Rafe stirred as the soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the room. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on his back and the comforting presence of Allison beside him. She was still asleep, her breathing slow and steady, the peaceful rise and fall of her chest a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions brewing inside him. He found himself watching her, captivated by the serenity on her face—a look that always brought him a rare sense of peace.
Rafe shifted closer, his movement deliberate and tender, as if afraid to disturb the quiet moment. He pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek, then another just beneath her ear, inhaling the sweet, familiar scent of her skin. He continued down her neck, his lips trailing a path that was both loving and urgent, as if each kiss was a silent apology for the secrets he held. When he reached the edge of the sheets, he carefully pulled them down, revealing more of her bare skin to the morning light. His kisses grew more purposeful as he moved lower, his lips brushing over her breasts, then down her stomach, until he felt her stir beneath his touch.
Allison's eyelids fluttered open, her gaze meeting Rafe's as she blinked herself awake. "What are you doing?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep, a soft smile playing on her lips.
Rafe's heart swelled at the sight of her, her disheveled hair and sleepy expression making her all the more beautiful. "Just giving you goodbye kisses before I leave," he replied, his voice low and warm, tinged with a hint of sadness. He kissed her lower stomach, savoring the small gasp that escaped her lips.
Allison's smile deepened, though there was a trace of something else in her eyes—a flicker of worry, of unease. But as Rafe continued his trail of kisses, her doubts were momentarily swept away by the sensation of his touch, his fingers sliding through her already wet folds with practiced ease. The intensity of his gaze as he looked up at her sent shivers down her spine, igniting a fire within her that she couldn't resist.
Rafe groaned softly, the sound vibrating against her skin as he ran his tongue across her sensitive flesh, tasting her deeply. The taste of her was intoxicating, a reminder of the passion that had always existed between them, even when everything else seemed to be falling apart.
"Fuck," Allison whimpered, her hips bucking up instinctively, seeking more of the pleasure he was giving her.
Rafe tightened his grip on her hips, holding them down with a firm yet gentle hand, his control over her body absolute. He sucked on her clit with deliberate slowness, his tongue moving in ways that made Allison's head spin. Her hand flew to his hair, fingers tangling in the soft strands as she tried to hold on to something, anything, to keep herself grounded. But the pleasure was overwhelming, consuming her, pulling her under.
Her other hand clenched the sheets, the fabric bunched up in her fist as her body arched off the bed, her legs spreading wider to give him better access. Rafe took full advantage, thrusting his tongue inside her, the sensation making her jerk up into him. Her breath came in short, desperate gasps as she surrendered completely to the feelings he was evoking in her.
Rafe thrusted his index finger inside her, his movements slow and deliberate at first, but quickening as her moans grew louder, more insistent. He added another finger, thrusting harder, deeper, all while his tongue continued its relentless assault on her clit. He was relentless, determined to draw every ounce of pleasure from her body.
Allison's vision blurred as the tension inside her built to a breaking point. The orgasm washed over her like a tidal wave, her body shaking violently in its wake. She gasped for breath, her muscles contracting around Rafe's fingers as he kept her on the edge, prolonging her pleasure until she was utterly spent.
Rafe pressed soft, reverent kisses to her inner thighs as he slowly withdrew his fingers, his touch soothing in the aftermath of the storm. He moved back up her body, trailing his lips over her heated skin until he was hovering above her once more, his eyes dark with desire and something deeper, something that made Allison's heartache.
"You should wake me up like this more often," she said, her voice breathless, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips.
Rafe smirked down at her, though there was a softness in his eyes that she rarely saw. "Yeah?" he asked, his tone teasing but his expression serious as if he was committing this moment to memory.
"Yeah," Allison whispered, her hand curling around the back of his neck as she pulled him down for a kiss. The taste of herself on his lips sent another wave of heat through her, but there was something more, something bittersweet in the way he kissed her back as if he was afraid this might be the last time.
Rafe pressed his body against hers, the feel of his erection brushing against her lower stomach making her gasp softly against his mouth. The sensation sent a jolt of electricity through her, her body responding to him as it always did, with an intensity that scared her sometimes.
