17. Chapter 17

ATLAS

Spending time with Raphael becomes my favorite thing—not just the sex—but hanging with him in the rarely used living room as I study and he works through scary stacks of paper. I usually drape myself over his lap, kicking my feet up as he holds his papers or phone above my head, every so often, running his fingers through my hair. The days pass quietly, our routine hardly changing as he drops me off to work or class and then takes me home at the end of the work day.

The whispers have quieted but they still float around the office and spill into the café. Raphael has mentioned that a few members of the board weren’t too happy but since I’ve stopped delivering coffee, there hasn’t been anything to complain about. Except for the kisses that he doles out as a ‘thank you’ in front of the entire café. Tracey is always giggling, Gerald hooting and Heather just smiling in the background. Paula never came back but we don’t miss her.

Even now as I run through another set of biology facts for my last final, sprawled over Raphael’s lap, I can’t help but think of how things could have turned out differently nearly a week ago. At the end of my rope, I almost ended things with Raphael for fear that he would judge me because of my circumstances. Instead, he’s been nothing but understanding. There’s been a few times he’s tried throwing money at something—like offering to buy me a new car when we got back from the diner—to which I pushed back rather abrasively, in the parking lot no less.

“How’s the car, Atlas?” Raphael asks as he parks a few spaces away. I’m still coming down from the high that Isabella is not only a fantastic mother but a wonderful person. I have never felt safer in the presence of someone’s family than I have with her. Even if I felt completely out of place with two people who looked like they walked out of a catalog. And the hug that Isabella gave me just as we left? I wanted to sink into the embrace and never let go. The tears that naturally came with it made it more embarrassing but Isabella just kissed my head and promised to be there for me. “Atlas?”

“Huh? Oh. Still dead.” I sigh and look at my beautiful baby that’s been through the wringer. I have just enough to spend on a tow and having Raphael drive me around has saved more money than I planned. In another week, I’ll have enough to get it diagnosed and hope and pray that the bill isn’t too much.

I slip out of the car and move to mine, looking inside to see if there’s anything I need. I don’t own much and my entire wardrobe is in my bag that’s currently in the café. A second pair of shoes, three pairs of pants, and a handful of shirts. Enough for any man to survive. Raphael comes up behind me, resting his chin on the top of my head. “Why don’t we just get you a new car? We could-”

My body tenses as I swallow my initial reaction—anger—and then slowly turn around to look up at him. “I don’t want a new car, Raphael. I don’t want a handout. Would it be easier? Yes. But I’ve worked hard to keep this baby on the road and I don’t want to throw that all away because it’s easier to get a new one.” My brows furrow and my hands clench into fists at my side. I need him to understand this. As much as I love him, I don’t want to be showered with money. I just want his love.

“I apologize, Atlas. That wasn’t my intention. What can I do to help?”

I blink several times, not ready for his apology. It’s never that easy in the movies. I need to start trusting that Raphael is in this for the long haul. “Um, can you call a tow? I have enough to cover it and then I need to get a diagnostic.” My body relaxes as his expression softens.

Raphael nods and pulls me into his chest. “Absolutely. How about this? I’ll have it towed to a friend’s shop to look at it and start working on it. Hold on, Atlas. The longer you let your car sit here, the more likely it is that they won’t be able to fix whatever is wrong with it. This is one of those times that money will solve the problem but I’ll hand you the entire bill so that you can pay it back.”

Raphael never gets angry or yells at me when I voice my opinions. However, the multiple times that he told me he wants me happy and healthy has had me spending all of my time at his house. I haven’t returned to the shelter and I’ve never been so happy to have a bed to curl up in, especially when Raphael is right there beside me.

It may not be forever but I’m going to cherish every last minute.

“Little One, what are you doing?”

I pause and think about it before wriggling around and then looking up at Raphael. This is the first time I’ve seen him in anything other than a suit or part of a suit, the man dressed in sweatpants and a no sleeve tank. Both are black and form fitting, showing off every curve of his body, including the outline of his cock when he stands.

Delicious.

“Doing what?”

His hazel eyes darken as his tongue darts out to lick his lips. “You keep wiggling. Do you want to get spanked again? You keep putting that perfect ass in the air, tempting me for a repeat of that night after the event.”

