RAFAEL
I couldn’t imagine their faces when I told them Mikhail was alive. Dad had lost hope. My mother still mourned in her sleep. Julian was young when Mikhail went missing, so he couldn’t remember much. My twin was a lost boy who never found his way back home. It had been three decades.
I thought it was impossible. I thought when Brett showed me the papers, he was messing with me again, trying to destroy the sanity left in me. But when I saw Michael Gibson, the man who raised the only woman that brought me back to life, when he told me how he got lost before I could say anything, I knew it was him. It was a small world, but it took us time to find each other.
It was her. Savannah brought him back to me.
Mikhail wasn’t as he was twenty-nine years ago. I worried because of his speech disability, the world would be cruel to him, but he grew up as a man better than I’d become. He stood on his own and became a self-made man. He loved Savannah and protected her. I should be ashamed.
I hurt her. I confused her. I made her cry. I didn’t want her crying because of me.
I stared at the papers in the morning with a cup of coffee, reading everything and checking if I had missed something. Michael’s full profile was here, including which schools he went to, his job, and his past relationships. He even had a Ph.D.
I didn’t expect Brett to be looking for him after what he’s done. We were just kids then. I knew it was an accident, but I had hated him all of my life, so there was nothing I needed to thank for after what he had done. It was surprising how he had a conscience left in his body.
I blamed myself. He blamed me for being a negligent brother. Then, our long feud went on with Gill. I just wanted him out of my life, and Savannah’s, as much as possible. I wouldn’t let him bother her again.
A doorbell suddenly interrupted me in the middle of my pondering.
Who was it? I wasn’t expecting anyone this early.
I went to my living room and found the sexiest woman I knew.
She flashed a faint smile. “I let myself in.”
“Savannah…”
“I’m still amazed how these private elevators lead to your penthouse.” She chuckled. “Am I too early?”
I couldn’t speak for a moment. God, she was so beautiful and tempting. She was only dressed in a white shirt and jeans, but she was glowing. A light that illuminated my spacious but lonely place. Only then did I appreciate my carpet when she was standing right over it.
“Are you busy?” she asked again.
I glanced at my laptop and papers scattered on the dining table. “Not really. It’s fine, but—”
“You said you want to be with me for the rest of your life. I came here because I can’t wait until this.”
And she had to start with it. “I do,” I whispered.
“Is it still because of the proposition?”
My brows knitted together. Where was she going with this? “That was before. We talked about this.”
“Is it because of Michael?”
“No,” I answered without hesitation. “It’s because you belong to me, and I am yours, Savannah.”
She ran to me, jumped, and then clasped me tightly. I caught her in my arms.
“Savannah. Baby, what is it?” I muttered in her ear.
“You love me,” she whispered back. “You love me, too, Rafe. You just can’t say it or admit it.”
I couldn’t speak, listening to her.
“You’re just afraid.” Her grasp tightened around my shoulders.
It was startling how she could see through me.
“You’re just afraid that you’ll fail me. But I don’t care anymore. I’ll take what I can get because I love you, and you do love me. Am I wrong?”
I brought her down and cupped my palms to her face. “Well, I never wanted anyone this much, so you’re not wrong. Baby, the reason I can’t say it is because I doubted myself. I’ve never felt this way before with anyone.”
“Oh, my God. I know, I know.” She kissed my palms alternately. “I understand now, that’s why… that’s why…”
“That’s why, what?”
“I’ll marry you, okay?”
Something ignited in my chest. An inexplicable joy. “A-are you sure?” Did that sound come from me?
She nodded. “Marriage of convenience or not, I will do it, so I accept, okay? I’ll marry you.”
“Oh, Savi. I’m thrilled to hear that, but I don’t want you jumping into decisions you might regret—”
“Hey!” She pressed her two fingers on my lip. “If it’s you, I won’t regret anything. What I feel for you is enough. I love you so much that it hurts not to be with you. I don’t want to doubt or overthink anymore because I trust you,” she said hoarsely, almost out of breath. “And because if this isn’t love, what is this, right?” she said, quoting the same word I’d said. “So, do you love me, too, Rafe?”
