Melody Anne - Scorched

“Rachel, we need to talk more,” he said, quickly catching up to her as they entered the palace.

“Can you ever love me, Adriane?” she asked, stopping him cold as she faced him in the cool, dark hallway.

He weighed his answer before opening his mouth. “Love doesn’t matter, Rachel. Why do you keep bringing it up? Haven’t these past nights been good for you? We can have that every night.”

“Yes, Adriane, love does matter. Since I do keep bringing it up, don’t you think that it’s important?” she argued, angry and hurt-filled tears blurring her vision.

He didn’t say anything to that, which Rachel felt was an incredibly painful slap in the face.

She walked away from him again, and this time he let her go. When she reached her room, she knelt beside her bed, and said a fervent prayer.

“Please help me to make the right decision, no matter what that decision may be. And please help me not to be such a fool as not to listen when I am given the answers.”

Her prayer finished, Rachel stood up and crawled into bed.

Adriane had to think she was crazy now. One minute she was holding him as if she would never let him go and the next minute ranting at him to leave her alone. Had she not had that revelation while with his mother, her day would have gone a lot more smoothly.

She’d most likely be lying in his arms right this very minute.

Damn her stubbornness, and damn her inability to decide what she should do next.

They were back to the real world, and Ari was scared.

Disaster had to await them, didn’t it?

After all, their honeymoon had been perfect, everything she’d ever imagined and then some, thanks to all of Rafe’s romantic surprises. They’d played on the beach, watched as whales and dolphins danced in the waters, lain in the sun for hours, and made love more times than should be physically possible.

But their jet had landed, and they were already back home. Would everything change now that the honeymoon was technically over? Would the honeymoon truly be over as they resumed their normal lives? Whatever the reason, Ari’s nerves were gnawing away at her.

As Mario drove them toward Rafe’s house, she felt a little sick.

This was his home, the home he’d had before she was a part of his life, the home he’d built for himself. The home he’d broken her heart in. She knew she shouldn’t be upset, but they were starting a new life together and she wondered whether she’d always feel that this was his place, never feel that it was equally hers. Never get over the night she’d bared her soul to him and had been so completely crushed.

She would never say anything to him of the sort. It was petty of her even to think of asking him to move, but although it was a fine home, it wasn’t a place she would choose for herself.

She wanted something with a large yard, a place where she felt comfortable getting to know her neighbors. She knew Rafe needed a large home, since he entertained clients in it, and he worked from his home office at times, but this setting, his bachelor mansion, was just not what she envisioned spending the rest of her life in.

Maybe at some point she would feel safe in bringing up the subject.

Not today, though. Today was their homecoming day. Today was their first day back in the real world — as man and wife.

They pulled up to the house with all the lights burning bright, a welcoming gesture from Rafe’s efficient staff. As she emerged from the car, Ari looked at the imposing front door and hoped to feel a modicum of pride — a feeling that this was her home now, too.

Nothing.

“Welcome home, Mrs. Palazzo,” Rafe said before scooping Ari up into his arms and carrying her across the threshold. At least he didn’t stumble, but she didn’t expect him to.

Her worries temporarily forgotten, Ari laughed with delight as he nuzzled her neck and made his way to the kitchen. Then she melted a little when she saw the gigantic bouquet of stargazer lilies waiting for her on the table.

“My favorite flowers,” she sighed.

“I could never forget. I will have a bouquet for you every week for the rest of your life,” he said before kissing her breathless while letting her body slide down his as he set her on her feet.

“Did you order them yourself, or have Mario do it?” It shouldn’t matter, but it did. If they were from him, the gesture meant so much more.

“I ordered them,” he said, and kissed her again.

“I love them, then,” she said before kissing his neck, tasting his skin as she reached toward one of his buttons.

“I’m starving, woman, so quit distracting me,” he said with a grin as he pulled back after leaning in for one more lingering kiss.

“Mmm, I’m not the one who started this,” she reminded him while looping her arms around his neck and nibbling on his lips.

