Page 97 of Resilient Love

When she’s done signing everything, she asks if he’d like to call his daughter so she can say hi, and I swear, this man nearly falls to his knees before her. I mean, I get it, but I’d rather be the only person on their knees for this woman.

His daughter, Rosalia, screams over the line when Elise introduces herself, and when we leave, I’m left filled with an overwhelming sense of pride for this incredible woman that I’m practically bursting at the seams with.

I hold the passenger door open for her, buckling her in before sliding into the driver’s side. As soon as the doors are closed and it’s just us again, I kiss her like my life depends on it.

And some days,I think it does.

“Let’s go find that nice place I promised you,mi vida,” I tell her, kissing the back of her hand and pulling out onto the main road.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

MONDAY, JUNE 9

“This look nice enough for you?”Rafael asks, trailing his fingers up the inside of my thigh as he brings the car to a stop at the entrance to what looks like a private beach.

“For now.” I look around the area, satisfied when I see no other cars or evidence that anyone else is around. “We’ve got to make this quick though because I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this or not, but I’ve been arrested before, and I’m not thrilled at the prospect of adding anything else to my record.”

He scoffs, throwing his car door open and walking around to my side. My fingers can’t move fast enough as I work on getting my seatbelt unbuckled. Rafael pulls my door open, wrapping hisstrong arms around me, and pulls me out of the vehicle, setting me on the hood.

He wastes no time tugging my leggings and thong down, tossing them beside me, and undoing his belt. The hot metal stings at first but dissipates quickly.

I’m enraptured as I watch him pull himself out, stroking his rapidly hardening length. “Open wide, Elise,” he says as he fishes a condom out of his wallet and rolls it on.

Birds crow overhead, their songs a loud reminder that anyone could drive by and see us. My skin is flushed, but chills erupt as the cool, damp air touches me between my legs.

His dark eyes narrow, gripping me by the hips and dragging me down the hood to meet him. He holds the base of his cock, swiping it through my wet centre.

My lip quivers, and my chest heaves as he enters me in one smooth thrust. “Oh, god,” I cry, my eyes watering as I arch into him.

He pulls my legs up, helping me wrap them around his back as I dig my nails into his traps. He dips his head, stilling his movements and drawing my lobe between his teeth. “Hold on,mi vida,” he growls against the shell of my ear.

And with those four words, his restraint breaks as he slams into me, drawing gasps and moans from my lips.

“You were so good today,” he tells me, and my abdomen floods with a gnawing heat in response. “Facing your fears for me,” he praises. “Such a good girl.”

His words do me in, pulling every ounce of my arousal out of me as he slides his hand down my tummy, flicking my clit with his thumb and successfully creating fireworks behind my lids.

This might be the fastest I’ve ever come before, and I’m overwhelmed by sensation. The sound of distant water splitting across the surface of heavy stone, Rafael’s murmured praise, the cool brush of the breeze of my skin, the sun’s warm rays seepinginto us. They all mingle with the feel of Rafael, the man that Ilovestretching me, pressing against the walls of my pussy, dragging out my pleasure as he meets his own. Sweat from what we’d just accomplished, and the pride that reminder breathes into me atbothof us overcoming our fears mingles with the heady scent of our arousal, and a familiar, warm and citrusy scent that is so uniquely Rafa.

My nipples pebble as I hear his groan and the subsequent tightening of his ass under the heels of my feet before he stills, resting his bulk on me, my cunt still spasming around him as his release fills the condom inside me.

He licks a trail up the side of my neck, a shiver rolling through me, and my fingers scrape through his scalp. His soft lips press at the base of my ear, and his warm breath tickles me as he says, “Baby, let’s get you home.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

MONDAY, JUNE 9

“Hey,I’m willing to try almost anything once so long as it doesn’t end with me in prison or dead,” I joke with Diego when he asks if I’d like to trymate.

His deep chuckle has easily become one of my favourite things in the last few days. It’s hearty and comforting.

He prepares the dried leaves with hot water, allowing them to float to the top before handing it to me. “It’s got an acquired flavour, so don’t feel bad if you don’t like it. The act of pouring and sharingmateis considered a gesture of love and dedication.”

Rafael had told me aboutmateonce when he was talking about his childhood. He said thatmateis considered anintegral part of Argentinian life. Sharing it with people is like a ceremony. It’s tied to feelings of friendship and is shared with both friends and strangers.

It’s sweet that something so seemingly simple as sharing a beverage with someone has such a profound meaning to an entire culture.

“Gracias, Diego.” I thank him, wrapping my hands around the clay mug, the heat warming my palms.

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