...I hope to hell youre not thinking of adding racing to this insane schedule. She paled a little as she said it and the usual kick of satisfaction surged.
And what if I am? He moderated his voice despite the cold fist of pain that lodged in his gut. Unless a miracle happened, his racing career was over. A part of him had accepted that. Deep inside his soul, however, it was another matter.
Im hoping it wont come to that. Because you know as well as I do, youre in no shape to get into a racing cockpit.
He raised an interested brow. And how exactly do you intend to stop me?
Her delectable lips parted but no words emerged, and her eyes took on a haunted look that made him grit his teeth. I cant, I suppose. But I think youll agree youre not in the best shape.
Physically or mentally?
Only you can judge your mental state but, as your physiotherapist, Id say youre not ready.
He finally got his body under enough control to stand. He caught her sharp inhalation when he rounded the desk and perched on the edge next to where she stood. Hazel eyes, wide and spirited, glared at him.
Taking the sheet from her hand, he dropped it on the table, reached acrossslowly, so she wouldnt boltand traced his forefinger along her jaw. Your eyes are so huge right now. Youre almost shaking with worry for me. Yet you try and make me think you detest the very ground I walk on.
Her hand rose to intercept his finger but, instead of pushing it away, she kept a hold of it, imploring eyes boring into his. I dont detest you, Rafael. If I did, I wouldnt be here. Ill admit were...different but her shoulders rose and fell under the thin layer of her cotton top Im willing to put aside our differences to help you recuperate properly. And racing before youre ready...come on, you know thats crazy. Besides, think of your family, of Sasha. Do you think youre being fair to them, putting them through this?
He froze. Ive never responded well to emotional blackmail. And leave Sasha out of this. Ill tell you what, if you dont want me to race, youll have to find other ways to keep me entertained.
She dropped his hand as if it burned, just like hed known she would. Why does everything always circle back to sex with you?
I didnt actually mean that sexually, but what the hell, lets go with it.
Stop doing that!
Doing what, mi encantador?
Pretending youre a male bimbo whore.
Are you saying Im not? He pretended astonishment, the fizz of getting under her skin headier than the most potent wine.
She nodded at the papers on his desk. You just reminded me that you run a multi-billion-dollar corporation. I dont care how great you claim to be in bed; you couldnt have made it without using some upstairs skills.
He leaned back on the table when a twinge of pain shot through his left hip. How do you know?
You shouldnt sit like that. Youre putting too much pressure on your hip.
Annoyance replaced his buzz. He didnt deny that Raven had made much progress where his previous physios had failed. After all, it was the reason Team Espíritu had hired her as his personal therapist last year. She was the best around and got impressive results with her rigorous regime. But shed always been able to brush him off as if he were a pesky fly.
He remained in his exact position, raising a daring brow when her gaze collided with his. His blood thickened when she took the dare and stepped closer.
Without warning, her hand shot out and grabbed his hip. Her thumb dug into his hipbone where the pain radiated from. A few rotations of pressure-based massage and he wanted to moan with relief.
Why do you fight me when you know Im the best person to help you get better? she breathed.
Because my mamá told me I never took the easy way out. You will never get me to ask how high when you say jump.
She paused for a second, then continued to massage his hip. You never talk about your mother, she murmured.
Tension rippled through him. I never talk about anyone in my family. The prying all comes from you, bonita. Youve made it a mission to upturn every single rock in my life.
And yet I dont feel in any way enlightened about your life.
Maybe because Im an empty vessel. He tried damn hard not to let the acid-like guilt bleed through his voice.
No, youre not. You just like to pretend you are. Have you considered that by pretending to be something youre not, all youre doing is attracting attention to the very thing you wish to avoid?
Thats deep. And I presume that thought challenges you endlessly?
Her hand had moved dangerously close to his fly. If she looked down or moved her actions a few inches west, shed realise that, despite their verbal sparring skimming the murkier waters of his personal life, he was no less excited by her touch.
In fact, he wasnt ashamed to admit that he found the return of his libido exhilarating. For a few weeks after hed emerged from his coma itd been touch and go. His doctors had cautioned him that he might not resume complete sexual function. Raven Blasss appearance in his hospital room five weeks ago had blown that misdiagnosis straight out of the water.
No, she responded. I know better than to issue challenges to you.
Youre such a buzzkill, he said, but he felt relieved that shed decided to leave the matter of his mother alone.
He saw the faintest trace of a smile on her face before it disappeared. Her fingers moved away, rounded his hip and settled into his back. The movement brought her closer still, her chest mere inches from his. Firm, relief-bringing fingers dug into his muscle. Again he suppressed a moan of relief.
I know. But think how smug Id feel if you got back into racing before you were ready and reversed your progress. Youd never hear the end of it if you proved me right.
The sultry movement of her mouth was a siren call he didnt try very hard to resist. His forefinger was gliding over her mouth before he could stop himself. Her fingers stilled before digging painfully into his back. The rush of her breath over his finger sent his pulse thundering.
Or I could die. And this relentless song and dance could be over between us. Once and for all.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE CALM DELIVERY of his words, spoken with barely a flicker of those lush jet eyelashes, froze her to the core.
Is that what you want? To die? Her words were no more than a whisper, coated with the shock that held her immobile.
We all have to die some time.
But why, Rafael? Why do you wish to hurry the process when every rational human being fights to stay alive?
Mi tesoro, rational isnt exactly what most people think when they look at me.
Thats not an answer. She realised she was hanging on to him with a death claw but, for the life of her, Raven couldnt let go. She feared her legs would fail her if she did. And hell, she wasnt even sure why Rafaels explanation was so important to her. For all she knew, it was another statement meant to titillate and shock. But, looking closer, her blood grew colder. Something in his expression wasnt quite right. Or, rather, it was too right, as if he held his statement with some conviction. What is it, Rafael? Please tell me why you said that.