Page 78 of Fix You

Silence hung heavy around us for a few minutes. Rafe cleared his throat. “Right, well. They said the room is ready whenever you are.”

Cocking my brows at him, I said, “You really want me to go to another room.”

With a scowl, he replied, “Of course I don’t.”

“But you–”

“It’s what you need to do.”

“And what about what I want?”

“Maeve,” Rafe groaned.

“Just one night,” I pleaded.

Rafe exhaled a painful sigh. “And what happens in the morning?”

“You go back to New York, and I go back to Dublin.”

“But what happens when we see each other again at family gatherings?”

“We smile at each other and act as if nothing inside this hotel room ever happened.”

“And you think you’ll be able to do that?”

Of course I won’t. I’m already in love with you. Losing my virginity to you is just going to seal that deal even further.

I nodded. “I will.”

Rafe stared intently into my eyes. Just when I thought he was going to turn me down, he said, “All right.”

“Really?” At his nod, I asked, “What changed your mind?”

“I swore I would do everything within my power to help and heal you. If this is what it will take, then I have to do it.”

A nervous giggle burst from my lips. At Rafe’s surprised look, I shook my head. “It’s just I never heard someone being so honorable about a hookup.”

He grinned. “I suppose not.”

“What does your honorable self presume to do to me?” I teased.

With a groan, Rafe replied, “Keep talking like that, and I’ll lose all my honor.”

“Would that be so bad?”

“For this first time it would.” A serious look came over his face. “We should probably set some parameters.”

“Like what?”

“Do you want the lights on or off?”

“Since you’ve seen all of me in the bright lights, I want to see you the same.”

“Then see me,” Rafe urged.

I abandoned the covers around me and rose to my feet. My trembling fingers came to the button at his collar. After I undid it, I began working my way down his chest. Gripping the fabric, I untucked his shirt from his pants. After helping him shrug the shirt over his arms, I let it drop to the floor.

I then turned my attention to his bare chest. The dusting of dark hair. The intricate, multi-colored tattoos. The powerful bulging muscles.

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