The trio walked back into the lounge. Rian glanced at Seb and Rafi suspiciously. “Now, you know. Theo has terminal cancer, and there’s not much time left. I think you’ve got your answers.” She walked over to the door. “A lot is going on. You should probably go.”

The men looked at each other and then over to Rian. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Rafi said grimly, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Seb nodded. “Look, I do have to get back to the shop, but that’s just to make some arrangements and talk to Viv. We aren’t leaving you to deal with all this alone. I don’t care what you say.” Rian swallowed thickly as Seb reached over to pull her into a quick hug. “I’ll be back.” He exchanged a look with Rafi, who nodded before he stepped out the door.

Rian walked over to the now cold, forgotten tea and took a sip. “I know my brother. The tea was a ploy. So what did he say to you?”

Rafi looked at her. “He doesn’t want you to be alone, and I agree. But I am still pissed you didn’t tell me about this. Was he ill when you came to the Villa?”

“Yes, He’s been fighting for three years now, and why would I tell you?” Rian asked, her voice emotionless. “It’s not like I was working on a relationship. I was trying to win Love Island.”

Rafi sighed in exasperation. “Well, then tell me this. Why was the money so important?”

“I’m a research scientist. I worked for a research lab. We rely mainly on donations to keep the research going, but Theo’s cancer is so rare that there isn’t much money being put toward research. Cancers that are more prevalent get priority.” Rian explained. “I found work at this small lab. That was researching his type of cancer. But funding ran out, and they were going to close, so I went on the show to give them money so they could keep going.”

Rafi nodded. “What happened after the show?”

“Well, I gave them the money, but… the head director on the project took the money and closed the lab. I contacted the authorities, and they are hunting him down. I don’t know if I’ll get the money back because they considered it a donation, but that guy will go to jail for fraud.”

Rafi knew that if the situation were reversed, he would have done the same. He couldn’t fault her for trying. Reaching over, he pulled her into a hug. She tensed in his embrace. He could tell it terrified her, but in some part of her wanted to accept his comfort. “Look, I’m so sorry about your brother. I get it. You’re scared. I just want to be here for you. OK?” Rian looked up at him studying his face looking for deceit, finding none. She relaxed, leaning against him. She felt smaller and perhaps frailer than he remembered. Theo’s illness had really taken a toll on her.

He sat back with his arms still around her. “I’m curious. If you gave away the prize money, how could you do this?” He patted his pocket with the check.

Rian sighed. “That… Well, this was my parents’ house. I sold it. Theo doesn’t have much time left… Only a few days at most…” Her voice broke, and her body shook for a moment as she took a deep breath to steady herself. “I… didn’t want to stay here after he’s gone. So I sold it. It will be another month before they take possession. But I sent you some money because I wanted your brother to go to Japan for the anime convention.”

“That’s so sweet,” Rafi muttered against her hair. Even though she was dealing with all of this, she remembered his brother. She was not nearly as selfish as he had imagined when she left with the money at the Villa. In fact, it impressed him. Rian was stronger than he realized. He wanted to wave a magic wand and take away all her pain, but he knew that it was impossible.

Neither of them had said anything for a while. When Rafi looked down and saw that Rian had fallen asleep, he smiled, remembering her penchant for cuddling and sleep. His stomach told him it was time to eat, so Rafi slipped out to the kitchen to cook something. He wasn’t the cook she was, but he could make some soup and toasties.

Before he was finished, she stepped into the kitchen. “I’m sorry, I’m a terrible host right now,” Rian said.

Rafi huffed. “It’s my fault. I refused to leave, so don’t worry about entertaining me.”

“After we eat, I could show you around the house,” Rian said.

Rafi smiled. “I’d like that.”

They ate in comfortable silence. The only sound was the click of spoons on bowls. Rian insisted on washing up, and then she turned to Rafi. “This is the beginning of the Garnes family estate tour. I will be your tour guide.”

Rafi huffed in amusement. “All right, I’ll play. Where do we start first?”

“We are now in the restaurant facilities,” Rian said in her announcer’s voice. “And you have already seen the grand entrance. So we will head to the east wing.” She giggled. “I haven’t been able to be this silly for a while.”

“I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor,” Rafi said.

“The east wing consists of a full bath and two bedrooms.” Rian continued.” Decorated in vintage 1990s style.” She led him down the hallway. “You can stay in my old room.” Opening the door, she ushered him in. Rafi couldn’t help but smile. Her room was that of a teenage girl still down to the photos on the mirror. There was a worn teddy bear on the bed, and she had idol posters up still.

“I haven’t bothered to change the decor. It reminds me of happier days.” Rian said.

“You keep it clean, though,” Rafi noted.

“Yes,” Rian nodded. “Let’s go to the garden. “

They walked outside into the garden. There was a swimming pool that shimmered in the moonlight. Skirting the pool, they continued their stroll around the flowerbeds. Once they reached the grassy spot, Rian sat down. It was a pleasantly cool summer night without being cold. Rafi sat down beside her.

Rian looked up at the sky, “I never expected to see you again.”

“When the check came in, I was curious, and I wanted to track you down,” Rafi said. “I had planned on giving it back to you because I was… angry.”

“I understand,” Rian mumbled, her gaze still on the stars.

