Untamed Fire Page 17

  Rafael remained by the door, watching her. She looked like a small frightened animal, caged and ready to run. He didn’t want her this way, full of fear. It was passion he wanted to see in her eyes, feel in her response. It had been there only moments before. What had suddenly caused her emotions to shift?

  A thought flashed through his mind, and he walked toward her.

  Gaby lowered her head as he approached, focusing on her bare toes, which she was wiggling.

  “Gaby.” His voice held no sternness or demand. “Look at me.”

  She lifted her head slowly, tilting it slightly to the side, and peeked at him from the corners of her eyes.

  He smiled and Gaby’s heart melted. It was a rich, sensuous smile, one that could easily disarm a woman in one glance, and that’s exactly what it did, frightening her even more.

  She made to turn her head away, but Rafael prevented it with the touch of his hand to her face. She found her warm cheek cradled against his palm and it felt good. The rough texture, the smell of leather, and clean flesh, yes, this was right, so right and she wanted to linger in its comfort.

  “Gaby, I need to ask you a question and I need you to be honest.”

  She looked at him then and waited.

  “Querida, don’t look at me such, or my resolve will melt away and you shall be stripped and spread on that bed in seconds.”

  Gaby swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. She wasn’t certain how she was looking at him. She wasn’t even certain how to prevent the look, so she tried as best she could to wear a blank expression.

  It must have worked for Rafael continued. “Tell me, Gaby, have you ever been with a man?”

  Gaby was startled. “Does it matter?” she asked without thinking.

  “Yes, very much.”

  Gaby was about to lash out at him, but he silenced her with his finger to her lips.

  “It matters because I do not wish to hurt you. I do not want you to feel pain or fear.”

  She was touched by his thoughtfulness. He didn’t have to ask her, but he cared enough to do so. It proved his feelings ran deep, and she wished she could find a way to release them and free his pain.

  She answered the only way she could, with honesty. “I have known no man.”

  He ran his fingers down her neck and stroked the silky flesh. “Then we will go slowly, easily, gently.”

  His words soothed her, and she felt some of her apprehension slip away, leaving only enough to make her wonder over the evening ahead.

  “Stay where you are,” he ordered in a whisper.

  She obeyed without thought, since she wasn’t exactly certain what she should do.

  Rafael walked about the room with Gaby’s eyes following him. He proceeded to snuff out the candles with his fingers. The one on the table near the window, the two on his writing table, the one on his chest until there remained only one. It sat on the small table next to his bed and cast a warm glow across it. It bathed the blankets and pillows with a flickering light while the rest of the room was consumed in darkness.

  He came to stand before her, the darkness nipping after him as he approached. It would have been difficult to see him had he not been standing so closely. He reached his hand up and began unfastening his shirt. He pulled it from his pants and slipped out of it, letting it fall to the floor.

  His chest was bare. It was wide and thick with muscles. His arms too were sinewy. Gaby was certain her hand could not even span half of his biceps.

  He lowered his hands to his waist and untied the red sash; it joined the shirt on the floor. He then reached out to her and she jumped, startled by his unexpected touch.

  “Easy, querida,” he whispered and ran his hands down her arms, soothing her. “This night is ours.”

  He was right. The night was theirs and only that night... one night to love. Tomorrow was left for dreams.

  His hand tugged at her blouse, pulling it from her waistband until it was free. He leaned over and kissed her as his fingers stole beneath, running along her warm flesh to her full breasts.

  His kiss bore no urgency and as he pulled away, his teeth captured her lower lip and playfully tugged at it before letting go.

  Quickly he pulled the blouse up and over her head, tossing it to the floor. Gaby stood perfectly still as he took her hand in his and drew her toward the bed.

  “Come, I wish to see you,” he said and walked to the end of the bed, sitting down and drawing her between his open legs.

  He pushed her long hair away from her breasts and quite calmly took one of her nipples into his mouth.

  Gaby felt the sensation to the tips of her toes. He teased the nub with his tongue, licking, swirling, nibbling. She placed her hands on his shoulders for support, certain her legs would not hold her up much longer.

  “You taste perfect, so perfect,” he said, moving to the other nipple which was quick to respond.

  She dug her fingers into his shoulders and closed her eyes. He never left her breast as his hands freed her of the remainder of her clothing. And when he was through, he held her away from him to look upon her.

  His eyes explored her slowly, and his hand followed, caressing her breasts, gliding down over the curve of her generous hips and along her flat stomach, until finally slipping to the dark patch of hair between her legs. He rested there, snuggling his fingers against her wetness.

  “You are so beautiful, querida.”

  Gaby quivered against him.

  “No,” he whispered and spanned her waist with his hands, lifting her and bringing her down, as he went, to lie beside him. “Do not be afraid.”

  He kissed her softly, offering reassurance.

  She found comfort in it and courageously placed her hand against his chest.

  He took her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the palm. “I want to feel your flesh against mine.”

  He stood and removed the rest of his clothing. He remained for a moment at the end of the bed, wanting her to view him, wanting to dispel her fear.

  Gaby looked upon him in fascination. He was powerful, all of him, but it was a primitive power, and it intimidated her.

