Page 58 of Disciplined: His Forbidden Crush

Raul folded his arms. “Enough. You know, I am very much like my father,” he said, and there was an implicit threat in it. “But Verano is not. So I suppose I am glad to know that he will be safe in your care, as he pursues these…interests of his. And he will be safe, won’t he?”

That was also a threat. Rafael felt he had been threatened enough today. “I’ve given your father my word. I’ll give it to you as well—I will protect Summer with my life.”

Raul’s eyebrows lifted. “Summer? You call him that?”

“It’s what he calls himself.”

This seemed to mollify him. “Our mother used to, also. When she was alive.” Raul made a dismissive gesture. “Then, go take care of our Summer.”

Rafael wasted no more time in doing exactly that.

As he walked toward Summer’s room, the breeze through open windows rustled his hair, carrying the scent of sun-warmed greenery through the mansion. The familiar surroundings felt surreal, like a dream from which he’d soon awake. He still couldn’t quite believe what had just happened. Part of him felt that perhaps he had died in that room, and this was a fantasy playing out in his mind.

Outside Summer’s door, Rafael paused, taking a deep breath and trying to steady himself. His life as he knew it was about to change drastically; there would be no coming back to this place, to this life. The weight of the posturing that had defined him for so long began to lift, replaced by a vague fear. Of what, he didn’t know. The future? But that future would be with Summer, and so Rafael must face it, just as he had faced his impending death today.

Bravely, he knocked.

Summer opened the door, a shy smile playing on his lips. Rafael’s breath caught in his throat. In that moment, bathed in the soft, natural light streaming through the window, Summer looked more beautiful than anything Rafael had ever laid eyes on.

“Rafael,” Summer whispered, reaching out and pulling him into the room. Their gazes locked, and the words that had been spoken today seemed to hang in the air, charged with electricity.

“Summer,” Rafael breathed, reaching forward and cupping the side of Summer’s face. As Summer leaned in for a kiss, Rafael met him halfway. It was a warm kiss, intimate, but not urgent, needing nothing more than this.

“Te amo,” Rafael whispered against Summer’s ear, the words raw and full of emotion. It was a confession, a promise, and a plea all rolled into one.

Summer sighed, pulling Rafael tighter.

“Te amo tambien,” Summer murmured back.

The tightly wound spring in Rafael seemed to unravel, leaving him exhausted but happy. This was all he needed, the thing he’d never dared to wish for. And now he got to have it after all.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Late morning, the sun filtered through the curtains of Summer’s L.A. apartment, casting dappled patterns across the room. The sound of Taylor Swift on the radio kept Summer company as he stepped out of the shower. He hummed along to the music, a smile on his face.

The heat was oppressive, but Summer didn’t care. Today, he cared about nothing more than looking his best. His fingers deftly combed product through his damp hair, teasing out any tangles and smoothing it into silky submission. It could air-dry; in this weather it wouldn’t take long. Coco always made fun of him for having the most obedient hair in the world, but really, he wasn’t complaining.

In his bedroom, he selected a sheer, loose shirt and paired it with slim-cut jeans that hugged his hips just right. A glance in the mirror confirmed that he looked exactly how he intended—unwrappable.

As he stepped into the kitchen, he caught the scent of fresh coffee, and his heart skipped a beat. There, standing at the counter just topping off two steaming cups, was Rafael. The sight of him, his muscular arms shown off under the rolled-up sleeves of his tan shirt, brought a warm smile to Summer’s face.

“Rafael,” Summer sighed, “you’re back.”

Rafael looked up from his task and grinned, setting the cups down on the table before pulling Summer into a close embrace. Rafael’s strong arms around him made Summer’s heart soar. And then Rafael’s mouth found his, and Summer could think of nothing but how blissful it was to have Rafael home again.

“I missed you,” Summer whispered between kisses, his hands roaming over Rafael’s broad shoulders. It had been two long days since Rafael had left on a job for the cartel, and the ache of separation had been strong.

“Good,” Rafael murmured against Summer’s lips, the heat of his breath sending a delicious rush through Summer’s whole body.

Summer’s gaze lingered on the dark circles under Rafael’s eyes. “Did you get any sleep?” he asked with concern. He didn’t ask about the job; Rafael didn’t like to involve Summer in cartel business, and Summer preferred not to know.

Now, Rafael shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “I can sleep later. Right now, all I want is you.”

The words went straight to Summer’s crotch. Rafael captured his lips again, pressing him up against the kitchen table. The hard surface dug into Summer’s ass, but he didn’t care about it. The feeling of Rafael’s muscular body so close to his own, the heat radiating from his skin, left Summer weak, his knees trembling as arousal coiled tightly within him.

“So you missed me?” Rafael murmured against Summer’s lips, his hands roaming over Summer’s body, each touch electrifying.

“Did you miss me?” Summer asked breathlessly, his voice hitching as Rafael nipped at his lower lip, the ache for more growing unbearable.

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