by Alison Mello
“Watching you shimmy inside that classy red dress that fits you to perfection. All I can think is how I want to rip it off and fuck you senseless again. I’ve missed you, and I’d happily worship your naked and glorious body all day long. But I know you have a client coming soon.”
Summer watched as he buttoned the top of his shirt, tucked it inside his pants, and straightened his jeans.
“I’ve missed you too.”
He strode over and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before moving away. Rafe collected the used condom wrapper from the floor, and he disappeared into the en suite bathroom, no doubt to dispose of it. Summer gazed out the window, lost in thought.
“STEPS has a gala Friday night, and I want you there at my side. Will you come?”
Summer spun around.
“You’re such an arrogant prick, Rafe Bryant. You can’t fuck me, walk away, and expect me to come running when you dictate. I haven’t seen you for six months. The last time I did, I thought you were going to die, but you didn’t. Instead, you sent me away. I need more than angry sex. Sex isn’t enough. I want a real relationship or leave me the hell alone.”
Rafe narrowed his gaze. “It has never been just sex between us, Summer. Was that all it was to you?”
Needing space from him, she walked to stand in front of the only painting in the room, and he didn’t step closer. Maybe six months was too long. But she paced back and forth, battling her conflicted feelings toward this man.
She met his gaze. “No. You know it wasn’t.”
Her admission had him closing the gap and drawing her into his arms. Sweeping his hand across her cheek, he brushed her long strands of glossy, wavy hair away from her face to kiss her red swollen lips, and she held his arms. He stepped back, appraising her.
“I wanted it all with you, but when I lost the construction job, I lost sight of the principles by which I live. I should have had more faith, actually turned up to the meetings at the VA, and trusted you. Instead, I gave up. In all my years of training, I knew how to lead and execute successful missions, never losing sight of the objective despite the odds and risks. With you, shit, I never believed it would work. That night at the restaurant, I was a lunatic racing to get to you because I thought the news I had would fix everything. But in hindsight, it wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. Look, I know you love me, Summer, and I’m not saying I won’t make mistakes…”
She charged at him and hugged him tight, crying into his shirt until it was damp with her tears.
He stroked her hair. “I want you in my life, Summer. Don’t leave me. I need you.”
CHAPTER 17
Summer
Summer had chosen her outfit with meticulous care, especially knowing tonight’s event was important to Rafe. Nicki’s eager exuberance about the opening ceremony they were both attending heightened Summer’s frayed nerves, and she practiced her slow exhaled breathing technique to quieten her mind and calm her inner self. After a few minutes of controlled, focused breathing, a more settled sensation allowed her insecurities to lessen. The yoga allowed her to take back control and reduce her anxiety. She lifted her Red Diva lipstick from her purse to smear it over her lips as she stared in the mirror.
“You rock that dress, girl. He’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you,” Nicki screeched.
Summer laughed. “Thanks. That’s the intention. I love yours too.”
Summer admired Nicki’s form-fitting emerald green wraparound silk dress decorated with white orchids cinched at her waist that drew attention to her generous curves. Her friend loved prints and color. Summer had chosen her staple shade, secure in the knowledge it suited her and Rafe would approve. However, prickles of doubt itched as she fidgeted with the tiny spaghetti straps that held the wisps of floaty material that clung over her curves, barely covering her breasts. She chose a long, blood red Badgley Mischka chiffon dress with a ruched corset that dipped low between the valley of her breasts, knowing Rafe’s preference for the powerful color on her. A long slit at the side displayed the length of her slim thigh, and the back dropped obscenely to the bottom of her spine, exposing more skin than she was used to. The aim of the provocative outfit was to stir Rafe’s primitive and rampant need for her. Summer wanted him untethered, and being in public, that would pose one hell of a problem for him. That wicked thought gave her immense pleasure, knowing the torture he would suffer, but he would survive. Knowing the fierce warrior who blocked his emotions for a living, he would display little outward discomfort. Still, she would know by the tone of his voice and his touch. She wanted to teach him that two could play his games, and life with her would always be dangerous.
