Page 43 of Fix You

“I’m sorry.”

He brushed his knuckles along my jawline. “Don’t ever be sorry, Maeve.”

“But I am. I’m sorry that we only have one kiss.”

“Who says it just has to be one?”

My heart leapt into my throat at the thought. Rafe pulled his forehead from mine. Instead of pulling away, he angled his face and brushed his lips against mine. A jolt went through me at the touch. It sent a tingle from the top of my head down to my toes.

But then something turned over in both Rafe and his kiss. What was once cautious and gentle turned demanding and feral. And God help me I loved it. Wrapping my arms around him, I fisted the fabric of his shirt in my fingers. Despite being pressed tightly against him, I desperately wanted more. If I could’ve crawled into his skin, I would have, so that he could’ve possessed even more of me.

When his tongue brushed against my lips I moaned. Rafe took the invitation and thrust his tongue into my mouth. Immediately, my tongue sought out his and began to tumble and tangle with it.

At the bulge pressing against my stomach, a shiver ran through me. But it wasn’t one of fear. It was desire mixed with gratitude.

Rafe desired me.

He wanted me.

In that moment, I knew that I would let him have whatever he wanted. He could have it all. Every inch of my body was his.

His hand slid from my neck down my collarbone to cup my breast. Pleasure flushed through me when he cupped my breast. My nipple hardened under his fingertips.

When he pulled his lips from mine, I mewled in protest. “Is that okay?”

“Touching me?”

“Yes.”

“Mmm, yes, it is,” I murmured against his lips.

He grinned before kissing across my jawline and then down my neck. “Fuck, Maeve, your taste drives me wild.”

With those words, my past and present collided. No longer was on the rooftop with Rafe’s hands and mouth on me. Instead I was in the Kavanaugh crypt with Oisin leering over me. No longer was it Rafe’s hands and mouth, but it was Oisin.

My stomach twisted and clenched as the images from my rape entered my mind. Bile shot up my throat, and I jerked away. Whirling around, I buried my head into the potted plant next to me as the shame and anguish of my past was forced from my body.

“Maeve?”

Inwardly, I was screaming at the top of my lungs as I emptied my stomach once again. Over and over I retched as images of Oisin rutting against me tortured my mind.

At the feel of Rafe’s hand on my back, I froze in my heaving. “Maeve? What’s wrong?”

Dragging my forearm across my mouth, I said, “Leave me alone.”

“Not when you’re sick. What happened?”

As tears clouded my eyes, I sank to my knees next to the pot. “Please just leave me alone.”

“Can I get your mother or one of your brothers?”

Salty tears streamed down my cheeks. My shining dream had turned into a glaring nightmare. I wanted to die rather than to have to face Rafe. If he looked into my eyes, he would know. I would’ve rather him put a bullet through my heart than to see the pity and revulsion on his face.

My trembling body became wracked with sobs. When Rafe bent over to pick me up, I kicked him away. “I said go! Leave me alone, damn you!”

“I can’t do that.”

“If you don’t, I’ll start screaming and let my brothers think the worst,” I choked.

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