Page 52 of Deviant

He rose and backed me into the tree, issuing a gruff order to raise my hands above my head.

I did as told, and his mouth collided with mine, annihilating me with the insistent darts of his tongue. As he gripped me by the nape, he trailed his fingers up my left arm, never breaking our kiss, and slid his token of forever on my ring finger.

Oh my God.

I was delirious, my mind floating on a plane of existence I hadn’t thought possible to reach. But Rafe sent me there with his unspoken promise of unconditional love, with the reality of his commitment circling my finger.

“I love you,” I said, inching my head back and gripping his hard biceps.

He engulfed me in his arms and buried his head in the crook of my shoulder, breaths shuddering against my skin. “You make me believe in miracles.”

Loving him wasn’t a miracle. It was as certain as death, as darkly beautiful as life. It was a predestined absolution.

I gripped him by the hair, and we stood like that as if time didn’t exist. Clutched each other as if our lives depended on it. In the middle of the woods, naked and vulnerable, the babbling sound of my biggest phobia just yards away, I found peace.

Discovered a rarity.

Sometimes lovewasenough.

He picked me up, fingers digging into my ass, and strode toward the shallow, calm part of the creek.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you home to get married, but first, I want to get you wet.” With a wicked grin, he carried me into the water, feet splashing.

24. Confirmation - Alex

For the first time in what seemed like forever, it poured. This wasn’t a mere shower of warm, summer rain. This was the kind of torrential downpour that kept people inside, even in August. The weather didn’t stop us though. Rafe led me through the parking lot of a strip mall, my hand clasped in his, and we ducked under the awning of the bridal boutique where Angel and I were scheduled to get fitted for our dresses.

She and Jax joined us seconds later.

“Stay inside the store, okay?” Rafe said.

I nodded.

“Call me if you feel something is off, no matter how small. I’ll be right across the street.”

We’d spent so much time together, just the two of us in the safe solitude of our own making, that neither of us knew how to let go, especially Rafe.

Because my dad and Zach were still threats, and the worst kind—soundless and invisible—possibly preparing for a strike we wouldn’t see coming. As a result, Rafe didn’t want to let me out of his sight.

“I’ll be fine, I promise.”

He frowned, and I sensed an admonishment on the rise about how I shouldn’t promise things I couldn’t guarantee. Before he got the chance, I stood on tiptoe and covered his mouth with mine. He responded, his lips parting to accept my insistent tongue.

“Jesus, babe,” he said, reluctantly breaking away. “I’ve got supplies to get. If you keep kissing me like that, we’re going straight home instead.”

“Go,” I said, pushing against his broad chest. God, I loved summer, despite the rain. The black sleeveless tee he wore showed off his ink, not to mention his toned biceps. Rafe pulled me against him for another taste.

“Save it for the bedroom, guys. We got shit to do.” Jax snickered, and I shot him a glare, almost giving in to the urge to sock him. He held up his hands though the grin didn’t melt from his face.

“You ladies have fun in there.”

“We plan to,” I said, enough sass in my tone that Rafe gave me a warning look. I stole another kiss before entering the boutique, Angel on my heels, silent as usual, and the first sign of a panic attack hit.

My pulse accelerated. Doubt consumed me.

I looked over my shoulder at Rafe’s retreating back through the glass, and I wanted to call after him. Beg him not to leave me.

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