small dots in the distance. They exited the car and
released Bob, letting it run free, and it took a full advantage of the
opportunity, disappearing into the long grass with happy barks.
They
let themselves into the meadow through a broken gate, from which an overgrown
footpath led towards a small crop of woods. The creek ran through the woods to
a small lake a little farther away.
“We’ll
be building four or five cottage-style houses on both sides of the creek,” Rafe
explained as they went. “They’ll be large and expensive, with enough space
around each house to provide privacy, and with great views over that lake.” He
gestured towards the distant glimmer of water. “So far the farmers have
cooperated nicely. They are old and haven’t had anyone to continue the farming.
It’s the last piece of land, the one with the creek and the forest, that’s been
troublesome.”
Charly
had studied the maps, but it was much better seeing the real thing. “It’s
beautiful here,” she sighed, taking in the undulating meadows around the small
lake and the woods, spectacular in the red and gold colours of autumn.
“Yes,
it is,” Rafe said, but when she turned to look at him, he wasn’t watching the
scenery but her. Her heart missed a beat. Why did he look her like that if he
didn’t want her?
She
cleared her throat, suddenly hot all over despite the crisp October weather.
“I’m guessing you’re in a great hurry to start building,” she said, stubbornly
continuing with the topic. She wouldn’t give him anything of herself if he
didn’t want everything.
He
flashed his wolfish grin. “When you live long enough, you know you can afford
to wait.”
She
snorted. “You’re what, all of thirty-five to my thirty-two?”
“Try
closer to a hundred and thirty-five.” Her stunned face made him laugh aloud in
delight. “Surprise.”
Charly
had known that the two-natureds were long-living, but it hadn’t even occurred
to her that Rafe might be so old. Meeting someone who had actually lived
through the previous century felt incredible. The history he had experienced,
the changes he had witnessed. The women he had been with….
A
surge of jealousy coursed through her and she decided it was best not to think
about his past at all. Then another thought hit her, self-evident now that she
had been made to expand her horizons. “I wonder if the owner of the land is
still alive.”
Chapter Fifteen
“What do you
mean?” Rafe studied his beautiful woman, mesmerised. Her dark eyes were shining
in excitement with the insight she had just had. He tried to summon back some
of the indignant anger he had felt the night before that had allowed him to
walk away from her, but it was all gone. She wasn’t in this only to use him;
she was genuinely interested in him. And what was more, she still seemed to be
interested in more than just sex.
Too
bad that was all he had to offer her.
Her
wonderful black hair was pulled back into a ponytail today, but a few wisps had
escaped, framing her face perfectly. He didn’t even try to resist the
temptation; he reached out and pushed a lock behind her ear.
A
faint blush crept onto her face, which he found adorable. He could smell her
arousal building and his body responded immediately. “Stop distracting me,” she
protested weakly when he took a step closer.
“You
find me distracting?” He leaned in so that his lips almost touched hers, and
when she didn’t pull back, he took it as an invitation to kiss her.
Without
the adrenaline rush he’d felt before their previous kisses, he could savour her
taste better and study the feel of her as he pulled her against him. Tall as
she was, their bodies touched all the way, and he didn’t have to lift her to
properly kiss her.
He did
it anyway. Placing his hands under her buttocks, he pulled her hips firmly
against his. The sweet pain of her body pressing against his erection made him
deepen the kiss until they were both out of breath.
released Bob, letting it run free, and it took a full advantage of the
opportunity, disappearing into the long grass with happy barks.
They
let themselves into the meadow through a broken gate, from which an overgrown
footpath led towards a small crop of woods. The creek ran through the woods to
a small lake a little farther away.
“We’ll
be building four or five cottage-style houses on both sides of the creek,” Rafe
explained as they went. “They’ll be large and expensive, with enough space
around each house to provide privacy, and with great views over that lake.” He
gestured towards the distant glimmer of water. “So far the farmers have
cooperated nicely. They are old and haven’t had anyone to continue the farming.
It’s the last piece of land, the one with the creek and the forest, that’s been
troublesome.”
Charly
had studied the maps, but it was much better seeing the real thing. “It’s
beautiful here,” she sighed, taking in the undulating meadows around the small
lake and the woods, spectacular in the red and gold colours of autumn.
“Yes,
it is,” Rafe said, but when she turned to look at him, he wasn’t watching the
scenery but her. Her heart missed a beat. Why did he look her like that if he
didn’t want her?
She
cleared her throat, suddenly hot all over despite the crisp October weather.
“I’m guessing you’re in a great hurry to start building,” she said, stubbornly
continuing with the topic. She wouldn’t give him anything of herself if he
didn’t want everything.
He
flashed his wolfish grin. “When you live long enough, you know you can afford
to wait.”
She
snorted. “You’re what, all of thirty-five to my thirty-two?”
“Try
closer to a hundred and thirty-five.” Her stunned face made him laugh aloud in
delight. “Surprise.”
Charly
had known that the two-natureds were long-living, but it hadn’t even occurred
to her that Rafe might be so old. Meeting someone who had actually lived
through the previous century felt incredible. The history he had experienced,
the changes he had witnessed. The women he had been with….
A
surge of jealousy coursed through her and she decided it was best not to think
about his past at all. Then another thought hit her, self-evident now that she
had been made to expand her horizons. “I wonder if the owner of the land is
still alive.”
Chapter Fifteen
“What do you
mean?” Rafe studied his beautiful woman, mesmerised. Her dark eyes were shining
in excitement with the insight she had just had. He tried to summon back some
of the indignant anger he had felt the night before that had allowed him to
walk away from her, but it was all gone. She wasn’t in this only to use him;
she was genuinely interested in him. And what was more, she still seemed to be
interested in more than just sex.
Too
bad that was all he had to offer her.
Her
wonderful black hair was pulled back into a ponytail today, but a few wisps had
escaped, framing her face perfectly. He didn’t even try to resist the
temptation; he reached out and pushed a lock behind her ear.
A
faint blush crept onto her face, which he found adorable. He could smell her
arousal building and his body responded immediately. “Stop distracting me,” she
protested weakly when he took a step closer.
“You
find me distracting?” He leaned in so that his lips almost touched hers, and
when she didn’t pull back, he took it as an invitation to kiss her.
Without
the adrenaline rush he’d felt before their previous kisses, he could savour her
taste better and study the feel of her as he pulled her against him. Tall as
she was, their bodies touched all the way, and he didn’t have to lift her to
properly kiss her.
He did
it anyway. Placing his hands under her buttocks, he pulled her hips firmly
against his. The sweet pain of her body pressing against his erection made him
deepen the kiss until they were both out of breath.
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