Page 24 of Rafi

I can’t help but laugh softly, the sound breaking the fragile stillness. “If you’re trying to convince me otherwise, I should warn you—I don’t believe for a second that you have a poetic bone in your body.”

He turns his head then, his dark eyes meeting mine. There’s a flicker of something there—amusement, maybe, or somethingdeeper, something that makes my heart stumble. “You think you know me that well already?”

“I think I know your type,”I tease, but the playful edge in my voice falters under the weight of his gaze.

He shifts closer, just enough that I can feel the faint warmth of him beside me. “What if I told you the stars are lost souls,”he murmurs, his voice softer now, almost intimate. “What if they’re just watching, jealous of us? Because no matter how bright they shine, they’ll never feel what it’s like to be here. To touch. To want.”

My breath catches. The space between us feels impossibly small now, and yet it vibrates with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. “How can you know what the stars feel, Rafi?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

His hand moves slowly, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch light but deliberate. “Because I feel the same way,” he says, the words a quiet confession that sends a shiver down my spine.

The air shifts around us, charged with something electric, undeniable. Before I can second-guess myself, I close the distance between us, my lips meeting his in a kiss that’s soft at first, tentative, until his hand slides to the back of my neck, pulling me closer.

The world fades away—the stars, the city, everything but the two of us. His kiss deepens, and I lose myself in the warmth of him, the way he feels so solid, so sure, against me.

We break apart just long enough for him to guide me onto my back, the grass cool against my skin, the night air wrapping around us. His weight settles over me, his lips finding mine again as his hands roam, leaving a trail of heat in their wake.

Here, under the stars, nothing else matters. It’s just us, raw and unguarded, two lost souls finding their way back to each other.

Rafi’s weight presses me into the soft grass, grounding me even as the rest of the world feels like it’s spinning away. His lips are insistent, commanding, and I respond with a fervor that surprises even me. My hands find his shoulders, fingers curling into the leather of his jacket as if holding on to him will keep me tethered to this moment, this burning intensity.

His hands slide down, grazing over my sides, my hips, leaving trails of fire in their wake. He pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, his breath warm against my lips. His eyes are dark and full of intent, searching mine for something—permission, maybe, or reassurance.

I give it to him without hesitation.

My fingers tug at his jacket, and he shrugs it off, letting it fall to the ground beside us. The fabric of his shirt is soft under my palms, but it’s not enough—I want to feel him, to touch his skin. My hands slip beneath the hem, and he groans softly as I trace the hard lines of his stomach, the sharp ridges of muscle that tense under my touch.

He leans down, his lips finding my neck, and I gasp as his teeth scrape gently against my skin before soothing the spot with his tongue. My back arches instinctively, pressing me closer to him, and he takes advantage of the movement, sliding a hand under my shirt to rest against the bare skin of my waist. His touch is warm, possessive, and it sends a thrill through me.

His hands work quickly, pushing my shirt up and over my head, discarding it to the side. The cool night air brushes over my skin, but the heat between us is more than enough to keep the chill away. He pauses for a moment, his gaze sweeping over me, and the hunger in his eyes makes my breath catch.

“So beautiful,” he says, the words soft but fervent, like a prayer.

I reach for him, pulling him down to me, and our bodies align perfectly, fitting together as if they were always meant to.His mouth trails down my neck, my collarbone, leaving a path of kisses that makes my pulse race. His hands are everywhere, exploring, claiming, and I can’t get enough of him.

The stars above seem to burn brighter, but they pale in comparison to the fire between us. The rest of the world falls away—there’s no past, no future, only this moment, this connection, this intoxicating blend of desire and need.

Under the vast expanse of the night sky, with the city lights twinkling far below, he enters me slowly, and we become one, lost in each other, consumed by the intensity of the moment. The grass beneath us, the stars above us, and the quiet hum of the night are the only witnesses to this raw, unfiltered passion.

And for the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself forget everything else and justfeel.

15

RAFI

The engine pulsates beneath us, the steady rumble vibrating up through my hands as Tayana holds on tight behind me. Her arms are wrapped around my waist, her body pressed against mine, and I swear I can still feel her naked body—soft skin against mine, the way her breath caught when I touched her, the way her body moved with mine under the stars. Even now, as she clutches her arms around my waist, her body pressed into mine, I can feel the steady beat of her heart as it breathes against my back.

The memory of the way she felt tonight is burned into me now. Her bare shoulders glowing in the starlight, her lips parted, whispering my name like it was the only word she knew. I’ve never wanted someone the way I want her. It’s not just desire—though there’s plenty of that—it’s something deeper, sharper, like a pull I couldn’t fight even if I tried.

The city rushes by in a blur of lights and noise, but all I can focus on is her warmth pressed against my back, the feel of her hands clutching me like she’s afraid to let go. I don’t want her to. I want to freeze this moment, keep her right here, away from the world and everything in it.

We pull up outside her office building, the bike rolling to a slow stop. I kick the stand down and cut the engine, the sudden silence almost startling after the steady roar of the ride.

Tayana climbs off, adjusting her skirt as she does, and the loss of her warmth makes my chest tighten in a way I don’t understand. She tugs the helmet off, her hair falling in messy waves around her face, and I can’t help but stare.

“Thanks for the ride,” she says, her voice light but cautious, like she’s still feeling her way around whatever this is between us. It’s hard to tell. We’re not together but we’re not apart. We’re two stubborn, strong willed creatures, but we’re fearful when it comes to the thought of us. And I’m not ready for this night to end.

I slide off the bike and lean against it, my arms folded, watching her. She fidgets with the strap of the helmet, her gaze flicking to the building behind her before landing back on me.

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