making a difference, doing what I am meant to do. Others, I
feel like I’m losing traction and the bad guys are winning. What about you, Mr.
Stone?”
“What about me?”
“You’ve been an
architect your whole adult life, correct? Is it still as satisfying as it was
the first time you designed a building?”
Rafe rewarded
her with a rare smile. If she only knew the first building he designed was one
of those in a painting she gazed upon in the lobby, she would probably run
screaming. “Yes, it is. Designing a building that stands hundreds of years is
almost indescribable. When you stop to think of all the people who come and go,
whose lives leave a footprint in that building and then multiply it by hundreds
of buildings; it is really astounding. I feel like I design more than just the
building, Miss Kane. I create the backdrop to the plays that are life.”
“Wow, that
was…beautiful. Can I ask you something personal?”
“You can ask,
doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
“Why the
anonymity? Why hide out instead of showing the world who you are?”
“Is it that
important that the people see my face? I am not a Hollywood star who wishes to
have his personal life exploited in the tabloids for the world to pick apart.
I’m a private person, Miss Kane; I do not crave the limelight. What’s mine is
for me to enjoy. Should I ever find someone to share my life with, that will
also be done in private.”
Kaya leaned
forward in her chair as if to better hear him. Maybe she just wanted to be
closer to him, he wasn’t sure. He took a chance and softly stroked his
forefinger along the top of her hand. Instinctively, her hand turned over and
clasped his fingers with hers. The look in her eyes was a mixture of lust and
uncertainty. Keeping their hands locked, he pulled her to her feet and angled
her between his open legs.
She didn’t
hesitate; Kaya moved her body closer to his. In this position, they were almost
eye to eye. She reached up with her fingers and touched the scar running
through his eyebrow. She would probably wonder what happened there. Hopefully
one day he could tell her. Then she traced her fingers down his cheek to run
her hand along his jaw. She seemed mesmerized by his whiskers.
Rafael placed
one hand behind her neck, under her ponytail. Wanting to see her blonde hair
down, he removed the rubber band, allowing her locks to fall along her back.
She seemed to be holding her breath. He threaded his fingers through her hair
and pulled her face to his. He rested his forehead against hers, not wanting to
move too fast.
Kaya exhaled and
touched her lips to his. Rafe stood from the table and pulled her head back so
that she was looking up at him. He grazed his lips over hers, barely on a
whisper. When she closed her eyes, he pressed their mouths together. The hum
flowing through their bodies was heady. He pulled her hips to his knowing she
would feel his erection against her stomach. He wanted her to know how she
affected him. When he felt the gasp escape her throat, he lost his control.
He licked the
seam of her lips, asking to be let in. Once she granted permission, he let his
lust for her flow through his mouth, rolling off his tongue onto hers. Kaya’s
hands moved from his shoulders up into his hair. With every twirl of their
tongues, her grip became more frantic; pulling him closer, but at the same time
pushing him away. She was as conflicted as he. His hand on her hip moved down
to her ass, squeezing. She moaned into his mouth and moved her hips so that she
rubbed against his cock.
The blood was
coursing through Rafael’s body, pounding loudly in his ears. If he were smart,
he would use his shifter instincts to calm himself, but this out-of-control
feeling was new to him. If this was what being mated felt like, he wanted to
lock Kaya in his bedroom and never leave.
When the kiss
broke, she pulled away, placing her fingers on her swollen lips. The look she
gave him was tormented. “I
feel like I’m losing traction and the bad guys are winning. What about you, Mr.
Stone?”
“What about me?”
“You’ve been an
architect your whole adult life, correct? Is it still as satisfying as it was
the first time you designed a building?”
Rafe rewarded
her with a rare smile. If she only knew the first building he designed was one
of those in a painting she gazed upon in the lobby, she would probably run
screaming. “Yes, it is. Designing a building that stands hundreds of years is
almost indescribable. When you stop to think of all the people who come and go,
whose lives leave a footprint in that building and then multiply it by hundreds
of buildings; it is really astounding. I feel like I design more than just the
building, Miss Kane. I create the backdrop to the plays that are life.”
“Wow, that
was…beautiful. Can I ask you something personal?”
“You can ask,
doesn’t mean I’ll answer.”
“Why the
anonymity? Why hide out instead of showing the world who you are?”
“Is it that
important that the people see my face? I am not a Hollywood star who wishes to
have his personal life exploited in the tabloids for the world to pick apart.
I’m a private person, Miss Kane; I do not crave the limelight. What’s mine is
for me to enjoy. Should I ever find someone to share my life with, that will
also be done in private.”
Kaya leaned
forward in her chair as if to better hear him. Maybe she just wanted to be
closer to him, he wasn’t sure. He took a chance and softly stroked his
forefinger along the top of her hand. Instinctively, her hand turned over and
clasped his fingers with hers. The look in her eyes was a mixture of lust and
uncertainty. Keeping their hands locked, he pulled her to her feet and angled
her between his open legs.
She didn’t
hesitate; Kaya moved her body closer to his. In this position, they were almost
eye to eye. She reached up with her fingers and touched the scar running
through his eyebrow. She would probably wonder what happened there. Hopefully
one day he could tell her. Then she traced her fingers down his cheek to run
her hand along his jaw. She seemed mesmerized by his whiskers.
Rafael placed
one hand behind her neck, under her ponytail. Wanting to see her blonde hair
down, he removed the rubber band, allowing her locks to fall along her back.
She seemed to be holding her breath. He threaded his fingers through her hair
and pulled her face to his. He rested his forehead against hers, not wanting to
move too fast.
Kaya exhaled and
touched her lips to his. Rafe stood from the table and pulled her head back so
that she was looking up at him. He grazed his lips over hers, barely on a
whisper. When she closed her eyes, he pressed their mouths together. The hum
flowing through their bodies was heady. He pulled her hips to his knowing she
would feel his erection against her stomach. He wanted her to know how she
affected him. When he felt the gasp escape her throat, he lost his control.
He licked the
seam of her lips, asking to be let in. Once she granted permission, he let his
lust for her flow through his mouth, rolling off his tongue onto hers. Kaya’s
hands moved from his shoulders up into his hair. With every twirl of their
tongues, her grip became more frantic; pulling him closer, but at the same time
pushing him away. She was as conflicted as he. His hand on her hip moved down
to her ass, squeezing. She moaned into his mouth and moved her hips so that she
rubbed against his cock.
The blood was
coursing through Rafael’s body, pounding loudly in his ears. If he were smart,
he would use his shifter instincts to calm himself, but this out-of-control
feeling was new to him. If this was what being mated felt like, he wanted to
lock Kaya in his bedroom and never leave.
When the kiss
broke, she pulled away, placing her fingers on her swollen lips. The look she
gave him was tormented. “I
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