Allison nudged him, a small, playful push that made him chuckle against her lips. His lips descended to her neck, his teeth gently scraping against her sensitive skin, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. He sucked on the delicate flesh, hoping to leave a mark, a reminder of him that would stay with her while he was away.
Her fingers brushed against his lower stomach, a touch that made his entire body tense with anticipation. But he didn't stop, didn't pull away, his mouth continuing its exploration of her neck. "I want to make you feel good too," she whispered, her hand slowly brushing against his hardened erection, feeling the way his breath hitched in his throat.
Allison turned him over onto his back, straddling his hips with a grace that left him breathless. She leaned down, pressing her lips to his neck, mimicking his earlier actions as she left a hickey that would last, a mark of her love that he would carry with him to the Bahamas.
Rafe's hands grabbed her ass, pulling her harder against him, creating friction that made them both moan. But Allison wasn't done. She placed her hands on his chest, pushing him down into the bed, her eyes dark with intent. Rafe grinned up at her, his tongue flicking out to wet his lips as he watched her with a hunger that sent a thrill of power through her.
Seductively, Allison slid down his body, her eyes never leaving his as she knelt in front of him. His breath hitched as her mouth hovered so close, the anticipation almost too much to bear.
She smirked, flicking her tongue to catch the bead of moisture gathering at the tip, a move that made Rafe hiss with pleasure. "You're so good, baby," he managed to say, his fingers burying themselves in her hair as his hips jerked up into her mouth.
Her moans sent vibrations through him, driving him wild, his control slipping with every passing second. Rafe threw his head back against the pillow, his entire body quivering with ecstasy as Allison took him fully into her mouth, her lips dragging down his length with a slow, torturous precision.
He was so close to release, so close to losing himself completely in the pleasure she was giving him. But he wanted to finish inside her and wanted to feel her around him when he came. With a reluctant groan, he pulled her mouth off him, his chest heaving with the effort to regain control.
Allison frowned slightly, her brows knitting together in confusion. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked, her voice soft, almost vulnerable.
Rafe shook his head, his heart swelling with affection for her. "No. God, no. Definitely not. I just want to finish inside you," he said, his voice raw with need.
Allison bit her lower lip, a move that never failed to drive him crazy. "Oh, okay," she whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips as she moved to straddle his hips again.
She guided Rafe's erection into her, her breath hitching as she slowly lowered herself onto him, taking him inch by inch. Her belly tightened with a familiar kind of tension as she began a slow, steady rhythm with her hips, her movements sensual and deliberate.
Rafe's hands rested lightly on her hips, his eyes fixed on her as she rode him, the slick sound of their bodies moving together filling the room. The sight of her, her head thrown back, her lips parted in a silent moan, was enough to drive him to the edge.
Allison braced herself against his chest, feeling the tension build inside her, the pleasure coiling tighter and tighter with each thrust. "Fuck," Rafe cursed under his breath as she clenched around him, the sensation almost too much to bear.
His hand moved to cup her breast, his fingers rolling her nipple between them, sending another wave of pleasure through her. Allison moaned his name, her voice breathy and desperate as she moved faster, riding him with a frantic need that matched his own.
Her legs felt numb, barely able to support her weight as the tension inside her built to a breaking point. She was so close, so close to the edge, and Rafe could feel it too, his hips rocking up to meet hers in a rhythm that was both frantic and perfectly in sync. The air around them seemed to crackle with the intensity of their connection, each movement, each touch, heightening the anticipation that coursed through their bodies.
Allison's breaths came in quick, shallow gasps as she felt herself teetering on the brink of release. Her hands pressed down on Rafe's chest, her nails digging into his skin, grounding her as the tension inside her coiled tighter and tighter. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her fingertips, erratic and fast, matching the wild pace of her own.
"Rafe," she breathed, her voice catching in her throat as she pushed herself down onto him harder, deeper, seeking the release she so desperately needed.
Rafe's grip on her hips tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh as he thrust up into her, his own control slipping away with each passing second. The sight of her above him, lost in the throes of passion, was almost too much for him to bear. He felt the familiar heat building in the pit of his stomach, spreading outwards, consuming him entirely.
"Allison," he groaned, his voice rough with desire as he felt her walls clench around him, her body trembling as she finally gave in to the pleasure that had been building within her.
