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What were you doing?
You uncomfortably tugged at the hem of your cocktail dress as you looked around the room, hoping you blended in. Your goal was to get through the exhibit's opening entirely unnoticed. You knew deep down that you shouldn't even be there. But perhaps you were a glutton for punishment or something, because here you were.
It had been a few months since you had even seen your on-again, off-again ex Rafayel. You honestly could only vaguely recall your last fight - something about you being too reckless, something about him being too focused on his art. That's what your fights were always about. The two of you had blown up at each other. And that was the last time you had seen him.
Until now, that is. At the center of the room, surrounded by journalists and fans (as always), you could see purple hair peeking over the top. It sent an odd feeling through your body. No, no. You didn't miss him. Of course not. You were only here because you had hoped to see that he was as miserable as you were. Right.
How many times had you done this song and dance? You would fight. You would break up. You would reunite. The cycle would continue on and on. This had been the longest you'd gone without seeing each other, though.
You'd tried to get over him. Did everything you could. Hell, even right now you were seeing someone. Your latest attempt to move on from Rafayel had you saying yes to the first guy who asked you on a date. Was he handsome? Sure. Was he thoughtful or even caring? Not particularly. And was he good in bed? Well…
Then, a voice from behind spoke your feelings aloud.
"What are you doing here?"
You froze before turning your head slightly over your shoulder. "Good evening, Thomas," you muttered.
The man gave an exasperated sigh. "You know he's going to lose his mind if he sees you here."
"I know," you mumbled, feeling like you were being scolded by a teacher. "That's why my plan is to not be seen."
You could practically hear Thomas's eye roll. "You're doing a pretty bad job of that."
You folded your arms across your body and didn't answer. Thomas sighed again.
"Well, if he sees you here, that's your problem. I already deal with enough."
Again, you didn't answer, just listened to the sound of retreating footsteps. You groaned quietly and let your head fall into your hands. Thomas was right. You were so stupid. But you had come this far. You couldn't leave.
Okay. You sucked in a deep breath and then exhaled. Just a little bit longer. You would get what you wanted and then leave. That's all.
Your eyes fell to the painting in front of you. It was stunning, of course. There was no denying Rafayel's artistic talent, no matter how much you didn't like him at the moment. It invoked a deep sense of melancholy in you that you didn't quite understand. And…you blinked rapidly, as if that would somehow change what was there. The woman in the painting was clearly you.
Sure, it was abstract enough for deniability, but you were confident. How many hours had you spent watching Rafayel paint? How many hours had you spent with him at exhibits just like this one, looking at his art, sneaking away and giggling together? Your head felt like it was spinning as memories flooded your mind.
As much as you hated to admit it, as much as you told yourself you wanted to forget him…you couldn't. And this painting, evoking a tragic love story clearly inspired you, was your solid proof.
It made your heart ache. No, you were wrong. You couldn't do this after all. What had you been thinking? You came here hoping to see your ex-boyfriend miserable. That's all. So…why were you feeling this way?
You shook your head. You had to get out of here. Immediately. With that in mind, you spun on your heel and prepared to book it to the door.
Unfortunately, you slammed right into a man's broad chest.
Ah, fuck.
"Well, well," Rafayel's large hand steadied your shoulder. You gathered all your strength to look up at him. He was smirking. "I thought I saw you here. But I thought I had to be wrong. I remember you saying you never wanted to see me again."
You flushed. "Umm…" you were floundering. Fuck! How did he always have this effect on you? "It's fine. I was just leaving, actually, so—"
"Nope," his hand on your shoulder suddenly felt like a vice. "Clearly, you came all this way for a reason."
Your eyes met. And you knew Rafayel well enough to see the vulnerability hidden behind the steely exterior. You felt another twinge in your heart. Your mouth opened and closed as you desperately searched for something to say. But you couldn't find anything.
"I have a boyfriend now," you blurted out. Real smooth.
"And does he know what you're doing tonight?" Was Rafayel's response. You said nothing.
