“Ari, has Rafe told you yet what a hellion he was as a teenager?” Lia asked with a twinkle in her eye.
“Lia…” Rafe said in a warning tone which she completely ignored.
“I somehow can’t imagine Mr.… um… him as a child,” Ari quickly corrected herself. Rafe was somewhat disappointed. He would love for her to slip up. He had big plans on different forms of exotic torture he could put her through.
His hand slid beneath the table and landed on her bare thigh, causing her to jump and nearly knock her wine glass over.
“Is everything okay, Ari?” his mother asked.
“Yes. Sorry about that. I’m being a bit clumsy. I think I got a little too much sun today,” Ari said as she tried to push his hand away without causing a scene. He just squeezed her leg a little tighter, letting her know he had zero intentions of letting her go.
She sent a desperate look his way before responding to a question his father asked her. As his fingers danced along her thigh, she sat tensely next to him with her legs clamped tightly shut. He had no doubt he could outlast her. She’d grow too tired to hold herself so stiffly long before he’d lose interest in caressing her.
“Back to my story, Ari. Rafe was once a child, though I do understand how that’s difficult to believe considering he rarely even takes off his suits now. He was a horrible monster, always playing tricks on Rachel and I. I remember the worst thing he did was put a huge snake in my bed. I was so tired after a late night volunteering at our church, and the room was dark. I turned on my lamp and pulled back the covers and an eight foot snake was slithering across my sheets. I screamed so loud that my dad burst through the doors a few seconds later with the shotgun raised. I was sufficiently satisfied when Rafe got grounded for a month. To this day if I see any snake, even a gardener one, I freak out,” Lia said dramatically.
“How did he get that big of a snake to stay in your bed?”
“Oh, it was his pet. However, after that incident, Mom made him give it away. He was grounded from having any more reptiles or rodents in the house. I was quite pleased with that outcome.”
“Snakes give me the creeps, too.”
“Who actually likes them? Only other reptiles,” Lia said as she stuck her tongue out at Rafe.
“You did your own share of pranks, Lia. Why don’t you explain why I put that snake in your bed,” Rafe said with a laugh, not offended at all by her goading.
“It was nothing compared to what you did to me.”
“Nothing! Are you kidding me? She put itching powder in my work-out shorts. I started running in P.E. and then had to make a mad dash to the showers. My friends wouldn’t let me live that one down for the rest of my high school career.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Ari said with a laugh as she looked up at him, delight dancing in her eyes. It seemed his Ari had a wicked streak about her.
The bantering of his family caused Ari to relax, and he was able to move his hand higher up her leg, his fingers drifting to the inside of her thigh. Before she realized she’d let down her guard, his fingers brushed the brief piece of lace covering her delectable womanhood.
Her legs tightened immediately again, but all it did was trap his hand flush against her heat. He took immense pleasure when he felt the warm wetness of her body drift through the delicate lace. She desired him – whether she was willing to admit it or not.
Suddenly, his little game turned on him to the point of pain. Knowing her body was prepared for him to enter her caused him a pulsing erection. With a small gasp, Ari opened her legs and he reluctantly removed his hand. He’d never make it through the rest of the meal feeling her moist heat.
Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing quickened and she refused to meet his gaze. She was doing her best to carry on conversation with his family, but he could see it was taking a lot of effort on her part.
As their final course was served, Rafe breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, he’d get her alone again. He knew it wouldn’t take him much longer to convince her to make their situation a mutual arrangement. He could offer her much pleasure, and he had a feeling she’d provide for his needs more than sufficiently.
By the time desert was served, Rafe was done visiting with his family. He had to get Ari to his bed – it was beyond desire – pure need was gnawing at the zipper of his pants.
“I hope you all don’t mind the surprise, but I’ve told the Captain to keep us out to sea for the night. I thought you’d all enjoy spending the night aboard the ship,” Rafe announced, not turning toward Ari when out of the corner of his eye he caught her head whip around in his direction.
“I… uh… can’t. I have to get home,” she stuttered.
“Oh, do you work tomorrow, Ari?” his father innocently asked, not sensing her tension.
“No,” she responded with hesitancy. “I don’t actually work, but I have laundry to do and other stuff to get ready for the week,” she finished feebly.
“Don’t worry, Ari. We’ll get in early,” Rafe said, making sure she knew the discussion was closed.
“I’m delighted with the surprise, Rafe. It will give me a chance to see how I sleep aboard the ship. I guess I should try it at least once before purchasing one of my own,” his father said.
“We’re going to go get some rest,” his mother said as she rose from the table with his father’s assistance. The two of them left the room practically giggling, before the girls took a clue from Rafe’s look and then made their own excuses and shuffled out after their parents.
“It looks like it’s just you and me now,” Rafe said as he scooted his chair back and gripped Ari by the waist. He moved quickly and had her straddled across his lap before she knew what was happening.
“This is kidnapping, you know,” Ari warned him breathlessly.
“All you have to do is say no, Ari,” Rafe promised as he pulled her forward against his straining erection, ending any protest she may have.
Chapter Twenty
Ari knew she should climb off Rafe’s lap and run as fast as she could to the nearest door, shutting and locking it tightly behind her. She knew she’d regret making love to the man again. She also knew that if she were to command him to let her go, he’d do just that.
Knowing he’d let her leave made her want to stay even more.
She could handle one more night in his bed, or at least at his dining table. She forgot about his staff who could wander in, as well as his family members who were just down the hall. She practically forgot her own name as his lips overtook hers, and his tongue dove inside her mouth.