“But seeing why you did it…” Rafi shrugged. “I would have done the same. So I can’t judge you for something I know I would have done myself. That would be hypocritical of me. I am curious about something, though. Did you care for me at all?”

Rian’s quick intake of breath answered the question, but he waited. He studied her. She was a better actor than he was in reality. So he watched the show over and over again. The most believable acting has a kernel of truth and is more convincing than an outright lie. “I… “She started. “I cared for you.”

She was afraid. Like a trapped rabbit… He knew if he was going to get her to talk, he would have to push. “Rian, I think you more than cared for me.” He moved closer to her. “In fact, I think you still “care” for me. I think you fell for me at the Villa.” He was in front of her now. He knew he needed to be direct, or he wouldn’t get a straight answer. “So, the real question is, do you love me?” His lips were mere millimeters from hers by the time he finished speaking.

Her gaze flitted from his momentarily before coming back. “I do.” She barely whispered it. No sooner did the words brush his lips, he crossed that space between them. Her startled gasp allowed him to deepen the kiss. Her body shivered at his touch. He pulled back briefly to take a ragged breath before claiming her lips again.

His scent permeated Rian’s senses and touch. His beard brushed against her skin as his hands ran over her curves. She wondered how he could have such an effect on her. This was the very thing that terrified her at the Villa. She had to get away from it, or she wouldn’t have been able to walk away. His fingers slid under her shirt, and she froze. “What is it?” He asked.

“Sorry reflex,” Rian chuckled self-deprecatingly. “At the Villa, I was afraid if I let you get any closer to me, I wouldn’t be able to go through with it. I dealt with it by taking charge.”

He breathed a sigh of relief, “I was worried I pushed you too hard,” Dropping his head, he continued, “the last time we were together. I thought that it was the reason you left.”

Her eyes opened in surprise. She needed to be honest with Rafi. “You seem to have a superpower that makes me lose all reason. That was scary. You could have kept me from fulfilling my mission.” Rian blushed hard at her own words, looking surprised she had even said it to him.

Rafi’s face lit up at her words. “I feel the same way about you.” He cupped her cheek. “So, just to be clear, you’re OK with me taking control.”

Rian leaned over to whisper in his ear. “I love it.”

He growled as his lips ferociously claimed hers. He grabbed Rian’s wrists, pulling them above her head as she drowned in his kisses. She could barely breathe as she melted into him. When he finally pulled away from her swollen lips, she realized that she was already laid bare. A gentle bite to the pulse point on her neck made her forget the thought as she jumped with a startled gasp.

His hand and mouth were all over her, compounding her arousal and frustration as he kept her wrists pinned above her head. He traced a blazing trail of kisses to her ear. “I want you to keep your hands here, but if you don’t like something, tell me.” He said, pulling his head away back enough to look into her eyes.

“I will,” Rian said. He released her hands and continued his path down her neck, stopping long enough at her breasts to have her arching into him breathlessly. Rafi didn’t hurry as he traced her body’s contours with his hands, following it with his mouth. As his fingers found her center, she moaned and writhed, looking for more friction. When he moved to lower his head, Rian broke his rule and gently grasped his head, tugging him to look at her. “I don’t like that.”

Rafi’s brows raised in surprise.” OK.” She moved her hands back in place, and he nodded his approval as he used his fingers to taunt and tease her. It was becoming more and more challenging to keep her hands in place. She wanted him… all of him… now.

“Rafi, please.” Her breathless, husky plea did not go unheeded. She wasn’t even sure when he had undressed. Before she pondered this any further, he shifted and slid into her with one smooth movement. She gasped at the sudden feeling of fullness and realized he had stopped. He was trying to hold back. “Do what you want.” She whispered. Her words seemed to prompt him into action. He pulled back, lingering a few moments before he thrust forward roughly and stilled. His eyes never left her face as if gauging her reaction. “Again.” Any trepidation he had disappeared with that word.

“Rian,” He said, commanding her to look at him. “You are mine.” Gone was the gentle, sweet Rafi and, in his place, the domineering, uninhibited version of him. This didn’t surprise her. Glimpses had shown through at the Villa. This side of him scared her then, only because she could fall so hard for it. He was rough and demanding of her, and she adored it. She allowed herself to succumb to the fall.

Her arms wrapped around him as her body was pushed over the precipice. All she could do is hang onto him as her body shuddered and writhed under his. Her lips searched for his, but he fisted her hair, pulling her head back. “Let me hear you.” He demanded. “Again.”
“I don’t think I can.” She answered breathlessly.

His hand moved from her hair and slid between them. “You can, and you will.” His fingers were rough over her highly sensitive nerves. She yelped in surprise at the sudden roughness that pushed her over the edge a second time. His name spilled from her lips as he ground into her, taking his own release. “Jesus, Rian.”

Rafi rolled to the side, bringing Rian with him as they caught their breath. He pressed a kiss to her nose.” I’ve seen both your dominant side and your submissive side. I can say I like both.”

“Ditto,” Rian said, snuggling into him. They lay entwined drowsily as the summer breeze drifted over them until Rian’s phone buzzed. She looked at it, and her face fell.

“Theo?” Rafi asked, already reaching for his pants. Rian nodded as she quickly pulled her clothes on. They hurried into the house.