Chapter Seventeen
Iona
Oh, Rafe, that poor man. It's no wonder he has trouble trusting anyone and can't believe anyone might want to have him in their life. I do want that. Being with Rafe Knight makes me realize how lonely my life has been for all these years. So many failed relationships. Just as many failed careers, if not more. But I always made sure my daughters had everything they needed. My ever-changing jobs came about because the companies I worked for went out of business. My children love me and support me, but I wish I'd spent more time with them and less time chasing after jobs I hated.
Then I found my calling. And now I've found a man who just might be...Oh, I can't make myself use that phrase. It's ridiculous.
But Rafe might be my soul mate.
No, it's far too early to declare that.
Since I have Rafe at my mercy, lying in a prone position, I can't give up the chance to put my hands on him. We've had sex twice, but I only got to see him naked this evening. After the sweet and gentle way he massaged me, I need to show him how much I appreciate that---by reciprocating.
I slide off the bench to kneel at his feet and begin to massage him, starting with his soles. The sauna still provides warmth, though the steam has lessened. I could stoke the fire, but I'd rather just keep giving Rafe the loving attention he deserves. While I gradually move my hands up his body, I take the time to admire every inch of him. He has an impressive physique, particularly for a man of his age.
Now that I've grown rather fond of him, I think it's time for us to have an honest discussion and learn more about each other.
But I'll finish the massage first.
Rafe's eyes have slid partly closed, and his lips form a relaxed wee smile. I avoid his cock during my ministrations. As much as I would love to shag him again, that would delay the serious talk we need to have. So, I continue running my hands over his body, enjoying the feel of his muscles which are strong but not as ripped as a bodybuilder. I like that he's a normal man, in terms of his physique. He's quite unusual in other ways.
Once I reach his throat, I stop and press my lips to his. "I love being with you, Rafe."
He seems briefly stunned. "Why would you say that? I'm the man who practically broke down your front door on the day we met."
"I understand you better now. But I'd like to know more about you and share more of myself too." I rise and rest my erse on the edge of the bench. "Will you do that? Please?"
He sits up, clasping my hands. "Yes, I will. Anything you want to know, I'll tell you."
"Let's go inside and find something to eat that hasn't been lying on the floor all this time. Then we'll open up to each other."
Rafe and I shut down the sauna, then return to the house. We hold hands, as we've often done lately. It feels good and right.
Cleaning up the mess we made in the living room takes a wee bit of time, but Rafe and I have fun teasing each other while we work. The sun has begun to set. Has it really been that long since Rafe knocked on my door earlier? Since time has flown by so swiftly, we agree to whip up a snack rather than a full meal. I'm not terribly hungry, anyway. We have fun deciding which foods to choose. Afterward, we cuddle on the sofa to feed each other, sharing a plate and using our fingers instead of silverware.
Now that we're done eating, it's time for that conversation I suggested. "Are you ready to talk now, Rafe?"
He makes a pained face but then blows out a breath and nods. "Interrogate me for as long as you like."
I elbow him in the side. "This isn't an interrogation. We're two adults who've been shagging and now want to get to know each other better."
"Well, when you phrase it that way, it does sound less ominous."
"I'll go first. What would you like to know about me?"
Rafe rubs his chin as if he's giving serious thought to my question. It's pure sarcasm, though. But when he asks a question, he gives up teasing me. "Have you ever been married? Do you have children?"
"I never married. But I do have two children who are adults now."
"Girls or boys?"
"Two beautiful young ladies. Maeve is the oldest at twenty-three while Rowan is twenty-one." I tuck my legs beneath me and rotate slightly toward Rafe so I can see him better. "Maeve and Rowan were adopted. I knew their parents very well. David and Mary were wonderful people and devoted parents. But they had a terrible automobile accident and passed away. I had been best friends with Mary, and she insisted on listing me in their will as the person they wanted to raise their children if something should happen to them. They had no living relatives except for an elderly aunt who had Alzheimer's."
Rafe studies me. "You raised two girls on your own? I'm even more impressed by you now."
"Because I did what my best friend wanted? No, that isn't impressive."
"How old were you when that happened?"
Suddenly, I feel somewhat uncomfortable. I didn't do anything extraordinary. But I answer Rafe's question. "I was thirty years old at the time. Eventually, I adopted the girls."
He stares at me almost as if he's awed. "You, a young and vibrant woman, took in two little girls. You raised them as your own. I'd say that counts as impressive. What are your daughters like now?"
"Maeve is studying to become a teacher. Rowan opted out of going to university and instead took a job working for Evan MacTaggart." I realize I'm smiling now, though I didn't purposely do that. "Evan's longtime assistant, Tamsen Spurling, resigned last year so she could move to Germany with her fiancé, who is German. I suggested Rowan could fill in until Evan found a new executive assistant, but after one week, he promoted her to full time. My daughter works for a billionaire."
"You've raised two incredible young women." Rafe gives me a quick, soft kiss. "I'm hardly surprised. You are a force to be reckoned with, and I've no doubt your daughters learned that from you."
