The Kingpin

•10•

Amelia

Amelia's eyes open slowly as she tries to stretch out in the bed. A glance at the clock shows that it's 2 AM and she can't help but groan quietly. The bed shifts beside her and she turns her head toward it to see Rafael. He's sleeping on his side with an arm draped around her waist.

He looks almost normal when he's asleep, she thinks. The fierce, dangerous nature he usually exudes is fast asleep, lost in whatever he may be dreaming about. She takes this time to truly look at him. It feels wrong, in a way, but she can't help herself.

  Rafael's beard is shaved down to stubble that she knows grates her thighs as he kisses her. His lips are soft and slightly parted, white teeth peaking through just enough. He has long eyelashes that rest against the tops of his cheeks as he sleeps. While asleep, the blanket had fallen to just below his hips to just barely show the bones there before they were covered by his boxers. His chest moves up and down slowly as he breathes, making for a perfect opportunity for her eyes to scan him once more. This time, from his hips and stomach up to the tattoo on his chest.

He was a lot of things that Amelia didn't know how to describe. Along with this came the startling realization that out of all the men she had been with, Rafael was by far the most intriguing. She wasn't sure if there was a difference between the Black Ace and Rafael or if he was easily both but she finds herself excited to learn.

She pulls her eyes off of him and decides to change her position. She rolls to end up facing Rafael before allowing herself to slowly fall back asleep once more.

••••

  Amelia groans before snuggling closer to the body beside her. Her leg wraps around the man's waist. Half asleep and with closed eyes, she allows herself to rest her hand over his chest. His heartbeat against her palm is a bit startling. She pulls away and places it a little farther away this time as he shifts in his sleep.

  His eyes begin to open and a warmth is in them now that she has never seen. It's there for only a quick moment before it disappears.

  "Morning." Rafael rasps.

  "Hi." She responds a bit shyly now. Seeing him awake and looking at her made her feel as though she had stolen an intimate moment while he was asleep. That hadn't been her intention.

  As if noticing immediately a change in her facial expression, he furrows his brows. "Do I need to go?"

  "N-no. It wasn't that. I was just a bit caught off gau-." Amelia is interrupted when her phone begins to ring on the other side of the room.

  She brings her lip between her teeth before getting up slowly and answering to whoever was on the other end.

  "Where the hell are you?" The voice berates her immediately.

  "I-my apartment. I swear!" She responds and shoots a glance over at Rafael, who is now sitting up in the bed with a dangerous glare on his face.

"Who is talking to you like that and why?" Rafa asks through almost gritted teeth but she shushes him with a wave of her hand.

"You need to come see me today." The man on the phone says, his voice hard. "You've fucked up this time."

"I'm sorry. I'm on my way right now."

"Good. Hurry up."

Amelia waits for him to hang up before gathering herself enough to look at Rafael.

"Babygirl, who was that?" His voice held no anger, but she couldn't figure out what it was. He crossed the room to meet her halfway.

"It doesn't matter. I have to go or he'll get even more angry."