Rescued by Dr. Rafe (15 page)

She could almost feel him doing it. Her fingers clutched convulsively at his sweater. ‘Yes. Only you don't need to be all that gentle. I'm not going to break.'

He kissed her, his hands tender and his mouth hot, almost savage. ‘Oh, yes, you are, honey. You
are
going to break...'

* * *

Rafe had carried her upstairs in a move that seemed romantic rather than a response to need. Mimi sat down on the bed, looking around. Cream walls, cream curtains, cream linen. It was...

It was neat and tidy, but the room could do with some loving care. It felt like a place where you just crashed out to sleep.

‘This is...nice.' The bed was large and the mattress comfortable. It was a bit like a high-class hotel room.

He chuckled. ‘Needs a woman's touch.'

‘Ah. Well, maybe I'll...' Mimi suddenly forgot all about soft furnishings as Rafe pulled his sweater and shirt over his head together in one fluid movement.

‘Maybe you'll what?' He knelt down in front of her, gently taking off her shoe and sock.

‘I'll touch it later. First I'll touch you.' She ran her fingers lightly over his chest, feeling the muscles quiver and tense. ‘I tried so hard to hold you in my imagination, but I couldn't. I was too angry, and you're too beautiful.'

‘No more of that now, sweetheart.' He kissed her, smoothing her hair back from her face. ‘I want to look at you.'

Suddenly she wanted that too. With all the frailties, the scars, the red blotches on her leg. Even though he was flawless, smooth skin rippling over muscle and bone. ‘Help me...with my dress.'

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

H
E
UNDRESSED
HER
SLOWLY
.
Lavished attention on her, trailing his fingers across every inch of her body. When Rafe took his jeans off, she gave him a little gleeful look and he knelt in front of her, holding her close.

‘I don't think I ever said this before...' He kissed her lips lightly. ‘You make me feel so loved. So wanted.'

‘You are loved. You are wanted.' It felt good to say it, and even better to have him hear it.

‘I thought...' He seemed to give up any pretence of thought for a moment, in favour of the sweet sensations that his caress, and her answering touch, engendered.

‘What did you think?'

‘I thought that taking it slow was going to mean a bit of self-restraint. But I want this so much, Mimi. I won't be cheated out of a single moment of it.'

They kissed for a long time. Talking, caressing, both knowing where this was leading and in no hurry to get there. When he finally lifted her on to the bed, Mimi didn't care that he could see all her imperfections, all the injuries that she examined every morning in the mirror. In his eyes, she was beautiful.

‘Comfortable?' He put an extra pillow behind her back.

‘I'm fine.' She caught hold of his hand, pulling him close, feeling the heat of his skin. ‘Where were we?'

The list of things they liked about each other, with a caress and a kiss for each one. He nuzzled against her shoulder, his lips brushing her ear.

‘Breasts...' He paused. Hesitation wasn't Rafe's style and he was just letting the thought sink in while his fingers traced across her ribcage. Stopping, just as she began to tremble with anticipation.

‘You are such a bad man...'

‘Yeah?' His grin confirmed it. ‘Is that something you like, or just an observation?'

‘Something I like...' She caught her breath as he ran his tongue across her nipple, lavishing slow attention on it.

They moved past the point of mere arousal to a place where every touch sent sensation spinning through their bodies. Every breath, every word, tangling in a web of pleasure which captured them both.

When the time came, there was no need for Rafe to ask if she was ready. He reached for the condom and handed it to her. Mimi ran one finger down his length, making him groan. Then she rolled the condom down carefully, in an exercise of sensuality triumphing over practicality.

He couldn't believe that this was really happening, but it was much too good to be a dream. Mimi was in his arms, making love with him. More than that, they were at one in a way they'd never been before. Carefully, he propped her leg on to a pillow, then levered his body over hers.

She was staring into his eyes and when he pushed inside her, she murmured his name. Rafe held still for a while, feeling the tremble of his limbs match that of hers. She reached up, her fingers tracing over his face and lips, and he allowed a little of his weight to press down on to her, pouring all his furious need into one kiss.

They were both too greedy for these moments for him to do anything that would snatch them away. He made love to her slowly, luxuriating in her gaze. Every sensation, every emotion shared.

‘My beautiful Mimi.' He knew that she was close to breaking point and he wanted her to hear it, and believe it, one more time. When she smiled back at him, he knew that she'd finally learned to accept that compliment completely and that she would accept everything else he had to give.

