Page 16 of Rafe

They lay there for what felt like an eternity, their bodies tangled together in the grass as they caught their breath. Maggie could still feel the aftershocks of her orgasm coursing through her body, and she knew without a doubt that nothing would evercompare to this. Rafe had ruined her for anyone else, and she didn’t give a damn.

Chapter Four

Rafe rolled onto his back beside her, the grass cool and slightly damp against his skin. He draped an arm over his eyes, blocking out the harsh reality of the moment, and swore under his breath.

“Damn it.” With a sigh of frustration, he tugged his jeans back up, the rough denim scraping against his skin, stood, and headed toward the shimmering pond, its surface reflecting the fading light of the late afternoon.

“Well, that’s what every woman wants to hear after sex,” Maggie snapped, her voice sharp as she hurriedly dressed, the fabric rustling in the gentle breeze.

“That shouldn’t have happened, Maggie,” Rafe said, his tone heavy with regret as he pulled his shirt on, the fabric settling over his shoulders. “And you know it.” With a swift, angry motion, he tucked his T-shirt into his jeans, his movements tense, and strode toward his horse.

“I don’t know it. You could have stopped,” she retorted, her voice echoing with defiance as she quickly dressed.

“And you could have told me to,” he shouted back, his words slicing through the stillness of the afternoon.

Maggie marched toward him, determination in her every step, and placed a firm hand on his arm, forcing him to meet her gaze. Her eyes were fierce, a storm of emotions swirling within them.

“I told you I didn’t want you to stop. Do not put all of this on me, Rafe Marshall” with a final, defiant look, she turned away from him, mounted her horse and galloped off through the field. The wind whipped through her hair as she disappeared into the horizon, leaving him standing alone, watching her silhouette fade into the distance.

“Fuck!”he shouted to the empty sky, his voice full of frustration and self-reproach. He sank back down onto the ground, the weight of his actions pressing heavily upon him, and berated himself with every name he could muster for not stopping when he knew deep down it was wrong to have sex with her. It was a path that led nowhere, and he had no desire to hurt her.

“Hell, you already did. Dumbass,” he muttered to himself, rising to his feet. He mounted his horse slowly, the familiar creak of the saddle beneath him, and headed back toward the barn. He took his time, hoping that by the time he arrived, she would be long gone, leaving him alone with his thoughts and regrets.

As he rode his horse into the yard, the crunch of gravel under hooves was the only sound accompanying him. Noticing that her vehicle was absent, he exhaled a deep sigh of relief, the tension easing from his shoulders. He knew their confrontation was inevitable, but he was grateful for the reprieve, at least for now.

“Damn it, you knew better,” he chastised himself, his voice barely above a whisper, as he guided his horse into the dimly lit barn. The scent of hay and leather surrounded him as he cooled the horse, the familiar routine offering little comfort.

He had always harbored feelings for her but maintained a respectful distance due to her marital status. Despite the fact that her husband was a jerk, her wedding band was a constant reminder that she was off-limits.

“She’s not married now,” he muttered under his breath, the thought hanging heavily in the air.

“Hey, are you talking to yourself?” a voice interrupted his musings.

Rafe turned to see Nate making his way toward him, the barn’s shadows dancing across his face.

“Yes,” Rafe admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Nate crossed his arms, leaning against a wooden post, and fixed him with a curious gaze. “Why?”

“No reason,” Rafe replied with a nonchalant shrug, eliciting a laugh from Nate.

“Okay,” Nate said, still chuckling.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was heading home and thought I’d stop in to see if you want to grab a beer Saturday at Dewey’s.”

“Sure. That sounds good. I told Markie to tell you to call me about that.”

“Yeah, she told me. I’ll meet you there around seven.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.”

Nate nodded but continued to scrutinize him with a knowing look. “What’s going on, Rafe?”

“Nothing. I’m fine,” Rafe insisted, though the slight tension in his voice hinted otherwise.

“Uh, huh. Okay, see you then.” Nate lingered for a moment, his gaze still probing, before finally leaving the barn.

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