“I can’t seem to keep my hands off you,” he said before deepening the kiss, making them both lose sight of the meal they needed to have.

“I like that very much,” she told him when he came up for air.

“You are going to have to sit on the other side of this island so I’m not tempted,” he said, finally extracting himself from her arms.

Ari pouted as she took her seat, but quickly lost her moue as she watched him take food from the fridge. She hadn’t seen him cook before. This would be interesting.

“What are you making?”

“For our first night together, I thought a salmon-topped salad, lots of wine, and ice cream for dessert.”

“That’s not very creative,” she teased him.

“I’ve never claimed to be a culinary master,” he said, unwrapping the already prepared items and putting the salad together.

“You have many other talents, so I suppose I shall forgive you.”

“Why, thank you ever so much,” he said as he set a plate in front of her. It was so nice to be alone with him, with no staff interrupting them as they enjoyed their first meal back in the States as man and wife.

It still seemed unreal, even after their time on honeymoon.

“I love you, Rafe,” she said, halting the progress of her fork halfway to her mouth.

“You are my world, Ari,” he said as leaned over, gently caressing her lips with his before lifting his hand and running his thumb across her swollen bottom lip.

“Who needs food?” she asked. The bedroom beckoned, saying “Now!”

“Oh, woman, don’t tempt me,” he scolded gently. “Eat up. You will need the fuel,” he continued with a wink, making her stomach tighten in anticipation.

“You have a strenuous night planned?”

“Oh, yes, yes, I do,” he promised.

Further anticipation filled her as she picked her fork back up and nibbled on her salad. They’d had romantic, amazing, take-her-breath away sex on her honeymoon, but now that they were home, she couldn’t wait to see what he had planned next.

“Before we retire to our bedroom, I want to show you something,” Rafe said as he cleaned up the dishes and set a bowl of ice cream in front of her, topped with extra whipped cream.

Ari filled her spoon with vanilla ice cream and syrup, enjoying the cold on her tongue. He grabbed a folder and placed it before her.

“What’s this?” she asked, picking it up and opening it.

Then her eyes widened in delight. Listings. Home listings.

“I wanted to surprise you with a new house, Ari, but then I thought this was something you would want to be involved in. I know you haven’t said anything, but I want us to start our life together with a home you can love. Here are some choices for you to thumb through. If you hate them all, then we’ll meet with the Realtor and keep looking. I spoke to your mother and she told me what she believed you would like.” Rafe spoke almost nervously.

Ari glanced through the listings, and on the third one, she stopped, entranced by the pictures of a beautiful colonial-style home with a wraparound porch and bamboo flooring. And then the pièce de résistance, at least where she was concerned: a giant backyard, with a pool and a variety of giant trees providing shade and privacy.

It fulfilled her dreams.

“Oh, Rafe, I don’t know what to say,” she gasped, feeling as if it were already home without ever having set foot inside the double front doors.

“Do you really like it? This was my pick. I put down earnest money to hold it,” he said, smiling as if he’d done well.

“I love it, but are you sure? You’ve lived here a long time.” She suddenly felt guilty over not loving the place he’d called home.

“This is just a house, Ari. It’s just a place I have rested my head. I’ve been waiting for you to come into my life to actually have a home — the place I can see myself living forever. You are what will make it a place of comfort, you and our children. If you’re happy, then I will be too.”

“Oh, Rafe, I am going to make you a very happy man tonight,” she said with a watery smile as she rose from her seat and positioned herself between his legs. She leaned forward and kissed him.

“Mmm, it’s too late, Ari. I’m already the happiest man alive,” he said, when speaking was possible.

She grasped his face, her thumbs rubbing over his high cheekbones. “I can’t believe I get to spend the rest of my life with you.” She kissed him again, trying to convey all the emotion she was feeling, and she held on tight as his hands drifted down her back and cupped her behind, pulling her against his already aroused body.

When he pushed her back, she whimpered until he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bright red sash.

“What’s this for?” Though she asked, she already knew, and her body tingled as she realized the games were about to begin.