19. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
C HAPTER NINETEEN
RAPHAEL
Something was wrong.
Rory and I had been staying at the ranch for a week now. It was peaceful. The air was clearer and smelt of fresh flowers. It was nice. The story Rylan had told that stupid magazine was still trending, although most people had dismissed it.
I had been keeping up with Millie. She was working hard to counter the lies, and she was doing a good job. I had gotten Rory to stay off her phone for the most part but she said she would need it to keep up with her club and with Callie.
Still, something was wrong.
Rory was quieter, and she had been acting strangely. We still had sex, multiple times. Sometimes, she would wake me up with kisses. Sometimes, she would come to the living room where I was playing my guitar and hop onto my lap, riding me until we were both screaming in pleasure.
But something was different.
I bit into an apple, watching as she sat on the porch, reading a book she found somewhere in the house. She was wearing one of my shirts and a pair of shorts, her hair braided to the side.
"Hey," I said as I walked up to her. "Do you want to go ride one of the horses?"
She had asked a few days ago but I told her no, because I was worried, she would fall and it would hurt the baby. Rory didn't argue. She just said okay and walked away. That was the problem. Usually, she would make a sassy remark, roll her eyes, and stomp off, but this time, she just agreed.
She looked up, blinking at me. "Oh," she said. "Yeah. Let's go."
I sighed in relief. We stood, heading to the barn. The ranch hands had saddled two horses for us.
"What's wrong?" I asked as we made our way to the pasture.
Rory looked at me, confused. "Nothing," she replied. "Why?"
"You just seem...weird," I said.
She looked away. "I didn't seem weird when you had me bent over your desk last night."
"That's not what I'm talking about," I said, moving so I was standing in front of her. "Are you using me for sex?"
Rory's eyes widened. "What?!"
"You only come to me when you want me to fuck you, and you're distant otherwise," I said. "You know I can’t say no. Is that what's going on? You're using my body?"
She stared at me for a moment. "What do you mean you can’t say no? You’re having fun too so what’s the problem?"
I clutched my shirt. On a normal day, that would have turned me on. I had been with women who were only with me for the pleasure, to use me. But I wanted Rory to want me for me. The fact that she was acting dismissive like she hadn't come to me all on her own that night bothered me.
Wow. This was new.
"Let's go," she said, walking past me and toward the horses.
She was so frustrating.
She was the one who said she liked me and kissed me. She was the one who made me feel strange things. She was the one who made me want her. Now, she was acting like it was all nothing.
Rory made her way over to one of the horses, a black and white speckled one, and petted it. She turned to the ranch hand. "What's his name?" she asked.
"Dobby, ma'am" the young man said.
Rory looked back at the horse. "Hi Dobby," she said to it. "Can you help me up?" she asked the ranch hand.
He motioned to help her onto the saddle but I stepped forward instinctively, holding up a hand. "I got it," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. He swallowed and stepped back.
Rory said nothing as I lifted her up, onto the saddle. The horse shifted under her, and I gripped the reins, steadying him. Then I climbed on and sat behind her, holding the reins.
"Let's go," I said, nudging the horse with my heel.
He began to trot. Rory sat stiffly in front of me. She smelled so good, like vanilla and lavender, and my mind flashed back to last night, when she was on her knees, my cock buried deep inside her mouth.
"Is that all you want from me?" I asked her. "Sex?"
"Why would I want anything else?" she asked. "Do you want anything else?"
I clenched my jaw and refused to respond. Instead, I led the horse to the field and kicked him into a gallop. Rory shrieked as we picked up speed, and she leaned into me, her back pressing against my chest.
My arms went around her waist, and her hair flew into my face. I inhaled her scent and it sent a rush of pleasure straight to my cock. Fuck. I was so attracted to her, it was insane. And yet, it wasn't all I wanted.
Do you want anything else?
I wanted her. All of her. Every part.
"It's so beautiful," she whispered.
I looked around. She was right. The air was clear and smelled sweet, the sun shone bright in the sky, and the pasture was green and lush. There were birds flying overhead, and the sky was a perfect shade of blue.
"Yeah," I said.
I tightened my hold on her, increasing the speed. Her laughter echoed through the air as the wind hit her face. A smile made its way to my lips. I loved her laughter, I loved her smile, I loved the way she rolled her eyes when she thought something was silly, I loved the way she pursed her lips when she was angry, and the way her eyes lit up when she saw something she liked.
I slowed down the horse. Rory tilted her head up, and our eyes met.
