Page 27 of Alpha's Secret Baby Girl
“I don’t care if you think it’s unmanly or any of that nonsense. I’d rather you stay alive.”
Rafael couldn’t stop himself from grinning. The proof of her being worried about him was touching, but her orders were already doing something to him. Just like how he’d enjoyed her ordering Michael and Joshua, it seemed he enjoyed those orders being directed at him, too. “Okay.”
“You men are just stupid when it comes to these sorts of things,” she continued, working up more emotion. “You guys think that the only way to protect people is to throw yourselves headfirst into danger. But you know what would happen if you got yourself murdered? Nothing good! Protecting isn’t about putting yourself in danger. Sometimes it’s about being a coward because that’s the braver thing to do.”
Gwen paused, concern furrowing her brows.
“I understand what you mean,” Rafael told her gently.
Her eyes cut back to him, and she let out a deep sigh. “You’re humoring me.”
He smiled back at her. “I understand what you’re saying. Maybe I am humoring you a bit, but that doesn’t mean I disagree. I need to practice being more of a coward.” He paused, his grin turning wicked. “But it needs to be a different sort of cowardice than I displayed so shamefully seven years ago.”
“What coward—oh.” Gwen huffed, shaking her head hard. “We’re not going back there. You apologized for that, and I might still be angry, but I do understand the instinct to lie to your father. So don’t bring up that old nonsense when I’m trying to discuss the present day.”
“Okay.”
Gwen narrowed her eyes and pointed an accusing finger at him. “Stop saying, ‘Okay’ all the time when I know you don’t mean it.”
He couldn’t help himself. “Okay.”
“Bastard,” she snipped. “You think you’re so clever, but you’re not. You’re nothing but a ratbutt bastard. Bastard!” Her cheeks were growing a darker and darker red, but the tension was starting to ease out of her shoulders. “Fuck, it feels good to swear again. And I can swear at you all I want, you ratbutt.”
“I can’t say that I’m impressed with the mother of my child saying such a terrible word as ratbutt,” Rafael teased.
“Ratbutt.”
Rafael stalked forward. “Mmmm. No, I really don’t like that at all. Fuck and bastard are fun, but the ‘r’ word is going too far.”
Gwen stepped backward, but not far enough. Rafael stared at her, need pulling through him. Her concern,her orders, and then followed almost immediately by the lighthearted teasing that had made him fall in love with her in the first place, was too much. Yesterday had been terrifying. She didn’t even know how frightened he was.
“I didn’t chase it because I was worried about being a coward,” he said, his hands moving out on their own accord. They rested on her hips and drew her forward, digging into the dark fabric of her skirt. Their bodies aligned. “I did it because I had to get the demon away from you and Lianne. If I didn’t chase it, it could double-back at you.”
“It wasn’t smart,” Gwen whispered.
“It was necessary.” One of his hands slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him. His other hand slid into her hair, the warmth of her scalp bleeding into his hand.
Gwen tilted her face upward. Rafael caught her mouth with his. Heat built between them as he slid his tongue into her mouth, tasting her. Her scent filled his lungs, and he sighed, so much tension and resistance disappearing all at once. This was what he needed. His mate in his arms. He held her tighter, slanting his face the other way as he deepened the kiss.
Chapter 11 - Gwen
Gwen buried her fingers in Rafael’s hair, feeling the silky texture. Seriously, what products did he use? She’d have to raid his shower and start using it on her own head. Her breath came in little, quick gasps as her hips rolled forward, pressing against him through their clothes.
“Gwen,” Rafael grunted. His hands were so possessive on her, but she didn’t care. She wanted him to hold her tighter.
His mouth was amazing, the give of his lips shooting sparks through her. Heat built in her belly, feeling like liquid fire between her thighs. She wanted more. Breaking from his lips, she kissed along his jaw, feeling the sharp stubble of his beard starting to grow in. They itched against her lips, and she moved down, kissing his neck to find his collar. Would he still groan and jerk his hips if she licked his Adam’s apple and touched his abs at the same time?
As it turned out, the answer was yes. Gwen gasped when she felt his hardness press through her skirt against him. The hand on her waist dropped, cupping her ass. He kneaded the soft globe as he pulled her head back lightly with his other hand, exposing her throat. Gwen let him guide her movements, clinging to him. He kissed her neck, and shivers shot straight to her core. Her eyes widened, and she lifted one leg over his hip.
“Goddess, Rafael.” She shivered against him. “It’s been too long since—”
She moaned and shivered again.
“Too long?” His hand left her hair and moved between them, shifting her skirt out of the way. “Too long since me or too long since your last time?”
If she told him it was the same thing, his head would swell so big it would endanger his neck. So for the sake of his own life, she only groaned in response and rolled her hips against him again. The need and heat sweeping through her was too strong.
Somewhere in the distance, behind the door, she heard an elevator door ping. She ignored it until voices reached her.
