Chapter 15

Helena

The restof the day crawls by at an agonizing pace. By late afternoon, I’ve given up all pretense of focus, unable to concentrate on anything but anticipation for tonight.

Glancing at the clock, I’m relieved to see my distracting meeting with Raphael is only a few hours away. Just the thought of seeing him again helps settle my restless energy and refocus my resolve.

Exactly at 7:00 PM, I inform Eve I’ll be leaving early and slip out the back before she can respond.

I fly through the few blocks to my apartment in a flurry of movement, the gathering dusk urging me on. Once inside, I make a beeline for the shower, hastily shedding my clothes as I go. The hot water cascades over my body, washing away the sweat and stress accumulated throughout the never-ending day.

Steam clouds the mirror as I wrap myself in a towel, surveying options for the evening ahead. I select an alluring burgundy dress with a deep neckline, pairing it with delicate gold jewelry and strappy heels.

Blow drying my inky locks, I arrange the dark waves artfully over my shoulder, accenting smoky eyes and nude lips. A spritz of perfume completes the sultry, yet elegant look I aimed for.

Pleased with the transformation, I gather my small purse and coat before locking up. The brief drive to Raphael’s stylish highrise passes in a blur. My whole body thrums with anticipation, skin tingling beneath the light coat in the evening air.

Tonight, I intend to take Raphael’s breath away when he sees me. Squaring my shoulders, I push through the opulent lobby doors towards whatever awaits between us.

My heels click across the polished marble floors to the bank of elevators. Luckily, no one else waits to join my ascent. As the doors slide closed, I catch my flushed reflection in the mirrored walls. Alone with my racing thoughts, I smooth imaginary wrinkles from my dress, pulse kicking faster the higher we climb.

A melodic chime announces my arrival. The doors glide open and I exit to find his door halfway down the silent corridor. Each step echoes my escalating nerves.

I stop at the door, smooth back my loose waves of hair, and take a steeling breath. Just thinking about seeing Raphael across the threshold saps the moisture from my mouth and causes my heart to stumble over itself. Get it together! It’s only sex, I remind myself sternly.

Squaring my shoulders, I give a sharp rap on the door. Seconds later, it swings open, and my feigned composure crumbles at the sight of him. Hair attractively tousled, shirt half-unbuttoned, jeans slung low on lean hips...

“Helena.” Raphael greets me with a crooked smile that stops my heart. “Right on time.”

Before I can form words, he grasps my hand and tugs me inside. I all but fall against the solid muscles of his chest as the door shuts behind me.

Raphael wastes no time on pleasantries, hungry mouth capturing mine. I sigh into the kiss, fingers winding eagerly into his hair like I’ve ached to do all day.

With an approving rumble, he walks me backwards towards the opulent bedroom. I nip at his full lower lip, smiling against his mouth at his indrawn hiss.

My calves hit the bed and I tumble onto the mattress, pulling Raphael down with me. He braces himself above me, eyes glowing with wicked promise.

“Someone’s eager tonight,” he purrs, thumb tracing my kiss-swollen bottom lip.

I arch up to bring our bodies flush, wrapping a leg around his hips. “You have no idea,” I breathe, urging his mouth back to mine. Talking is terribly overrated anyway.

With a low chuckle, Raphael obliges, his kiss scorching. He kisses like it’s his sole purpose in life, claiming my mouth utterly. I could easily become addicted.

Soon, our clothes are shed piece by piece between passionate embraces until no barriers remain between us. I’ve lost track of who divested who of what garment.

Naked, Raphael is majestic—all toned muscle and perfect proportions. My hands roam his chiseled torso shamelessly, feeling the play and flex of sinew beneath golden skin as he moves above me. It’s my new favorite leisure activity.

I trace the stylized R inked ornately on his left pectoral just above his heart. “A bit arrogant to get your own initial tattooed here, don’t you think?” My teasing smirk elicits a low laugh as Raphael captures my wandering hand against his pounding heart.

“Perhaps,” he murmurs, nipping my lip playfully. “Or it shows exactly who holds the lock to this vulnerable place...”

I flush at the implication, core tightening. Raphael smiles knowingly, guiding my fingertips along the colorful vines twining down his left arm, following their movement with his tongue on my heated skin. I shiver at the dual sensations, nails digging faintly into hard muscle.

Raphael returns the sensual exploration, tracing every dip and curve he finds with fingers and lips. By the time he finally touches me between my legs, I’m soaked and aching for him.

“You’re so wet for me already,” he groans approvingly against the shell of my ear, talented fingers parting my folds and stroking teasingly.

I rock my hips up desperately, whimpering as he continues his unhurried caresses. The slick sound of his fingers pumping into me echoes lewdly in the quiet room.

Each time I near the peak, he backs off, keeping me balanced on the knife’s edge. My toes curl almost painfully, thighs clamped around his hand, trying to gain more friction.

“Raphael, please...” I gasp, my whole body coiled tight as a spring. “I need you inside me.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely...” With a wicked grin, he moves over me, bracing on one elbow. The blunt tip of him teases my entrance and I try angling my hips up impatiently.

Finally, blessedly, he pushes into my slick heat, just an inch or two. I moan at the exquisite stretch, but he stills, eyes locked with mine. “How’s this?” he asks throatily, knowing full well I crave more.

At my incoherent whimper, he withdraws completely, then glides back in torturously slowly. I could scream from the delirium of being filled so perfectly.

Over and over, he strokes into me with maddening languor, until my nails are raking red lines down his sculpted back. “Harder,” I demand, my voice breaking.

Mercifully, Raphael picks up the pace then, powerful hips snapping against mine. The punishing rhythm nudges my clit with each deep thrust, ratcheting the pleasure impossibly high.

He swallows my keening cries with his mouth, kissing me with bruising force. His name spills from my lips like a chant between breaths growing ragged as my climax barrels down.

Then I’m shattering around him, vision going white, back arching almost painfully. Raphael growls and bites down where my neck and shoulder join. The sharp sting sends a new flood of wetness around him.

With animalistic urgency, he pounds into my spasming entrance, seeking his own peak. Three more rough thrusts and he goes taut all over, spilling himself inside me with a guttural groan. The scalding heat prolongs my orgasm deliciously.

At last, Raphael collapses beside me, both of us fighting to catch our breath again. As our heart rates slow, he pulls me against him and I go willingly, savoring his solid warmth.

His hand lazily traces nonsense patterns over my ribs and stomach. The tender intimacy makes something clench almost painfully in my chest. Vulnerable in the wake of spending, I nuzzle my face into his neck, hiding from the confusing wash of emotions.

This isn’t just sex and we both know it, though neither has voiced the scary truth. Already, I can feel myself falling fast and hard for this fascinating, maddening archangel. The question now is whether he’ll be there to catch me when I inevitably tumble the rest of the way down.