Once Aria and Rafe reached the mansion, Rafe led Aria straight into his office. As they entered, he wasted no time in informing Aria, “I've mind-linked Alex to join us," he stated firmly. Aria nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a knot of apprehension tighten in her stomach. Moments later, there was a knock on the door, and Alex entered the room. Seated comfortably behind his expansive desk, Rafe leaned back in his plush leather chair and turned his attention to Aria. "What happened in St. Vincent, Aria?" he asked, his voice calm yet expectant. Aria let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders sagging slightly as she recounted the events of her encounter with Alpha Damien. “Alpha Damien is one of the most unreasonable and egotistical man I’ve ever met," she began, her tone tinged with frustration. "He thinks he can get whatever he wants, and he was being completely uncooperative during the peace treaty negotiations and I’m sorry
As Rafe approached the villa, he caught sight of Ethan bent over, inspecting the engine under the hood of Delia’s new car. “Hey, Ethan. How’s the car looking?” Ethan straightened up, wiping his hands on a rag before responding. “Hey, Rafe. So far, I don’t see anything wrong but I am going to take it for a spin. Delia’s at the pool.” “Thanks,” Rafe replied, offering a brief smile before heading toward the pool, adjacent the villa. As he neared it, Rafe's breath caught in his throat at the sight that greeted him. Delia was just emerging from the pool, her figure glistening in the orange light of the approaching sunset and her slender and petite figure accentuated by a revealing green string bikini that clung to her curves like a second skin. He watched, captivated, as droplets of water dribbled down her skin, tracing delicate paths over the curve of her hips and the swell of her breasts. His eyes lingered on her, drinking in every exqui
The next day, Delia and Aria lounged on the beach, their thoughts weighed heavy with the burdens of their respective situations. Aria's need to travel to St. Vincent to successfully secure the peace treaty and Delia's unresolved feelings towards Rafe, cast a shadow over what should have been a carefree day in paradise. “I can't take this anymore," Aria declared, breaking the somber silence. "We're two beautiful young women. We shouldn't be wasting away feeling miserable." Delia arched an eyebrow, intrigued by Aria's sudden declaration. "What do you suggest we do?" she inquired. Aria flashed a mischievous grin. "Let's go sailing," she suggested. "We can use Rafe's sailboat." Delia hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “I don’t want to be anywhere near Rafe’s sailboat,” she confessed. Aria’s expression softened with understanding. “I know you’re upset with him, Delia,” she said gently. “But Rafe’s not around.
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room as Delia stirred from her sleep, her head throbbing with the remnants of last night's festivities. With a determined sigh, she pushed herself out of bed, resolving to start the day on a productive note. Today would be dedicated to finding a job! After a quick shower, Delia padded into the kitchen, craving the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee to kickstart her day. She poured herself a steaming cup, grabbed a handful of painkillers to combat her headache, and started preparing a hearty breakfast. Armed with her coffee, painkillers, and a plate piled high with eggs and toast, Delia settled onto the couch with her laptop, ready to tackle the day ahead. For a couple of hours she scrolled through the job listings. But disappointment gnawed at her, the slim pickings offering little hope for her future prospe
As Delia and Aria walked through Rafe’s mansion, Delia couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty that surrounded her. The mansion exuded an air of elegance and opulence, with its grand architecture and meticulously manicured gardens that overlooked Azure Bay. Tall, arched windows flooded the interior with natural light, casting a warm glow over the polished marble floors and intricately carved wooden furnishings. Delicate crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their sparkling lights dancing in the dimly lit corridors. As they approached the dining room, the anticipation of the dinner ahead mingled with the stress from Nate's unexpected visit hung in the air. She caught sight of Ethan and Alex already waiting inside. Ethan winked at her, giving her a warm smile and Alex stood tall, his expression unreadable as he nodded towards her. Rafe and Nate were the last ones to enter. Rafe went to stand at the head of the table, his silver g
Delia navigated her way through the winding roads of St. John in her new Yellow Mini convertible. The wind tousled her hair as she made her way towards town, where Nate's office was located. Arriving at the sleek and modern building, Delia parked her car on the side of the street and walked confidently towards the entrance. The receptionist greeted her with a warm smile and buzzed her into Nate's office without any delay. Stepping inside, Delia was immediately enveloped in Nate's welcoming embrace. His touch was familiar, yet Delia couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of her stomach. “Delia, darling, thanks for coming by," Nate said, his voice smooth and charming as ever. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before gesturing for her to take a seat. “No problem, Nate," Delia replied with a polite smile, trying to ignore the flutter of discomfort in her chest. As Delia settled into the chair, Nate moved behind
