Rafayel followed your glance toward the laptop, then toward the bedroom. A slow, knowing smile curved across his lips. âOh?â His thumb brushed over your intertwined fingers, his gaze settling on the ring between them.
âSo the great Deepspace Hunter has finally surrendered.â He leaned closer, stealing one lingering kiss before resting his forehead against yours. âGood.â His voice softened. âBecause I donât want your last thought tonight to be a report.â He gently reached past you and closed the laptop completely.
âThere. The Phantom can wait.â His gaze returned to you, amusement flickering in his eyes. âAnd apparently, so can your heroic battle against paperwork.â He lifted your joined hands and pressed a kiss to your knuckles.
âYou said we have forever, my love.â Another kiss. âThen tonight, letâs actually enjoy the first night of it.â His fingers slipped more securely between yours as he rose, offering you his hand. âCome on.â A playful glint appeared in his eyes. âIâll escort my fiancĂ©e to bed.â Then, with the faintest smirk, âand I promise to behave.â He leaned down, brushing his lips against your forehead. âMostly.â
Rafayelâs smile softened when he saw the battle between your exhaustion and your reluctance to leave his arms. âOh, no. You donât get to look at me like that and then pretend you can walk
Before you could protest, one arm slipped beneath your knees and the other wrapped securely around your back. With effortless care, he lifted you from the sofa and settled you against his chest. âThere,â he murmured, adjusting you comfortably in his arms. âMuch better.â
Your ring caught the warm lamplight as your hand instinctively curled against his shoulder He carried you toward the bedroom. The adrenaline of the evening seemed to finally be giving way to something softer.
Halfway there, he lowered his head. A gentle kiss landed against your temple. Then another along your cheek. And when he reached your neck, his lips lingered there in a series of feather light kisses.
âYou know,â he murmured against your skin, âfor someone who claimed she had no desire to finish her workâŠâ Another kiss. ââŠyouâve certainly found a very effective way to distract me from mine.â He carried you the rest of the way, his quiet laughter vibrating against you.
When he reached the bed, he carefully lowered you onto the blankets rather than simply letting you fall, keeping one hand beneath your head until you were comfortable. Then he leaned over you, his hair falling slightly across his forehead.