One hand found his, guiding it to the top of her swollen leg, asking for what she needed silently but without apology. He wrapped his fingers around her thigh, holding her leg steady on the pillow so his movements didn't jolt it.

She felt his other hand curl around her shoulder, steadying her against his thrusts, so she could feel each one more keenly. Mimi raked her nails across his back, feeling him shudder with the sudden sensation, and his rhythm changed. Pushing her further and higher until she came so hard that the earth seemed to tilt.

He held her tight as aftershocks spun through her body. Keeping her safe, telling her all the things she so needed to hear. How he loved her. That she was beautiful and he was never going to let her go. It was then that Mimi realised that the world hadn't tipped upside down. It had simply righted itself.

Rafe could have just watched her for hours. But then he felt her leg arch around his back, and her fingers touching the place where their bodies were joined.

‘Now you...' She didn't really need to tell him; he was already helpless in her hands. She knew he couldn't resist when she did that...

Rafe held on, through each exquisite sensation, until finally it was almost a relief when his shaking limbs began to relax. Knowing they were probably about to turn to jelly, taking his brain along with them, he rolled over to one side of her, pulling her close to feel the beat of her heart against his.

‘Wow...' He felt her snuggle in tight as she voiced the only word that was currently available from his own vocabulary.

He kissed the top of her head, feeling his whole body plunge into satiated warmth. ‘Mmm. Wow.'

* * *

He fetched a sturdy stool with slip-proof feet, for Mimi to perch on while they showered together. Rafe planted his hands firmly on the tiles behind her shoulders so she could hold on to his arms to steady herself while she soaped him.

‘All done.' She ran her fingers through his wet hair, slicking it back from his face.

‘You were all done a while ago.' The last ten minutes had been an exercise in sheer pleasure, just for the sake of it.

It was so good to hear her laugh again. So good to feel her limbs tangling with his.

‘The last time...' She wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘The last time we were in the water together, you carried me out. You saved me, Rafe.'

‘I couldn't have made it out of there without you, honey.'

‘Can we do it again? Save each other.'

‘I'm relying on you, Mimi. I've been lost and I need you to save me.' Warm water tumbled on to his back as he kissed her. It was the sweetest sensation because he knew that he was safe in Mimi's arms.

One hand trailed across his chest and Rafe braced his limbs securely against the side of the shower. He was strong enough to support her, and keep her safe too. Her fingers tantalised, moving lower, and the words she whispered in his ear told him exactly what to expect next. Rafe closed his eyes...

* * *

She was tired now. He let her rest for a while, watching her as she slept. More than once, during those silent nights at the hospital, he'd wondered if maybe they shared the same dreams. Now he knew.

When she woke she was hungry and he pulled on his clothes and went downstairs to make tea and toast. When he returned, she was wrapped in his dressing gown, smoothing the creases in her dress.

‘Can you stay tonight? I can run you home to get whatever you need, and we'll pick up some shopping. I'll do a Sunday roast, with all the trimmings.' Living on his own, he'd got into the habit of making do with pizza on Sundays and it would be good to cook again.

‘Sounds wonderful.' She took the elbow crutch that he'd retrieved from the front step and stood up.

‘You want my arm?'

‘No, that's okay. Let me manage it on my own.'

He waited while she walked carefully down the stairs, and then fetched the tea from the kitchen. She settled comfortably on to the sofa, leaning against him, and he put his arm around her shoulder.

His heart beat fast and suddenly he couldn't keep the words to himself. ‘I want to be with you, Mimi. All the time.'

She flushed red. ‘Are you asking me to move in with you?'

‘Yeah. Or we can stay at your cottage, if you prefer.'

‘Your work's here. And I can't have you doing all that driving...' She broke off, smiling. ‘The truth is that I'd rather be here with you, if that's okay. We're going to do things differently from when we were at the cottage.'

‘Yeah. I think so too. So you'll come here? Warm my bed at night?'

‘Yes, my love, I will.'

Happiness burst into yet another neglected corner of his heart. He took her hand, pulling it to his lips. ‘I'm going to make you glad you said that.'

‘And I'm going to make you glad you asked.' She grinned impishly. ‘Maybe...'

Rafe leaned back against the sofa cushions, chuckling. ‘All right. What have I let myself in for now?'

‘Well, there are a few little bits and pieces I could bring with me. Only if you wanted me to. My breadmaker, perhaps.'