I chuckled. She never really ceased to amaze me. Every day she showed me different sides of her that I knew I’d admire. I knew that I’d love…
“I do.”
She laughed between her tears and embraced me again. “I love you too.”
She made the first move and claimed my mouth on hers.
This bold, wonderful woman had officially wrapped me around her fingers.
I cut the kiss and asked, “You said you wanted to talk.”
“We’ll talk later.” She brought her lips back to mine, and I was lost in her world.
I lifted her with my arm, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Without breaking the kiss, I brought her to the bed.
SAVANNAH
Our lips only parted when we lay on the bed. Rafe looked at me from head to toe with passion as though I was his most precious person in the world. He slowly moved to my side. It suddenly felt like everything was in slow motion.
He kissed me for a moment, coaxing, demanding, and when his lips parted, he pushed my shirt to my head and tossed it away. Then he leisurely removed the straps of the bra.
When the little obstacle was removed from my body, he cupped my breasts with his warm hands. My excitement grew stronger.
I flinched when his tongue swirled around my nipple. I bit my lip, but a grunt still escaped.
“Oh my gosh!”
His hand touched my lower belly and fondled it, but I knew it wasn’t his real aim. He was teasing me. Slowly, his hand crept down. He expertly unbuttoned my jeans and slipped his hand into my panties. Two fingers stroked my ultrasensitive slit.
I grumbled, shoving my fingers through his hair.
He rubbed my pussy so skillfully. His tongue on my nipples was so good I realized that I was pushing him down.
Rafe chuckled quietly. He stepped down the bed to pull off my jeans. Slowly and carefully, he pushed my pants down my legs. When I was almost exposed in front of him, he parted my legs and planted wet kisses on my inner thighs, with his eyes smiling before he finally took off my panties.
The waiting was too much. I wanted to feel his tongue on my pussy. “Please, Rafe. Please…”
I felt his tongue on mine again. The tip of his tongue pressed against my clitoris.
God, it was so good…
I was available for him, and everything I was for him. There were no more hurdles. Just us.
He licked me, sucked me, and played his tongue on every corner of my pussy.
In a matter of minutes, I was crying in orgasm. He licked the juice, continuously gliding his tongue.
After a few moments, Rafe stopped. He took off his shirt and unzipped his pants, letting them fall on the floor, revealing his hard and thick cock. I watched him pull out the drawer, thinking he might be getting a condom, but I stopped him.
“I’m on the pill, and my period is close, so…”
His eyes twinkled. He pushed the drawer back, scrawled back to the bed, and positioned himself between my legs.
“Fuck. Give this to me, baby...” he said softly. “I always wanted to feel you bare around me.”
Slowly, he sank inside me. We fit perfectly.
“Ohh…” I moaned.
He began thrusting in. Hard.
“God, Rafe… It’s so good…”
I could feel the head of his cock pushing deep into the very edge of my hole. Driving me deliriously crazy.
I felt like I was already on the verge of my climax. I wanted him to fuck me longer, but I couldn’t control my body, so I came again.
I screamed in so much pleasure. Rafe was the only one who could make me feel this way… the only man who knew my body even more than me.
“Your pussy feels so right around my cock, Savi. It’s incredible,” he grumbled, still fucking me deep and hard. “I’m close, too.”
He plunged into me relentlessly as if seeking his own release. My eyes flickered at each delicious assault. My insides were so full of him.
Until I finally felt a sizzle of liquid rush inside my pussy. At the same time, my own juice surged.
“Fuck!” he cursed.
My legs felt jelly, and my body was quivering. His pace slowed, still jerking his hips, draining every last drop of his cum in my pussy.
A few moments later, Rafe collapsed next to me. He pulled out of me with his cock still hard. My opening was sore and ringing, and my insides still felt ticklish, as if I could still feel him inside.
Minutes had passed, neither of us speaking, satisfied.
“You always surprise me, Ms. Gibson,” he said after some time.
“Why?”
“I remember I was supposed to visit Julian’s studio this morning.”
I giggled. “I’m so glad I came.”
“Well.” He rolled on top of me again. “I’ve missed you so bad, so a day with you won’t hurt my schedule…” He brought his lips to my neck and started kissing me again.