Rafe hummed in agreement and lowered his voice half an octave. “Did my Chelita have a good day?”
Melody sighed. “Pretty good. We talked to Luna Flowers, the blogger. She agreed to come down from Maine and interview us. Tell our side. How about your day?”
“I’m just taking a minute for lunch. Do you want to go out for dinner before we go shopping?”
“Hmm, I might be getting an appetite,” Melody teased. Rafe could hear the smile in her voice.
Rafe pictured her curled up on the couch in his living room, one hand on her belly. He reached down and rubbed his hand over the hard ridge behind his pants. He was getting used to it. He’d been hard thinking about this woman since their first night together.
“I thought you worked late hours. Will me and the babies have you for dinner all the time?”
Rafe grinned, enjoying the image of Melody having him for dinner every night. He shook his head and reminded himself where he was. “I think it’s important for a family to have dinner together. The app said—”
“Are you going to parent by that app?” Melody interrupted him with a laugh.
“Well, if it works,” Rafe said, feeling a small bit of humor and light come into his life. He liked the flirty, teasing Melody. He wanted to spoil her with love for the rest of their lives.
“Did you get settled in okay? You didn’t have any problem with the keypad?”
“I didn’t have any problems, thank you. But I think Lacey wants to have a word with you. She wants to have one of us living permanently in Little Yellow.”
Rafe chuckled. “You may be right. I’ll have to talk to Quinn about that. Empty houses are my specialty.” He was quiet for a moment, letting the quiet bubble of happiness surround him. “You sound happy, baby.”
“It’s beautiful here, Daddy.”
Rafe cursed and adjusted his pants. He loved it when she called him that. Used that particular Marilyn Monroe little-girl lilt to her voice.
He was just about to say something when he heard the distinct sound of moving water over the phone line. “Are you taking a bath?” Rafe’s senses went on high-alert as he waited for her answer.
There was another rush of water as if she sat up in the tub. Rafe shook his head. His girl was definitely playing with fire.
“I don’t really think that’s any of your business,” Melody teased tartly.
Rafe grinned and waited. He couldn’t use the hypnotic power of his eyes, but he wasn’t above using the power of feline patience. There was complete silence on the other end of the line, and Rafe settled in to wait.
Melody coughed, clearing her throat. “It’s the middle of your workday, Rafe.”
“Excuse me? What do you call me, young lady?”
Melody groaned on a strained laugh. “It’s the middle of your workday, DADDY. This is hardly an appropriate conversation.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, does it?”
Rafe checked his calendar and got up. His next appointment wasn’t until after two. He had plenty of time to teach his fiancée about what he could or couldn’t do in the middle of the week.
Rafe got in the car, still listening to the sound of silence from Melody’s end of the call. The SUV started with a smooth purr. He imagined her naked, water lapping at her skin. Her breasts floating in the buoyancy of the water. The light sheen of perspiration as she sat in the over-heated water.
Fuck, Rafe thought with a rueful laugh as he grew steel-hard in his pants. At the rate he was going, he wasn’t going to make it to his house before exploding.
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?” Rafe asked, letting the Bluetooth pick up the call so he could concentrate on driving.
“Yes, Daddy. I’m taking a bath.” Her words came out on a gentle puff of air like she was struggling for oxygen. Her voice lilted upwards, like a child, and Rafe winced with the thrust of his arousal.
“My bathroom? The one with the nice big tub built for two?” Rafe hadn’t really wanted anything that ostentatious. He hadn’t taken a bath since he was a baby. But, the realtor in him knew a sunken double tub made a fantastic resale feature.
“Yes,” she whispered shyly. Rafe heard the desire in her voice.
Rafe couldn’t help but envision his beautiful woman. Naked. Wet. Her tiny pussy closed and waiting for his touch.
“Did you use bubbles?” The drive to know everything killed him. To picture the scene.
“No,” she whispered, a little pout appearing in her voice. “You didn’t have any.”
“If I buy you some, will you use them?”