Allison's orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, crashing over her in a rush of intense pleasure that left her gasping for breath. Her body tensed, her back arching as the waves of ecstasy pulsed through her, leaving her trembling in its wake. She called out his name, her voice a broken whisper as she rode out the last of her climax.
Rafe wasn't far behind. The feeling of her tightening around him, her body convulsing with the force of her release, pushed him over the edge. With a final, powerful thrust, he came hard, a guttural moan escaping his lips as he spilled inside her, his entire body shuddering with the intensity of his orgasm.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to be still, the only sound was the ragged breathing that filled the room. Allison slumped against Rafe, her head resting on his chest, their bodies still joined as they both tried to catch their breath. The aftershocks of their release echoed through them, leaving them both feeling sated and utterly exhausted.
Rafe wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, his fingers gently stroking her back. He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head, his heart still racing in his chest. There was a contentment that settled over him, a rare peace that he only ever found in moments like this, with Allison in his arms.
Allison nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, her breathing slowly evening out as the warmth of his embrace enveloped her. Despite the lingering doubts and the unspoken fears that had been gnawing at her, in this moment, she felt safe. Loved. It was a feeling she wanted to hold onto, even if she knew that the reality of their situation would eventually come crashing back in.
As the intensity of the moment faded, Rafe felt the weight of everything that had been left unsaid between them settle heavily on his shoulders. He knew that the time they had left together before he had to leave was slipping away, and with it, the chance to say the things that had been lingering in his heart.
"Allison," he began, his voice soft and hesitant, as if he were afraid of breaking the fragile peace between them. He pulled back slightly, tilting her chin up so he could look into her eyes.
"Hmm?" Allison hummed, her eyelids heavy as she looked up at him, a soft, sleepy smile on her lips.
"I want you to know," Rafe said, his thumb brushing gently against her cheek, "That you mean everything to me. I know things have been... complicated, and I know I've been distant sometimes. But I need you to believe that no matter what, you're the most important person in my life."
Allison blinked, the warmth of his words seeping into her, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "Rafe, I—"
"I know," he interrupted gently, not wanting her to downplay her feelings or dismiss his. "I just need you to hear me, okay? You're my everything, Allie. And I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect us, to keep us together."
The sincerity in his voice, the raw emotion that he rarely allowed himself to show, made Allison's heartache. She could see the fear in his eyes, the desperation to make her understand, to hold onto something that felt like it was slipping away. And in that moment, she wanted to believe him with every fiber of her being.
"I believe you, Rafe," she whispered, her voice tinged with emotion as she leaned in to kiss him, slow and tender as if trying to convey everything she couldn't put into words. However a small part of her couldn't help but wonder if she was only saying it because she wanted to believe it so badly—wanted to hold onto the love they shared, even as it felt like it was slipping through her fingers.
When they finally pulled apart, Rafe rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling as they held each other close. The silence between them was heavy, but it was a silence filled with understanding, with a mutual need to hold on to what they had for as long as they could.
・ • ・ • ・
Rafe sat in the passenger seat, his heart a jumble of emotions as he waited for his dad to emerge from the house. The sun cast a golden glow over the quiet neighborhood. The car idled softly, the gentle hum of the engine doing little to soothe the growing tension in his chest. He could feel the weight of everything that had been left unsaid between him and Allison, and it gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the fragility of their relationship.
Allison stood by the open window, her presence grounding him in the moment. Her lips met his in a tender, lingering kiss that Rafe wished would never end. There was something about the way she kissed him that made him feel like everything would be okay, even when he knew deep down that things were far from it.
"I really wish I could take you with me," Rafe murmured as he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. There was a vulnerability in his voice that he rarely showed, a quiet plea for her to understand the things he couldn't bring himself to say.
"Next time," Allison whispered, her breath warm against his lips. She leaned in for another kiss, and Rafe couldn't help but lose himself in the softness of her touch, the way her lips moved with his in a sweet, slow dance that made him forget if only for a moment, the darkness that loomed on the horizon.
"Just you and me, yeah?" Rafe asked, his voice filled with longing. He needed her to say yes, to promise him that they would have their time, away from everything and everyone.
