Chapter 3

Luca

I kept stealing glances at him as we walked towards my front porch, my heartbeat wasn’t in any way trying to calm down, It hadn’t since we left the forest, and Rafe, he looked unnerved then, and even now, he looked like anything but relaxed.

His eyes moved to me as I reached for the door.

"Are you sure you're okay?" His voice was as low as a murmur, and I nodded, even though I knew wasn't. I wasn't entirely sure of what the hell had just happened back there, but one second he was being his usual moody self, and the next, he was pressed against me.

I pushed open the front door and stepped inside, "Yeah, I'm fine," I muttered, "Come in."

He hesitated for half a second before following me in, I didn’t bother turning on the lights, the moon through the windows was enough, and besides, there was an odd comfort in the dimness.

I tossed my keys on the counter and kicked off my shoes, "Hey you want anything to drink?"

"No."

His voice was rough, and tense, he hadn’t even sat down, he was just standing in the middle of the living room, like he didn’t know what to do with himself or maybe like he was trying hard not to do something.

I turned to face him, "Ok look, if you're gonna freak out over what happened, just say it, I can handle it."

His jaw flexed, "I'm not freaking out."

"Well you're pacing, so yes, you are freaking out"

He stopped instantly, and started glaring at me, but this time the glare didn’t have its usual bite. Instead, it looked desperate, "This isn't as easy as I thought," he said quietly. "I can feel it, around you, it’s like... I lose sense of everything else."

I should have been scared, backed up and put some space between us. But instead, I stepped closer, "Maybe it's not wrong....Maybe it's just new". I honestly did not know what came over me, but whatever was going on in his mind was exactly what I wanted.

He looked at me like I’d spoken in tongues and then, without warning, he reached out and gripped the back of my neck, like he was grounding himself, "You smell like roses Luca and it’s driving me insane."

I blinked, "Well that’s... oddly flattering."

His mouth twitched in slight annoyance, "It’s not funny."

"I wasn’t trying to be."

There was a beat of silence and it felt thick and full of weight. Then he moved, slowly, like he was testing a boundary. His hand lifted, barely brushing against my arm, but I didn’t move, I couldn’t.

His touch felt like electric and I felt it in my spine, my heart was beating loudly in my chest like a war drum, his fingers wrapped loosely around my wrist.

"I shouldn't," he murmured.

"Then don't."

He stilled for a moment, but he didn’t let go.

Instead, he took another step and then another, until I could feel the heat from his body pouring into mine and god it felt drowning.

"Luca..."

"Yeah?"

His breath hitched and then his mouth was on mine.

I didn’t even hesitate, I kissed him back like my life depended on it, like the fire in my blood had finally found its match, his lips were soft, and demanding. His hands slid up my arms, cupping my jaw gently, the way he caressed me like an egg, didn’t match the storm building between us.

We stumbled backward, and I hit the edge of the couch, he caught me with one arm around my waist, and the other hand gripping the back of my neck as if he couldn’t stand the idea of space between us.

I gasped when he bit down on my bottom lip.

"You sure about this?" he asked.

"Ask me again and I’ll break your nose."

He chuckled, letting out a deep rumble that did made my mind dance with sinful thoughts, and then he kissed me again, deeper this time. My hands found their way under his shirt, tracing the lines of muscle that flexed beneath my fingers.

He hissed through his teeth, "Luca..."

"Bedroom," I managed to whisper against his mouth.

He didn’t need to be told twice.

We didn’t bother with lights, I just let him lead me by the hand, but it felt like I was the one pulling him. My heartbeat could be heard in my ears and my skin tingled with anticipation.

When we reached the room, he paused.

"We can stop."

"Do you want to stop", 

He looked at me, his eyes burning into mine, "No."

"You drive me crazy, Luca."

"You’re not exactly easy to ignore either."

He laughed, and it was the softest thing I’d ever heard from him, it felt like he was surprised by his own happiness and he carried me into the room and laid me on the bed.

His fingers slipped under the waistband of my jeans, dragging them down, agonizingly slow. I lifted my hips giving him silent permission, and held my breath as the cool air kissed my heated skin. His gaze dropped, and for a moment, he just stared at me, his lips were parted, and the look in his eyes made me feel like I was a sacred item he was scared to ruin.

“You’re driving me insane,” he muttered, “You don’t even realize what you do to me.”

“Then show me,” I whispered.

Rafe leaned down again, kissing my stomach, and my hips, going lower, teasing and worshiping my body all at once. My hands tangled in the sheets, and my legs trembling as he pressed open-mouthed kisses along my thighs. 

When he finally, finally, cupped my dick through my briefs, I choked on a gasp. His palm was warm, slow, and possessive, like he wanted to memorize every line and inch. He rubbed me gently, watching my face like it was his favorite movie.

“Sensitive,” he murmured with a smirk, “You’re so responsive.”

“Rafe…” I groaned, barely able to form words as his hand moved again.

“Shhh,” he hushed, licking his lips before pressing a soft kiss to the spot just above the waistband. “Let me take care of you.”

I nodded, and came completely undone.

Then, with delicate care, he pulled down the last barrier between us, tossing it aside like it offended him. He didn’t hesitate, he wrapped his hand around my dick, warm and sure, stroking slowly while his mouth claimed mine again. I moaned into the kiss, gripping his shoulders like I’d fall apart without him.

His pace picked up, and the heat coiling in my stomach snapped tight. He knew exactly what he was doing, he knew how to draw every sound from me, how to build it up until I was shaking. I buried my face in his neck, breathless and on the edge.

“I....Rafe, I’m gonna....”

“I know,” he whispered, “Let go, Luca. I’ve got you.”

And I did.

I came with a muffled cry, clinging to him like he was the only real thing in the world. My body trembled as waves of release crashed over me, and through it all, he held me steady.

He finally settled against me, his hand covered with cum and his body molded to mine, inside me it felt like everything clicked into place.

We lay tangled in the sheets afterward, our breathing slowing, then he brushed his fingers across my chest and I honestly couldn’t believe this was real.

"You good?" I asked softly.

He nodded, "I’m better than good. But... this doesn’t make things easier."

"No, but it makes them real."

He didn’t answer, but the way he pulled me closer spoke volumes and in the silence, for the first time in a long while, I felt safe.

Until a knock shattered it.

Three high raps, urgent and....familiar.

Rafe tensed immediately, every muscle in his body locking like he’d just heard a threat.

I sat up, my heart was racing again, wait, that knock....it couldn’t be....

"Don’t move," Rafe growled, already out of bed.

He was halfway to the door when I heard it.

A voice....one I hadn’t heard in over a year.

"Luca, open up! We need to talk. It’s your brother."

My blood ran

cold, because my brother was dead, or at least, he was supposed to be.