28. Lily
Lily
28
As I slowly drift toward consciousness, the warmth of a hand against my bare skin pulls me gently from the depths of slumber. At first, it’s a distant feeling, barely registering amid the soft haze of sleep and the lull of dreams. The tender caress of a hand traces patterns down my side and thigh, reaching my knee before moving back up.
I shift toward the touch, seeking more of the feeling, upset when it fades.
A deep laugh echoes through the air, vibrating in my chest. A moment later, a mouth falls on my neck, soft yet firm lips kissing their way up to my ear. One suck, followed by a small nip, drags me further to the surface.
“Do you want to feel good, Lily pad?” Raphael asks, the warmth of his voice sending chills down my spine.
Moaning my consent, he laughs again. “Guess that means yes.”
His hand returns, skirting up my thigh. I automatically part my legs, inviting his touch to reach the area where I desperately need him. He slips it beneath my panties, and one finger slides into my aching pussy before a second joins.
“Raphael,” I beg him, needing more.
I can feel him readjust himself on the bed and open my eyes to the sight of burnt gold shrouded in the shadows his hair makes, staring down at me. He leans closer, putting all his weight on the hand he rests beside my head and steals a quick kiss.
My back arches, and my breath catches when he adds a third finger. Against my thigh, his anxious cock twitches, jealous of his hand. Sliding his thumb forward, Raphael plays with my clit while he finger fucks me. I can feel myself tighten around his fingers, the need to come as desperate as the air I breathe.
Raphael must, too, because he groans in my ear and whispers, “Not yet, sweetheart.”
All at once, his hand leaves, taking my orgasm with it, but before I can protest, Raphael moves down my body and takes my panties with him. Our eyes lock for one moment before he tosses me a wicked smile and disappears between my legs. His mouth covers my sex, hot and wet, and I moan, unashamed at how loud I am. He runs his tongue along my throbbing pussy before clamping on my clit, and I come violently, my entire body seizing up as the waves of my orgasm crash over me.
Raphael props his chin on my pubic bone and peers up at me. His mouth glistens with the residue of my orgasm, and I lick my lips at the sensual sight.
“Thanks for breakfast.”
I reach down and try to shove his head away, laughing when he playfully growls and nips the inside of my thigh. He slides up my body, purposely dragging his hard cock along my core, and I moan at the contact.
Since we returned to the penthouse a few days ago, we can’t keep our hands off each other. As soon as Mei goes to bed, I find my way to Raphael’s. Every touch wipes away another memory of pain. Every kiss heals a scar left behind. Raphael is there to chase any lingering nightmares away every time they threaten. With him, I’m remembering how it feels to be a woman worthy of affection and not a plaything to be abused.
Raphael captures my mouth and kisses me deeply and thoroughly. The kind of kiss that leaves me breathless and wanting more.
“God, I want to bury myself in this tight pussy and fuck you senseless. Fuck you until it’s only me you remember.”
I raise my hands and set them on his torso. Dragging them down, I enjoy every rippling muscle that dances beneath my touch. Almost like he’s shivering. The rush of power it gives me is intoxicating.
“Don’t tease a girl.”
He chuckles but makes no move to stop me. “It’ll have to be quick. I need to meet Michael.”
Right.
At Dominic’s funeral, the Russian Captain Dimitri shared some concerns about his workers and patrons disappearing. Evie and Enzo tracked one victim to a warehouse on the docks that was listed as abandoned. They already suspect Xiao is behind the human auctions in Miami but hope to identify who is behind the entire thing because someone is above him. Someone else is pulling the strings because this is bigger than Miami.
Tugging Raphael’s face close, I tell him. “Then be quick.”
With a deep groan, Raphael reaches down, lines the head of his cock with my core, and wastes no time burying himself to the hilt. He swallows my moan with a kiss as he groans. It always feels like coming home. Like a piece of a puzzle missing that has finally been found again.
He leans forward, bringing his arms to cup my head before cradling me to his chest. “Hold on.”
I barely have any time to do as he asks before Raphael pounds into me over and over, quick and brutal in the most delicious way. This close, he brushes against my clit with every thrust, causing my orgasm to rapidly climb.
“Fuck,” he growls into my ear, his breath coming in harsh bursts that mirror his movements. “Fucking hell, Lily, your pussy is choking my cock.”
If I had any breath left in me to spare, I’d laugh. Instead, I raise my hands higher, until I’m literally hanging on to his shoulders for dear life. He might have some red marks from it, but I doubt he’ll mind.
“Come for me,” he orders in a desperate voice. “I need you to come for me now.”
