A lot more than she was prepared to deal with.
Chapter Twenty
“I want you to know that my friend Amber is furious with me. She can’t believe I’m leaving for a fun-filled weekend while she’s stuck at home with a sick child.”
“That’s what happens when you get all happy, fall in love and start producing the next generation. You miss out on all the fun,” Lia said with a laugh.
“Do you not want kids?”
“I want an entire houseful of the little monsters, but not for a few more years. I’m still too selfish to dedicate my life to a brood of children, but someday I want them crawling all over me. I know that sounds strange, but the thought of being all alone later on in life isn’t appealing. I want noise during the holidays, and messy fingerprints on the cupboards. I want the whole white-picket-fence thing,” Lia answered.
“I can see it now,” Ari joked. “A Palazzo in a megamansion surrounded by a white picket fence.” Still, she sat back and thought about Lia’s words. She’d never really thought very deeply about a family. She’d always just assumed she’d have one someday. That’s what people did — they grew up, got married and had kids.
What if she didn’t want them? What if she never got beyond being self-absorbed and then ended up an old lady with twenty cats? As she and Rafe’s sisters pulled up to the airport, doubts flooded her. She was way too young to be stressing over such a thing, so she needed to push it from her mind and focus on today only.
“OK, enough of this talk, you two. We’re about to board a beautiful jet, and set off to fabulous Las Vegas. I want the weekend to be about hot guys stripping and all-I-can-drink-margaritas,” Rachel demanded.
Her words pulled Ari from her disturbing thoughts — that was until they approached Rafe’s jet. Ari’s nerves jumped as they neared the steps. The last time she’d entered Rafe’s jet from this location, she’d been given an ultimatum. Approaching the beautiful aircraft now brought the turmoil she’d felt that dark day to the forefront of her mind.
“What took you ladies so long? Do you always need to make an entrance?”
“You know we do because we’re fabulous,” Rachel quipped as she ran up the steps.
Ari turned to face Rafe and her stomach clenched. Only two days ago, she’d had the choice to leave him, yet here she was, about to board his jet again. After his intense lovemaking in her office, and then the even more intense board meeting with the prince, he’d been called away and she hadn’t seen him since.
“I can see you’re fighting yourself again, Ari. Sometimes it’s much better to just go with the moment and not overthink everything,” he said as his arms wrapped around her and he leaned down to gently kiss her lips.
It was these moments when he was so human, so caring, that confused her most. Mr. Hyde she could handle, Dr. Jekyll, not so much.
“I’m just looking forward to Vegas,” she said in a falsely high voice.
“Good. I think you’ll enjoy the trip if my sisters don’t get you into too much trouble.”
“I happen to be very fond of your sisters,” she replied honestly.
“That’s how they get you. They suck you in and then you become one of them,” he warned with a wiggle of his brows.
“I’m standing right here,” Lia said as she smacked his wrist. “Come on, Ari. Ignore my worthless brother.” Lia grabbed her arm and pulled her up the stairs.
Knowing Rafe was right behind her, most likely staring at her rear end, made Ari put a little more wiggle in her hips. He’d left her hurting; now with an audience, he couldn’t do anything, so she decided finally to repay the favor. Prince Adrian had thrown her off her game, but she was making a grand comeback.
They all boarded, but Shane was running late, so Rafe told them to settle in and have a drink and snack. Ari chatted with Lia and Rachel for a while, then turned her head and noticed Rafe sitting in one of the corner chairs, working on his computer.
Slowly, she stood and walked toward him. His eyes lifted and he watched her with suspicion. She stopped and bent down so only he could hear her.
“I had a dream about you last night.”
His eyes widened as he waited for her to continue.
“I think it’s the best sex I’ve ever experienced. I was a little sad to wake up and find out it wasn’t real.” Rafe’s eyes narrowed as he reached for her. She backed up just out of his reach before she leaned in again. “By the way, I’m not wearing any panties — or a bra.”
With that she turned and walked back to his sisters. The air exploding from his lungs was sufficient enough to put her in an incredibly good mood. She only hoped he ached the entire flight to Vegas.
After another ten minutes passed, Ari could still feel Rafe’s gaze burning a hole through her. She finally looked up and met his desire filled-eyes. Though she was melting from the inside out, she winked at him as she lifted her glass and licked the rim.
As his eyes narrowed, she grabbed an ice cube from the drink and ran it along her neck, the cold liquid dripping down her shirt. “It’s really warm in here, don’t you think?” she asked him.
“Why don’t I take you in the back? I can crank up the air conditioner so you don’t overheat,” he responded as he rose to his feet. Ari had no intention of caving in to him — the point was to make him suffer. Slowly, she walked to him, rubbing against his chest.
“I don’t think so. You left me high and…wet the other day; now it’s your turn,” she said with a smile as she quickly backed away.
“You’re not going anywhere, Ari,” he growled, stepping forward. Dancing backward quickly, Ari found safety in between Rachel and Lia. Rafe didn’t look as if he were going to let his sisters stop his advance. The thought of the way he might retaliate made her stomach tremble.
“I’m here! The party can officially start.”
Ari jumped at the sound of Shane’s voice as he walked inside the aircraft. The distraction of his arrival was better than a bucket of cold water. Rafe stopped in his tracks, and everyone turned toward the newcomer.
Ari bent down and grabbed another ice cube to run along her neck just to drive the nail in a bit harder with Rafe, and when he turned back in her direction, she could swear there was steam coming from his ears.
Looking down at his pants, she noticed a definite bulge. This was one round she was winning.