She smoothed her hand over her throat, aroused in anticipation of his response. She wanted Rafe at her mercy but knew it would be sweet torture for herself as well. A small smile touched her lips.
“The car will be here soon. Are you ready?” Nicki asked.
Summer nodded as she collected her black diamond-encrusted purse from the hallway table and studied the vase full of scarlet roses Rafe had sent two days ago. An unexpected surprise, but she smiled as she absorbed the perfection of the flower she loved. Nicki caught her arm, and she shifted, ready to leave.
“Members of the team are coming tonight. Hot. Single. Men. Are you ready to mingle?”
Since working with Nicki, her friend hadn’t dated much as consumed with work as she was. But tonight, she longed to play matchmaker. Summer wanted to introduce Nicki to Rafe’s friend Niall. He had been through a lot since leaving the team, and they both deserved happiness.
“Are they all as kissable as Rafe?”
Summer gave her friend a pointed look as a wave of jealousy washed through her. She knew Nicki wouldn’t make the moves on her man, but she couldn’t help the idea of losing him to another woman creep inside.
“Hm, in a rough around the edges way, yes. Niall, Gabriel, and Chayton are brave, remarkable men who hide their feelings well, and that’s a problem.”
“Okay, good to know. Did you and Rafe manage to sort things out the other day?”
Heat infused Summer’s cheeks as she remembered the ferocious sex she experienced with Rafe in her office. She knew Nicki was aware of what had taken place, even if they hadn’t talked about it at work.
“Sex was never a problem for us, Nicki, but I need to lay down some ground rules with Rafe, which we sure as hell didn’t discuss the other day. I want our relationship to work this time.”
Nicki knocked her shoulder, and she smiled. “Talking wasn’t on his mind when he arrived, honey. Was the make-up sex good? No, on second thought, don’t answer that. It’s been so long since I was with a man, I’ve forgotten what it was like.”
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out with Charlie.”
“Don’t be. I knew it wasn’t heading anywhere. Anyway, the last several months working with you have been awesome. It’s made me realize I don’t need a man to be happy.”
Summer grabbed her friend’s hand and squeezed it, nodding in agreement. The thrill and satisfaction of her work increased her confidence. The status of being an independent businesswoman was liberating. Something of her own and no one could take it away from her—not her parents and not Rafe. The other day when he had walked back into her life, she knew in her bones she loved him—maybe always would—and his plea for her not to leave him revealed his own vulnerability. Even though he said he knew she loved him, he remained silent, which shocked her. Tonight, she needed to hear those words.
The crunch of gravel drew her to stare down the driveway as a sleek black limousine pulled up outside the cottage. Both girls watched as a slim older gentleman with short gray hair and dressed in a black suit descended to open the back door for them. When Rafe said he had arranged a lift for them, Summer imagined one of his friends would arrive. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case, but this gesture, like the roses, was extravagant.
“I’m Colton Hudson, but Colton will do. I’m your chauffeur for this evening, a
t Mr. Bryant’s request.”
Surprise made Summer giddy with excitement as she studied the soft features of the silver-haired man who held his black hat in hand and gestured for them to enter.
Rafe is pulling out all the stops tonight.
“Thank you, Colton.” Accepting his hand, she lifted her long gown to ease her way into the backseat, and Nicki followed. Giggling, both girls slid across the firm leather, and Summer shimmied close to Nicki to grip her arm.
“Well, this is unexpected,” Nicki said.
The chauffeur called from the front. “Mr. Bryant left instructions for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the complimentary champagne, which I have already taken the liberty to uncork for you.”
Set up directly opposite them was a sleek black shelf with two clear glass flutes and a bottle of Dom Perignon. Lightheaded with the sensation of being cared for by Rafe, she laughed. He definitely was trying to ensure she enjoyed tonight, knowing she loved the bubbly. Summer sat forward and lifted the bottle. She handed a glass of the pale yellow bubbles to her friend and lifted her own glass to sip the cool liquid, exhilarated that Rafe made such an effort.