"Why did you stop?" she asked.
I took a deep breath. Fuck, she was so beautiful. I could get lost in those big, beautiful eyes. My chest was tight, and my heart was racing.
"Rory."
"Hmm?"
I couldn't say it, even though I knew she felt it too. Rory had told me she liked me and I had been too overwhelmed and scared to respond. I didn't say it back, and she had pulled away from me. Was that it? The reason why she was so upset?
I shook my head. Then I kissed her. She gasped, and her mouth parted. I tilted my head, deepening the kiss.
"Raphael," she murmured against my lips.
My grip on her waist tightened. She was the only one who had ever made me feel like this. It wasn't just that I was attracted to her. Rory had a way of making my heart race, my stomach flip.
"Fuck," I muttered, breaking the kiss. "This is bad."
"W-what?"
"Nothing," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's head back."
She frowned slightly, then she looked away. I was scared I had hurt her again.
I grabbed the reins and guided the horse back towards the house.
We were silent the entire ride. When we reached the house, I jumped down and then helped her off.
"Thank you," she said.
I nodded, leading the horse back into the barn. Rory headed back into the house. My gaze trailed after her.
"Fuck," I muttered.
"Mr. Barlowe," a voice called.
I turned. A ranch hand walked up to me.
"I'm sorry, sir, but you have a guest."
"A guest?' I asked.
He nodded. I made my way back into the house. Only my parents, Millie and the band knew I was here.
"Rory," I called out, but there was no response.
"Rory!" I called out again, and she appeared from the kitchen. "Who is it?"
Millie appeared behind her, holding a small cup of what looked like tea.
"Hey, Raph," she greeted.
"Millie," I said, raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing here?"
"The boys have been worried. I thought I'd come to check up on you," she said, walking over to the living room. "And also to discuss a few things with you and Rory."
I frowned. "Like what?"
"Well," she started. "Your tour is in a few months but it's been postponed. The band and the label have agreed to wait until after the baby is born so we're working on the announcements."
She sat on a couch, crossing her legs, and we sat right across from her.
"Also, there's the matter of Rylan," she said.
"What about him?" I asked.
Millie cleared her throat. "Well, first of all, the tabloid he spoke to has apologized and taken the article down. Still, there's still a bit of bad press surrounding you two. We can't lie and say the stories are not true. They are. Rory is pregnant for you, but we'll have to add our little twist to it if you're both going to come out of it unscathed."
Rory frowned. "What do you mean?"
"We're going to say that the reason why you and Raphael hooked up was because Rylan cheated on you and broke your heart, which is true. However, we have to make them think this is a love story," she explained.
"A love story?" Rory asked.
"Yes," Millie said. "It'll make the public think of you in a good light and also explain the baby. You and Raphael are going to have to convince the world that you are in love."
Rory and I glanced at each other. Millie sipped her tea loudly.
"So how do we do that?" I asked.
Millie grinned. "Simple, with a staged date."
Rory crossed her legs and I moved closer to her. She glanced at me briefly and looked away.
"How is that going to help?" she asked.
"It'll show the world that you're together and happy. People will sympathize with Rory, especially when they hear about her heartbreak, plus she’s expecting a baby. People love babies. The point is to convince them that love, can be found anywhere, and under any circumstances."
I snorted. "You're the PR expert. Do you really think that will work?"
Millie sighed. "It's not the best idea, but the public will eat up anything. They will believe it, and if we play our cards right, we can win over their hearts and support. The goal is to make them root for you two."
I licked my lips. Convince the public that Rory and I were in love? That was going to be difficult, seeing as the woman beside me was convinced that I didn't care about her.
I reached out, grabbing her hand.
Rory looked at me, surprise and shock in her eyes.
"Are you okay with this?" I asked.
She narrowed her eyes at me, her gaze flickering to my lips. She leaned forward, her tongue peeking out, tracing over her bottom lip.
Fuck.
She was turning me on, and now was not the time.
"Fine," she said.
I blinked. "What?"
"I said fine. We'll go along with this ridiculous plan," she said, crossing her arms.
Millie dropped the cup and clapped her hands together. "Fantastic. I'll organize a date. All you have to do is show up and act like you’re in love. Can you do that?"
Rory looked at me. Then she smiled, leaning closer and placing a hand on my thigh. "How hard could it be?"
My chest tightened. I had never felt this way about anyone, had never had my heart race like this. I was fucked.
Rory was making it impossible to deny my feelings.