"Yes, it sounds perfect," Allison replied with a smile that made Rafe's heart swell. "I've never been to the Bahamas, believe it or not."
Rafe chuckled softly, though the sound was tinged with a sadness he couldn't quite shake. "Well, you will. Can't wait for us to get away from here."
Allison's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of concern crossing her features. "What's so wrong with the Outer Banks?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
"It's just better there, away from everyone, trust me," Rafe replied, his eyes flicking towards the house as he noticed his father stepping out. He leaned in to give her one last kiss, a lingering one filled with unspoken promises and the desperate hope that she would wait for him, that she would still be there when he returned.
Allison watched him go, her heart heavy with uncertainty. She wanted to trust him, to believe that everything would be okay. But as the car drove away, the silence of the room pressed down on her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to break.
The doubts, the secrets, the unanswered questions—they all lingered, hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break. And Allison knew, deep down, that when it finally did, there would be no going back.
She turned and walked back into the house, her footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. The emptiness of the space around her seemed to mirror the emptiness that had settled in her chest, a hollow ache that she couldn't quite name.
"Now that Rafe's gone, do you want to watch Vampire Diaries with me?" Wheezie's voice broke the silence as soon as Allison entered the living room, her eager expression a stark contrast to the heaviness that weighed on Allison's heart.
Allison forced a smile, trying to push her worries aside for the sake of the young girl in front of her. "Aren't you a little young to be watching Vampire Diaries?" she questioned gently, hoping to lighten the mood.
"I'm not," Wheezie said defensively, though there was a tinge of sadness in her voice. "I've been watching it with Sarah before..." She trailed off, her eyes downcast, and Allison's heart ached for her.
She knew how much Wheezie missed her sister, and the thought of it made her chest tighten with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Wheezie. We can watch it together if that will make you feel better."
Wheezie's face brightened with a small smile, and Allison felt a flicker of warmth in her heart, a brief reprieve from the storm that brewed within her. "Great," Wheezie said, her enthusiasm contagious.
Allison followed Wheezie to her room, the young girl leading the way with an energy that belied the sadness that lingered beneath the surface. Wheezie climbed into her bed, settling against the headrest and grabbing her laptop off the nightstand. She set it up between them, the screencasting a soft glow in the dim room.
"I'm already halfway through season three if you don't mind watching from there," Wheezie said, her voice hopeful.
"It's fine. Season three is my favorite anyway," Allison replied, opening a bag of chips Wheezie handed her. They settled in, the familiar opening theme of Vampire Diaries filling the room, a comforting distraction from the thoughts that threatened to consume her.
As the episodes played on, Allison found herself getting lost in the familiar storylines, the drama of the show offering a welcome escape from the uncertainty of her own life. But even as she laughed at Wheezie's commentary and got caught up in the characters' lives, a part of her mind remained fixed on Rafe, on the way he had looked at her before he left, the way his voice had trembled just slightly when he had said he wished he could take her with him.
・ • ・ • ・
"Rafe..." Ward's voice broke through the humid air as they arrived at the Bahamas house, the tension between them almost palpable. Rafe could feel the exhaustion from the journey weighing heavily on him, but there was a nervous energy in the air that kept him on edge."I didn't just bring you here because I need your help. I wanna show you something," Ward continued his tone carefully measured.
"Is this the deal you've been working on?" Rafe asked, throwing his bag onto the sofa, his movements slow and deliberate. He was tired, but there was a curiosity in his eyes, a need to understand what his father had been so secretive about.
"You could say that," Ward replied, tipping in the password on a safe. The sound of the lock clicking open echoed in the quiet room, the tension building as Ward pulled open the door. "You ready?"
"What do you got in there? The Hope Diamond?" Rafe joked, but his laughter died in his throat as the door swung open, revealing stacks of gold bars. His eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape as he stared at the treasure in front of him. "Is that real?"
"Son, that's the realest thing there is," Ward said, his smile barely contained as he picked up a gold bar and handed it to Rafe.
Rafe's hands trembled slightly as he took the gold, the weight of it heavy in his hands, both physically and metaphorically. "How..." His voice trailed off, his mind struggling to process what he was holding.
