection grew near her hand, and she lifted her head to offer him her neck.

  With her fingers entwined in his hair, his stubble tickled against her sensitive skin. "Raphael, I want you."

  "I should stop."

  "Don't you dare." She lowered her hands and massaged his muscular back. "We both want this."

  A groan escaped him and he stepped back to toss his shirt on the ground.

  Emboldened, she lifted her dress and tossed it next to his shirt.

  He hadn't moved, but he stared at her with his mouth open. She set Erica's picture next to their glasses then reached out and squeezed his butt. There was no stopping this. Not now.

  His lips claimed hers again, and her hands brushed against his naked chest. He sat back. "Kimberly, there are things you don't know, and I can't tell you that will drive you away."

  "That's fear." She kissed his neck and unbuckled his belt. "We have no control over our lives, the past or the future. All we have is right now."

  She must have said the right thing. He unzipped and dropped his pants. She stared at his massive erection. No other man was that big. Her mouth opened. Until right now, she'd believed the description of a huge cock to be fairytales.

  She was wrong. "Will that fit?"

  A guttural laugh escaped his throat, and she giggled. Her face was red. Had she just said that? Truly?

  Then his strong hands squeezed her hips. She glanced up at his face, and he told her, "When we're done, you'll be mine."

  She cocked her head and shrugged. "Good luck with that."

  The jolt in her body struck her dumb the moment his naked, hard body pressed against her soft, pliant curves. His hands circled her backside and lightly patted her. The succulent yearning for him overtook all other thoughts, and she pressed backward onto the bed and guided him on top of her.

  This was how she wanted him.

  His hands brushed against her breasts, and her nipples were already pebbles. His light kisses on her girls left her panting. She arched back and told him, "Suckle."

  A laugh escaped his lips again, but his kisses went lower.

  Was he? No man had ever kissed her apex. Her hand flew to her mouth to cover a scream the second his tongue brushed against her center. The wetness of her pleasure grew. His lips kissed her nether parts, and she screamed.

  His five o'clock shadow tickled, and he kept his mouth there. He kissed deeper.

  A frenzy grew inside her, and she lost control of herself.

  He watched her for a moment. She swallowed. This was far from done. She'd not let him go.

  Sparks of awareness came back to her, and she kissed his lips. The fervor in her caused her to gasp the moment his massive length entered her.

  The aching need for him grew, and she gasped again.

  The pace was strong and sure, and soon she lost herself in the burning heat. Raphael and she joined, and for the moment, this was all that mattered. He was
hers for the night. She didn’t want to think about forever.

  CHAPTER 16

  Thunder crackled outside the window, and Kimberly rolled in her sheets toward Raphael's strong arms. He was warm and her arms outside the blanket were cold. She sighed in contentment.

  Raphael squeezed her hand, and she squeezed back. "Are you up?"

  "No." She refused to open her eyes. The inferno of earlier still sent sparks through her body, and she needed rest. Multiple times had never happened before, and she savored the moment.

  He rolled on his back. She scooted closer. "I thought it was the man who needed rest, and the woman who had bundles of energy after sex."

  Did Raphael talk after sex? This was a first for her. She laughed, but kept her eyes shut. "What happened with you was so different than anything I've ever experienced. Why are you awake?"

  His body stayed still. "Kimberly, I should take you back to your room."

  What now? She opened her eyes and stared into his big, sexy eyes. She swore she saw pain there. "Why?"

  He met her stare. "I'm not a man for any decent woman."

  "I'm hardly dressed for decent." She gave him a huge grin and adjusted the covers. Then she rubbed his chin. "Relax. We're not talking forever. I'm here until spring. I won't add to the mountain of guilt you carry on your shoulders."

  He turned and held her hand. "Are you on the pill?"

  Had she taken her pills since she found her bag? She bit her lip and replayed her morning routine. Then she nodded. "Yes. They were in my suitcase. With how I crushed on you, I thought it was a good idea."

  "A crush?" His eyebrows lifted for a second. Then he squeezed her hand. "How much do you have?"

  "My crush was pretty big."

  He smiled, finally. "Not that. The birth control."

  "Three months." She shrugged. "Don't worry. We'll figure it out later."

  "If I stay near you, I'll want forever, and that's impossible."

  He would? Forever? She was never a guy's forever. She wasn't upset or pessimistic about life. She was happy on her own. She swallowed. "Why? Are you already married?"

  He shook his head fast. "No."

  She kissed his forehead. "I told you at the beginning. Forever is not for me."