"That's what I thought, cutie," Rafayel's infuriating playful charm returned in an isntant as he slung his arm casually around your shoulder. "Why don't I show you around?"
You didn't verbally agree, but Rafayel swept you around the room anyway, yammering on and on about…inspiration? Colors? You weren't sure, because you weren't really listening. No, you were trying to silence the pounding of your heart that surely everyone in the crowded exhibition could hear. I hate him I hate him, I hate him you repeated internally.
Maybe if you thought it enough times, you would actually start to believe it.
"You know, I really couldn't believe you were here. I thought my eyes must've gotten messed up from all the painting I've been doing. But then…" Rafayel grabbed your arm and brought your wrist to his nose, eyes fluttering shut as he inhaled. "I knew it. You wore that damned perfume."
You felt frozen to the spot. Everything else in the room faded away. It was like you and Rafayel were the only two people in existence. You swallowed, hard. It was loud enough that he surely heard it.
"…I don't know why I even bother. You can always see right through me," you mumbled. The floor suddenly became the most interesting thing you had ever seen.
Rafayel's tone was softer when he spoke again. "Can we just…talk, maybe?"
Taking all the strength inside of you, you nodded. "Yeah. Okay."
He led you to a deserted hallway and your heart felt like it might beat out of your chest. Now, the two of you really were alone. You took the time to really drink him in. Despite his neat silk shirt and pressed trousers, you could tell something was off. His hair was slightly rumpled; dark circles lingered under his eyes. Had he been missing you?
Rafayel sighed and leaned against the wall. "Okay, actually, why are you here?"
Why? Because you wanted to see him miserable, of course. You wanted him to be suffering without you. Certainly there was no projection on your part. Because you had been just fine without him. Great, even.
"I don't know," you lied. You knew he didn't believe you, but he didn't press the matter right away.
"It's really interesting, you know," Rafayel said. "Since you told me you never wanted to see me again. And then…I see you again. At my own event, even."
You didn't know how to respond. After a moment, you managed to think of something.
"Well, you don't even like attending your own exhibitions. I always had to beg you to go," you folded your arms across your chest. "So don't act like you're not happy to see me here."
Rafayel said nothing, but a muscle in his face twitched and his ears turned red. Busted.
"That's ridiculous," Rafayel scoffed. "Why the hell would I attend my exhibition just on the off-chance that my ex would be there? Don't be stupid."
You raised an eyebrow. "You're going to tell me, honestly, that Thomas actually convinced you to show up?"
"You told me that I have an ego, yet you're the one who seems to be convinced the world revolves around her," Rafayel shot back. He pushed himself off the wall and took a step closer to you.
"Oh, yeah? Then look into my eyes," you challenged him. "Tell me that painting I was looking at wasn't inspired by me."
Rafayel hesitated for a half-second. "I don't have to tell you anything."
"No, of course you don't. Why would you? Keep it all in, like always. Just ignore that other people even exist," you rolled your eyes.
"I don't even need to be doing this with you. This is ridiculous. Why are you mad at me when you're the one who showed up?" Rafayel threw his arms in the air. "And you still haven't told me why you're here anyway!"
"I'm an adult and I can do as I please," you glared at him. The tension was crackling in the air. Somehow, in your arguing, the two of you had moved closer and closer to each other. Now, you could feel his breath on your skin.
"That makes no sense. Tell me. Tell me why you came," Rafayel's voice was much quieter now as the distance between you shrunk even more.
You bit the inside of your lip. "I'll tell you why I'm here when you tell me why you made that painting."
Fuck it.
It wasn't clear who moved first, but your lips were on each other like never before. You threw your arms around Rafayel's neck as he gripped your waist, kissing each other as though you might die if you were separated for even a single second.
He had you pushed up against the wall of the empty hallway, hands wandering around your thighs and ass as his tongue invaded your mouth. Rafayel's mouth was warm and plush as your lips melded together again and again. A shiver ran down your spine - it felt like home to you.
