Page 79 of Fix You

As I ran my hands over his pecs, I murmured, “You’re so beautiful.”

“No, Tesoro, you’re the one who is beautiful.”

I shook my head at him. “Your body is…” I shuddered with desire. “Gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” he replied with a smirk.

Wincing, I stared down at the floor. “I sound like an idiot.”

Rafe’s chuckle rumbled underneath my fingertips. “No, you don’t.”

“I’m sure I don’t sound like the women you’re used to being with.”

“Look at me, Maeve,” Rafe commanded.

Reluctantly, I swept my gaze up from the floor to meet his onyx eyes. “Everything you say is genuine. It’s not a line that’s been used on countless other men. You’re saying what’s truly on your heart and mind. Nothing is concocted as part of a game.”

“I do mean every word.”

“And that’s what makes it so sexy.”

Smiling shyly at him, I brought my hands to his belt buckle. After unbuckling him, I then worked to unbutton and unzip his pants. As I pushed his pants over his ass, Rafe sucked in a breath, causing the muscles on his chest and abdomen to ripple.

Once his pants were deposited on the floor, my fingers hooked into the waistband of his briefs. But then part of my brain short-circuited, and I froze. I wanted so much to see and touch that part of him–that monstrously large part of him that strained behind the fabric.

But in that moment, fear overrode my desire. I knew the pain that part of him could cause me. Oisin hadn’t been as big as Rafe, and he’d hurt me so deeply.

At my hesitation, Rafe’s thumb came to my chin. He tipped my head up to look at him. As if he could read my mind, he said, “I willneverhurt you. At the first moment you feel any pain, we’ll stop. Okay?”

Tears pricked my eyes at his kindness. His words also gave me the courage to push on. With my eyes locked on his, I reached inside his briefs and brushed my hand against his erection. At his groan of pleasure, a feeling of empowerment overrode any of my remaining fear.

Although I had no idea what I was doing, I gripped him at his base. I then began to slide my hand up and down like I’d seen in some of the porn I’d watched. Rafe’s grunt fueled me to work my hand even faster. When I glanced up at him, he stared at me through hooded eyes. “I love the feel of you in my hand,” I murmured.

Rafe’s chest began to pump up and down. The corded muscles in his neck tightened. Just when I thought I might send him over the edge, his hand came to still mine on his cock.

“Not yet. I want to come inside you.”

A shiver ran through me at his words. “I want that, too.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

Rafe nodded. “Go lie down on the bed,” he urged.

Without taking my eyes off his, I backed up until my knees hit the edge of the mattress. After I sat down, I began pushing myself back to the center of the bed. Rafe appeared to be contemplating his next move. I knew it had to do with the best way to approach me that wouldn’t have me remembering that night.

“Rafe?” I questioned when he remained staring down at me.

“We should have a safe word.”

I furrowed my brows at him. “Like in BDSM?”

As he knelt down on the mattress, his lips quirked up. “You know about BDSM?”

With a roll of my eyes, I replied, “Yes, I don’t totally live under a rock.” Jerking my chin at him, I asked, “Now answer my question.”

“In a way, yes, it would be like it is in BDSM. But more importantly, it would be a word to make sure you always feel safe.” He rubbed his knuckles along my jawline. “A word that when spoken, we stop no matter what.”

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