“I’d never waste any gift you gave me, Daddy.”
Rafe wasn’t sure how many moving violations he made on the short drive back to his house. “Wait right where you are, baby.”
“The water is getting cold,” Melody whined, just a little, to let him know she was getting into their role-playing game, too. “You don’t want your little princess to get cold, do you, Daddy?”
Rafe snorted. She was going to kill him but fuck it. It was going to be a fun ride.
“You can warm the water. You’re a big girl now, right, Princess?”
“I think so,” Melody answered. He heard the water sluicing from her body again just as his house came into view.
“Daddy is almost at the house. Can you wait? I don’t want you cold, but I want to dry you off.”
Melody giggled, and Rafe knew he didn’t imagine seeing the movement of the window treatments in the bathroom. “Daddy’s home for lunch?”
“Daddy is having you for lunch,” he promised. “You stay right there, you hear me? I know you don’t want to disappoint me.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she teased, and Rafe knew he was damned to spend the rest of his life trying to make her get that teasing, sex-kitten tone to her voice again.
He undressed as he stalked her. His tie fell to the floor. His jacket tossed over the back of a chair. Jag growled at him a little, his fastidious nature not liking the mess Rafe made.
“Shut up,” he muttered to his cat. “I’m busy claiming my mate.”
By the time Rafe got to the bathroom, he was as naked as Melody was. “There’s my beautiful girl,” he crooned. He grabbed an oversized towel and approached. “Stand up,” he ordered.
Melody complied like a good girl, her hands only briefly hovering over her private parts.
“Don’t hide your beauty from me, Princess,” Rafe warned.
Chapter Nine
Melody
“Don’t hide those perfect tits from me,” Rafe growled. “I want them in my mouth. Suckling those tight little points until you find relief.”
Melody whimpered as pleasure coursed from her breasts to her core. Already flushed from the warm water, she felt a blush creep up her neck. She rubbed her thighs together, seeking some vague sense of release.
Rafe’s hands warmed the oversized towel as he enfolded her into its depths. He grabbed another towel from the warming rack and began massaging her scalp. “Did you have a good bath?” he whispered against the damp line of her shoulders. She shivered at the puff of his breath against her wet skin.
Melody nodded. “I was bored. I thought I could read, but I couldn’t find a comfortable spot.” Still wrapped in the big bath sheet, Rafe led her to the humongous bed that dominated the master bedroom.
“Let’s see what I can do about keeping you from being bored.”
She smiled, letting the towel drop with deliberate speed. She climbed onto the bed before dropping to all fours. She waggled her bottom. “If you think you’re up to the challenge,” she teased, laughter lighting her green eyes.
Rafe climbed behind her, his massive cock pressing against the smooth curves of her ass. He cupped one cheek in his oversized hands. “Are you questioning your Daddy?”
He hands trailed a delicious path across her skin. “Look at that? Your little pussy is all puffy with need. Do you need me there, baby?”
Melody’s head dropped to the pillow, her
back arching. “Yes, Daddy. Please, touch me there some more.”
“Who spoils his sweet girl?”
Melody panted, barely able to breathe. “Isn’t it a Daddy’s job to take care of all his girl’s needs?”
“Damn straight. I’m going to give you everything you want. Everything you could possibly need.”
She whimpered at the fantasy his words evoked. Of relaxing and letting him take over everything.
In the heated quiet of the room, his fingers dipped inside her core. One inch at a time, he prepared her. The distinct sound of her slickness added a layer of eroticism, and she couldn’t help lifting her hips higher. Begging for more.
“That’s my girl,” Rafe said, encouraging her. “So slick and warm from the water. But so snug and tight. Waiting to make a perfect home for my cock, aren’t you, baby?”
“Yes, Daddy,” Melody said with a begging little whimper. Moisture pooled between her legs and her core pulsed with need. “Don’t tease me, Rafe. Please?”
“Never,” Rafe said while simultaneously sliding only the tip inside her. Muscles clamped around him, and he grunted in response.
