by Kaylee, Katy
“Yes. I know. But I don’t have to put up with it.”
Once off the phone, I wanted to call Rafe to find out how he was dealing with Gavin’s anger. I still couldn’t believe Rafe threatened Gavin. Rafe’s reaction to stress was retreating. He saw it as a weakness, but I suspected he was more afraid of his strength and his rage. He withdrew not so much to hide, but to keep from lashing out. I couldn’t be sure of that, but the fact that he used exercise to release the built-up tension suggested it.
But I couldn’t call Rafe as my next appointment had arrived. Instead, I’d go visit him once I dropped Emma off.
* * *
After work, I picked up Emma from Jess’ and drove her over to my brother and Lainey’s house.
Lainey greeted us at the door. “Come in little munchkin.”
As I stepped into the living area, Gavin glowered at me.
“I need to talk to you,” I said to him motioning outside so Emma didn’t hear.
“Come on Emma, let’s get all the baking equipment out and after dinner, we’ll make cookies.”
“Yay!” Emma rushed off to the kitchen with Lainey, who murmured something to Gavin. He rolled his eyes but followed me outside to their porch.
“I’m not going to apologize,” he said once we were outside.
“I don’t care if you do, but you will stay out of my life.”
He jammed his hands on his hips. “I’m looking out for you, sis. Rafe’s not right in the head. He grabbed me last night.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He laughed derisively. “Is he that good in the sack, that you’d believe him over your own brother?”
“You’re a disgusting asshole, Gavin.”
“I’m telling you what happened.”
“And what did you do to him? Because I’ve seen him when he’s having difficulty and his MO is to withdraw. If he lashed out, it was because he couldn’t back away. The only way that would happen is if you were being aggressive. Did you hit him first? Push him?”
He looked away for a moment, which was my answer. “I knew it. You stay out of my life, Gavin.”
“Summer, I’m just trying to protect you. You deserve better than Rafe.”
“Some best friend you are.” I shook my head at him. “How come you’re the only one that gets to have a good life after suffering the horror of war, huh?” I got into his face. His eyes widened in surprise. I’d never been so assertive with him. “Rafe’s issues are far less than yours were. He doesn’t drink and he’s not fucking every woman willing to open her legs for him, like someone else I know.”
Gavin’s eyes flared with heat. “Lainey is inside.”
“You don’t think she knows you were fucking your way through town?”
“That’s the past,” he hissed.
“That’s my point, Gavin. You got your shit together and she forgave you. And look what you’ve got. A nice home, a good wife, and you’re about to be a father. If you get redemption and a second chance, why can’t Rafe?”
“He’s not steady yet, Summer.”
“Neither were you and yet Lainey stuck by you.” I sneered at him. “If you were any sort of a friend, you’d be happy that he was trying to move forward in life.”
“Not with my sister. You have a child to think about, for Christ sake.”
“Rafe is good with her.”
“Now, maybe. But what happens when he has an episode.”
“The same thing Lainey will have to deal with when you do. You do see the hypocrisy, don’t you? Stop trying to give me lame excuses, Gavin. Just say it’s weird for you to have your best friend be with your sister, and then get the hell over it.”
“You deserve better.”
“Yeah, well so does Lainey.”
He flinched, and I felt guilty at my words. Yes, I was angry with him, but he was my brother and I loved him. “Gavin, I’m sorry.”
“You really think that? You think I’m a total fuck up?”
“No. I think you’ve worked hard for what you have, and I’m proud of you. But Rafe is working hard too. He deserves happiness as much as you. And if he finds it with me, you should be happy instead of acting like a jerk.”
He glared at me.
“Gavin, it’s time for dinner,” Lainey called from the door.
“I’m not done here.”
“Yes, you are. You’ve both said your peace, now it’s time for dinner before you say something you’ll both regret.”
Too late, I thought. I’d already said something I regretted, but I hoped Gavin and I would eventually get back to right regardless of what happened between me and Rafe.
“I’ve gotta go.” I turned to walk away.
“He’ll hurt you, Summer,” Gavin said.
“I wonder if he’ll hurt me more than you have?”
As I drove to Rafe’s, I knew Gavin had a few points. Rafe should be working on his own mental health, not getting into a relationship. But Gavin was with Lainey as he took steps to get his life together.
Rafe could hurt me, especially if he decided to leave, but I could hurt him too. After all, I was betraying him by keeping the secret about Emma from him.
I pushed that aside as I parked my car at Rafe’s and headed up to his front door.
“Hey.” He seemed surprised to see me when he opened the door.
“Emma is spending the night with my brother.” I couldn’t even say his name.
“Okay.” He opened the door wider to let me in.
Once in the living room, I looked up at Rafe, so handsome even with the shadows of war dimming the sparkle in his eyes.
“I’m sorry about Gavin.”
Rafe shrugged. “It was bound to happen. I’m sorry you have to be in the middle of it.”
I studied him. “Did he hurt you?”
He sighed. “No, but I did grab him. I suppose he told you I was unsafe for you and Emma. Maybe he’s right.”
“No. He pushed you or something, didn’t he?”
He nodded. “That doesn’t make it okay. I can’t predict my behavior sometimes.”