I wrap my arms around myself because I feel a wee bit embarrassed by Rafe's profuse praise. "My daughters are impressive. But I zigzagged from one job to another until I finally found my calling as a journalist. I stayed at each job for at least three years. So, at least I wasn't a career-hopping eejit."
Rafe slips his arm around my shoulders. "I suppose it's time for me to share my past."
I consider saying something to encourage him, but I suspect that would only make him feel more uncomfortable talking about himself. Instead, I'll gaze into his eyes and hope that will ease his discomfort.
He rubs his forehead, then dives in. "I was married to Angela for seventeen years. When we first met, she was a vivacious and clever girl who loved life and wanted to become a lightning researcher. We met at university and quickly became a couple. I'm three years older than Angela. I had already graduated and gotten a job at a research facility by the time she earned her degree."
My journalist curiosity insists that I should ask questions. But I tell that part of my brain to be quiet.
"Angela changed rather quickly after Toby was born. She was a good mother, for the most part, but she grew restless and jealous of me." Rafe lets his head fall back against the sofa and stares up at the ceiling. "You see, I was promoted to head researcher within four years. The gent who had been in charge retired. Angela resented the fact that I was given that position and that she would become my underling."
I begin to wring my hands, though I never do that. Listening to Rafe share his story makes me anxious on his behalf. Maybe I should worry about what that means. I'll think about it later.
"Still, I would have stayed with Angela for Toby's sake," he tells me. "Our marriage essentially ended after five years, but we remained together for seventeen years. Until the lightning strike. Until I realized just how narcissistic my wife had become. Still, she always treated Toby kindly and made sure to attend his university graduation. My behavior after the lightning strike gave her an excellent excuse to have me removed from my position. That means I got sacked."
"That's awful."
"Losing my university position turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It spurred me to start my own independent laboratory, with help from a few wealthy donors."
I'm literally biting my lip in an effort to prevent myself from asking a nosy question.
Rafe notices, glancing at me sideways while still hanging his head back. "It's all right. I won't fly off the handle because I'm talking about my ex-wife. She stayed with me for one month after the lightning strike. Then she filed for divorce and ordered me to move out of the house. That was the event that changed our family irretrievably and nearly destroyed my relationship with Toby."
I'm still biting my lip, but now I'm doing that so hard that it's turned white.
"Ask your question, Iona. You've been dying to do that."
"Well, I, um..wondered why you let your ex-wife poison your relationship with your son."
He bows his head. "I was weak. That's why."
"No, you are not weak and never have been. That lightning strike nearly killed you, and it left you with long-term consequences."
"But I just walked away from my son without even trying to fight for custody."
I climb onto his lap, straddling him. "That's rubbish, Rafe. Your wife walked out on you, not the other way around."
"Don't you understand? I should have fought for my son. He might've been seventeen, but he was still my child, my little boy." Rafe's eyes begin to glisten, and I think he might be on the verge of crying. "Toby drove me to and from my physical therapy appointments and doctor's visits while I recovered. He lied to his mother about that, since he knew she wouldn't approve. I shouldn't have put him in that position."
"He was old enough to decide for himself." I grasp Rafe's face with both hands. "Toby must love you very much to have gone against his mother's wishes. Remember that. But most of all, talk to him again. I'll go with you."
"Toby probably won't speak to me unless Eric is there." Rafe lashes his arms around me. "If you're there, I might get angry simply because I see Eric and remember how he's been harassing you."
"It isn't harassment. He's confused, that's all. Please let me go along when you meet with Toby and Eric."
He shuts his eyes but keeps his arms around me as he takes a moment to digest what I suggested. Then he opens his eyes. "Have it your way."
"Thank you." I kiss his cheek. "Now, let's go to bed---to sleep."
"I'd better ring for a taxi."
"No, Rafe. You are sleeping here tonight, in my bed." I lean in until our eyes are millimeters apart. "That means both of us in my bed, sleeping together."
"You are a stubborn woman. But I can't resist you, so I shall do whatever you believe is appropriate."
"Good." I hop off his lap, now standing between him and the coffee table. "Fortunately, we don't need to undress. We're both still naked."
"Thank you for reminding me of that fact, but I was aware of it already." He rises and stretches, groaning with satisfaction. "I'm ready to go to bed with you, Ms. Buchanan."
"Glad to hear it, Mr. Knight."
We hold hands while we amble down the hall, past the two vacant bedrooms and into the master suite, where I've slept for as long as I've lived in this house. Rafe commands me to wait on the threshold while he prepares the room. He's never been in my bedroom before, so I have no idea what he means to do. I peek around his large body to get a glimpse.
Rafe flicks the switch on the bedside lamp, which emits a cozy glow. Next, he sweeps all the clothes off the bed and carefully turns down the sheets. "You are a bit of a slob, eh? Clothes were strewn all over the bed."
"Aye. Dinnae peek under the bed. It's as messy as the clothes on top."
He looks at me over his shoulder and clucks his tongue. "I need to teach you etiquette."
"Go ahead and try."