“More. I need you.”
His thrusts were slow. Sweet. Giving her a scant inch on each stroke. “We’re going to have a house full of cubs,” he vowed. “Because Lord, I can’t stay away from you.”
“Anything,” Melody agreed, listening to the power of his voice but not his words. All she did know was that he had what she wanted. And for some reason, he wasn’t sharing it nearly as quickly as she wanted.
His hands gripped her hips and Melody did a happy little wiggle. Now, she thought. Now she was going to get what she was eager for.
Rafe worked his way inside. An inch at a time and the feeling of his hard, unprotected length pushing into her had her trembling on the edge of an orgasm.
“Pretty soon your belly will be swollen with my sons and daughters. Exquisite. Breasts full of milk as your body creates what my body gave you. Our bodies mixing in an age-old recipe for lust, love, and children. Would you like that?” He thrust gently inside of Melody’s tight sheath.
She tried to hold on. Tried to find reason as he spoke of the dark, delicious things he wanted to do to her. For her. The things they would do together in their king-sized bed.
The imagery was too much for Melody. Her sanity had given way to desire a long time ago. Taking matters into her own hands, she thrust backward, impaling herself a little deeper on Rafe’s warm spear. So close. She was so close to hitting the spot that would send her spiraling into bliss. But instead of sinking deeper into her, he leaned away from her.
“Your body is ripe for mine, isn’t it, princess?”
Melody choked out a laugh. “I am so stinking ready, I can’t stand it. Please make love to me Rafael.” His name sounded like a song amidst the background of gasps, muted cries, and the slick slide of his cock within her wet channel.
“Okay, no more teasing. I promise. Open up a little more.”
Melody nodded, letting him push her knees a little further away from each other. “Like this, Daddy?”
“Perfect, princess. I’m going to go nice and easy on you, okay?”
Melody whimpered, letting him know that nice and easy was not on her menu, but Rafe only chuckled in response. “I don’t want to hurt you or the babies.”
And with delightful ease, his thick, magnificent cock pounded into her waiting pussy. Filling her with his shaft and making her cry out with her repeated pleasure.
“Perfect,” Rafe cried out, the wet slapping sound of his body entering hers echoed around them, driving Melody mad with craving. “You’re so wet for me. Fitting me perfectly, Bonita.”
Melody didn’t know where she began and he ended, their connection was an utter completion. A low keening sound started in the back of her throat.
“Knowing we did this. Knowing we created life.” Rafe dropped to cover her. One large hand cradled her belly while he supported himself with the other. The muscles of his chest and arms bunched and flexed with each movement and Melody nearly cried from the beauty of it all.
A growly groan was torn from his throat, and Melody felt him pulse as he released into her. Filling her. Overfilling until it trickled down her leg. She mouthed the words pushing to be said. Screamed. Shouted from the rafters. I love you.
And as she thought the words, her own body stopped fighting nature and shuddered her release. She wouldn’t say them first. Couldn’t say them first, not with everything else going on. And yet, she felt it from the bottom of her heart. Melody loved Rafe.
Using her ass to prop himself up on, Rafe rose behind her. His hands caressed her gently as he paused, panting. She whimpered lightly as she felt his cock grow soft within her. Using her internal muscles, Melody tried to keep him cradled within her core. But not even the tightening of her muscles could stop the inevitable, and her body grieved the loss of his hardness stretching her.
“Where are you going?” she asked as she curled up on her side.
“Just getting a warm washcloth. I need to clean you up.”
“We could take a shower,” Melody said, peeking up at him.
Rafe clucked his tongue as he came back in carrying a warm, wet washcloth. “I want to smell like you the rest of the afternoon.” His hands were gentle but thorough as he wiped away the traces of their lovemaking.
“I can always reapply later,” Melody teased, feeling the tug of post-pleasure sleepiness.
“You will,” Rafe promised as he came in behind her. “For the rest of our lives.”
As Melody slipped effortlessly into sleep, she thought that sounded like the best idea. Ever.