  He returned to stretch out beside her and when he moved to pull her close, her hand shot out to press against his chest as if to stop him. He eased it away slowly, drawing it behind her back gently and bringing her chest to rest against his.

  “Oh,” she half-moaned enjoying the feel of his warm hard flesh.

  He laughed softly and the smile that remained afterwards held a hint of wickedness to it.

  She couldn’t help herself from saying, “You feel good.”

  He snuggled closer to her, slipping his large leg between hers. “I’m glad you like the way I feel, but there’s more to feel, much more.”

  His mouth claimed hers so quickly that it took her breath away. He kissed her fiercely, as though he had waited a lifetime to claim her. She responded in kind, following his lead, matching his strong desire with that of her own.

  He eased his hand between them, his knee spreading her legs. He had thought she might protest at his first intimate touch, but she didn’t. She stiffened slightly, but as he began to play against her moistness, her kiss took on a new urgency. She felt so warm and wet upon him that it fueled his passion. He wanted to know every part of her, taste every part of her.

  He tore his mouth from hers and sought her breasts once again. Her fingers raked his hair as he tormented her until she moaned with the want of him.

  “Rafael.” His name was vital upon her lips.

  “Easy, querida, let me love you slowly.” And with that, his fingers began to stroke her languidly, working in a hypnotic rhythm that relaxed and tormented her all at once.

  Gaby pushed her head back and dug her fingers into the blanket. Never had she thought a feeling like this possible. Her body throbbed all over. She tried to twist and turn—to pull away or draw nearer to him, she wasn’t certain. But he held her firmly, his caress intimate, his kiss branding her skin wherever
his lips touched.

  She felt as though she hung from a precipice, waiting to fall and yet somehow she didn’t fear the descent, she looked forward to it.

  Rafael eased over her, reaching for her hands. She grasped her fingers with his, locking them together. He spread her arms up above her head while his powerful legs moved between her slim ones.

  His ache for her was painful.

  “I need you, querida,” he said against her mouth as he found her lips once again.

  She could feel the strength of him resting between her. He held back, not wanting to hurt her, not wanting to bring her pain. But it was more painful not having him.

  Her lips felt bruised with pleasure when his mouth deserted hers and she ached for more.

  “I want you, Rafael,” she said harshly. “I want you.”

  Her breathless pleas were enough to send him over the edge and so he entered her slowly. She was so hot and wet that he slipped partially into her with ease. He raised his weight slightly off her, allowing her room to breathe and accept him.

  Her eyes were wide, but not with fright. She curled her fingers around his and smiled.

  “Wicked,” he whispered, then lowered himself, pushing into her quickly.

  She gasped, and he tightened his grip on her hands as he took a quick peek into her eyes.

  “Don’t stop, please,” she begged.

  And he didn’t. He moved slowly at first, allowing her to grow accustomed to him. As she stretched to take more and more of him, he moved harder and harder and she urged him on, her body quickly and eagerly matching his tempo.

  They moved together as one, pushing nearer the edge, dangling there, enjoying the anticipation, letting it build until they both tumbled down to explode in a fiery ball of pleasure.

  Rafael released her hands and she wrapped them around him as well as her legs and squeezed him to her, causing him to shudder as well as herself.

  They remained silent and unmoving until...

  “Am I allowed to speak?” Gaby asked.

  Rafael pushed himself up to look down at her, realizing her legs still remained locked around him. He liked the feeling. “If there’s a breath left in you, you may speak.”

  Gaby smiled and shrugged her shoulders slightly. “For a while there I thought you had stolen my breath away.”

  “And was it a pleasant robbery?” he teased.

  “Yes, most pleasant.”

  “Then you hold nothing against the thief that robbed you?”

  Gaby knew he no longer spoke of her breath. “Nothing.”

  Rafael felt a tug at his heart. He touched her cheek. “I did not hurt you?”

  She wasn’t certain what hurt he spoke of, physical or emotional. But she had made her choice. He had not forced her. “You caused me no pain only pleasure.”

  He expected her admission to shed his guilt, but it didn’t. It worsened it.

  “Are you certain there is nothing that disturbs you?” he asked irritably.

  Gaby never noticed the irritation in his voice. She was too busy thinking of other things. “There is one thing,” she answered, not looking him in the eye.

  Rafael braced himself. Now she would finally make her demand, extract her payment for submitting to him, as all women did.

  “What is it?”

  She looked at him then. “You had mentioned something about all night?”

  Rafael stared down at her, shocked. Then he smiled. “What is it you want all night, querida?”

  “You.”

  “Only me, nothing else?”

  “Only you, Rafael. I want only you.”

  Her voice was a whispery plea, and Rafael found his passion quickly building.

