Page 21 of The Doctor's Promise
Noemi hooted. “Hell, no. When we were growing up, we used to fight nonstop. Real brawls too. Ma and Pa used to have to physically restrain us. We’re too much alike; that’s mine and Leo’s problem. Very judgey and convinced we’re right all the time.”
Rafa grinned. “Oh, dear God, what have I got myself into?”
“I’m afraid it’s way too late for regrets, Genova,” Noemi laughed and leaned over to kiss him. “Excuse my garlic breath.”
“Ditto.” He kissed her again and smiled. “Siblings are strange creatures. They share the same DNA and yet sometimes—”
He trailed off, and Noemi saw something in his eyes: a reluctance, a distant memory he did not want to conjure. “What is it? Is it your brother?”
Rafa sighed. “Zani’s been off the rails for years. I love him, but he’s… there’s some sort of personality disorder going on there, I’m convinced. He seems to be missing that sensitivity part.”
“Like a sociopath?”
“Exactly that. He loves money, women, and himself.” Rafa shook his head. “Maybe I am being too harsh. I haven’t seen or heard from him in so long.”
“And your parents?”
“Nope. Mom tries to reach out to him, but she gets nowhere.” Rafa shrugged. “I think she sees Bepi as the son she wanted to have—not that she overmothers him. She was always very respectful of Tomi’s motherhood.” He suddenly smiled. “Even if Tomi was a little too, um, liberal in her ways for her.”
Noemi laughed. “Wasn’t she? I really enjoyed that rebellious streak about her.”
“Me too.”
Later,as they watched a movie together, her head on his chest, Noemi wondered that they could talk so easily of Tomi, and it felt so separate from their own relationship. Would you approve, Tomi? Would you approve of Rafa and I? Or would you see it as a final insult?
Noemi felt Rafa’s fingers stroking through her hair. The way he made her feel, he was intoxicating. His touch made every cell in her body react, and Noemi didn’t know if that meant her reason disappeared when she was with him, and whether that was healthy.
“Noe?”
She looked up to see him smiling at her. “Yes?”
“You’re overthinking things.”
“How do you know?”
He grinned. “You grind your teeth. This side.” He touched her face just in front of her ear. “Let’s just enjoy our time together and not worry about anything. Can we do that?”
“Sorry. Of course.”
“Good.” He kissed her, and as the kiss intensified, his arms tightened around her. Noemi’s hands slid under his sweater, stroking his hard stomach, feeling the muscles contract under her touch.
“Take me to bed, Genova.”
Rafa chuckled, a deep sound that rumbled through his chest. “Actually, I was thinking I’d like to have you on the rug…”
He tumbled her to the floor, making Noemi giggle as he pretended to munch down on her neck. “Oh, you silly man.”
She could barely believe there were so many years between them; she felt no distance despite the ten-year difference. She would never have guessed that he was so much fun, so goofy, but thinking back to when she had first met him, it made sense.
In the hospital, that first time with Thomasina, Rafa had been quiet, even somewhat aloof despite his politeness. Thomasina had regaled everyone with stories and jokes; Rafa had been the one to ask the hard questions.
Now though, Noemi was finding out that Rafa could be playful, too, and now as he undressed her, he would tease and tickle her so that by the time the lovemaking begun, they both were relaxed. She loved that about him.
She mussed his dark curls as he pushed down the cup of her bra to take her nipple into his mouth. Noemi sighed, closing her eyes and squirming with pleasure as his tongue flicked around each nipple in turn.
Then his lips were trailing down her belly, his tongue circling her navel. “Open those sweet thighs for me, baby,” he murmured, and she obeyed, her clit already expecting his touch, quivering and pulsing with desire.
“You taste like heaven,” he said as his tongue dipped deep inside her, and Noemi pulled gently on his hair. Since they met, his dark curls had gone from being cut short and neat, to growing wild about his head, and she loved them.