Rafael
The afternoon slid away as Rafe watched Melody sleep. He wasn’t sure where this was on the creepy scale. There was a movie a while back where the male lead liked to watch the female lead while she slept.
But Rafe was pretty sure this was different. After all, they were practically engaged.
“You okay?” Melody mumbled, as though feeling the intensity of his stare.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“Uh oh.” She turned in his arms. “About what?”
“I’m pretty sure I’ll be crap at being a husband. I’ve been alone all my adult life. But I want to help you with our kids. Provide for them.”
Melody’s hands were gentle as they caressed his body, not as a lover. Not exactly. But in comfort. “Our kids would be lucky to have you as their dad, Rafael. They deserve to know you. To let you help them learn and grow.”
Her words comforted him in a way he wasn’t sure he deserved. “If I’m scared, you must be. But somehow, it seems a little less terrifying going through it together.”
“We’re a united front, right, Daddy?”
Rafe grinned. If she kept using that voice, they’d become a lot more united. “You know it, Chelita.”
They were quiet for a moment, the sounds limited to the gentle rhythm of their breath.
“Rafe?”
He grunted, feeling a contentedness melt over him.
“What happens if you do find your mate? If you bond with her? What are the beans and I going to do then?”
She couldn’t have shocked him more if she’d poured water over his head. All thought of drifting to sleep vanished.”
“That’s not going to happen, Melody.”
“But how do you know? It’s going to break their hearts if you leave them. Our bond is legal, but a mating bond? That’s. You know. Forever. How am I supposed to force you to stay married to me while you fall in love with your true mate?”
“I’m a solitary animal. Jaguars don’t have mates. Our marriage will not fail. Trust in that, okay?”
Melody nodded, slowly enough to tell Rafe she thought he was bullshitting her.
The words clogged in Rafe’s throat. He wanted to tell her it wasn’t going to happen. That he didn’t believe in the whole mating bond thing. Melody had his time, his attention, his desire, and now
his future children.
It was enough.
And as he pulled her under his body to make slow, gentle love to her, he intended to prove it as best he could. At least until Jag needed to go out and run.
<<<>>>
The pull of the moon was too much, Rafe thought as he slipped from the bed. Ignoring Melody’s little whimper of discontent, Rafe strode naked to the French doors that overlooked his yard.
Being nocturnal by nature didn’t bother him. Shouldn’t have bothered him. But he’d lived in a cage too long. Ever since, no matter the size of the room, they all felt like cages to him. To Jag.
Jag growled within him, ripping through his skin, wanting to be free. Rafe opened the door and between one breath and the second, fur and whiskers replaced hair and skin.
And if his senses picked up Melody’s stirring awake, her sigh of disappointment as she got up to close the doors behind him, he ignored it. Rafe was running with the moon, and that was all that mattered.
At first, Jag wanted to stretch. Run. Paws barely touching as aching muscles found their stride. But the further he pulled away from Melody, the stronger the tug was to return.
He circled back, slower, taking in each quiet moment in his heart. In his soul. Testing the bonds with the tensile strength of steel but the flexibility of a cobweb.
Rafe studied strands as though never seeing them, never sensing them before. One paw lifted to touch them as he realized they had been there all along. Like coming out of a dream, Rafe understood what his dream-state hadn’t.
The delicate strands had been there, growing like an ivy twining its way around his heart. The cough Rafe felt rising within him came out as a low growl in Jag’s voice.
What a complete and utter fool he had been.
Melody was his mate.
Of course, she was.
Chapter Ten
Melody
Melody awoke the following morning feeling delightfully sore from their shared body of love last night. She grinned and burrowed deeper into the cocoon of high-end sheets Rafe had on the bed. If happiness was a commodity, she had plenty to spare. There were still plenty of problems to face. The vindictive doctor and Rafe’s chronic insomnia that tore him from the bed at all hours topped the list. But for right now, in this moment, she was happy.
Having her Jaguar's Baby (Shifter Special Forces Book 5) Page 7
