“Or staying in the basement?” she dared to ask.
“No,” he said with a chuckle.
“Are you ever going to kiss me? Or make love to me?” He was answering her questions, she figured she might as well go for broke.
“Yes.”
“Yes?” she asked, leaning back to look at him.
“Yes. Stand up, my sweet,” Rafael ordered, lifting her onto her feet.
She whirled to look at him closely. Was he going to kiss her now? She watched as he stood and began to walk back into the house. Was he leaving her? Mia stood frozen in place, arguing internally whether she should follow or stay by the bench.
At the door, Rafael turned and looked surprised to see her a distance away. He held his hand out to her. “My sweet?”
Mia ran toward him, unmindful of the bouncing of her small breasts and the concrete under her bare feet. Reaching him, she took his extended hand and clung to it. “I didn’t know what to do,” she explained.
Rafael leaned in close. Mia held her breath, hoping he would kiss her, but his cheek simply brushed hers lightly as he whispered into her ear, “Stay with me always.”
Grabbing hold of this slight hint of attachment, Mia nodded.
When he stepped back to smile at her fondly, the young woman’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t understand how his approval had become so vital, but she wanted it—badly. The attractive older man had become the center of her world so quickly. This time when he opened the door and held it for her, Mia knew that she would follow him anywhere. He wants me.
She trailed behind him up the wide staircase and back to the master bedroom. There now, next to the bed lay an identical mat to the one that she had slept on in the darkness. The spotlight had revealed the pattern woven in the cover. Mia looked at Rafael in surprise. Was she not going to sleep with him?
“Come, my sweet. Let’s get ready for bed,” he invited as he drew her into the bathroom. Handing her an unwrapped toothbrush and toothpaste, Rafael laughed at her groan of excitement. “Brush your teeth and use the toilet. Stay here when you’re finished,” he directed as his fingers began to unbutton that crisp dress shirt.
Her eyes stayed glued on him as the shirt spread apart to reveal his broad chest and crisp black hair peppered with gray. Biting her lower lip as he tugged his shirt from his waistband, Mia met his smiling eyes.
“Brush your teeth, my sweet,” he reminded her.
Mia looked down at the toothbrush still in its container. She forced her grip to relax, and she opened her hand. The grooves in her hand testified to her intense focus on Rafael as he undressed. She quickly pulled open the package and removed the toothbrush. Squeezing toothpaste over the bristles, she began brushing her teeth.
A flash of motion caught her eye, and she turned to see a bare-chested, Rafael coiling his belt in a circle. He walked forward to set it on the vanity next to her. Moving the toothbrush automatically in her mouth, Mia’s eyes traced down his muscular chest to watch his fingers unbutton his sleek trousers and draw the zipper down slowly. When his hands pushed the trousers over his hips, a thin line of toothpaste slid from the corner of her mouth.
Appalled, she turned to the sink and wiped away the drool. A vivid red blush blossomed over her cheeks, extending to the top of her chest. Mia watched that hand pluck the belt from the vanity. Her eyes jumped to the mirror to watch him walk into the large master closet. When he disappeared from her view, Mia quickly finished brushing her teeth and rinsed her mouth.
As she turned to walk to the enclosed toilet, Rafael emerged from the closet. She stopped to stare at his nude body as he walked to the shower stall. His body was lean and fit. Not over-muscled or artificial, Rafael’s body moved in perfect coordination as if he were a sleek jungle cat. As he walked toward her, his eyes captured her blue ones, pinning her in place as if she were prey.
“Use the toilet, my sweet. Then sit on the vanity and wait for me. Do not touch yourself,” Rafael demanded before turning to walk into the large clear glass shower stall.
Mia moaned softly as the water began pouring down into the shower, drenching Rafael’s incredible form. His hands began to smooth thick soap over his body. When the scent of sandalwood met her nose, Mia’s eyes closed in enjoyment. When they opened, her blue eyes met his dark eyes through the now steamy glass. Embarrassed to have been caught staring, Mia darted away to the toilet.