In reality, the time they had been together the first time was less than a year: a little over ten months. After that first night in early February, they had been inseparable, making love until all hours, in all places. After the first couple of months, the more time Rafe spent at her place, the relationship shifted. Summer fell hard early on. She knew she loved him, like she had never loved anyone before or since, but there were many parts of his life he kept secret. Then the arguments started.
In those ten months, Rafe had never romanced her. And she had never needed him to. His small actions of affection showed her how he felt. The constant need to touch her skin spoke more to her than flowers ever would, and the desire that shone from his eyes, which only sought hers, squeezed her heart. The intensity of his look made her burn and sizzle as if she were the only person in the room, and that never changed.
She pushed the material of her dress down and swallowed the liquid, smiling over at Nicki, who clinked her glass to hers.
So why now? What is Rafe up to?
“Hey, girl, come on. To the men who drive us crazy.”
Summer laughed. “To loving our lives so much that we don’t need the men.”
Staring over the rim of her glass, she watched Nicki’s eyes narrow and sat back against the black leather, taking a deep breath.
“Are you all right?” Nicki asked.
“I’m not sure, but I will be.”
Summer’s stomach tightened as the limousine took them closer to STEPS, which was set at the foot of the Black Mountains in Jackson, New Hampshire, and shivered. The anticipation coiled inside her, Summer planned to unleash the beast in Rafe and make him beg for release, at which point she would walk away if he didn’t answer all her questions. She dipped her head. She needed to be strong tonight and finished off the last drop of champagne.
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
Summer huffed and placed the glass down. “From the very first moment.” She swallowed and looked away.
Nicki placed her hand over hers. “What now?”
“I don’t know. Rafe is an unstoppable force. He’s like a whirlwind. He sweeps in and tears up everything in his path. A destructive force. And then he leaves. I’m not sure I can survive another round with Rafe. What did he say to you back at the office that day he showed up? I know he whispered something.”
Nicki slid closer, sipping her drink. “Do you really want to know?”
Summer thumped her playfully on the arm. “Yes, of course I do.”
Nicki tilted her head as she studied Summer. “He simply said he’d waited until he couldn’t wait anymore and that you needed him.”
Her sex clenched as she opened her mouth to argue but snapped it closed as she shook her head. The last six months had been busy—working all hours, no breaks, no time to socialize or think about anything other than work, which had been good because when she did pause, all she could think about was Rafe and wonder what had happened. Wonder how everything slipped through her fingers. Was he playing with her? At times, Rafe confused her, and just when she thought she understood something about the man, he managed to surprise her, like now with the roses.
“Rafe may not say it, but I think he loves you, Summer, as much as you love him. The way he watches you, it’s territorial—like he owns you.”
Summer nodded. Rafe’s laser gaze reduced her to a liquid puddle of feverish need, craving him every time his eyes roved over her. He was the most delicious form of torture she ever encountered. “But I’m not sure that’s love, Nicki. I feel like a possession, something he can take or leave when he feels like it.”
Swallowing down her sense of frustration, she gripped the bottom of the seat with her nails. And in return, Rafe was her addiction. An obsession, one she walked away from once, and she needed to find the power to run without looking back if necessary, to save herself. This time, the relationship would mean sharing everything and making a commitment to ride every storm together or she would walk away for good.
An hour later, the sleek limo pulled up outside the main entrance of STEPS. The colossal two-story log house sparkled with glorious twinkling yellow-white lights all around the front porch in white lanterns, and bright light inside streamed through the windows, illuminating the entire structure in the shadow-filled evening. Light music spilled outside. She sighed, wanting to delay her entrance for as long as possible, but the car stopped, and Colton opened the door to assist her out. Summer took the chauffeur’s hand and stepped out onto the driveway. She gazed around in the twilight at the unrecognizable landscape, which now consisted of an enormous charcoal-gray, rectangular building opposite the main reception area she knew to be the education center. The aerial ropes course sat before the building and slid off in the surrounding dense forest. A road continued ahead to what looked like a row of empty townhouses. The complex was huge, far bigger than Summer had realized or Rafe had intimated.
