Though Ari didn’t want to be intrigued, she was, and her tears stopped as curiosity overcame sadness. Lifting her head so she could see his face, she asked, “Did you make the position up for me?” She hoped not. She wanted to feel valuable.
“No. There are six people in that department, and we need about ten. I’m just very choosy whom I’ll hire to work in our charitable arm. Some of the places we donate to have gone through very tough times and they need their liaisons to be kind and compassionate. As soon as you demanded a job from me, I knew you’d be perfect in that department.”
The crooked smile on his face took any sting from his words. It was so much harder to hate him when he was kind. She hadn’t been expecting to like her new job, but she couldn’t deny that she wanted to know more. It could actually be fun.
“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or an insult,” she said as she gave a small smile of her own.
“One thing I can guarantee you is that I enjoy your compassion. It’s unusual, Ari. Why don’t we have a nice dinner to celebrate your new job? I don’t always fill the dictator slot that you have pigeonholed me into.”
Ari didn’t know what he was angling for now, but she didn’t want to ruin his good mood. If she had to spend the next few months with him, wouldn’t it be better for the two of them to get along? That wasn’t going to happen all the time — they too easily butted heads — but for one night, she could enjoy herself guilt-free, couldn’t she?
“That sounds nice. I’d like to hear more about my job,” she conceded.
While Mario drove them to a small seafood restaurant, Rafe supplied more details about her new position, and she grew eager to start work. Maybe some of the changes in her life wouldn’t be so bad, after all.
For a couple of hours, at least, Ari forgot that Rafe had essentially forced her into a relationship with him. She forgot she’d had to give up a job she liked. She even forgot that she didn’t like him very much.
She had a good meal, found herself laughing a couple of times, and slowly the wall she’d put in place to protect herself, for the day she and Rafe parted ways, was beginning to tumble down.
Chapter Thirteen
Ari tossed her purse on the stand by her door as she wearily made her way into her condominium. She hadn’t seen Rafe for two days, which was unusual for him, and she was wondering what she was doing. One minute she cared about him, and then the next she couldn’t get far enough away.
Confusion consumed her as the emotions escalated. She demanded time away from him, and then found herself missing him once he was gone, respecting her wishes. She couldn’t even say he was the dictator she’d originally thought him to be as he’d backed down to her wishes many times over.
How was she supposed to last for three months with her emotions constantly in a jumble?
“Did you have a pleasant evening?”
Ari jumped at the sound of Rafe’s voice. It was Sunday night, and he rarely made an appearance, respecting her time alone, but as her emotions remained on high alert, she didn’t know what to feel about his being there.
“Yes. I met up with the girls and we went to dinner and then dancing.”
Rafe’s gaze narrowed at the mention of dancing. She couldn’t blame him. Too often when she went out with Amber, Miley and Shelly, she tended to drink too much and then find herself in awkward situations — or worse.
“I drank club soda all night — don’t look so irritated,” she said with a smile.
“Good, I don’t want you intoxicated for what I have planned. It’s time for me to call in my favor.”
“What favor?” she asked with confusion.
“The bet you lost in Central Park.” Ari couldn’t believe he’d actually bring that up. He’d cheated!
“What is that?” she asked with suspicion. There was an excited gleam in his eyes that had her on her toes. Some of the things he asked of her were just too much. He respected her decision when she said no, but she worried why he’d even want to do some of the sexual acts he was into.
“I’ve eased you into my life, Ari, but I’m very aware that you grow restless occasionally. I know the fear of the unknown eats away at you, so I want to show you that it’s all far worse in your mind than in reality.”
“What do you plan on doing?” she asked as she retreated a few steps as he stood up.
“Something you will highly enjoy.”
“That’s not an answer, Rafe. I want to know in detail what you’re planning,” she demanded as she retreated further. Rafe’s eyes sparked to life as he followed her, his steps slow and steady, as if he had no worries.
“Do you trust me?”
“No.”
He stopped as if she’d actually wounded him. Ari quit retreating as she looked at the hurt expression on his face. Did she trust him? He’d never done anything to harm her — had kept his word on everything he’d promised, and had made her feel pleasure beyond her wildest imagination.
So, taking all that into account, did she trust him? Yes, she actually did.
“That’s a lie, Rafe. You’ve never hurt me. I’m just frightened,” she admitted.
In a flash he was at her side, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek.
“I will never hurt you — that’s my promise.”
She wanted to contradict him. He might never physically hurt her, but what about her heart? He was surely going to shatter it, and the pain would be worse than from a broken bone. Yes, Rafe would hurt her — it was only a matter of time — but she was coming to accept that. He didn’t know any other way and she’d been foolish enough to develop feelings for him. It was her fault her heart would tear when he walked out her door and never came back.
“I know you intend not to hurt me. What do you want me to do?”
The gleam entered his eyes again as he led her into her spare room. When he flicked on the light, she looked in confusion at what was before her. She closed her eyes, shook her head, looked again, trained her eyes all around the room, and even then she couldn’t quite figure it out.
“Don’t be worried. I plan on taking you further tonight than I’ve ever taken you before. When you release your body totally over to me, and trust me to make you fly, the pleasure will be endless,” he whispered in her ear as his hand reached the bottom of her shirt and he began pulling it up.
Ari wanted to say no, turn around and walk out. Knowing she had the power to do just that allowed her the confidence to stand where she was as he lifted the shirt over her head. His hands came down and rested on her collarbone, his fingers softly rubbing the delicate skin.