A short time later with damp, washed hands, Mia laid down a towel before hopping up onto the vanity. Rafael had leaned over to clean his toes, giving her a perfect view of his firm butt. She squeezed her legs together in response to the arousing show that she watched.
Rafael stood and turned to face the spray to rinse the soap from his body, the handsome man provided Mia with the chance to see his profile. The breath caught in her throat. His entire body was hard. Rafael’s thick shaft thrust proudly upward, reaching toward his flat stomach.
Unaware of her actions, Mia licked her lips. She began to slide from the vanity but remembered his directions at the last second. Scooting back, her blue eyes never left his body as he turned off the shower and turned to face her through the fogged glass.
She didn’t hurry. Mia forced her eyes to lift from his erection to slide over his abs and chest before reaching his dark eyes. Hunger poured from that dark gaze.
With a click, Rafael pushed open the door and stepped out. Reaching for a thick towel, he dried himself off in slow, unhurried movements. His eyes roamed down her body, pausing here and there.
Unable to stop herself, Mia’s knees slid slightly apart on the vanity. Moving her hands behind her to rest on the cold surface, she thrust her shoulders back, putting herself on display for his enjoyment. She watched as he dropped the towel on the floor and stalked forward.
His hands seized her waist as she lifted her lips for the kiss she was sure was coming. Gasping, Mia reached out for stability as his hand turned her away from him to face the mirror. He quickly pressed her breasts down to the towel-covered vanity. One hand held her pinned to the soft terry cloth as the other stroked down her back and over her reddened bottom. After pinching one small cheek to draw a gasp from her, Rafael roughly moved her feet widely apart with his damp calf as his fingers dived into the wetness that waited for him.
“Yes!” Mia moaned in encouragement as she looked at his passion-hardened expression in the mirror. “Please, Rafael. Make love to me!”
His dark eyes met hers. “Our joining will not be mundane lovemaking, my sweet,” he growled a warning.
Swallowing hard, Mia knew she craved his touch. “I know,” she whispered.
Immediately, his two fingers of his hand thrust into her tight channel. Her body clamped down on his invasion, trying to hold him inside her as she shivered with delight.
“Nooo!” she howled as his fingers began to glide out of her body.
There was no response to her protest as those fingers withdrew from her vagina. His fingertips lightly traced that swollen bud above her entrance, making Mia’s dazed blue eyes close with pleasure. She lifted onto her toes, trying to press back against him, but his large hand anchored her securely to the vanity. To her delight, his fingers pressed back inside her body, filling the ache he had awoken before withdrawing to leave her yearning for more.
Mia’s eyes flashed open at the rattle of a drawer being pulled open next to her. Looking in the mirror, she watched his fingers glistening with her slick juices pluck a small wrapped packet from the drawer and carry it to his mouth to rip it open. Her lips curved slightly, enjoying the knowledge that he was as eager as she was.
“Stay!” Rafael tersely commanded as he lifted his restraining hand to help roll the condom over his thick shaft.
Seconds later, Mia felt the broad head of his penis begin to press inside her tight channel. Her head rolled back in delight as his invasion filled every nook and cranny of her body. Those blue eyes widened from the burn as his body neared hers, stretching her wider than she’d ever felt before.
<
br /> “Rafael,” she breathed, frozen in place on the counter. “Oh!” she gasped as he thrust forward sharply, meshing their bodies fully. She panted in reaction to the feeling of being completely possessed by the handsome man who leaned over her.
He paused for a few seconds, seemingly enjoying the squeeze of her muscles around him. Rafael’s dark eyes met hers in the mirror. “Hold on, my sweet.”
It was the only warning that she received. While her mind processed his words, Rafael began to show Mia exactly what being his possession meant. His hips pulled back before plunging fully into her. Pausing at each inward stroke to grind his pelvis against her swollen clitoris, Rafael pushed her pleasure higher as he sated their bodies’ demands.
Mia reached forward to brace her hands against the counter as she met his thrusts eagerly. Her eyes devoured his body and expressions as he stroked and caressed her back and bottom.
