Page 94 of The Dark Obsession

I move my hands down his hard stomach. “Fine,” I lie. I let his hands explore my body, each soft touch leaving me breathless.

“Close your eyes,” he murmurs.

I comply and lean against the cold tub.

His lips press against my collarbone, his kisses are careful to not touch the areas that are sore.

My hands move blindly down his hard abdomen. The water moves steadily around my body as he lifts me very slowly onto his lap. For the first time, I can feel all of him. Every last inch of him is against me. My body burns with anticipation.

“Rosa.” His cold fingers stop against my neck.

“Mhmm …?” I answer, too immersed in his touch. I open my eyes at Rafael’s stillness.

His green diamonds search my face. He bites his lip, and his cheeks rise. “I’ve wanted this since the second I saw you,” he almost sings to me.

I move my hands over his back.

Rafael’s body jolts. He grimaces and forces a smile. “Sorry.” he sighs, bowing his head.

“No, you’re in pain because of me. I’m sorry.” I lift his chin. “Without you—”

His finger touches my lips. “Don’t,” he says through bared teeth. “I couldn’t even protect you.”

A tear forms in Rafael’s eye, causing my heart to splinter with a brand-new ache. I hold his face between my angry, throbbing hands. “I’m alive because of you.”

The water that encloses our bodies is as still as the moment should be. He wraps his arms around my sore, bruised frame. Our chests press against one another, our heartbeats in a race.

My tears blind me as I wipe away his with my thumb. I smile and lift his chin, allowing our lips to dance effortlessly, naturally the perfect fit. I take his hand and stand.

His eyebrows crease. “What’s wrong?” He follows my lead and steps out of the bath, water dripping from his body.

I face him and see goosebumps covering his chest. “Shh.” I close in on him. My body entwines in his.

His lips caress mine, and the taste of his tongue makes my mouth water. “Rose, you’re hurt,” he whispers, his forehead creased.

I sit him back on the bed and search his body, my insides desperately hungry for him.

His muscles push through his beautiful olive-coloured skin. The lines on his stomach, though covered in cuts, contract. I allow myself these few seconds to take in his godlike features. “We’ll worry about that later.” I climb delicately on top of him.

His lips turn up at one end, a beautiful half-smile. He scans my body, very unsure about what he’ll do, and he bites his lip. His fingers trace my hip and down my leg, creating a line of electricity to my thigh.

I lean into him, unable to control my lips—an insatiable thirst for Rafael’s love. His heavy breathing is music to my ears, each soft sigh a melody made for me.

He flips me onto the bed, and pain shoots across my back. His muscles dance in the moonlight that shines through the blinds. His wet skin rubs against mine, and our tongues entangle. “I’ve waited so long for this,” Rafael mutters in my ear. His hips move as he lifts my legs, his perfectly controlled movements, just enough to hold me on the edge. “I didn’t know when I met you that it was you I’ve been searching for my whole life.” His words make me tingle.

His overpowering body disobeys his adoring mind, and those slow and careful movements become harder, faster. The muscles in Rafael’s stomach are bursting through his skin, my fingernails grasp onto his forearm with one hand, the other slides up his shining chest. He’s careful not to let his hands touch any part of me that’s red or aching. I can feel my ribs burning, my moans of pain hidden by those of pleasure, its a pain I welcome with open arms. A final moment of heaven, complete ecstasy, as the room itself seems to explode with us. Rafael rolls off me, Both of our breathing is fast and heavy, and an electrical buzz, that still tingles internally, fogs my brain.

I struggle to catch my breath; my ribs burning each time my chest rises.

Pain etches across Rafael’s face as he takes a deep breath and sits upright. “Definitely worth it.” He grins and clutches his stomach. “Now, can I please look at your ribs?”

“Wait, please.” I pull him back and wrap my arms around him.

We lie silently. Rafael’s fingers trail along my arm. His chest moves slowly, and his muscles relax. His cold hand moves over my ribs, the cold somehow takes some of the pain away. I recount the day, my heart aching, things begin to sink in. I glance to the side and notice Rafael deep in thought. We lie there together for hours not talking nor sleeping, just staring at the plain white ceiling.

Rafael startles me when suddenly he sits upright, saying something about it being 3:00 a.m. He stands, still unclothed, and grabs the backpack off the floor and sits on the end of the bed.

I swallow hard when I see his body

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