Read 17 - A Hard Days Night Searcher.doc for Free Online Page B

knew she had no business with him, and for once she didn't care about rules. The Apollite had been right. There were some things more important than something so trivial.
    Rafael pulled back from the kiss. "Why did you come for me?"
    "I was afraid you were in danger."
    He shook his head at her. "You know that was amazingly stupid of you. I'm rancid meat to them, but you . . . you're a buffet. You're damn lucky they let you go."
    She smiled up at him before she repeated her earlier words. "Yeah, well, I'll take luck over skill any day."
    He laughed before he kissed her again. "And that still doesn't tell me why you came after me. You broke a dozen rules by following me tonight."
    And for some reason that didn't bother her. Nothing had mattered to her except seeing him safe. "I know, but I couldn't let you die."
    "Why?"
    She bit her lip as the reasonable side of her brain begged her not to say anything else. But all the years of her hiding her emotions for this man rushed to the forefront, and after being with him for this last week, she couldn't hide it anymore. "Because I love you."
    Rafael couldn't have been more stunned had she stabbed him. He stood there in complete shock as he watched her eyes dilate ever so slightly. In all the centuries he'd lived, only one other woman had ever said those words to him . . .
    And she had died in his arms on their wedding night under the assault of his enemies.
    He'd never had the chance to taste her. Never had a chance to show her just how much he loved her.
    He wasn't going to take that chance with Celena. His body burning, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her on board his boat.
    "What are you doing?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
    "Carpe noctem. I'm seizing the night. But most of all, I'm seizing the woman in my arms."
    Celena didn't say another word as he took her below the deck. As soon as they were out of the sight of any passersby, she literally ripped the shirt from his back so that she could finally touch the body that had haunted her dreams for the last few years.

    Her career as a Squire was over, but she didn't care. The only thing that mattered right then was being with Rafael. She shivered as he pulled her shirt over her head and cupped her breast through her bra.
    Closing her eyes, she savored the heat of his hand as he pushed the satin aside to touch her flesh. She captured his lips with hers as she feverishly opened his fly, then dipped her hand down to touch him. He hissed in response, making her soar in satisfaction.
    "Boy," he whispered against her lips, "When you break the rules, you seriously break the rules."
    Celena didn't respond as he pulled her pants down her legs. She sucked her breath in sharply between her teeth as she saw him kneeling on the ground at her feet. Lifting her foot, she let him remove her shoes, which he tossed over his shoulder before he undressed her.
    His dark eyes flashed an instant before he reached up to remove her panties. Her entire body burned as he bared her to his hungry gaze. Reaching down, she traced the outline of his lips as he gently tongued her fingertips. She'd dreamed of this moment a thousand times.
    He was the main reason she'd never really dated. After she'd met him, other men never seemed to compare. They weren't as handsome. Weren't as dangerous.
    Weren't as forbidden.
    And now she was finally going to know what it felt like to hold him. . . .
    Rafael couldn't breathe as he slowly rose to his feet. He still couldn't believe that Celena was here with him. That she who lived for rules and regulations was willing to sacrifice her Squire's oath.
    His heart pounding, he reached down to brush his hand against the softness of her abdomen, then lower to the short, crisp hairs until he found what he sought. He groaned at the sensation of her wet heat against his fingers while she stroked him with her hand.
    Unable to stand it anymore, he pinned her back against the wall and kissed her