In celebration of the EDSA Revolution anniversary, I decided to post chapter 30 early. Enjoy!
Love and solidarity,
Ansela
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Katelin's POV
"Raul, is there something you're not telling me?"
When he doesn't reply, I add, "It's okay. I just want to know, that's all." I glance at the partition between us and Santino. It was shut.
Raul takes a breath. "Someone's trying to create a scandal," he says. "Something that will get me fired from the company."
I inhale sharply. "Who is it?"
"I don't know. But Yandra is part of it."
"So she should know who it is."
"She won't tell me, she thinks her life could be in danger if she does." He pulled me closer. "You'll have added security starting tomorrow, all right? If Yandra is right and this person is dangerous, there's no telling what they might try to do."
"Is that why you came to Finley's? Because you were worried?"
"Yeah." He pauses. "And I needed to see you. It's been a long few weeks."
My heart skips a beat. For a wild moment, I wonder if he might feel the same way I do about him. Or did he just need a friend tonight?
"What do we do now?" I say.
"Apart from the added security, we just carry on as usual. We don't let on that we know. I have a private investigator looking into it. I think we're close."
I lift my head from his chest to look him in the eyes. "Promise you'll let me know when you find anything?" There's no way I'm just sitting around waiting for him to sort this situation out and give me the all-clear. "Raul, you and I have always been a team. Just because you want to protect me, it doesn't mean you have to keep me in the dark."
"I know, I'm sorry." His hand found mine, and he held it tightly. "Yes, I promise."
"Okay, well—"
The rest of my sentence never leaves my mouth because he kisses me.
It's not gentle or sweet. He takes my mouth with a hunger I've only ever seen when we made love, and only rarely. He's generally controlled, even practiced in the way he took my body and brought me to heights of pleasure. That isn't the Raul who is clutching the back of my neck, imprisoning me in his grasp as he plunders my mouth with his tongue as though desperate to taste my soul.
My fingers tighten around a handful of his shirt, holding on to him to keep me steady. My world is at an unsteady kilter, and he is all I have to keep my balance. I'll give him what he wants— my soul, my body, my love — if that's what he needs.
We don't even make it to the bedroom.
As soon as we get inside the house, Raul has me against the wall by the front door. It doesn't sink in until a moment later that he has ripped my blouse open, tearing out the buttons. My mind and body are much too preoccupied with the way his mouth feels on my neck and his hands on my skin. He's hiking up my skirt as far as it would go. I hear the clink of metal and the rustling of heavy fabric as he undoes his belt and pants.
The next thing I know, he's lifting me by my ass and pinning me against the wall.
"Hang on to me, querida," he rasps.
I barely get my arms around his neck before he enters me. So heightened is my arousal that I nearly cum right there. The cry that escapes my throat shatters the silence of the big house. Pleasure crashes through my trembling body with each thrust of his hips. I tighten my legs around his waist, holding on with all my strength as my husband fucks me with almost brutal ferocity. His breath is hot against my cheek. Each whispered endearment sends tingles up the back of my neck and heat churning low in my belly.
"Raul..." I gasp. "Oh, my God... " My words come out in ragged breaths. I feel my orgasm rushing toward me like an incoming tidal wave, gathering speed and strength.
"Kate... mi amor... You are under my skin. In my blood." His teeth graze my neck. "Mi corazon... never leave me, Kate."
"Never." The word escapes me in a sob. I don't know how I could bear it, not being his wife. Did he feel the same way about being my husband? Or is this a promise he gives to every woman he makes love to?
I look up to stare into his eyes; they were dark and molten with heat.
"Promise me." He pants the words out between thrusts. "Swear it, querida."
"I swear."
Their lips meet, the kiss slow and tender amidst the furious rhythm of their lovemaking.
"Are you close, mi mujer?" His lips draw a trail along my jawline. "Will you scream my name when you cum?"
"Raul..." I moan his name loudly against his cheek. "Oh, God... Raul..."
My orgasm hurtled through me, the tidal wave of pleasure an unstoppable force that leaves me shaking and crying out his name over and over.
"Kate... Yes, that's it, my darling..." Giving out a low moan, Raul grows rigid for a moment then joins me over the edge. His mouth captures mine once again as we let ourselves be swept up in the ecstasy of our physical and emotional coupling.
Is this it, I wonder, when a short time later, he's swept me in his arms and carrying me to our bedroom. Something I'm extremely grateful for as my legs suddenly threatened to give out, as though they couldn't bear the weight of my bliss.
Is this our happily ever after?
***
Raul's POV
Monday
"The board is meeting on Wednesday."
My steps don't slow at the sound of Marcus's voice behind me as I walk through the hallway toward the labs. "I know," I say. "The one-month probationary period for my marriage is up. They're going to decide if I've finally become the shining paragon of a CEO they want. You're not worried, are you?"
He catches up effortlessly, walking beside me, his long strides matching mine. "Should I be?"
I flash him a grin. "What do you think?"
"Are we going to be doing this all day, answering each other's question with another question?"
"Do you want to?" I chuckle. "Sorry, I couldn't help it."
"You're in a good mood."
His tone tells me I'm the only one. "I didn't think marriage was going to be this much fun," I say. "You might want to consider trying it."
"Not everyone gets to be as lucky as you, cabron."
"Kate has a sister, you know."
"Yes, she was at your wedding. She barely looked at me."
"Maybe she's shy."
"Why are we talking about this?"
"Because you seem a little uptight today, and need to relax."
We're almost at Tio Basilio's office. He doesn't have an assistant keeping guard outside it, because he insisted he didn't need one. There's a floor manager who handles his appointments, although her job is mostly not scheduling appointments and explaining why Mr. Elizondo can't see them. Tio prefers working by himself or with his lab geeks, he has no patience for socializing or discussing business matters.
"What am I doing here?" Marcus says. He eyes the office door warily, looking as though he doesn't relish the idea of going in. "I don't have anything to do with R&D."
I sigh. "I need someone I can trust." I lower my voice. "Apparently there are rumors of part of our new manufacturing process has been leaked."
He doesn't react, his steps don't falter. "To whom? HMA? Anta?" A pause. "It's not Nike is it?" When he realizes I've stopped walking, he turns around. "What?"
I'm staring at him disbelievingly. "How the hell did you know that?"
His eyebrows rose. "Which one?"
"I don't actually know if it's true, but Tio Basil says it's one of the bigger Chinese companies." I shake my head. "Honestly, it could be nothing. We get rumors like this all the time."
I walk the rest of the way to Basil's office and knock loudly before twisting the door knob. I turn to Marcus. "Come on."
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Don't forget to vote for this chapter! If you want to read a spoilery preview of Chapter 31 "Indefinitely Yours", go on over to my blog:
https://anselacorsino.com/spoilers
I hope you're looking forward to Chapter 31, dropping here on March 6.