Page 50 of The Councilor

God help anyone who dared try to take her away from me.

Raphaella

Surprises.

There’d been several of them throughout the day, including the fact he’d ordered in Chinese food. I knew the rugged man was trying, hoping he could make his home feel like one to me. Or maybe his kindness was his way of asking me to wipe the slate clean between us. It was tough to continue with the same level of hatred as before. Now we sat in the living room. He was working on something, his laptop on the coffee table. I was pretending to read a book I’d found, although I found it impossible to concentrate.

He’d remained tense, more so since we’d returned, but the fact he’d let his guard down had meant so much. Plus, his men had placed the items they’d brought from my tiny studio in my much nicer one. The entire situation remained surreal, but I was beginning to come to full grips with what was happening. That made me edgier, and angrier with my father for putting me in this position.

I placed the book and my wine on the table, sliding to my feet. It was natural to want to be close to him or maybe his heavy sexual prowess was becoming too powerful to resist. Either way, he wasn’t the man I’d thought he was and getting closer seemed to be the thing to do.

He wasn’t paying any attention when I moved behind him, but when I placed my hands on his shoulders, he almost jumped out of his skin.

“Relax,” I breathed. “Soon this place is going to be a fortress. Plus, I won’t hurt you.” It had been a long time since I’d given anyone a massage. Hell, I used to do it with my father, which would now forever leave a bad taste in my mouth. But Aleksander was not my father. Not in any way.

“You’re sure about that?” he asked as he pushed the laptop further back on the table.

“Well, if you steal my ice cream or my pillow, all bets are off.” He hadn’t said a single word when I’d placed Mr. Bear on my bed. It had been a strange moment, as if I was fully accepting my new position. At least it was a nice place to be.

“Okay. I’m glad you told me.”

I started really giving him my famous massage, digging my fingers into his shoulders, shifting down his arms to include both. I could tell he was enjoying my actions. Even the way he craned his neck back and forth meant I was doing something right.

When I started to knead his back with my fisted hands, daring to pump him a few times, I could tell his breathing had changed.

Without warning, he threw his head back at the same time he reached for me, somehow easily pulling me halfway over his head and into his lap. I had no idea he had that much strength but he made me laugh. “You are very bad.”

I’d adored the way he’d cupped my face from the beginning, even if I’d never admitted it to anyone, including myself. This time felt different. Even the way he was looking into my eyes brought an entirely different set of emotions. The man had a way of making me feel special, which I hadn’t believed possible.

Now I was the one whose breathing was labored.

“You haven’t seen anything yet, lady.”

There’d been one man in my life who’d kissed me as if both our lives were depending on it. But that had been right before I’d learned he was cheating on me so I didn’t count that one. WhenAleksander captured my mouth this time, I had a feeling he was going to consume all of me.

And that was just fine.

I wanted the passion, intimacy with a man I really didn’t know yet it almost seemed as if we’d known each other a lifetime.

The kiss was just as powerful as the man, maybe more so. He immediately swept his tongue inside, dominating my entire mouth. I was instantly lightheaded, already caressing his chest through his shirt with one hand.

He took his time, yet there was a true urgency to what he was doing, pushing his needs to the point where he would ravage me. I was tingling all over, my pussy throbbing. I found myself tearing at his buttons, longing to touch his heated skin. He didn’t stop me. Yet his hold became more possessive. He slipped his other hand to the back of my neck, gripping with just as much possessiveness as I’d felt before.

Only this time, his hold made me thrilled, excited to be in his arms. The way his cock was throbbing, pushing against the inset of my thighs only added to the building firestorm happening in my pussy. My core was throbbing, my heart racing. Having this kind of reaction after the way we’d come together might seem abnormal, but I didn’t care. I was finally reaching the point of being able to share something more than anger or sadness.

As soon as I managed to touch his skin, he broke the kiss long enough to growl. I was already panting. The desire was so strong, so intense I couldn’t see straight.

He took my bottom lip into his mouth, biting down until I shuddered visibly.

I was blown away by his masculinity, the intoxicating scent of leather and spices, citrus and some exotic wood. But it was the tingling in my fingertips and the extreme jolts of electricity I would never be able to get over. The man had more than just a powerful hold over me. It was almost magical, already a dip into ecstasy.

He dragged his tongue from one side of my jaw to the other, making animalistic sounds the entire time. When he stood, keeping me pressed close to him, I was already swooning. How was this even possible? Sure, he was sexy and made my pussy quiver, but I should still hate him. Right?

Nothing seemed normal, right or wrong.

But being held in his arms, lost in the moment, was amazing. He took long strides from the room, heading to the stairs. He even took them two at a time. When he moved to my room, not his, I found that curious. For a man so pushy, so in need of full domination, I had a feeling it had absolutely everything to do with trying to make me more comfortable.

It was working.

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