Page 92 of Raphael

My eyes flickered to the window. “Are the beaches crowded here?”

He shook his head. “It will be just us.”

“Okay.”

* * *

The white sandy beach was empty. The sound of the waves softly crashing against the shore traveled on the breeze. The sun felt good against my skin. It was the first time I felt completely at peace since Anya died.

Raphael rested next to me. His aviator glasses shading his eyes and his tattoos on full display. Something in my chest fluttered, like the fragile wings of butterflies and feelings blooming.

He looked good in his white swim shorts. His skin appeared darker and my fingers reached out to trace over his tattoos. I loved touching him. I traced over his warm skin, my skin in such contrast to his.

“Reina,” he murmured, never moving. “If you keep touching me like that, we’ll end up naked.”

My lips curved into a smile. “That’s not such a bad thing.”

“Come here.” He pulled me over, and I laid my head on his chest, closing my eyes and putting my face up to the sun while I listened to his strong heartbeat.

I smiled dreamily, enjoying the warmth of the sun and him against my skin.

“This place is heaven,” I murmured, listening to the waves and the rustling of the leaves.

“No, you’re heaven.” I smiled against his chest, inhaling his scent deep into my lungs. “You’re smiling.”

I lifted my head. “How did you know?”

He removed his sunglasses and the moment his blue eyes clashed with mine, suddenly oxygen felt in short supply.

“You glow when you’re happy.” I put my head back on his chest and closed my eyes.

I scoffed softly. “Maybe I glow when I’m mad.”

His chest shook under my head, and I rolled over so I could see his face. He was laughing, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“Raphael?”

“Hmmm.”

“Will you put sunscreen on me?” I asked, digging the sunscreen out of the little beach bag before handing it to him.

I needed his hands on me. I needed him all over me.

He reached for my cheek. His roughened knuckles ran down my cheek. His eyes softened, desire lurking in his gaze, as his thumb skimmed the edge of my bottom lip.

“No sex until you feel better.”

“I feel better. I promise.”

I rolled onto my stomach, and after a heartbeat, I heard the squeeze of the sunscreen bottle and I closed my eyes, smiling happily against the towel. He straddled my ass, his hands rubbing together, then I felt his rough palms slide up my back. He unfastened my bikini top, and he carried his movement up to my shoulders.

“I like this bikini on you, Reina.” Raphael never stopped his movements, rubbing the lotion over my skin. “Although, I like you even better without it.”

I turned my head to the side and glanced at him over my shoulder. “We could take it off,” I suggested using my most seductive voice.

His hand lowered, down and down, until his palm rubbed my half-naked ass in the string bikini bottoms. While Raphael opted for white swim shorts, I opted for a black bikini. Striking differences between us. Yet, despite all our striking differences, the two of us complemented each other.

“You called Gabriel?” Raphael asked. Right as we got ready to leave for the beach earlier, Raphael got a business call he had to take so I took advantage and called Aurora so I could talk to Gabriel.