The cool April air sent a chill down her back, and a hand touched her at the bottom of her spine, making her pivot around.
Rafe stood there, eyes devouring every inch of her body, and her breath caught in her throat. In wanting to drive him delirious, Summer hadn’t factored into account how his startling appearance would affect her tonight at all. Standing there with his shoulder-length, golden locks styled back off his face and dressed in an immaculate fitted black tux, which should have made him look awkward and out of place but instead did the opposite, he looked lethal and devilishly handsome. His ice-blue eyes raked hers, and he leaned over her as his hand pressed into her spine, pushing her flat abdomen against the hard planes of his chest and his rigid arousal.
“Feel that, Summer. You do that. You make me want to fuck you right here. Is that what you want?”
Satisfied her plan had worked, a huge grin smoothed across her lips. Even in a suit, you couldn’t disguise the brutally virile and feral man that was Rafe. Breathing in his rich scent, she blinked.
“But it’s good to know I affect you in the same way.” His gaze fixed on her cleavage, and he rubbed his thumb over her wrist.
Damn him.
The tight buds of her nipples were already hard and needy. Lowering his head, he brushed a kiss along the sweep of her throat, and her insides clenched as tingles danced in victory. Wishing he wouldn’t stop, Summer could only hold on. But soon he lifted his head and gripped her hand to pull her toward the steps.
“Come on, ladies. Let’s get you inside.”
Rafe switched around to place an arm around Nicki’s waist and corralled them both up the several steps to the double-wide door that led inside. “You both look stunning, by the way. I hope you enjoyed the champagne?”
Nicki giggled. “Yes, we did, thank you. And thanks for inviting me to the opening.”
“You’re welcome. I knew Summer would want you here, and you both nee
d a night off. You’ve been working nonstop.”
The din from inside grew as they approached the main entrance, and Summer observed the swarms of distinguished men and elegant women parading around through the clear glass doors. A nervous tension climbed up her back, and she focused on her breathing, exhaling long and slow, her palms sweaty. Niall and Gabriel strode out of the doors, and Summer pressed a hand over her stomach, unable to move.
Rafe’s hand around her waist tightened. “It’s okay, Summer. I’ve got you,” he whispered by her ear, and she shot him a quick glance.
“Summer, you look amazing.” Niall kissed her cheek. He stood back and stared at her friend. “And you must be Nicki. You’re gorgeous.”
Nicki laughed but accepted his outstretched hand. “Come on, let me get you a drink. This lot need a few moments.”
Summer’s stomach dropped as she faced an expressionless Gabriel. The memory of his speech at the hospital whispered to her. Nicki glanced at her, but she smiled. “You go ahead. I’ll be in soon. Niall will take good care of you.”
Nicki nodded, absorbing the attractive man escorting her, and Summer knew her friend would be fine. Once Nicki walked away, she shrugged out of Rafe’s grasp. Gabriel stepped closer, but she stepped back, and Rafe gripped her wrist to stop any further movement.
“Summer, you have to know that Gabriel only said what I told him to.”
She frowned. Why explain now and right here? Her breathing sped up as she twisted to study Rafe. A mass of lines ran across his forehead, and his blue eyes pleaded for understanding. “Why? After everything that happened, why?”
Rafe lifted his head skyward where a million white stars twinkled as if the answer would come to him, and she switched her gaze to Gabriel, who continued to study her with a fixed, hard expression. Unable to stop herself, she took a step forward and slapped him hard across the cheek. He stood there, unflinching, and she sniffed, looking away.
“Jesus, Summer. I said it’s not his fault. I told Gabriel to make sure you left. I thought I was going to lose my leg, and I didn’t want you to see me like that. I couldn’t be the man you needed.”
