𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ― rafe cameron

πενήνταένα ; 51

song of the chapter:
BEAUTIFUL BOY (DARLING BOY) - 2010 REMAKE ; john lennon

Margarita gazed up at Rafe, her heart pounding in her chest. "So, what does this mean for us?" she asked, her voice steady but carrying the weight of her emotions. She needed clarity—no more games, no more uncertainties.

Rafe looked back at her, his blue eyes locking with hers, filled with a rare vulnerability. He didn't hesitate this time. "It means you're my girlfriend," he said, his voice firm yet tender. "If you'll have me."

The simplicity of his words took her breath away. Margarita's lips curled into a small smile, her heart skipping a beat. "Yeah," she whispered, nodding slightly. "I'll have you."

Rafe leaned in, kissing her softly, sealing the new chapter of their relationship with that one shared moment. When they pulled apart, both of them were grinning, their foreheads resting together as if they had been waiting for this to happen all along.

"You and me," he said, his hand brushing her cheek. "For real this time."

"For real," she echoed, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time in ages, the uncertainty that had haunted her disappeared. She wasn't just Margarita anymore. She was Rafe's girlfriend, and that meant something—something real, something she could hold onto.

Small raindrops began to fall on their heads, soft and cool against the warm breeze that had been drifting by. Margarita looked up, feeling the light patter against her skin. It was uncommon for the OBX to have rain like this—a gentle drizzle, almost peaceful—but then again, the unexpected had a way of finding her lately.

Rafe chuckled softly, pulling her closer under the darkening sky. "Of course, it starts raining now," he said, his voice playful, but his eyes still on her, like he couldn't quite believe they were here together, like this.

Margarita smiled, tilting her head back slightly to let the droplets fall against her face, closing her eyes for a moment. The rain was calming, a welcome distraction from everything that had been weighing on her. It was like the world was giving them a moment to just... breathe.

"Maybe it's a good sign," she mused softly, looking at him through the misty air. "Like a reset."

Rafe nodded, his arm tightening around her waist. "I could use a reset," he admitted, his voice low, just for her.

As the rain continued to fall, they stood there together, letting the unexpected moment settle around them—just the two of them, in the quiet, sharing something simple, something new. Something real.

The soft, melodic sound of Beautiful Boy filled their ears through shared headphones, wrapping them in a bubble that seemed to block out the world. Margarita's smile was wide, the rain falling heavier now, soaking her hair and clothes. But she didn't care. She lifted her arms and began to twirl in the downpour, her movements graceful and free, as if the rain had washed away all the heaviness of the past few weeks.

Rafe stood watching her at first, his own grin spreading as he took in the way her laughter mingled with the music. Her joy was infectious, pulling him into her rhythm. She reached out, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward her.

"Come on, dance with me," she urged, her eyes twinkling with mischief as the rain dripped down her face.

Rafe hesitated for only a second before giving in, letting her guide him into a slow dance, their movements gentle and deliberate under the steady fall of rain. His hands found her waist as hers slipped around his neck, and they swayed to the music together, the world disappearing around them.

The rain grew heavier, but neither of them seemed to notice. Their smiles grew larger, laughter bubbling up between them, filling the space as they danced in the storm. It was spontaneous, beautiful, and perfectly theirs. The tension, the questions, and the doubts—all of it faded, replaced with this simple, pure moment of happiness.

With the rain pouring down, drenching them both, they moved together, lost in the music, the rain, and each other. And in that moment, it felt like nothing else mattered.

Rafe glanced up, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the once invisible clouds now dark and heavy, swirling ominously above them. The storm was coming, and fast. He tightened his grip on Margarita's hand, pulling her out of their shared moment, concern creeping into his expression.

"We should get inside," he said, his voice loud enough to be heard over the intensifying rain.

Margarita looked up at the sky, her smile fading slightly as she realized the storm's urgency. The playful rain had turned into something more menacing, thunder rumbling in the distance. Before she could react, Rafe gently tugged her hand, leading her down the hill, away from the rising winds.

Hand in hand, they ran through the thickening rain, their footsteps splashing through puddles forming on the ground. The storm was picking up speed, and the once gentle drops now pelted them as they made their way back to her house.

Rafe looked back at her briefly, and despite the looming storm, he couldn't help but smile. She was still laughing, her hair soaked, her face lit up with the excitement of their dash through the rain.

When they finally reached her house, panting and dripping wet, Margarita fumbled for her keys, the rain still pouring down around them. She glanced up at Rafe, breathless, her cheeks flushed, and they both burst into laughter—wet, cold, but undeniably happy.

As soon as they stepped inside, Margarita wasted no time. Her fingers were still intertwined with Rafe's as she led him up the stairs, the soft squelch of their soaked shoes padding against the marble floor. The storm outside had picked up, raindrops pelting the house, but it was nothing compared to the storm brewing between them.

When they reached her room, she stopped, turning to face him. Her breath was shallow, her hair damp and curling at the edges. She held his gaze for a moment, her chest rising and falling as if deciding what to do next. Without a word, her arms slipped around his neck, pulling him down toward her.

Her lips met his in a kiss that was slow at first, soft and tentative, as if testing the waters. But the moment their mouths touched, the floodgates opened. The kiss deepened quickly, all the emotions that had been bubbling beneath the surface finally spilling out. It was needy, desperate, and raw, like they had been waiting for this moment forever but hadn't known how to reach it.

Rafe's hands moved instinctively to her waist, gripping her firmly as if grounding them both. He pulled her closer, their soaked clothes sticking to their skin, but neither of them cared. Every touch, every breath between kisses seemed to say what words couldn't: the longing, the confusion, the overwhelming desire to just feel something real.

The room felt warmer, despite the cool rain outside. The gentle hum of the storm created a rhythm in the background, but their focus was entirely on each other. Margarita's hands moved through Rafe's damp hair, pulling him impossibly closer, while his hands slid down her back, mapping out every inch of her.

It was like time had slowed, each second stretching out, thick with tension and want. Every movement was deliberate, unhurried, yet filled with a fierce intensity. They weren't rushing—they were savoring. Savoring the connection, the relief of finally giving in to everything they had been holding back.

Her breath hitched as he pulled away slightly, their lips barely apart, the space between them charged with anticipation. Rafe rested his forehead against hers, both of them panting, eyes still locked, as if afraid to let the moment slip away.

"I've wanted this for so long," he whispered, his voice low and rough with emotion.

Margarita's heart thudded in her chest, her lips trembling as she pulled him back into her, kissing him harder this time, like she couldn't get enough.

There was no need for words now. Just the rain, the warmth between them, and the undeniable pull that kept bringing them back together.

--- end of chapter