"I found it," Ward told him, his eyes shining with triumph. There was a pride in his voice, a sense of accomplishment that Rafe had rarely heard from him.
"You found... You found the Royal Merchant?" Rafe asked, his disbelief turning to awe as the reality of the situation began to sink in.
Ward nodded, his smile widening as he watched his son's reaction. "It's what all this has been about. All this gold, it's ours now." He picked up a few more bars of gold and placed them into Rafe's hands, the weight of the treasure almost overwhelming.
"Jesus," Rafe muttered, feeling the solid, undeniable reality of the gold in his hands. It was heavy, solid, and very, very real.
"It can't bring your sister back, but it can save us," Ward said, his voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and hope. "See, Rafe, by the time Hurricane Agatha hit... we were in a financial hole, a deep one." He sighed, the relief palpable as he looked at his son. "We're not in a hole anymore."
Rafe's eyes darted around the room, his mind racing as he tried to process everything. "I mean, I'm looking..." he chuckled, the sound tinged with disbelief and something like relief. "I'm looking at what here?"
"Half a billion," Ward replied, his voice steady, almost reverent.
"Half a billion," Rafe repeated, the number rolling off his tongue like a foreign concept, something too big, too unbelievable to be real. "Oh my God." He walked through the open patio doors, pulling off his backward cap, the cool evening breeze hitting his face as he tried to wrap his mind around it all. "Holy shit!" He laughed, the sound wild and unrestrained, echoing over the water. "Dad! What? How is this possible, huh?"
Ward watched his son with a mixture of pride and something softer, something almost tender. "This is what I need to tell you." He reached out, holding his son's face between his hands, forcing him to look into his eyes. "Look at me. Look. I'm hard on you, Rafe. I'm real hard on you, all right? I know that."
"Yeah," Rafe sighed, the weight of his father's words settling over him, a heaviness that he had carried with him for so long.
"That's why you need to hear this. That day on the tarmac, right?" Ward began, holding the gold in his hand, the weight of it a reminder of the cost of their choices. "This is what was on the cargo plane. You are the only reason we were able to fly that out. You, Rafe. No gold."
Rafe was at a loss for words, the weight of his father's revelation settling heavily on his shoulders. He had always felt like the shadow of his father's expectations loomed over him, but now, in this moment, he was finally seeing a different side of Ward—a side that acknowledged the sacrifices he had made, the pressure he had been under. For the first time, it felt like his father saw him, not just as a tool or an extension of himself, but as someone who had played a crucial role in their survival.
Rafe nodded a couple of times, trying to process everything, his emotions a swirling mix of pride, relief, and the lingering bitterness of years spent trying to earn his father's approval. Without another word, he wrapped his arms around Ward's shoulders, pulling him into a tight embrace. Ward returned the hug, patting his son's back gently. It was a rare, almost tender moment between them, a connection that had been missing for far too long.
For the first time in a long while, Rafe felt a deep sense of connection with his father. The old wounds, the doubts and insecurities, seemed to fade into the background as they stood there, united in a way they hadn't been before. It was as if the gold in that safe represented more than just wealth—it was a symbol of something Rafe had been chasing for years: his father's acknowledgment, his validation.
"Thank you, Dad," Rafe whispered, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back slightly, looking into Ward's eyes, searching for any hint of insincerity. But all he saw was a man who, for once, seemed to understand the cost of his ambitions—not just the monetary cost, but the toll it had taken on their family.
"You've earned it, son," Ward replied, his voice steady, though there was a flicker of something deeper—regret, perhaps? "I know I've been hard on you, but it's because I knew you could handle it. And look at what you've done. Look at what we've done together."
Rafe nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yeah. We did it." There was a sense of finality in those words as if this was the moment that would define their relationship going forward. The past, with all its complications and unspoken tensions, was still there, but it didn't feel as heavy, as all-consuming as it had before.
"Now," Ward said, his voice shifting back to business, though there was a warmth that hadn't been there before. "There's still a lot to do, and we can't afford any slip-ups."
"Yeah, of course," Rafe replied, his mind already racing with the possibilities, the logistics of what they would need to do next. But even as he thought about the future, a small part of his mind drifted back to Allison, to the look in her eyes when he had left, to the way she had said she trusted him.
He hoped she still did.