The Irresistible Rogue (Playful Brides #4)(86)

Rafe struggled to catch his breath. He let his head drop back against the pillows. “I nev … I never felt anything li—like that before.”

She lowered herself down to curl against him. “I find that difficult to believe.”

“I’m entirely serious. What the hell was in the pamphlet you read?”

Daphne leaned against his chest and giggled. “It’s a secret.”

She traced her fingers along his chest, down his abdomen and lower. His erection was back. It had only been mere moments since his orgasm but Rafe was already hard for her again. He pulled her hand around him. “That was … amazing, but I want to make love to you, Daphne. Make you my wife.”

She smiled against his shoulder. “You already have.”

He kissed her hair. “This time I need to tell you how much I love you while I’m deep inside of you.”

A thrill shot through Daphne’s body. Rafe’s hands found her breasts again and within just a few moments she was mindless with wanting him all over again. He knew just where to touch, what to suck, where to press. He had such power over her body—she closed her eyes—and it was delightful.

Rafe pushed her onto her back and rolled atop her. She welcomed his wonderful heavy weight. He pulled her hands up above her head and pinned them there. “Let me make you feel good again.”

“Yes,” she breathed.

Rafe kissed her lips, her neck, her collarbone. He skimmed his teeth along the plump edge of her breast and nipped at her nipples. She arched her back, the spot between her legs wet and wanting. His hair-roughened thigh nudged between her legs and pushed her knees apart. She welcomed it. He slid inside her with one sure, hot thrust. She gasped against his mouth.

Then her husband began to move. He slid in and out, his thrusts matching the beats of her heart. “I love you,” he breathed, sweat beading on his brow. “I love you.” Each thrust was another promise, another declaration. With her hands still pinned helplessly above her head, he moved his hips and his shaft pressed against a tender spot inside her that made Daphne cry out. Amazingly, she slid into another release, pressing her wrists against his hands and calling his name.

Rafe pumped into her one last deep time. He released her wrists and she wrapped her arms fiercely around his neck. “I love you, Daphne,” he breathed, and she knew a moment of profound contentment holding her husband in her arms.

It was several minutes before Daphne floated back to reality from the haze in which the only thing that existed was her husband’s body and the way he made her feel. Rafe was still hovering over her, pushing the tendrils of hair from her face and kissing her mouth in that sensuous way of his.

“Tell me something,” she said.

“Anything, my love.”

“Why did you pick Thomas Grey as my name?”

“So I could call you Grey, of course.”

She blinked. “But why?”

“Because of your pretty eyes.”

Daphne couldn’t help her smile. “Is that so? I never suspected a thing.”

“Of course you didn’t.” He kissed her forehead.

He moved to the side, taking her with him, and Daphne traced a finger along his muscular chest. “But it’s not as if I’m perfect. It’s as you said. I’ve always had my family fix everything for me. That won’t happen again. From now on I intend to handle everything myself. Starting with telling Julian that we’re married and we intend to remain that way. I can handle things myself.”

Rafe rested his chin on the top of her head. “You proved that you can handle things yourself when you were abducted, when you stowed away on the boat, when you stood up to me and my stubborn refusal to see that I needed you, and finally when you held those men at gunpoint. Well done, Grey.” He kissed the top of her head.

Daphne tipped her head back and smiled up at him. “I told them I’m a crack shot.”

Rafe snorted. “I’m glad they didn’t ask you to prove it.”

“So am I. I’d already thrown the only knife I had. I’m glad you and Salty and Grim came soon after. I needed you, too.”

He pressed a kiss to her temple. “We need each other, love. You’ve always been there for me when I’ve needed you. I learned that today.”

“And that you cannot live the rest of your life with the guilt about Donald,” Daphne added.

“That, too.” He hugged her close. “I’m certain Upton will be pleased to hear that he was correct.”

Daphne wrapped an arm around Rafe’s shoulder. “I learned something today as well.”

“What’s that?”

“That being the opposite of tall isn’t such a curse after all. I’ll never complain about it again. Michel’s knife sailed entirely over my head.”

He squeezed her to him fiercely. “Thank God you’re short. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been hurt.”

“Yes, I suppose I must be grateful for it now. Even if it does make getting things down from the top of the wardrobe difficult.”

Rafe’s laughter filled the room. “You are adorable and I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

“Truly?”

“Truly.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. “I love you, Daphne Cavendish, my wife.”