The ride to the airport and the flight to the Hamptons are all a surreal blur. We boarded the plane at seven thirty in the morning and landed in New York three hours later. Rafe had a vehicle waiting for us when we arrived and it’s currently driving us the hour out to where we will be staying. Despite how tired I am from my shift at the diner, my excitement hasn’t let me sleep yet. I can feel my drowsiness catching up to me though, my eyelids barely managing to stay open now that I’m in the back of the dark escort car. Eyeing Rafe, I see he’s still looking at his phone and I rest my head against the window pane.
My head bobs suddenly, startling me. I must have started to doze off. I feel Rafe’s amusement, but don’t look, staring out the window to hide my embarrassment.
“Come here.” The low command purrs over my skin, his fingers tugging on my elbow drawing my attention. I was surprised when he didn’t put his seatbelt on or make me put mine on when we first got in here since he always does in his car. He pulls me into the center of the bench seat, encouraging me to lay down. Resting my head in his lap, his fingers soothe my hair back almost absent mindedly as he looks down at his phone again. “We’ll be there soon and you can sleep properly, but rest for now.”
I smile to myself at the sweetness of the action, letting his fingers lull my tired mind to sleep.
“Ember, we are here.”
I blink awake, sitting up from Rafe’s lap. Stretching as he opens his door, the bright sun coming in makes me blink some more. He keeps his door open for me and I slide out, staring in awe at where we are. From where I’m standing you can see the ocean perfectly. It’s warmer here also, not hot, just warm. Sunnier too, the breeze more welcoming than it was at home. I’m glad I packed a few dresses.
“Like what you see?” Rafe lightly grips my arm, directing my attention to him.
“I’ve never been this close to the ocean.”
He smiles, looking over my head at the waves, “You can get even closer later.” His eyes drop to my face, almost white in the bright light of the sun. “But let’s get you situated inside first.”
I nod, letting him lead me around the car. Now that my attention is off of the ocean my mouth is dropping at the house we are about to walk into. House is an understatement, it’s more like a mansion. It’s like three houses in one, all merged together. A slightly older style than I’d probably imagine on my own, the exterior is all refurbished in multi-colored red and white bricks with giant white pillars and trim. There are decorative bushes and landscaping wrapped around the entire house, people outside working on it as we walk by. The overhanging deck on the front of the house drops us in shade as we step onto the stone porch and I suppress a slight shiver. Apparently it’s only still warm in the sun.
“You own this place?” I don’t even try to hide the awe in my voice. This place is absolutely incredible. Like something I’d see in a magazine or on tv.
Rafe chuckles at my question, his fingers drifting to my lower back as the front door is opened for us from the inside. “No, this property belongs to the family name.” I nod, my eyes widening as we step inside. His breath tickles the rim of my ear as he leans close. “Mine is bigger.”
He smiles at my look of surprise, turning his attention to the man who opened the door. “Grab our bags and bring them to our rooms. Ember will be in the suite across from mine.”
He pushes me forward once more at the man’s nod and I whisper over at him, “I could have gotten my own bag.”
“That’s what he’s paid for, you wouldn’t want him out of a job, would you?”
I barely hear his mocking question, my eyes sweeping over everything around us. The inside of the house is even prettier than the outside. Everything has been modernized with white walls and shiny polished floors. Giant plants are strategically placed to fill open spaces, windows lining most of the visible walls so the space is filled with natural light. I almost trip on the first step that Rafe guides me toward, not paying attention to where I’m going while I take it all in.
“This place is beautiful.” I look at Rafe, waiting until his stormy grays land on me. “I really get to stay here with you?”
His fingers bunch into the fabric at the base of my spine, his teeth flashing in a wolfish smirk. “I wouldn’t let you stay anywhere else.” His eyes leave my face, looking ahead of us as we continue up the steps. “You’re mine, sweet girl.”