Submit (Surrender #2)(53)
Author: Melody Anne

“What happened to make him hate his dad?”

“That’s a story for Shane to tell. Let’s just say that if I had been in his shoes, I’d most likely have ended up in prison for murder.” As Ari cringed, Rafe shuttered his emotions. This was no time to display rage.

“He seems like such a carefree guy,” Ari said, furrowing her forehead.

“Shane learned early in life how to mask what he was feeling. He had to in order to survive. His father was the true definition of a monster.”

“Is he still alive?”

“We need to change the subject. This night is about relaxation and romance.

“Romance?” Ari asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Yes, romance. We’d better get on with our evening,” Rafe said as he stood and held out his hand.

Soft music was filtering out to them, and Rafe pulled Ari into his arms, inhaling her unique scent as she leaned her head against his chest and the two began a slow, reverent dance.

“I could do this all night,” she whispered.

“Then we won’t leave.” He found himself not wanting to deny her anything.

The waiter brought out their next course, and Rafe reluctantly released Ari so she could eat. Though the dishes were prepared to perfection, Rafe had no desire to sit across from Ari at a table. Too much distance. He wanted to hold her, feel her body pressed against his. And for the first time he could remember, that was good enough. Tonight, he wanted nothing more than to caress her smooth skin, run his fingers through her hair and whisper his dreams in her ear.

So dangerous. But one night of letting go wouldn’t harm him. One night to feel more than lust wouldn’t break him.

When their meal was finally finished and forgotten, Rafe took Ari to a smoky jazz club, where he held her in his arms as the sweet sounds of music drifted through the room. Cradling Ari’s delicate hand in his, he gloried also in the warmth of her cheek as she rested her head on his chest. It was so easy to lose himself in the moment. He was in deeper than he’d ever planned — but he couldn’t make himself feel regret.

By the time they arrived back at their room, Rafe knew he should leave her at their bedroom door and take a walk, but instead, he gently pulled her into his arms and slowly removed her dress in the dim light seeping through the curtains of the living room.

“Do you have any clue how ravishing you are, Ari? I’m a jealous man and I see the way you attract the attention of every male in a room. I also see that you don’t even notice. I could spend all night and day doing nothing but worshipping your body.”

He bent down and ran his lips along the delicate skin of her neck, delighted when a shiver ran through her.

“I can’t think straight when you speak to me like that, Rafe,” she whispered as her head fell backward.

“Then don’t think. Just let go.” Rafe lifted her into his arms and carried her to their room where he made slow, sweet love to her until the early hours of morning. When pure exhaustion took over, he fell asleep with her body atop him.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Lia woke up in Shane’s arms and couldn’t keep the smile from her face. They’d finally made love. The night out had done the trick, and she felt pretty proud of herself at seducing the incredibly suave Shane Grayson, even if it had taken help from her little sister and a very sexy burlesque show.

“What are you smiling about?”

Lia jumped as she tore her gaze from Shane’s magnificent chest and met his stunning dark chocolate eyes. She loved the gleam in them, the way they mesmerized her — turned her to liquid heat.

“I seduced the lady-killer Shane Grayson, my body is exquisitely sore from a few rounds of earth-shattering sex, and I plan on repeating the night all day long,” she answered with a satisfied grin.

The first sign of trouble came when the window shades came over his eyes. No. No. No. She absolutely wouldn’t allow him to retreat. The sex had been better than she’d imagined it possibly could be, and he wasn’t going to make up some lame excuse about her being Rafe’s little sister and about how wrong it was for them to have slept together. She would have to kill him.

Lia glowered at him, letting him know she could read his thoughts, and that he’d better think twice if he were contemplating trying to sneak away from her. Never before had she been this bold with a man.

Yes, Lia was self-confident. She took care of her body, working out five days a week, eating healthfully, and going to the spas. She bought nice clothes and took time with her hair and makeup. She wasn’t vain, but she knew she wasn’t the worst catch in the world. Yet when it came to Shane, her confidence sank to an all-time low.

Her long-time unrequited love would be a blow to anybody’s ego. Growing up in a wealthy, loving family didn’t spare her from heartache.

If Shane walked out on her, she’d never forgive him — not after the night they’d spent.

“Lia…”

“I swear, if you spout off again about this being wrong —”

“Give me a minute here,” he insisted.

She didn’t relax her glare, but waited in silence for him to continue. When he raised an eyebrow as if asking whether it was OK to continue speaking, she nodded her head the barest inch.

“I’m not running. I just have to speak to Rafe about this. He’s my best friend, and I won’t sneak behind his back and sleep with his little sister.”

“No.”

“What do you mean, no? You can’t just tell me no,” Shane said with an outraged scowl.

“I don’t want him to know. It’s none of his business. Plus, I like the thought of a secret affair — at least for a little while. We can sneak off to one of the spare rooms at my parents’ house during a family dinner, make love in the back of the car on the way to your office, meet for lunch and have only dessert,” Lia whispered as she bent down and began kissing his chest.

Her hand reached down and she felt his obvious pleasure at her words. He was thick and hard and she couldn’t resist slipping the covers down and climbing on top of him.

“We need to talk,” he gasped as she positioned herself over him and slowly sunk down on his staff. The groan at the end of his words effectively shut him up.

“You fill me so full, Shane. I could ride you like this all day long,” she moaned as she lifted herself nearly free of him before pushing down against his hips, enjoying the sound of their bodies connecting.

Shane gripped her h*ps and started thrusting up inside her, taking over their movements as pressure began building. One hand moved forward and he began rubbing her in just the right spot with the flat of his thumb, speeding up her heart, and bringing her to the brink of orgasm.