The engines of both vehicles came to a halt as Delia's yellow Mini and Rafe's black Defender rolled into the driveway of Rafe's mansion almost simultaneously. Rafe immediately swung open the door of his car and was by Delia's side in an instant as she emerged from her vehicle. A warm smile graced his lips as he pulled her close, his touch sending warm tingles through her body. Before she could utter a word, his lips found hers in a brief yet demanding kiss, leaving her breathless. Interlacing his fingers with hers, Rafe led Delia towards the grand entrance of the mansion. But as they crossed the threshold, he paused, a wicked glint dancing in his eyes. “Come with me,” he whispered huskily as he guided her towards a small library just off the hallway. Once inside the dimly lit space, Rafe wasted no time in pulling her into his arms, his lips crashing against hers in a passionate frenzy. Their kisses grew more urgent, more insistent, as the heat between them intensified. Rafe
Delia found herself standing inside her closet, staring at the row of dresses in front of her. Her eyes scanning the array of colors and styles, searching for the perfect ensemble for her date with Rafe that evening. Earlier that day, she had ventured back to the town boutique to look for an outfit, but nothing caught her eye. Frustrated, she returned home and turned to her closet for inspiration. She was beyond excited about tonight and she wanted to look perfect for her first official date with Rafe. She wished Aria were here to help her pick something out. After what felt like hours of deliberation, she finally decided on a pale pink dress with a sweetheart neckline, adorned with delicate black piping and spaghetti straps. As she slipped it on, the fabric draped elegantly over her curves, the A-line skirt swishing softly over her thighs with each movement. She accessorized the dress with a delicate black choker necklace and slipped into a
As Rafe found himself in the midst of a throng of people wishing congratulations to him and Natasha, his mind was elsewhere...Delia! Natasha, dressed elegantly beside him, smiled and graciously accepted the attention, her demeanor poised and charming. Rafe kept up the charade as he thanked those who approached them. However, his silver eyes kept scanning the sea of faces, searching for a way to escape the relentless attention. Spotting an opening near a cluster of potted plants at the edge of the garden, Rafe subtly maneuvered Natasha towards the quieter area. With a polite excuse about needing a moment to catch his breath, he gently extricated himself from Natasha's side, her hand briefly lingering on his arm before she turned her attention back to the guests. Once out of the immediate spotlight, Rafe took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing marginally as he found a temporary respite from the overwhelming social interaction. Rafe stood there reflected on the events of the eve
As Rafe and Natasha took the stage, Delia remained transfixed in her spot, unable to tear her gaze away. Rafe still wore the same suit he had on earlier that evening, with the burgundy tie that somehow perfectly matched Natasha’s dress. It was a subtle yet unmistakable announcement of their supposed couplehood, conveyed through coordinated attire. Delia had anticipated attending the event and showing Rafe what he was missing, but the pang of hurt she felt seeing them together caught her off guard. It was one thing to intellectually prepare for the situation, but witnessing it unfold before her eyes stirred up a tumult of emotions she wasn’t prepared for. As if sensing her presence, Rafe looked up and caught her eyes, momentarily surprised to see her here standing with Aria and Ethan. He could see the hurt in her eyes and swallowed the guilt he felt inwardly. He wished she weren’t here to cause herself this pain. Despite everything, his heart yearned for her, and seeing her her
Delia arrived at the marina and parked her car, her gaze immediately drawn to the large yacht docked nearby. She recognized it as Nate’s from the Jackson & Associates’ logo and it being the only one left at the marina. As she made her way towards the vessel, she saw Nate descending to meet her, his eyes fixed on her in admiration. “Delia, you look stunning, darling," Nate exclaimed as he reached her, taking her hands and admiring her from head to toe. “Thank you," Delia murmured, feeling a bit uncomfortable under his intense gaze. Nate shook his head slightly, as if to snap out of his reverie, and gestured for her to follow him onto the boat. "This way," he said with a smile. Once aboard, the captain set sail, and they were soon underway. Nate led Delia inside the cabin, which was elegantly fitted with plush seating and a bar in the corner. “Would you like some champagne?" Nate offered, gesturing towards the well-stocked bar that held a bottle of Dom Perignon in an ice buck
