Page 18 of Valentine's with the Cartel

I cupped his face tenderly, wiping away one errant tear that managed to escape with my thumb before leaning down to place a soft, lingering kiss on each eyelid in turn.

"You're the lucky one," I murmured against his skin, savoring the way he trembled under the feather-light caress of my mouth. "To have so much hope and openness after all you've endured—you are truly incredible."

He closed his eyes briefly at that, his breath hitching almost imperceptibly in his throat as if my words touched something deep within him, something he had kept carefully hidden away for far too long.

"And no matter what happens, nothing will separate us," he whispered finally. "You and I together—we could be everything we've ever dreamed of and more."

Chapter 11

Anan

Rafael was still gazing up at me, his expression uncharacteristically tender as he stroked the fingers of one hand through my hair in a gentle caress that made my scalp tingle. He knew how to make me feel good so expertly. It was one of the best things about him.

But even as I reveled in the intimacy of the moment, a thought occurred to me—that we had somehow let Valentine's Day slip by almost entirely without any celebration or special acknowledgment.

We got married, and a lot happened before and after that. But remembering today's special occasion, I couldn’t go to sleep without doing something to 'commemorate' it. I just didn't know exactly what.

It seemed absurd now, considering all the passionate declarations and promises we'd just made to each other, but earlier that day we had been so caught up in wedding preparations and then... well, everything that had transpired between us afterwards. I couldn't help but feel a flicker of regret that we hadn't paused to do something expressly for Valentine's.

"I know this might sound ridiculous considering everything that's already happened today," I began, not wanting to break the spell of closeness that surrounded us, "but it's Valentine's Day and we haven't really done anything special together yet." There, I had said it. And now my face was burning red. My embarrassment was through the roof.

Rafael blinked a few times as if coming back from a faraway place at my words before his brows knitted together in confusion. He clearly hadn't even considered the oversight, so focused as he had been on claiming me. And he did, but I still wanted to do something else with him. It couldn't all be just about the sex and talking about forming a family.

"You're right," he murmured after a beat, stroking his chin contemplatively with one hand even as the other continued its idle tracing over the bare skin of my back. "It would be a shame to let such an important occasion pass without some sort of tribute."

I felt myself relax slightly at his acknowledgment, relieved that he agreed and wasn't dismissive of my concern outright. And then I brightened considerably as a wicked glint entered his eyes, hinting at a devious idea taking shape in that brilliant mind. I knew he was going to think of something.

"How about we remedy that situation right now?" Rafael proposed with a slow smile that made my heart race even as it set me on edge slightly. What was he cooking up? How good was it going to be? And was it going to involve sex again?

He shifted our positions suddenly then, rolling us over until I was pinned beneath him on the mattress, my wrists captured in one large hand above my head. I gasped at the sudden move, my body arching involuntarily as a spike of heat lanced through me.

He might be answering my last question right now. It might actually involve sex.

Rafael's grin widened at my reaction, a predatory gleam entering his gaze as he gazed down at me. "I love how you look like this," he purred approvingly, his voice dropping to a low, seductive rumble. "Helpless and flushed with need under me. It's enough to make me want to devour you whole all over again."

He punctuated the words by nipping sharply at the sensitive skin of my neck, drawing a shuddery moan from my lips as my head fell back.

But even as desire began to pool molten hot in my core once more, a part of me rebelled against being reduced to nothing more than Rafael's plaything yet again. This was Valentine's Day, for heaven's sake! Surely we could find a way to celebrate the occasion that didn't involve me spread out like some feast awaiting consumption?

"My hands are free now," I pointed out breathlessly, squirming slightly as his erection brushed against mine in a deliciously teasing slide. "And I have a few ideas about how we might pass the rest of the night that don't necessarily require you to keep me pinned down for your own amusement."

Rafael arched an eyebrow at my words, clearly amused by the edge of petulance in my tone even as he hummed thoughtfully, considering my suggestion.

"Oh? And what kind of ideas might those be, little omega?" He inquired silkily, leaning down to ghost his lips along the side of my neck in a maddeningly gentle caress that had goosebumps erupting across my skin. "Do you think yourself capable of entertaining me with your wits alone? I'd be impressed if so."

I could tell he was just teasing me now, trying to goad me into proposing something outrageous and debauched. But the truth was, there were a few things I had always wanted to try but had been too shy or intimidated to suggest before now.

Drawing in a deep breath to steel my nerves, I met his gaze head-on with a coy smile playing about my lips. "Maybe," Ihedged, letting the word hang in the air between us as I arched invitingly toward him, desperate to feel him pressed against me once more even as I yearned for something different this time.

"I've heard tell of these special massage oils," I began slowly, letting my voice trail off suggestively as Rafael's eyes narrowed in intrigued interest. "Apparently they make the skin feel so slippery and smooth that two people can slide together with the greatest of ease without the need for lubrication."

His brows shot up at that, clearly not expecting me to come out with such a bold proposition. And if I was being honest, I wasn't quite sure where this bravado was coming from myself. Not to mention, when he penetrated me, I hadn't felt the need for any lotion to help it. What I wanted this time was more purely for the novelty of it.

"But you have to be careful," I continued breathlessly as his expression darkened with hunger, "Because it's said that the oil heightens every sensation tenfold, making pleasure feel so intense it can almost be painful. Think you can handle it?" I knew he was definitely up for it.

I barely recognized myself as I said all those things, but Rafael's expression made me feel like this was exactly what I should be saying.

"Is that right," Rafael mused slowly, his tone a low, approving purr as he studied me with blatant male appreciation. "Well well, little omega, you certainly are full of surprises tonight, aren't you? First the bold talk about open communication and co-parenting and now this? You're impossible to predict."

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