She tried to emblazon this memory in her brain so she’d never forget. The pleasure that he inflicted on her body soon pushed any other thoughts from her mind. She could only feel and respond.
When Rafael finally relaxed his ironclad control to join Mia’s last climax, the young brunette wilted over the vanity. Her body was overcome with the orgasms that Rafael had evoked from her. Eyes closed, Mia felt him slump over her body, supporting her with one strong arm wrapped around her waist.
They rested together for several long minutes. Mia could feel his thudding heartbeat against her back. As much as Rafael wanted Mia to believe that he was aloof and distant, he had enjoyed her. She smiled softly against the towel and breathed deeply—sandalwood.
Her new favorite scent.
17
Waking on her mat at the side of Rafael’s big bed, the silence clued Mia in that she was alone in the room. To double-check, she scurried to her knees to look over the edge of the big bed. Seeing no one, Mia dropped back on the padding and turned over to curl into a ball on her side under the soft blanket. She barely remembered him covering her with it when he’d tucked Mia in bed.
Mia smiled as she squeezed her slender thighs together. She was definitely sore from his lovemaking. He had been right, sex between the two of them had not been mundane. It had been more than she’d ever imagined. Rough and urgent, he had skillfully used her body, but still ensured that she experienced as much pleasure as her body could endure.
She’d never had a lover like Rafael. Even thinking about it now made her shiver in delight. I will not lose him, she thought fiercely.
Finally yielding to the pressure of her full bladder, Mia forced herself to walk into the bathroom to use the toilet. A few minutes later, she stood at the mirror, bemused by the image she projected in the glass. Her eyes held a glimmer of sexual satisfaction, making her look soft and happy. The young woman turned slightly, looking in the mirror to see the bruise marks from his gripping hands on each side of her hips. She smiled at the signs of his passion on her skin as her fingers lightly traced the dark splotches.
Ruefully, Mia thought of all her makeup back in her apartment. She wanted to look her best for Rafael. Mia settled with cleaning her face and washing away the traces of their lovemaking from between her thighs. After untangling her hair, she set the brush back on the counter. Walking back into the master bedroom, she found something waiting for her. Mia rushed to the bed to snatch up a gorgeous blue sundress lying across the tangled bedclothes.
She twirled to hold it to herself in front of the long mirror attached to one wall. The dress was incredible. The exact color of her eyes, it made her already big blue eyes look larger. She quickly unzipped the back and pulled it over her head. She struggled to close the zipper and only managed it up to her shoulder blades. Already it was easy to see that it fit perfectly as if it had been tailored just for her.
Almost skipping in delight, Mia hurried down the hallway toward Rafael’s office. The silky material brushed lightly over her bare nipples and bottom. Her lack of underwear seemed scandalous under the beautiful dress, and Mia laughed at herself. She’d been nude for days, and now wearing this dress, she felt more naked.
When she reached the office, Mia found the door closed. Hesitating, she debated between waiting, knocking, or slipping inside. His deep voice calling through the wooden door solved the problem for her.
“Come in, Mia,” he ordered.
Happily, she turned the immense doorknobs and pushed the doors open. Meeting the eyes of four men seated inside, Mia felt her excited smile freeze slightly on her lips. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you were busy,” she excused herself, starting to back out the doors.
“Come here, my sweet,” Rafael directed.
Hearing the steel in his voice, her feet obeyed. Mia walked slowly toward her lover, smiling slightly as that word bounced into her head. When she reached the side of Rafael’s chair behind the enormous desk, he stood and held a hand out for her with a proud smile.
“Gentlemen, this is my Mia. She is just in training now, but I am very pleased with her.” The men nodded pleasantly at Mia. “Turn around, my sweet. Let me finish zipping your dress. It looks very nice on you.”
With the back of the dress closed, Mia looked at Rafael for direction. What was she supposed to do now? When one of the handsome man’s eyebrows raised slightly, she knew this was a test. Crossing her fingers that she was doing the right thing, Mia walked behind his chair and sank down to sit on the mat next to his desk.
