Taming Rafe Animals MC book 7

Chapter Fourteen.

He woke up on the couch in the early afternoon, naked, with Tess laying naked on top of him. He glanced to his left and saw the fire had burned out hours ago.

Her long black hair fell like a satin curtain over her face and his shoulder, tickling his arm. He pushed her hair way and kissed her lips gently.

She frowned and tried to burrow into his warmth with a whimper.

"Cold," She managed softly.

Kissing her cheek and her forehead he carefully rolled from beneath her, disappearing into the bathroom. He turned the faucet in the old clawfoot bathtub, running the hot water.

He returned to the living room and lifted her effortless into his arms, carrying her into the bathroom.

He eased into the hot water, settling against the back of the tub and positioning her in front of him, between his legs. She leaned back against his chest with a contented sigh.

He wrapped his arms around her small frame, kissing her neck a few times before letting his head fall back against the edge of the tub.

He felt his body relax completely in a way that he hadn't in years, he couldn't remember the last time he slept so late or felt so at peace.

He was only barely aware of his hand that was stroking her hair at a slow, soft pace. Letting the wet strands slide through his fingers.

"Chloe wasn't just my medic...she was my girlfriend," He said softly.

He wasn't sure why he was telling her all of this, he had never told anyone before but the words were falling off his tongue before he could stop them.

"It was against the rules for her to be seeing a senior officer but...I loved her...so...we kept it secret. She died trying to drag me to safety, I was too busted up to attend her funeral but...I learned later that...she was pregnant."

"Oh, Raph, I'm so sorry."

"I don't think she even knew yet, she was only about six or so weeks along. They...they didn't know who the father was. I didn't get to claim my baby...but...I never would have let her go on a mission if I knew."

"Of course you wouldn't, it's not your fault."

"I was in a come for a few weeks and in the hospital for months but...even if she had survived I doubt she would recognize me now. I don't think I would want a poor baby to have me as a father like this."

She turned in his arms, careful not to hurt him and leaned forward to kiss him. He responded by pulling her against his chest.

He held her in his arms, dropping kisses wherever he could until the water started to chill and she was growing cold again.

"I better go get a fire started and turn on some heat," He said kissing the side of her head.

"No, don't." She begged.

"You're cold."

"I'm not ready for...whatever this is to be over." She admitted.

"It's not, I'm not going anywhere but the other room."

She let go and he climbed from the tub, pulling a towel from the cabinet and drying off before wrapping it around his waist, he turned and lay one next to the tub.

"Dry off and get into some warm clothes."

She gave a small hum of agreement and then he exited the bathroom, he moved into his bedroom and opened the wardrobe, pulling on jeans and a black t-shirt he layered it with a red and black flannel. He walked into the living space and began starting a roaring fighter.

When Tess came out of his bedroom she had pulled on a pair of grey sweatpants and a dark blue sweatshirt.

"Are you hungry? I can make lunch."

"That would be nice, I think we missed breakfast."

She blushed and bit back a smile as she moved into the kitchen opening the fridge and pulling out various items and ingredients.

"I'm going to go outside for a while, I'll be back."

"Okay."

She was chopping something when he stepped into the kitchen, catching her arm and pulling her against him for a long, deep kiss. He pulled away first and kissed her cheek before leaving her in the kitchen, ducking out the door.

He started the hike to the top of the mountain, after lunch he would bring her to call her parents but he wanted to make some calls first and have a few minutes alone to think.

What was he going to do with? As nice as it was having her around he couldn't keep her locked here forever, eventually, he had to let her go or kill her. Letting her go meant risking that she would tell and also that the people who hired him would hunt her down.

He reached the top of the mountain and his first phone call was to his bank where he heard that the money for killing Harold had yet to be deposited.

His next call was to the people how hired him but he didn't plan on mentioning Tess.

"Where's my money?" He demanded.

"Where's the girl?"

His heart hammered to a stop, they knew about Tess that's why they held the money.

"What girl?" He asked.

"The one that's plastered all over the news as missing! Where the hell is she!?"

"Don't worry about it." He began to pace.

"You assured us there were no loose ends, our deal didn't involve kidnapping."

"Your deal said he would be alone, he wasn't."

"You won't get the money until you finish the job, Raph."

"Don't worry about it."

"Finish the job, when her body is on the news then you'll get your money. If you don't we'll send someone to finish it for you."

They hung up and he stood there a minute, what was he supposed to do? He didn't need the money but he could save it and get out of the business for good. With the pay from this job, he would never have to kill again and he barely knew Tess.

He walked back to the cabin rolling all his options around in his head but not coming up with any answers. He stepped into the cabin and she smiled brightly at him, she had no idea what he had been asked to do.

He crossed the floor stepping into the kitchen.

"I made lunch,"

She turned just as he grabbed her by the waist kissing her passionately until her knees weakened and she was holding onto his shoulders for support. Then he pulled away, turning her away he bent her over his kitchen counter and took her again.