“Rafe, if someone pushed me, I’d want to hit him too. Most people would.”
He gave me a non-committed nod.
“So, what Gavin said to you…that doesn’t change your mind about us?”
He shook his head. “I hate that he feels betrayed, but I couldn’t stop wanting you if I tried.” He put an arm around me and pulled my flesh against his hard, lean body.
“Have you tried?” I looked up into his dark eyes.
“Yes. He’s right about one thing. You can do better than me—”
“Rafe, stop selling yourself short.”
He shrugged.
I pressed a hand to his cheek. “I wish I could make you see what I see in you.”
He turned his head, kissing the palm of my hand. “There must be something good in me, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”
All of a sudden, I wanted to touch this man and put life back into those eyes. I wanted to make him feel good and worthy. “I want to take you to the edge, Rafe.”
One brow quirked up. “Edge of what?”
“Edge of heaven.”
He flashed a sexy grin. “Just the edge?”
14
Rafe
If it hadn’t been for the distraction of researching service dogs for vets, I might have made myself crazy thinking about Gavin’s visit last night. I could understand his feelings and concerns. I knew Summer and Emma deserved someone who didn’t have the ghosts of war hanging around every corner. She already had enough of that with Gavin, and her work.
And yet, I couldn’t seem to make myself quit her. I supposed that made me selfish, but when I was with Summer was the only time I didn’t feel off-kilter. I felt whole. I felt at peace.
Right now, I felt turned on. What did Summer mean by taking me to the edge?
“Do you have any problems with being restrained?” she asked.
I quirked a brow. “Like...as
in being tied up?” My cock, which had already started to swell at the sight of her, was now at full staff. “You want to tie me up, Summer?
She nodded. “Unless it would cause you distress. How are you in elevators?”
I frowned. “You want to tie me up in an elevator?”
She smiled. “No. But it’s a confined space and sometimes that’s a trigger.”
“I’m fine in elevators.”
“So…can we try it?”
“I’m all yours.” I took her hand and led her to my bedroom.
“Have you considered moving into the master?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I could keep my dick up if I fucked you in Memaw’s bed.”
She snorted. “Good point.” She looked around the room. “Do you have a tie?”
“I have two ties.” I went to my closet and pulled them out. “Which do you prefer?”
She looked at the ties and then me. “We may need them both.”
“Okay. What do you need me to do?”
“First, get naked.”
I grinned. “Yes, ma’am. Will you join me?”
Once undressed, I lay on the bed and watched as Summer took off the last of her clothes. Her warm, soft curves tantalized me.
She took the ties. “Put your hands over your head.”
I did as she said, letting her loosely tie one hand then the other to the headboard.
She sat back on her knees and admired her work. “Maybe we need a safe word.”
“You going to spank me, Summer?”
She shook her head. “No, but I’m hoping you’ll be begging.”
My dick jumped at the thought of the type of pleasure that would have me begging.
“But maybe it will be too much, so we need a word that lets me know.”
“Since when have you become such as connoisseur of kink?” I was partly intrigued and partly concerned at her level of knowledge.
She grinned. “You inspire me, Rafe.” She ran her hands down my chest. Instinctively, my hands went to touch her, but they were restrained. “How about...cupcake?”
I laughed. “Cupcake it is.”
She lay over me, pressing her lips to mine, and it was better than cupcakes. But already, I was frustrated at not being able to touch her and that I couldn’t maneuver her to make contact with my straining cock.
She took her time, kissing and touching my body, as she worked her way down to my dick.
“Look, a gift.” She pointed to the precum sitting on top of my cock. She lapped it up with her tongue; the contact causing my hips to jerk up.
“Are you going to tease me?” I groaned.
“Yes.”
Fuck. There was an odd thrill and frustration that came with knowing that.
She ran her tongue over my shaft, from base to tip as her hands pushed my thighs apart. Then she sucked on one ball then the other, making me moan.
“Touch me, Summer.”
“I am.”
“Touch my cock.”
“In time, Rafe. In time.”
She was going to kill me. She’d barely touched me, and already, I was about to come out of my skin. I tried to relax, and settle back to enjoy whatever she had planned, but my cock was desperate for attention. On their own volition, my hips moved, wanting to get contact on my cock.
Finally, she gripped and stroked him. She held him tight and moved slow.
“Fuck yes…” I closed my eyes, grateful to have the contact. She stroked a few times and then let go. “Summer, don’t stop.”
Her mouth was on my balls again, her hands stroking the sensitive skin below them. Electricity shot up my dick.
I groaned. “Suck me, Summer…for fuck’s sake…”
She laughed softly, but thank God she wrapped those cupid bow lips around my cock. She worked me slowly, focusing on the tip at first until finally taking me deep. My hips lifted, wanting to fuck her pretty mouth.
“Yes, baby…fuck, that’s so good.”
Then she stopped.
I let out a long groan as I realized what she had planned. She was going to torture me. “Summer…”
Her lips trailed along my inner thigh and then they were on my ball sacks again. “I love how you taste, Rafe.”
“Summer…you’re going to kill me.”
“We’ve only just started.”
