Chapter 11

Raphael

As we cruisethrough the rain-slicked streets, energy thrums between us—a live current I’m unable to resist. Helena is right beside me, our hands interlocked tightly. Every time I stroke her knuckles, shivers run down my spine.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her bashful grin. It’s hard to believe that she agreed to come with me tonight. We exchange few words, but the silence brims with promise.

We pull up outside my sleek downtown high-rise and I come around to open Helena’s door. Light raindrops fall, glistening like diamonds in her dark waves of hair.

She takes my offered hand and a flare of protectiveness courses through me as I guide her inside, sheltering her slender frame beneath my leather jacket.

In the elevator, we stand tantalizingly close, the air thick with anticipation. I brush a tendril of damp hair from her cheek, heart constricting at her indrawn breath, the way she leans into my touch...

My hands tremble as I shove the key into the door. We hurry inside, immediately drawn to the bedroom window where we take in the panoramic view of the city, raindrops diffusing the lights outside.

Helena moves to the window, her gaze drinking in the darkness punctured by vibrant city lights like stars. “It’s beautiful...” she murmurs.

Coming up behind her, I slide my fingers through her hair and press a kiss to the graceful arch of her neck. “Not as beautiful as you,” I whisper against her skin.

She turns, eyes luminous pools in the low light. Her delicate hand glides along my strong jawline and pulls my mouth down to hers. The kiss starts soft, reverent, then blazes with scorching hunger.

My hands span her waist, then move lower to cup her hips and pull her firmly against me. Helena loops her arms around my neck, pressing her body to mine until no space remains between us.

We stumble to the bed, our lips still locked in an embrace. I start to unbutton my shirt, but Helena’s slender fingers beat me to it. She slides the fabric from my shoulders and trails featherlight kisses down my chest before easing me onto the mattress.

My breath catches as she divests herself of her own clothing—each layer I peel away reveals more and more of her curves until she is gloriously nude atop the silken sheets. My hands map her body, exploring every inch of her as though committing her to memory. Her skin is molten satin beneath my worshipful touch.

I trail my lips along her elegant neck, nipping lightly. “You’re a goddess,” I purr, hands tracing her shapely curves. “And I’m going to worship every inch of you tonight.”

Helena gasps softly as I emphasize my point, palms gliding reverently over her silken skin. My confession hangs in the electric air between us, a sensual promise of delights to come.

I guide her towards sweet ecstasy with exquisite tenderness, tracing my fingers along the length of her torso and taking in the soft rise and fall of her breasts as her breath quickens beneath my touch.

Our lips meet again, hot and insistent, our tongues dueling for dominance as we explore each other’s mouths with growing fervor.

Rain hammers against the windowpane, an urgent drumbeat to the passion that ravages us. I lower my head to her chest, laving one peaked nipple with my tongue while my hand teases the other. She moans, arching her back as I suckle her, and a fierce possessiveness fills me, driving me to take her completely.

I slip my hand down between her legs, parting her thighs to reveal the glistening heat between them. Her hips lift in invitation as I delve into her folds, teasing her with short, shallow strokes that make her writhe with pleasure.

When I plunge two fingers deep inside her, Helena cries out my name, her nails digging into my scalp as she grinds against my hand. The sound of her pleasure sends me spiraling, and I shed the last of my clothing, willing to take her hard and fast, eager to pound into her with an intensity that will leave us both gasping and spent.

“D’you want more?” I darkly tease.

“Uh-huh,” she manages in a quiet moan.

I watch as her eyes darken with desire, her mouth parting in invitation. Feeling her heat and the slickness between her thighs, I can barely hold back any longer. I trail kisses down her stomach, teasing her navel with my tongue, before finally burying my face between her legs.

As I taste her, Helena moans and writhes beneath me, her hips bucking uncontrollably as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over her. I am lost in her, driven to bring her to the brink over and over again until she wriggles away, spent and panting.

The raw passion between us becomes too much to bear, and I finally give in to my darkest urges.

“D’you want me...?” I gasp, my breath hot against her ear. “Inside of you? Fuck, I want you so badly...”

Helena nods, her breath coming faster now, and I slide slowly between her legs. Our eyes meet, and I’m filled with a deep sense of connection, as if our souls were intertwining in that moment. I lean forward, pressing my lips against hers, and then finally thrust deep inside her.

We both cry out in pleasure, our bodies shuddering as I move deeper into her. I kiss her hungrily, exploring her body with my fingertips as I take her higher and higher. The room is soon filled with the sounds of our frenzied lovemaking, skin slapping against skin, moans filling the air.

A possessive rage consumes me and my firm grip slides down the length of her jaw, coaxing her gaze to meet mine. “Eyes on me, babe,” I growl low, a thrill zipping through my heart. “All the time.”

I take her higher and higher as our bodies move in perfect harmony, every thrust intensifying our pleasure. And though this won’t last forever, in this moment, nothing else matters.

Helena’s cries become louder, her muscles trembling with each delicious sensation I evoke. I guide her over the brink of ecstasy just as a rush of heat sears down my spine and I find ultimate satisfaction in our mutual release, our screams echoing through the stormy night.

We sink into each other’s arms, our hearts pounding in time. Spent and satisfied, we lay in silence for a few moments before Helena whispers, a smile gracing her beautiful face, “That was amazing.”

My lips meet hers in a final, lingering kiss. “It sure was,” I reply.

Helena wraps her arms tight around me and places a soft kiss against my neck. I smirk as I pull her to me, knowing that I left my mark—in more ways than one.