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“Shh, let me”

When his hand reached her thighs with a cold washcloth, Pia flushed “Raphael you don’t have to—”

“Si, I do” His gaze held hers, a wealth of words that he wouldn’t say in it

Looking away froave herself over With a gentleness that brought tears to her eyes, he finished cleaning her up And then he was back in the bed before she could ar her

A warions of her heart She ran her fingertips over the back of his hand, absently stroking the veins The scent of their intimacy was a warm blanket around them

The sudden realization that she could spend eternity like this hit her like an electric charge to the heart He didn’t want eternity God, he didn’t even want a few months

“Turn around and face me”

When she stiffened, he pressed until she was on her back The smallest hs

With his hawk-like gaze, Raphael caught it A furrow came on between his brows “Do you still hurt?”

Pia blushed, and then shook her head Then she saw the uncharacteristic hesitation in his eyes Fro she’d learned about him, she knew Raphael didn’t do intimacy

He tipped his head and took her mouth in a soft, tender kiss that made her chest ache She would never tire of his kisses or that look he got that said he wanted to kiss her He pulled her closer to his naked body and tucked his arm neatly under her bare breasts Pia stiffened and tried to pull the duvet up

A tussle resulted She huffed He growled They made a compromise and pulled the duvet up over his arm while his hand cupped her breast

“I like having you inthat whatever everyone else sees, I know the real, passionate you, exploding like a firework” He said it softly as if to let her get used to it “Only h left her and Pia settled into his embrace