My cheeks heat and I stop moving. I’m not even sure why I’m so antsy. Memories of that night slip back into my head and even though I was still a little tipsy, I fell in love with Raphael just a little more. I shimmy backward a little until my head is directly over his lap. Raphael grunts when I move to pull his pants down just enough to unearth his cock.

“Little One, you need to study.”

“I also need to eat,” I joke as I stare at his length now throbbing in my hands. I wrap my fingers around it, leaning down to lick the tip, Raphael bucking up into my mouth. “Patience is a virtue, Raphael,” I whisper as I lick the tip again, enjoying the way Raphael’s breaths start to come in small pants, the man laying his work down on the edge of the couch before one of his hands sift into my hair and the other moves to cup my ass.

“Don’t start a game you can’t finish, little one.”

I know what I’m doing, though. I needed a break from studying and his cock was just here, calling out to me. Besides, in another few seconds, Raphael will take charge and fuck my throat, completely owning my pleasure. Just as I thought, Raphael’s hand in my hair tightens, halting my movement. I freeze, wandering where he’ll take this as he drags my pants down with his other hand, just past my ass so that my legs are pressed together. I try to maneuver my pants lower, wriggling on his lap, but without success. In this position, the waistband hovers just over my cock, the tip rubbing against the fabric.

Any more friction and I’m going to come in pants.

“You want this, little one? Give me your word or I’ll leave you here and finish myself off in the goddamn bathroom.”

That is a horrendous thought. “Yes, I want this!” My voice squeaks but I can’t find the energy to be embarrassed. His taste is on my tongue but with the way he’s holding my head, I can’t lick him again. So, I squeeze his cock instead, Raphael thrusting up into my open mouth.

“You know your safe word, little one. Use it.” That’s all the warning I get before he pulls his hand from the curve of my ass and spits into it. “What is it, little one? Tell me your safe word before we start because I will fuck your throat and fuck your ass with my fingers until you’re screaming around my cock and swallowing every last drop.”

“Red or taps.” And just to edge him on a little more, I add, “Sir.”

Raphael growls at that as he roughly spreads my cheeks and starts rimming my hole before thrusting up into my waiting mouth. I groan around his cock, greedily licking and sucking every time he drives himself a little deeper down my throat. My eyes flutter closed as those fingers slip into my ass, the bite of pain everything I need. My head slips forward just a little with the give on my hair, Raphael’s cock nearly hit the back of my throat. I gag but suck him in farther, loving the way he’s completely overwhelming me with his presence.

He fucks my throat and my ass as I lie there, letting him use me until I’m trying to brace myself on his thigh to let him know I’m about to come. His name comes out as a garble as I wriggle on the couch, the familiar tingles racing through me. Raphael slows his pace, three fingers stuffed into my ass. “Do you need me to stop, little one?”

“Gonna cum,” I say, his cock muffling my words.

“Good.Me too. Swallow me down, little one. Every last drop.” His voice drops as he pumps into my mouth one last time, his fingers scratching that one spot before we come together. His release spills down my throat as my cock unloads in my pants. I suck on Raphael as I continue swallowing him down until I slide off his lap onto the floor, trying to catch my breath. Staring down at the wet spot on my pants, I groan and then huff out a sigh.

My ass is still uncovered, this position slightly uncomfortable but I couldn’t be happier with watching Raphael lose his control.

“Come here, little one. I want to taste myself on your lips.” One of his hands slips around the back of my neck and pulls me upward, my hands bracing on his spread knees. He kisses me slow and sensually, running his tongue along the seam of my lips before thrusting it into my mouth. I need more of him already. Raphael pulls away too soon, chuckling at the dazed expression plastered on my face. “Go get ready for bed. I’ll be up in a minute. No, I know that look. Both of us have long days tomorrow and then you promised me a date on the wharf.”

“I did do that.” I grin up at him and then scramble to my feet, righting my clothes and then groaning when I feel the wet spot again. Raphael bursts out laughing as I start waddling up the stairs, only laughing harder when I throw him a middle finger. Tomorrow, I know exactly what spot I’m taking him to on the wharf.

Raphael might think this is funny but it won’t be so funny when I take him to my favorite restaurant. I know a lot of things about this man, including that he doesn’t do spicy foods.

Just you wait, Raphael. Just you wait.