Page 79 of Raphael

Too fast.

It was all happening too damn fast. Every word, every step towards this charade was uncertain on my part. Yet, it felt right. Safe. That part worried me even more. I knew there were good men and bad men in this world. The Ashford brothers were good men.

Mobsters were bad. Except that I ran into a few now that had some standards. A better moral compass than my own parents that destroyed a child's innocence. My sister’s. Mine. Even Gabriel’s if they were given a chance. I’d never allow it.

“I do.” Some girls dream of marrying a prince while I dreamt of a devil. I never imagined I’d actually marry one.

But I knew deep down, this was the right move. For my son and me. This diablo has come to save us from those threatening us. But the question was how will I save myself from him? With each passing day, I fell further and further under his spell.

This devil would protect Gabriel. Raphael might be a lot of things, but he protected innocents. Just like Nico Morrelli.

“You’re now husband and wife,” the priest proclaimed.

Raphael took a step forward and his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his hard body. My body shuddered in anticipation. My breath slowed, everything faded and I held his gaze as he inched closer and closer. He took my chin between his fingers and tilted my jaw up. Blue flames in his gaze rattled something deep inside me, and I feared my deal with the devil might be my undoing.

It wasn’t smart to feel all these confusing emotions. Not towards this man.

Another inch. I held my breath, my heart thundering hard against my chest. Our mouths connected and all thoughts evaporated when his mouth connected with mine. Hot. Exhilarating. It stole my breath. My lips parted and his tongue slid into my mouth. He tasted even better than he smelled. Like the most delicious bourbon. My eyes fluttered shut. I forgot where we were. I forgot the reason we were doing this. I forgot about the threats lurking after my son and me.

Everything faded and left me just feeling. This man could kiss. It was the hottest, hands down the best kiss ever. It was the most thrilling feeling I’d ever experienced. My palms pressed against his chest, the heat of him seeping into me. He had my undivided attention.

God, he was all muscle and I couldn’t even imagine how good it would feel to have his body cover mine. Eagerly, my body pressed against his hard chest, his mouth on mine and the ache pulsed between my thighs.

Throbbing. Demanding.

This man could ruin me if I let him. And I got the distinct feeling that I was already headed in that direction.

The sound of applause pierced through the haze in my brain.

Taking an unsteady step back, I pushed gently against his chest and blinked. I had forgotten we had an audience.

His gaze still lingered on my lips, the intensity in his eyes had my heart racing. A possessive heat sizzled in his blue eyes and my blood burned in response. My body shifted forward, like a magnet to a steel.

When you feel the need for sex, you come to me.

God, I felt the need for sex. Right now.

Would it be too much if we dumped the guests and I just dragged him to his room? Fuck, I didn’t know where his room was. Okay, my room.

“Yay,” Gabriel’s squeal brought me down from my sex crazed heights. “Does that make him my dad?”

Raphael and I both winced at the same time, then shared a glance.

“I’m not ready for that,” I muttered, shaking my head. There was no sane way to explain this family tree to a seven year old.

“Thank you for being my ring bearer,” Raphael answered instead. “And for helping me choose the right ring. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Gabriel beamed like a hundred watt bulb, his grin stretching from ear-to-ear.

From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of my best friends. “Oh, look,” I exclaimed, aiming to distract Gabriel. “Aunt Aurora and Willow want you.”

It worked because his head whipped around and without another look our way, his face lit up and he bolted their way.

“We’re going to have to tell him, Reina.” Raphael’s voice was smooth velvet. I had no idea why he kept calling me reina, but I secretly loved it. Though I'd be a pissed off reina if he called every woman that. I might get a complex and I’d insist he called me by my first name when we have sex.

I froze at that thought. Had I already decided we’d have sex? No, I couldn’t be that reckless. Except I thoughtwhennotifwe’d have sex.

ChapterThirty-Five