Raphael reaches between us. With one pinch to my clit, I explode for the second time this morning. A second later, Raphael swells inside me, and then a rush of warm liquid fills me.
He rests his face on my neck but keeps his body weight off me. Every exhale of his against my sweaty skin sends shivers down my spine. Finally, Raphael kisses the side of my neck gingerly, then slips out.
“You are incredible,” he tells me with a genuine smile that reaches his eyes. I believe him because he’s never lied to me. “So perfect. Every inch of you. It’s like you were made for me.”
I smile and lean up to peck his lips. I’m still not used to his endearing comments and often am left speechless and unsure of what to say back. Raphael sees it and understands my reluctance because he knows it’s not that I don’t feel the same. It’s just that sharing those feelings is a wall that has yet to come down.
Raphael’s phone rings on the nightstand, and with a disgruntled groan, he reaches for it. “It’s Michael. I have to shower and get dressed.”
“Okay. Have a nice shower,” I say with a lazy stretch, knowing exactly what I’m doing. When his eyes go dark, I know it works.
“And you’re coming with me,” Raphael says before he bends down to collect me in his arms.
The elevator beeps, and I turn away from making lunch for Mei and me. Expecting to find Raphael, I’m surprised when it’s Emilia.
“What are you doing here?” I glance behind her but don’t see anyone else. “How did you get the code to come upstairs?”
Raphael put my mind at ease before he left, assuring me we were safe. He promised that only the family knew the code, and with Rose busy with her sister Grace and Evie, and Gabriella working at the hospital, there was no chance of anyone stopping by unexpectedly.
“The guard downstairs was easily persuaded,” she admits with an innocent shrug and a sly smile playing at the edges of her lips.
The small hairs on the back of my neck rise. Something’s not right.
“Raphael’s not here. You should go.”
Emilia holds up a cup holder. There are three foam cups set inside. “I brought a little peace offering. I’ve had time to think about my behavior at the DiAngelo estate, and I wanted to apologize.”
I hesitate, but the sooner she gets done with whatever her goal here is, the better.
“Please? One drink, and then I’ll go. I promise.”
With a heavy sigh, I motion for her to follow me and then gesture to the kitchen island. Emilia sets the container on the marble top.
Mei notices our new company and comes running over, the sounds of her cartoon show playing in the background. “Hi!”
Emilia turns and smiles at my daughter. “Hi, Mei. I brought you some hot cocoa.” She glances over her shoulder at me. “If that’s okay with your mother, of course.”
I nod and watch as Emilia grabs the smaller of the three cups and hands it to Mei. Carefully holding the cup between her hands, Mei politely says thanks and then slowly walks back to the living room to enjoy her treat in front of her show.
Emilia hands me another insulated cup. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, but I assumed everyone likes hot cocoa.”
“It’s fine.” I’m not about to tell her how hot cocoa is my favorite winter drink. “Thank you.”
I blow through the drink hole and then take a careful sip, testing the temperature. It’s warm but not too hot, which is perfect. So I take another sip, savoring the taste of chocolate exploding on my tongue.
Emilia takes her cup and holds it between her hands. “You’re welcome.”
“So you wanted to apologize?”
She nods. “I realize that the things I said were cruel and unnecessary.”
I wait for her to actually say sorry, but she doesn’t. “I appreciate you saying that.”
Emilia runs a manicured finger around the rim of her cup, studying the drink but never taking a sip. “Of course, I also realized that I acted out of jealousy, but there’s no reason to be concerned.”
“What do you mean?” The edges of my fingers tingle, and my legs go numb.
“Well, when I found out who you are and who you belong to, all of my fears disappeared.”
Why is she smiling like that? Why is she fuzzy around the edges, too?
“What…did you…do?” My equilibrium falters, and I stumble into the island, barely catching myself in time. This feels eerily familiar. Like the time Dr. Rodriguez drugged me all those years ago. “Did you…drug me?”
“It didn’t take long to get in touch with Xiao. I mean, the man is downright desperate to find you and his daughter. He’s eager to have you home.” Emilia reaches out and takes the cup from my hand seconds before it slips from my grip. “So I struck a deal. Return you and Mei, and he lets Raphael live for taking you two.”
“What?” Black edges close in on my vision. I fight to look toward Mei and find her stretched out in front of the television, her cup knocked over. The bitch drugged my daughter, too.
“With you gone, Raphael will have no choice but to turn to me for comfort.” She leans forward, and a wicked grin spreads across her face. “With you gone, we’ll be married, just like we were supposed to before you came along.”
Rage surges through my veins as Emilia’s smile twists into a venomous sneer, taunting me. It’s the last thing I see before the drug-induced darkness takes hold.