Page 2 of Rafa's Convenient Wife

What he didn’t mention was how long he had been carrying the burden of his family’s business. She suspected that kind of stress would make anyone feel exhausted.

His gaze dropped to her right hand and the diamonds and gold that glittered there. “Mama was right. That bracelet is perfect for you.”

She still couldn’t believe Soila had gifted her such a precious family heirloom that morning as they dressed for the wedding. “Your mother is too generous, Rafa. I’m going to give it back to her before I leave.”

“You will not.” He frowned at her. “You would break Mama’s heart. She wanted you to have it.”

“But your sisters? Your niece?”

He chortled. “Mama has more jewels than the Queen of England. There are plenty to go around.” He shook his head. “No, you’re keeping this bracelet. It makes Mama happy to give gifts. It’s her love language.”

“Love language?” She tried not to laugh.

“According to Enedina,” he said with a shrug. “She’s always reading some new self-help book and telling us all about it.”

“To be fair, she probably got that book from Maddie. She was on a love language kick a few months ago. Jaime’s language is acts of service, in case you were wondering.”

He laughed. “I wasn’t but thank you. Now—one more spin.” He guided her through another twirl as the music began its crescendo. Halfway through, her spiky heel caught on an uneven section of brick, and she stumbled slightly. Rafael steadied her with his strong hands, one of them sliding along her waist to her upper back.

Pressed against him, she breathed in the woodsy scent of his cologne. Sandalwood. Cedar. All the lovely smells she would always associate with him. She had grabbed the lapel of his tuxedo for balance, and she couldn’t quite let go. She wanted to hold tight, to enjoy his body heat radiating through her. She tilted her head back, gazing up into his dark eyes. They seemed impossibly black, as if he were lost in the same emotional turmoil she felt.

Knowing this might be her only chance, she quickly rose on tiptoes and kissed him. He inhaled sharply. Whether it wassurprise or delight, she couldn’t tell. He remained stiff, but his hand gripped her waist even tighter. With a flirtatious flick of her tongue against his lips, she won the battle and finally got the kiss she so desperately wanted.

And what a kiss it was!

This wasn’t the clumsy, frantic kisses of her prom date or the slightly too messy kisses of her on-again-off-again boyfriend. This was the practiced, skilled kiss of a man who had all the experience she craved from a lover.

Rafael groaned and clasped the back of her neck, tilting her head back even further as he claimed her mouth in a passionate kiss. His other hand moved from her waist to her bottom, squeezing and drawing her in even closer. So close she could feel the unmistakable ridge of his arousal against her belly.

Bold and brazen, she slipped her hand down the firm plane of his abdomen to stroke his erection through the fabric of his tuxedo pants. He groaned and stabbed his tongue against hers with more force. Tobacco. Tequila. Champagne. Marijuana. The taste of him filled her mouth and left her craving more and more and more.

They moved as they kissed, her taking a few steps back and him following. It was like dancing, only clumsier and more unsure. Her back hit the iron arbor covered in roses, and she felt the sharp bite of thorns on her shoulders. Consumed by Rafael, she paid the pain no mind.

Her head spun, and she clutched at his shoulders, rising to meet his kisses. He lifted her, grasping the backs of her thighs, and she wound her legs around his waist. His erection jutted against that secret throbbing place where she wanted him most. She arched against him, silently urging him to keep going.

Rafael gathered up the silky fabric of her evening gown, drawing it up her thigh, and slipped his hand under her skirt. His hand followed the curve of her bare skin, and he squeezeda handful of her bottom, growling against her mouth in lust. The lacy thong she had picked out to wear under her designer dress made her feel mature and sensual, and she was glad he appreciated the freedom it gave him to stroke her skin.

She shuddered wildly as his hand curved along her bottom and dipped down to the spot where she was quickly growing wet with arousal. His tongue tangled with hers, and she whimpered with need and excitement. He swallowed her moans, and she elicited a groan from him when she went for the fly of his trousers.

He pulled aside the soaking strip of fabric between her thighs and explored her wet depths with his fingers. She fumbled around his zipper before finally getting her hand into his pants and onto him. She stroked his steely length, marveling at the wild heat of him against her palm.

After that, it happened suddenly.

Frantic. Heady. Passion.

One moment, Rafael was shifting her weight and angling his body just right. The next, he was sliding into her, piercing her intimate flesh and filling her with what she desperately needed.

His kisses consumed her. She clung to his shoulders as he thrust, her lips against his neck, her tongue flicking out to taste his skin. She gave into the animalistic desire and sank her teeth into the soft and vulnerable part of him, leaving her mark. He growled, and his fingers tightened on her waist and hips. She would have his fingerprints on her skin—and it made her head spin.

His pace quickened, his thrusts deeper and harder. Her own climax was too far behind. That telltale tightening had only started to take hold. That fluttery quiver of excitement was only just beginning to make her breaths come faster and shallower.

Rafael made a harsh sound before slamming so deep it knocked the air out of her lungs. She clasped his shoulders and rocked against his body, desperate to wring what pleasure shecould from the moment. It wasn’t enough to send her over the edge, and her core ached and throbbed.

“Rafa,” she whimpered pleadingly against his lips.

Rafael suddenly tore his mouth away from hers. It was as if someone had splashed cold water on him. Breathing hard, he stared down at her, his eyes wide with what could only be described as horror. He let her legs fall from his hips, carefully guiding her feet to the ground, and then hastily retreated.

Her skirt fell around her ankles. Her thong was mashed to the side and chafed her skin. His seed seeped from her, leaving a mess that she ignored as she tried to make sense of his confusing behavior. Her voice cracked as she asked, “Rafa?”

---