As the day of the Full Moon Festival approached, Delia had successfully evaded a confrontation with Rafe, mainly by hiding in her new room at the mansion for the past two days. Rafe had come by occasionally, trying to coax her into letting him in but she iced him out. As long as he was still going with Natasha, she had nothing to say to him. She remained steadfast in her decision, refusing to engage with him despite his persistent attempts. The only visitor she allowed in was Ethan. Delia had confided to him about the entire situation and while Ethan had been disappointed by his Alpha’s actions, a part of him understood his reasoning behind it. Delia, however, had not been able to tell Ethan she was going to the festival.... with Nate! She knew that everyone assumed she would just avoid the event based on how she felt about the entire situation. On the day of the festival, she sat quietly by her window, her gaze fixated on the breathtaking sight of the sun sinking into
As Nate and Delia entered Phillip’s Brew, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them. Nate guided Delia to a cozy corner table, away from the crowd. Delia caught Phillip’s eye as they made their way to the table and gave him a small wave. Phillip nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes lingering on them with curiosity. Nate stepped away briefly to order their coffees. He returned with two steaming cups and placed one before her. Delia offered him a small, appreciative smile, as she noted that he remembered what she liked and got her a cup of cappuccino. Sitting down opposite her, Nate's gaze softened as he searched her face, his expression earnest. "Delia, about the other day," he began, his voice sincere. "I'm sorry for the way I behaved. It's just that I do care about you and this situation with Natasha and Rafe... I can't help but think you might end up with the short end of the stick." Delia listened quietly, absorbing Nate's words, wondering if he was correct. “It’s
As the incessant ringing of Rafe's phone pierced the tranquil air of the bedroom, both he and Delia stirred from their slumber. Delia was nestled against Rafe, his nose buried in her hair, inhaling her snowy scent and lulling his beast into a state of calm. With a groggy murmur, Rafe reached for his phone, his senses sharpening as he saw Natasha's name flashing on the screen. He sat up with a jerk. Delia turned over at his sudden movement and caught glimpse of the caller name on his phone. “I need to get this”, Rafe mumbled and hurriedly stepped out onto the balcony to take the call, leaving Delia on his bed staring after him. “Natasha, where are you?" Rafe's voice carried a tinge of urgency as he answered. Natasha's cheerful tone resonated through the line. "Hello to you too Rafe! I'm back in St. Germain. I figured there was no point in lingering there since you'll be joining me here for the Full Moon Festival tomorrow." Rafe responds saying, “I see..” “I saw your
In the wee hours of the morning, Rafe returned to his room after questioning and torturing the prisoners in an attempt to extract information. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to get anything out of them even though their lives were hanging by a thread. Additionally, Ethan had reported back saying he wasn’t able to locate Natasha. She was last seen leaving High Tide shortly after Rafe had departed, getting into a black SUV with tinted windows. Ethan had tracked her scent till the marina, but it seemed she may have already left and headed back to St. Germain. When Rafe tried to reach her by phone, her phone went directly to voicemail. The weight of the events of the night hung heavy on his shoulders as he entered the quiet confines of his bedroom. He had already stripped off his blood-stained clothes and showered in the guest bathroom, washing away the physical remnants of the night's ordeal. He expected to find Delia fast asleep on his bed, her peaceful form a reassuring
Rafe tenderly carried Delia through the corridors of his mansion. As he reached his bedroom on the third floor, he carefully laid her down on his bed and covered her with a blanket. “It's over now, Delia," he murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm in the darkness. He didn’t think she had seen anything but wasn’t sure how much she may have heard during the chaos. Climbing into bed beside her, Rafe wrapped his arms around Delia, pulling her close to his chest. He held her tightly, offering her warmth and reassurance as she shed silent tears, her emotions raw and unguarded in the quiet of the night. Safe in Rafe’s embrace, Delia finally succumbed to sleep. As Rafe pressed a tender kiss to her forehead, he found solace in the simple act of holding her close, knowing that he would do whatever it took to protect her from harm. Rafe lay awake beside Delia as his mind churned with questions and doubts. The sudden attack by the rogue pirates on the villa seemed too calculated t
As Rafe carried her into the villa, Delia's protests fell on deaf ears as he firmly held her in place, his grip unyielding. "Rafe, put me down!" Delia exclaimed, her voice echoing through the halls as she thumped against his back, her frustration mounting. In response, Rafe's hand came down on her behind, lightly slapping it. He walked through the villa, out onto the veranda and then the pool area. He finally set Delia down on her feet. With a deft hand, he removed her top and unbuttoned her shorts, pulling them down and leaving her standing in nothing but her lace bra and underwear. “Rafe, what are you doing?" Delia questioned as she met his intense gaze. But Rafe's eyes darkened at the sight of her. “Let's go for a swim," he suggested in a husky tone, as he removed his shirt, revealing his sculpted eight-pack. Delia's breath caught in her throat as she stared at him in awe, the realization dawning on her that this man before her was nothing short of a god. Without wa