‘Bring as much as you like.' Rafe looked round at the sitting room. Plain walls. Good quality furniture. But it had always felt a little cold and empty. He'd known for a while now that there was one vital thing missing. ‘I said that this place needed a woman's touch. What I actually meant was that it needs
your
touch.'

‘Really?'

‘Absolutely. There's a bit of a space, up in the bedroom. I think it needs something...'

‘A washstand?'

Rafe laughed. ‘Perfect.'

‘I've got some other things up in the loft. Things we bought together. You could go up there and have a look around if you wanted.'

‘You didn't throw it all away?'

‘No. I couldn't bear to. I just didn't want to look at it.' She shifted in his arms and settled again comfortably. ‘Maybe this is how we do it. Keep the things we want, but make a new start.'

‘I'd like that.'

They were silent for a moment. Dreaming the same dreams.

‘What are you thinking, Rafe?'

Rafe bent to kiss her. ‘I was just thinking about coming home every day to find you in my bed. Naked. Or maybe something lacy...'

‘You will not.' She poked her tongue out at him. ‘That's only every other day. Alternate days, you're the one who gets naked. In the kitchen.'

He chuckled. ‘Right. Okay, I see how this is going to go...'

‘And there are rules.' She pulled herself up on to his lap and he curled his arms around her.

‘Yeah. I was really hoping for rules.'

* * *

She'd never felt so loved before. Never felt that she was so exactly in the right place.

‘Rule Number One...' Mimi kissed the tip of his finger. ‘We talk about it. Whatever it is, however hard it is.'

‘Agreed. That's a good one. Number Two...' He laughed as she kissed his next finger. ‘You remember that I love you. And if I ever do anything to make you feel you're not good enough, you make me crawl on my hands and knees to ask for forgiveness.'

‘I think you're pretty safe on that score. But yes, I can do that.'

‘Good. Number Three...'

‘Hey, don't I get to make the next one?'

‘Do you have one?'

She thought for a moment. ‘No. Not at the moment. Okay, you take Three and I'll have Number Four.'

‘Fair enough. Number Three is that we don't let the sun go down on an argument.'

‘Yes, that's a good one. That can be Number Three.' She kissed the top of his third finger. ‘Where did you get that one from?'

‘Remember the old guy we went to see?' He frowned in thought for a moment. ‘Infected cut on his leg. What was his name?'

‘Toby? His name's not really Toby, but his surname is Jugg, so everyone in the village calls him Toby.'

Rafe chuckled. ‘Okay, well, the wise Mr Jugg suggested it to me.'

‘When did he do that?'

‘When you were off fetching the dressings and conspiring with his next-door neighbour. He gave me some relationship advice.'

‘I wasn't gone
that
long, was I?'

‘It was a pretty one-sided conversation and he came directly to the point. Toby seemed to think that the fact I was looking at you when you weren't looking, and looking away when you were, was a sign that I was madly in love with you. He was quite right, of course, and naturally I denied it all.'

‘It's a good rule. Did he happen to mention anything else that might come in handy?'

A faint gleam appeared in Rafe's eyes. ‘That was man-to-man advice. Don't interfere.'

‘Okay. Rule Number Four is that I'm going get it out of you.' She kissed the sensitive skin on his neck.

‘Yeah, I imagine you will. Soon, probably.'

* * *

Step by step, she was moving back into the world. Rafe had talked to the HR department where he worked, and it had been arranged that Mimi should go in four half-days a week to mentor trainee ambulance technicians. It was unpaid, but it was a start. And, to her surprise, she found that she loved teaching just as much as she loved being on the road. It was one more new possibility in a world that felt full of promise.

Although the snake bites were still painful and she was unable to put her full weight on that leg, her other leg was strong enough to make walking easier. And although the scar on her face was still there, it was no longer the only thing that Mimi saw when she looked in the mirror.

When the invitation to the grand reopening of the Old Brewery came, Rafe had voiced his concerns that it might awaken traumatic memories for her. But when Mimi had told him that with him by her side she could take that risk, he'd simply hugged her and promised his support. With his trust, she felt she could do almost anything.

The afternoon was bright and clear. The colours of the autumn leaves were especially vibrant this year, deep reds and oranges lining the road, and, as they turned into the car park of the Old Brewery, Joe Harding came to meet them.

‘So glad you could come.' He offered Mimi his arm, helping her out of the car. ‘This way.'

He led them through to the visitor centre, which had been cleared and hung with bunting for the party. A barbecue had been set up in the beer garden behind the building and there were several different kinds of beer on tap.