Page 121 of Dead Set on You
“I have an IUD,” I say, low and impatient, watching as he removes the rest of his clothing. Rafael dressed is a sight to behold; undressed, he’s a sight to drink in, over and over again.He watches me like he’s the one who’s thirsty, and he closes the space between us.
“Raf.” I tug him impatiently, needing him to ruin me already. He lifts my hips, wrapping my legs around him, the heat of him pressed against me making me feel like an endangered—soon-to-be-extinct—species. When I feel like I’ll combust from the buildup of pressure and heat, I growl at him hurry up already.
“So impatient, Ms. Pope.” His hands grip my thighs as he braces my ass against the desk.
“Raf—”
He pushes into me before I can say anything more. I moan as my walls clench around him, wet and wanting. He pauses, breathing hard and ragged. “Fuck.” He pushes into me again, and the room blurs. And again. And again. Rafael grips my hips as he drives into and out of me, increasing the tempo as he goes. My breasts move against his chest while my breaths come out in ragged puffs. I find myself chanting his name, and I wonder if I begged this hard when it came to getting back into my body.
The friction of his skin on mine, him inside me, makes me think no. I’ve never wanted anything as badly as I want this, right now. Right. Now.
“Raf, I …” I pant, digging my nails into the wood of the desk. “Please.”
His moves harder and faster, everything coming to a crescendo. “Now,” he growls. All at once, my pulse quickens. My vision fades. My muscles tighten. And I come like it’s the first and last time, shuddering with him.
He groans, dropping his forehead against mine.
We’re both breathing hard.
But I’m extinct.
Dressing feels like a crime when all I want to do is push Rafael onto the sofa, straddle him, and return the favor of making him feel like he doesn’t have a choice, any control. I’m fixing my dress while Rafael is buttoning his shirt. He smiles when he reaches the two holes without the buttons.
I bite my lip. “Sorry.”
He tucks the shirt into his pants. “No, you’re not.”
“You’re right, I’m not.” I drag my fingers through my tousled hair. Rafael approaches, his hands gripping my hips. I heat all over as he tugs me to him. “You’re going to miss your party.”
“There’s so much tequila flowing, no one will notice.”
I think about Gemma pacing the length of the club, Mama Bear on the prowl. “You might have to explain yourself to a person or two.”
Rafael presses a searing kiss to my lips, setting me aflame anew. I push upward on my toes and press into him, running my hands up his torso. When he groans, I bury my fingers into his hair, pulling his head to mine while our tongues explore. His hands move up my back, hot and desperate against the material of my dress.
“Raf—” I rasp after a minute, unable to pull myself away. If only there weren’t an entire crowd waiting for him. “We need to go.”
He nods, his forehead against mine, his breathing heavy. His thumb brushes against my cheek, then my bottom lip. “What do you call rivals who fall for each other?”
I smile, circling his waist. “Unprepared?”
Rafael chuckles. “Smartass.”
I drop my hands to his ass. “Firm ass,” I say, and squeeze, surprising him. “Although I’m not sure how your diet makes this possible.”
“Part of the Vela package.”
I roll my eyes and playfully shove him away. “You’re incorrigible.”
“I think you mean irresistible.”
“I hope you’re better at your new job than at your old one, Raffy Taffy.”
He brushes back his hair and smooths down his shirt. “Better? Probably not. But I do have an office now, so I’m looking forward to taking full advantage of it.”
EPILOGUETHREE MONTHS LATER
Back in a Media Lab conference room, I’m about to make my first pitch meeting since returning to work—a return that took longer than expected thanks to an extended out-of-office. A time during which a lot happened, but to keep things short and sweet—I was promoted.