Without thinking, you let out a small whine. You heard Rafayel groan at that and he quickly shoved his thigh between your legs. A familiar heat began to pool in your stomach. No one was ever able to turn you on the way Rafayel did.
Rafayel moved his thigh slowly, but confidently, rubbing against your core that you could tell was already soaked.
"You're going to be the death of me," Rafayel murmured between kisses.
"I can't fucking stand you," you whispered back, tangling your fingers in his hair.
You could feel Rafayel smirk against your mouth. "I know."
You continued grinding yourself on Rafayel's thigh and felt him hardening against your other leg when you suddenly realized where you were.
"Raf," you gasped, trying to pull away from his incessant kisses. "Raf, Raf, wait."
"What?" Rafayel let you move away but trailed kisses down the side of your neck. "Don't tell me you hate me again or something."
"No, no," you shook your head. He sucked on your pulse point and you moaned. "We just can't do this here."
"Sure we can. It's my exhibit. I can make the rules," Rafayel nipped at the juncture of your neck and shoulder.
"What if someone sees us?" You pretended to not notice your own hands trailing down his front, unbuttoning his shirt.
Rafayel sighed. "Fine."
He stepped back from you enough to grab your wrist and pull you into a nearby supply closet, slamming the door and pressing you against it. "This better?"
Instead of a verbal answer you threw yourself at him again, flattening your palms against the smooth planes of his bare chest. You slid your hands down to pull his shirt out of his pants.
Rafayel moved a hand up your inner thigh, sucking in a breath when he reached your soaked lace panties. "Tell me," he practically purred. "Does he make you this wet?"
Already losing yourself in Rafayel, you frowned. "Who?"
Rafayel chuckled. "That new boyfriend, cutie."
Oh. Fuck. Right. You had one of those, didn't you?
"No," you said honestly as Rafayel's limber fingers stroked the gusset of your underwear. "No one touches me the way you do, Raf."
He smirked. "That's what I thought."
His mouth was back on yours in an instant.
"You're always so wet for me," Rafayel cooed into your open mouth. He slipped his fingers into your panties, touching your bare cunt. It made you shiver.
"Soaked," he continued as one of his digits entered you. "And sucking me right in, like always. This pussy was made for me."
Rafayel's lewd words made you moan, him stroking your insides. Another finger went in, scissoring against your walls. Your breath came out in short pants as the heel of Rafayel's hand ground against your clit.
"Does it feel good, cutie?" Rafayel's mouth descended to your neck, nipping at your skin. "I want to hear you say it."
"Feels s'good, Raf," you whined, fingers threading through his hair. His responding chuckle was dripping with self-satisfaction.
"You don't need to - hah- be so smug about it," you managed to get out. But then, Rafayel crooked his fingers in that specific way that perfectly hit the spongy spot on your inner walls, and you cried out suddenly.
"That's the thing, cutie," Rafayel murmured against your throat. "I kinda do."
His continuous pumping was starting to push you over the edge. And you had been with Rafayel enough times that he knew your tells. "That's right. Let go for me, baby."
"Oh fuck, Raf," you gasped as your climax hit, stars dancing in front of your eyes. Your back arched off the door you were still pressed against. He didn't slow down as your rode out your orgasm, and it wasn't until you stopped trembling that he pulled his fingers out.
His eyes never left yours as he brought his hand up to his mouth, licking his dripping fingers clean. "Sweet as ever," he said softly, and you audibly moaned.
"R-Raf," you started weakly, but his smirk was still going strong. Rafayel hiked your skirt up and tugged your panties down to your ankles.
"I'm not done with you yet," his voice was quiet as he undid his buckle, practically ripping it off his body. His pants and underwear came down in one quick motion. His thick, hard cock dripped precum. You swallowed.
Without even thinking, your hand reached out to stroke the base. Rafayel sucked in a shuddering breath, head falling to your shoulder. You made him just as weak as he made you.
"You're bigger than he is, too," the words tumbled out of your mouth, and the grin on Rafayel's face was downright devious.
