where sofia santiago, a prolific lawyer’s, life suddenly becomes untwined when she meets her daughter’s teacher. what starts off as vitriolic leads to unexpected romance and drama — two things neither one of them anticipated.
CONTENT WARNINGS;
angst, explicit language, mentions of single-parent household, enemies-to-lovers (kind of), eventual smut/romance, mutual pining, unresolved tension, avoidance of feelings, feelings denial, feelings realizations, kissing, hurt/comfort. [more tags to be added]
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS;
isabella ‘izzy’ santiago, sofia’s younger sister
yesenia ‘yesi’ santiago, sofia’s daughter
jorge urrego, sofia’s ex-boyfriend
sarah cameron, rafe’s younger sister
barry fuentes, rafe’s best friend
vanessa blake, sofia’s friend
SOFIA
twenty eight. single mother. lawyer. part-time artist. shows disinterest in rafe upon their first interaction. reluctant on dating again much to her sister’s insistence.
RAFE
thirty. single. first grade english teacher. part-time photographer. currently dating around, but hasn’t found anyone interesting enough to settle down with.
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When do we think OBX fans will realise Lilah and Jonas unfollowed Elaine & Rudy when Elaine started posting more pro-Palestine content.
She wasn’t fired, otherwise Netflix wouldn’t have hired her for another shoot the month after.
It’s wild to me that fans will insist that they’re some horrible people, while Madelyn will make the unfollowing public, proudly work with known abusers like Johnny Depp, and works with producers who are very pro Israel and pro-Trump (Josh Pate).
So much of it came down to politics and Rudy being able to take an actual stand, rather than shrug and ignore it.
uhhh..okay? lmao idk what prompted you to come in my ask about it this but….. i don’t know anything about what elaine posts/posted 💀 so i can’t speak on that. and as i said in a previous post most of the cast IS problematic madelyn included so i understand the hypocrisy there but everything else 🤷🏽♀️
Are you still going to post your Sofia and Rafe fic after the things Fiona has done?
yes. i wasn’t aware of what she did until i got on here because i don’t follow any of the cast, but personally i’m able to separate actor from character. (i’ve learned that most of the cast is problematic as are most celebrities which doesn’t excuse anything but it’s an unfortunate reality.) so for me to enjoy my shows/movies i do this. some people aren’t able to and that’s perfectly fine. i did see that she apologized which she should’ve. but yes, my stories aren’t stopping because of her. and if some are, it’s a loss but it’s their choice and i respect it.
WHAT IF... after hearing what Rafe thinks of her and their relationship Sofia blocks him from everywhere.
The words echoed in her head like a ticking clock.
Just because we hook up doesn’t mean she’s my girlfriend.
I’m not living with a Pogue — I have standards.
It felt unreal. A nightmare. There was no way the man she loved could speak so carelessly about their relationship, like it meant nothing. Like she meant nothing.
Ragged tears blurred her vision, and all she could see was the back of his head. That was enough. She turned on her heel and walked away.
Right there —in the club’s parking lot, heart pounding and pride in shambles— she made a decision: for once, she was going to put herself first.
She had gone against everything she believed in just to be with him. She had stood by him at his worst, held him when he was broken, made love to him like he was the only thing that mattered.
Even when people whispered rumors, warned her, judged her — she didn’t care.
She just wanted him.
And when she fell, she fell hard.
She loved every part of him — even the ones he hated.
But now? Now, she chose herself.
She refused to be a secret. Someone to be ashamed of. She deserved more — and she finally saw it.
Pulling out her phone from her back pocket, she didn’t have to search for his name — he was pinned at the top.
She blocked him.
Then opened his profile on social media and blocked him there too.
Turned off her location.
And without looking back, she drove away from the club — away from him.
Rafe was furious — at himself, at Topper, at Ruthie. At the world for making him say what he didn’t mean.
Sofia wasn’t supposed to hear that. It was all bullshit, and he regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.
But she wasn’t supposed to be there.
Why the hell was she there? She said she was spending the day with her family. Why did she have to hear him?
Now, he felt numb.
One more thing he ruined.
One more person he let down.
She was never just a hookup. God, no. She was so much more — she always had been. They didn’t need a label; he knew she was his girlfriend. They acted like it every damn day. And he loved her. He had never felt this way before. He looked for her in every room, breathed easier just knowing she was near.
“Sofia, please — let me explain.”
He caught up to her in the club’s parking lot, heart pounding.
“I don’t want to hear you.” Her voice cut like glass. “I’m done hearing you.”
She pushed past him, yanked open the driver’s door. Just as she climbed in, he grabbed the edge before she could shut it.
“They were being judgmental. I hated the way they were talking about you — that’s why I said it. I didn’t mean it.”
She let out a bitter, humorless laugh. “And you think that’s better?”
“No, of course not. It was horrible. I know that. I’m sorry. Please, baby — let’s just forget this ever happened.”
“I’m not your baby.”
The words hit him like a slap.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, panic rising in his throat. Her eyes — those eyes that once looked at him like he was the only person in the world — now stared through him, empty.
“Listen, Rafe,” she said, steady but broken. “I’ve stood up for you more times than I can count. Everyone has something to say about you, and none of it’s good. But I still defended you. Because I loved you.” Her voice cracked. “But I’m done. I’m done with this game where I’m your therapist one minute and a warm body the next.”
“Please don’t leave me.”
She shook her head, eyes glassy but resolute, and closed the door.
Then she drove off — from the club, from the night, from him.
From the very place where he’d broken her heart… all over again.