I growled in frustration, but she put her mouth on me again. She took me deep and then sucked the tip as her hand stroked the base.
“Yes, baby…God...right there.” Tension coiled in my balls, building pressure.
She removed her mouth but then used both hands in a twisting motion on my dick. The sensation was electric. I began to writhe, sounds and incoherent words slipped from my lips. The tell-tale sign of an orgasm gathered in my balls.
“I’m going to come…”
She stopped, letting go of my dick.
“Oh God, Summer, don’t stop baby…I’ve gotta come…”
Her lips kissed my thighs moving up to my abs.
I growled in frustration. “Please Summer…baby…I need to come.”
He fingers were feather light as the stroked my cock, and then massaged just the tip.
My lungs were bellowing, as I sought to pull in air. My dick was so hard it hurt.
Then her mouth was on me again, and I thanked sweet Jesus. “Yes, right there…fucking so good…” The sweet torture built again, and I could feel the power of an orgasm edging up. My hips bucked and writhed, as my cock sought release. “I’m coming…ah shit…I’m—”
She released me.
“Fuck no! Summer…” I growled. “I need to come. Let me come.” I pulled on my restraints, needing to take matters into my own hand. “Shit…fuck.” I gripped the spindles of my bed frame. I wondered if I could break them. She was driving me mad.
“Look how thick you are, Rafe. I’ve never seen you so big.”
“Please … fuck…please let me come.” My cock was so tight, so pumped full that I wondered how it didn’t split open.
She stroked my cock, slow and then fast.
“Yes….yes…ah right there…” My hips shot up as my orgasm again tipped on the edge.
She let go, caressing her hands over my abs and thighs.
“FUCK!” My whole body jerked and writhed with need. The bed shook, as I tore at the spindles trying to get free.
“I was going to jerk you off, but seeing the size of this guy, I have to ride him. Would you like that Rafe?”
“Yes…Jesus… yes, Summer. Now, baby…please God…”
She moved until she straddled my waist. She leaned over me. “Suck my tits, Rafe.”
I could hardly breathe, the agony of being on the edge of orgasm was unbearable. She pressed a nipple to my lips and I did my best to suck on it.
“Ride me Summer. Fucking ride me…”
She smiled, a sexy, knowing smile. Then she moved over my dick and sank on him.
Immediately, I saw stars as pleasure surged through my cock and outward through the rest of my body.
“Fuck!... Oh, fuck!” My hips pistoned up and down, as need coursed through me.
“Rafe…God…you’re so big.”
I’d lost control of my body as it sought release. I was barely aware of Summer’s words and gasps, as my own needs consumed me.
My body continued to buck, and finally, I shot hot liquid into her pussy.
“Yes!... God, Rafe…I’m coming…” Then her body gripped mine and for a moment, everything went black as pleasure so intense rocketed through my body. I pumped another load of cum into her womb.
“Summer…ah, fuck Summer…” My hips moved on their own, as my cock pulsed and spewed, and I was mad with wave after wave of pleasure.
I don’t know how long I came or how long afterward I lay in a haze, but when consciousness finally returned, an uneasy feeling followed. Summer lay on me her own breath ragged as I remained tied up. I’d willingly surrendered to her, but all of a sudden, the powerlessness made it hard to
breathe.
“Summer.”
“Hmmm?” She didn’t lift her head.
I tugged on the ties as I needed to regain some control. “Cupcake.”
It took her a moment, but then she moved quickly to undo the restraints. “You okay, Rafe? I’m sorry—”
“It’s okay.” The words came out automatically because, in truth, I felt a little off. Not triggered, but still off.
When the restraints were off, I leaped from the bed and began pacing.
“Oh God, Rafe…I’m–”
I worked up a smile. “It’s okay. Really. Just…intense.” I didn’t want to scare her, and yet I needed to get myself back in order. “Hey…how about a nighttime swim?”
She nodded. “Okay. Whatever you need.”
“Come on.” I didn’t wait for her as I left the room and went out the back door to the river. I rushed in, letting the cool water snap me back into order. I dove under and then came up for air. After a few breaths, I turned to look toward the bank. I hoped I hadn’t scared her.
She stood on the edge of the water, naked and beautiful. The moonlight shone on her like a spotlight, casting an ethereal glow on her smooth skin. My heart tumbled in my chest. Holy fuck, I was in love with her. The thought terrified me even as I wanted to savor it.
“Come in the water, baby.” I walked toward her holding my hand out. “I’m okay. I promise.”
She nodded and moved toward me.
“I’m sorry if I scared you.”
She shook her head as she came into my arms. “I’m sorry I—”
I kissed her hard, wanting to stop her words. “This isn’t an episode.”
“Oh?” Her fingers ran through my hair as her pretty gaze studied me. “You sure?”
I nodded. “I was overwhelmed but not like that.”
“I’m sor—”
“You have to stop apologizing.” I smiled, wanting to alleviate her concern. “Summer…I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the orgasm but also…” Jesus, could I say this? “By emotion.”
“I wanted to make you come hard. To have the best orgasm ever.”
“You succeeded. You blew my mind.” And my heart.
She smiled. “Rafe?”
“Hmm?”