"Oh, cutie," he said patronizingly. "You really shouldn't stoke my ego like that."
And in one swift move, Rafayel fully sheathed himself in you, almost knocking the air clean out of you.
You started to cry out, but your hands flew up to cover your mouth. Unfortunately, Rafayel quickly grabbed both of your wrists in one hand and pinned them over your head.
"Nope," his voice was dripping with condescension as he thrust into you. "I want them all to hear you. I want everyone to know who's making you feel this good."
"Rafayel," you moaned without even thinking. His free arm snaked under you, holding you from under your ass, and your legs automatically wrapped around his waist. How was he so strong?
"Good girl," he whispered in your ear, and you moaned again.
His pace was relentless, thrusting into you in a way that felt so familiar it made you weirdly emotional. It was an undeniable that nobody else could ever fuck you the way Rafayel did. He knew the perfect pace, all the right spots to touch to make you go crazy each time.
"S'good," you slurred as pleasure overrode every other thought in your mind. "Feels good, Raf."
"Yeah?" Rafayel's voice sounded hoarse. He dropped your arms and you instantly wrapped them around his neck, wanting him impossibly closer. His now free hand squeezed in between the two of you, roughly rubbing your clit. You whined, back arching.
"Yes," you moaned. "I want - more - oh fuck, right there!"
Rafayel groaned, his head dropping to your shoulder. "Holy fuck, cutie. You're squeezing me so tight." He sucked hard on your neck, grazing the delicate skin with his teeth.
You started mumbling and babbling, coherent thoughts entirely impossible at this point. All you could get out were sounds and his name, the pleasure within you starting to mount again.
"M'gonna cum again, Raf," you whined. "Please!"
"You're so fucking hot," Rafayel said into your neck, the words making your skin tingle. "I want you to cum for me."
"Rafayel," you gasped as your second orgasm hit, shaking hard. "I fucking - love you!"
Rafayel grit his teeth, hips slamming against yours. "You can't just fucking say things like that…"
A semblance of awareness formed in your mind and you gasped again, but not from arousal this time. Your hands weakly pushed at Rafayel's shoulders, trying to force him off. "Wait, wait, wait. You can't - there's no condom - you can't cum inside me! You need to pull out!"
He shook his head, pace turning erratic as his climax approached. "No," Rafayel almost growled. "I'm going to cum inside of you, and you're going to walk around here with my mark dripping down your thighs."
That might have been the hottest sentence you'd ever heard. "Oh fuck," you breathed out before you came again.
A guttural moan was torn from Rafayel's throat as his hips thrust one final time, hot cum filling up your insides. He pressed his forehead against yours, the two of you breathing heavily before he gently set you back down on the floor. Your legs were trembling.
Awkwardness filled the tiny room as neither of you spoke, the weight of what had just happened crashing down on the two of you. Eyes fixed away from you, Rafayel dropped to his knees before pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket, gently wiping your inner thighs. That was sweet.
"So," Rafayel cleared his throat after a few moments, daring to look up at you and pulling your underwear back up. "You said you loved me."
You felt your face heat up, the wall suddenly the most interesting thing you'd ever seen. "Oh, did I?"
His sigh was ragged; voice filled with exhaustion. "I…love you too. You know that."
"Mm," was your reply. Rafayel stood up, his hands catching yours, the feeling so tender it made you want to cry.
"Listen…" Rafayel started and paused, clearing his throat again before continuing. "What do you think about sneaking out of here, getting some takeout, walking on the beach and just…talking?"
You blinked. "Won't Thomas get mad?"
Rafayel gave you a tiny smile, a glimmer of his normal self in his eyes. "You know I much prefer your presence to his, cutie. Even when you say you hate me."
You let out a small laugh. "Only if I can hunt for seashells, too."
His smile widened. "Deal." Rafayel held out his hand for a handshake and you took it. After a brief shake, he intertwined his fingers with yours, and you let him tug you out of the closet, out of the exhibition, back into each other's lives.