  In minutes they were lost in their own world, once again climbing to the edge.

  ~~~

  Rafael sat braced against the pillows that were supported by the thickly carved headboard. Gaby sat comfortably nestled between his legs with his arms around her stroking her bare backside as he spoke. “So what you’re telling me is that Padre Jose was speaking the truth,” he said, enjoying their talk of her childhood.

  “Yes, that’s right,” she answered.

  Rafael shook his head and tried not to smile, but he wasn’t successful. “Why in heaven’s name didn’t you leave the room once you saw Padre Manuel standing there naked?”

  Gaby shrugged. “Because I purposely went there so that I could see him naked.”

  “What?”

  “I purposely—”

  “I heard that,” he said, startled by her admission. “Why did you wish to see him naked?”

  “It was all my brothers’ fault.”

  Rafael’s smile widened and he patted her bottom. “This I have to hear. Why was it your brothers’ fault?” Her face took on a serious expression, but he could have sworn he saw that mischievous look lurking in her eyes.

  “Well, my brothers told me that I could never see them naked or my eyes would fall out of my head. Don’t laugh!” Gaby ordered and playfully smacked his chest.

  Rafael bit at his lower lip, trying to prevent himself from doing just that, but it was difficult.

  “Anyway—oh, did I forget to tell you I was only twelve when this happened?”

  “Yes, you did.”

  “Well, I was twelve, and I decided I should find out for myself if they were telling the truth.”

  “So you chose Padre Manuel to look at.”

  “Naturally, I assumed that he being a man of God—”

  “That God might spare your eyes falling from your head,” he finished for her.

  “Right. So I went to get his clothes for washing, which I always did—”

  “But not when he was there.”

  “Are you going to let me finish?”

  “By all means. I want to hear about the look on Padre Manuel’s face when he saw you standing there.”

  Gaby stuck her tongue out at him and continued speaking before he could comment. “So I—Owww!” she cried.

  “That’s what you get for sticking your tongue out at me,” he said, rubbing the same spot on her bare backside that he had just playfully slapped. “Now get on with the story.”

  Gaby obeyed without question, finding pleasure in sharing her childhood tales with him. “So I went to Padre Manuel’s quarters, opened the door, and walked in... with my eyes wide open.”

  “And?”

  She smiled, recalling the old plump padre standing there naked. “He was naked, a cloth in his hand, ready to bathe from the wash basin on the chest beside him.”

  Rafael was grinning again. “What did he do?”

  “He just stood there and stared at me as I told him I’d only be a moment. After all, I had to make certain it would take more than a quick glance for me to lose my eyes.”

  “Of course,” Rafael said. Laughter began to rumble deep in his chest.

  “I picked up the clothes, getting a little closer, and took a really good look at him.”

  “Where at him?”

  “Where?”

  “Yes, his face, his arms, his belly, his—”

  “You know perfectly well what I looked at.”

  “And your eyes didn’t fall from your head?”

  She bit her lower lip attempting to control the laughter. “No, but...”

  “But what?”

  “Well, everything would have been fine if the padre had remained still until I left.”

  “What did he do?”

  Gaby burst out laughing.

  Rafael joined her although he didn’t know why. Gaby,” he said, after gaining control, “what did he do?”

  “He—he reached for that black wide-brimmed hat that the padres always wear to shade themselves from the sun and lowered it to cover himself between his legs. He then made the sign of the cross, saying, ‘Bless you, my child.’”

  Rafael roared with laughter.

  “It was that night the metalworker put locks on all the padres’ doors and I was banned from picking up the padre
s’ wash.”

  Tears came to Rafael’s eyes, he was laughing so hard. “You are special, querida.”

  “That’s what Padre Jose insisted always saved me. He felt Padre Manuel thought I was special.”

  “I agree with the padre.”

  “We are all special in our own way,” she said and yawned before resting her head on Rafael’s shoulder.

  “Tired?”

  “A little,” she answered, drawing designs on his chest with her finger.

  “Perhaps you should get some sleep.”

  Gaby’s head quickly lifted from his shoulder. “You are tired?”

  Rafael loved that innocent, yet yearning look in her dark eyes. He playfully pinched her bottom and she smiled. “No, but you most certainly must be.”

  “I am not,” she said, attempting to pull from his grasp and sit up.

  Rafael wouldn’t allow it and secretly she was glad. She didn’t want to leave his arms... ever. The sudden thought brought an unexpected frown to her face.

  “What’s wrong, Gaby? Are you uncomfortable?”

  She knew he referred to the fact that they had made love many times and by now she was probably sore and tender, when actually she wasn’t. She was anxious to make love with him again. One night, she had repeatedly told herself, one night with him was all she could allow herself, and she wanted all that she could get of him.

  “A little,” she answered, placing her head on his shoulder once again and releasing a fake, but convincing sigh.

  Rafael felt a pang of guilt. He had not given proper consideration to her virgin state. He had continually satisfied himself within her. But she had felt so good even sitting here now holding her felt so right. They had talked and laughed and sipped wine. Ah, the wine, he thought smiling. It had spilled, with a little help from him, on her breasts, and he had gallantly cleaned it off her... with his tongue. How he would love to share each night thusly with her, but not as lovers. He wanted her in his arms in the morning when he woke. He wanted to see her belly grow heavy with his child. He wanted a lifetime with her.

  But that could never be. There was tonight, only tonight.

  “Perhaps cool water will soothe your ache,” he offered, hoping to ease her discomfort enough to make love to her at least once more this night.