Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
He wasn’t going to argue with that. Who knew where this night would lead him, but if Grace wanted to go back to his place, then he would oblige. It was probably stupid. It would probably blow up in his face all over again. It was probably a mistake. And he was going to do it anyway.
He had no self-control when it came to her, and it wasn’t something he’d ever experienced. He was used to being in control of himself and his feelings. He was used to knowing what the hell the woman he was with wanted. With Grace, he had no idea.
She was going to tear him right open, and he was going to let her.
He parked the car. They walked to his place. He unlocked the door, and they slipped inside. They removed their coats. He asked if she wanted a drink. She shook her head, and then they stood there, about two meters apart, staring at each other.
“What do you want, Graciela?” he asked at last. “What is this?”
She moved toward him slowly and then put her hands on his chest as she pressed herself up on her toes. He watched her mouth move toward him—closer and closer—until finally she pressed her lips against his.
He was stiff at first, trying not to lose himself, trying to keep his head for a second so he could puzzle out what the hell was happening. What had changed? Why was she kissing him now after weeks of avoiding him?
But he couldn’t hold back very long before sinking into her, sliding his hands to her hips and around her back, opening his mouth and deepening the kiss, pressing his tongue to meet hers before letting out a little groan.
He rubbed his thumb against her neck and angled her head back to kiss her even harder, and he felt her fingers digging into his skin.
Then, he pulled away for a moment, pushing a strand of hair from her eyes and searching her face. “I’m very confused,” he said.
“So am I,” Grace replied.
“Why are you here?” His own voice sounded pathetic in his ears, too desperate, too eager.
Grace’s hands slid along his back. “Because Alma told me what you did for me. How you fought for the event.”
He wrinkled up his forehead, unsure of how that made much of a difference. “That wasn’t a big deal.”
She pressed closer to him, eyes searching his face. “It was to me, Raf.”
He let out a long breath.
“Why did you do it? Alma said you yelled at Christian.”
“I didn’t yell. Or maybe I did. I kind of blacked out.” He took a moment to appreciate the fact that she was still in his arms. She wasn’t going anywhere, at least not yet.
“Why?”
Rafael kept his voice low, trying to keep it from breaking.
“Because I knew how much it meant to you, Graciela. I wasn’t going to let him take that away.
And it would have been irresponsible and rude no matter what the occasion was.
I didn’t think Alma would tell you. I didn’t know she was paying that much attention. ”
Grace stared at him. “She was.”
She tried to kiss him again, but Rafael held back. He wasn’t done with this conversation. He needed more answers. He never knew what anything meant with her. Was this just an attraction? A way to get out of her own head? Or did she feel every second of it in her bones like he did?
“You really want this, Graciela?” he asked. “You really want me?”
She looked down, away from his face, and took a shuddering breath. It didn’t inspire a ton of confidence, but he had to know what he was getting here. Was this just a night? Or was it all of her?
He wanted everything, but he knew he would settle for less. He just needed to have an idea of where he stood.