She held her breath as Rafael reseated himself. When his hand smoothed over the back of her hair briefly before turning back to restart the business conversation that she had interrupted, she knew she had chosen the right option. Mia sat quietly listening to the words flying around over her head but couldn’t follow the professional exchange.
Her eyes landed on the bottom drawer of his desk. The one that he had pointed out to her as having materials for her. Quietly, she pulled the drawer open. The quality furniture opened without a whisper of sound. Her face colored, remembering the loud slamming sound she’d forced from this drawer and the punishment and pleasure that had followed.
Peering inside for the first time, Mia found a breakfast cereal bar lying on top of a sketchpad as well as a pencil set. Quietly pulling all three from the drawer, she closed it silently. Turning around to sit at the edge of her mat and leaning back against the large desk, she scooted as close to his chair as she dared.
Opening the sketchbook and pencils first, Mia loved the smell of the heavy paper and the graphite and wood pencils. She had drawn nothing for years. Art had been her first love. Her father had left money in his will for her to go to college, but only if she chose something more stable like business over art. Now holding the first pencil in her hand, Mia realized how much she missed it.
She peeked up at Rafael’s profile. How had he known? It was almost scary how much he knew, but Mia wasn’t afraid. Inside, the lengths he had gone to know everything about her thrilled her. With a smile, she studied the lines of his face before setting the sharpened pencil point to the paper.
18
Mia drew until her hands began to cramp around the pencil. Knowing that she had reached her limit for the day, she quietly replaced all the supplies back into their packages before stowing them neatly back in her drawer. Suddenly exhausted, she lie down on her mat and listened to the conversations going on above her.
The first group of men had soon been replaced by another. A teleconference had followed that intense business planning session. Rafael’s focus and hard work amazed Mia. Whether he was working on his computer or talking to people around the world, Rafael never took a break.
Several hours after her arrival, she retrieved her sketchbook to write him an urgent note. Keeping it under the surface of his desk, Mia lifted the note and rested her hand on his knee. At his faint nod, she scurried to the restroom in the master suite and returned to find a cold bottle of water and a bowl of grapes on her mat. Rafael did not stop for lunch. Mia stroked his calf lightly as a silent thanks as she settle
d back down to eat and drink. To her delight, his fingers had stroked back over her hair, acknowledging and appreciating her presence.
When the big grandfather clock in the hall announced that it was dinner time, Rafael closed his computer for the evening. Pushing back his chair, he stood and held out a hand to help her from the floor.
“It’s time for dinner, my sweet. Are you hungry?” When she nodded eagerly, he instructed, “Go wash your hands and face. There is a restroom, through that door that you may use when you are in my office,” pointing at the large wooden door to the right of his desk.
“Do you remember how to get to the dining room?” Rafael asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes. I know where it is,” Mia responded with a smile. She’d always had a good sense of directions. Take her anywhere, and she could retrace her steps again. This skill had come in handy often.
When she came back into the office, it was empty. Mia stepped into the hallway and walked toward the dining room. When she passed the large entryway, she hesitated. This was her chance; she could escape. Taking three steps toward the frosted glass panels at each side of the large wooden doors, Mia forced herself forward.
She should want to leave. He had kidnapped her and brought her here against her will. Mia remembered pressing the yes button on the glowing computer screen. Her eyes filled with tears recognizing that touching that screen had been the most daring thing she had ever done—something wickedly honest and just for herself.
Reaching out to trace the embellished metal door levers, Mia shook her head. She had always done what others said she should. Her life had been guided by what was expected and proper.
Here with Rafael, he was in total control of her life. But he offered her a life filled with pain and pleasure—thrilling her more than anything she had ever experienced.
Her hands dropped from the metal, and she turned around, putting her back toward freedom. She chose Rafael. Her eyes lifted from the tiled floor to meet that man’s dark gaze. The corners of her mouth curled slightly at the praise that she could read on his face.
Leave Me Breathless: The Black Rose Collection Page 85