Sometimes, givin' up is the strong thing
Sometimes, to run is the brave thing
Sometimes, walkin' out is the one thing
A/N: got the idea on a sleepless night and went for it hehe.
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ooo. 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔… it’s been so long since i’ve written for them omgggg i missed them so much. i usually don’t take requests from my comments but i really liked this one.;) also i’m opening my requests againnnnn.
breathy moans falls off their lips, intermingling, caught between murmured gasps and soft keens. her pristine hands cradle his face, holding him with an unprecedented delicacy as she ground her hips against his — slowly and torturously, allowing him to feel every inch of her lithe body. “fuckin’ hell, sof,” rafe murmurs, mind dizzying at the friction of their chafing pelvises. the thin shorts she’s wearing obliterates the barrier, allowing him to feel the moisture of her arousal passing through her underwear.
his hands slide down to the cupping of her ass, gripping her through her shorts, and pressing her down firmly until she’s perched directly on his bulging cock. he rolls his hips upward in a tease, letting the friction linger.
“r-rafe!” she whimpers, her breath catching in the back of her throat. she slides down further on his lap, feeling his large dexterous hands guiding her in her maneuver.
“wanna try something different today, baby.” he whispers, sliding his lips over her sternum and pressing soft kisses there. “i wanna feel you ride me instead,” he says, pulling back from the embrace a bit to gauge his girlfriend’s reaction. so far, through every sexual encounter they’ve had rafe has taken dominance.
unbeknownst to his knowledge, the reason was due to sofia’s lack of experience in knowing how to properly ride someone. all of her previous boyfriends always preferred to be on top, taking their pleasure in any way that they could. she assumed that rafe would be the same and wouldn’t question why she always hesitated and hurriedly slid underneath him every time they became intimate.
it’s not like she’s worried about how he would react to her inexperience, because rafe’s never been one to shame her or make her feel embarrassed/uncomfortable about anything, she was more so worried herself about not being good at it. rafe was always adamant on pleasuring her and she wanted to do the same for him, she just didn’t know how to do that.
sofia bit on her swollen lip, lowering her eyes to him a bit bashfully. “i don’t know how,” she murmurs with a shrug, watching as rafe’s eyes softened as he looked at her.
“i’ll help you, yeah? i just wanna look at every inch of you while we’re making love,” sofia flushes at rafe’s words, leaning closer into his touch as he reaches a hand up and brushes it against her face.
“if i’m bad at it…”
rafe rolls his eyes, smiling softly at her. “just trust me, okay? i’ve got you, baby.” she nods, mimicking rafe’s soft smile as she leaned forward and pressed a kiss against his mouth.
“i trust you,”
“good,” rafe surmises, holding her firmly by the hips as he scoots himself upward on the mattress until his head’s laid against the pillow tucked behind him. he slides one hand between her thighs, teasingly brushing his thumb against her clothed cunt. his stare turns heady as he watches her in awe. “i’m gonna get you warmed up before we start, okay?” his voice decimates into a throaty whisper.
sofia whimpers as she nods, chasing after the pleasure. she feels the slick gathering in her underwear, dampening the gusset completely with her milky arousal. “that feel good?” her chest heaves as she flutters her eyes. she nods imperceptibly, prompting rafe’s oscillating onslaught to heighten. he pulls at the flimsy pair of sleep shorts, tugging them aside until he’s caught a view of her pussy.
he slips a finger in between her lips, gathering the residue of slick that’s there. “mmfuck.” she groans, overwhelmed by the dexterity of his fingers and the lewd noises that follow. he smoothly slips in another finger, one fondles her clit while the other dragged up her vulva. “rafe!”
“i know, baby. i know.” his cock lurches in his briefs, tightening so hard that he could feel the blood swell directly to the tip. her sweetness drenched his fingers, leaving a sticky residue. he scissors his fingers and slides them against her walls again feeling her cunt flutter reflexively in response. “that’s it.”
sofia whines as he withdraws his fingers to lick clean, already mourning the loss of contact. “take off your clothes for me,” with trembling fingers sofia begins to doff out of her clothing, tugging the fitted tank top over her head until he’s got a perfect view of her perked breasts.
she slides off of his lap so that she’s able to rid herself out of her shorts and underwear until she’s left sitting there completely nude. “you’re so pretty, baby.” rafe compliments, his eyes never wavering from her as he shrugged out of his own clothing and discarded them absentmindedly somewhere onto his carpeted floors.
rafe sprawls himself out supine against the mattress, gesturing a hand towards her. “c’mere,” sofia’s crawls herself over towards rafe, her wetness drags along his thigh as she adjusts her perch. barring her legs securely over his waist, she rests her hands on his chest as his hands find their way to her hips again.
“you okay?” he asks, caressing softly against the skin on her hips as he watched her.
she nods, “mhm.”
“good. alright, baby. lift yourself up a bit and hold on to the headboard for me.” he instructs, loosening one of his hand’s grip on her waist as she briefly alleviates herself off of him. he reaches between his legs and grabs ahold of his cock; groaning at the sensitivity that shivers through him at the contact. sliding his hand from base-to-tip, he jerks himself off groaning through the pleasure until he hardens fully. when his cock’s curled and painstakingly throbbing with rivulets of precum skeeting messily from the tip, he angles himself at her center. “o-okay, slowly lower yourself down onto my dick.”
sofia’s fingers curl around the wooden material of the headboard as she nods. compliant to rafe’s instructions, sofia arches her hips in a curve and ever so slowly began to fill her cunt fully of his cock. she whimpers, the pain of the intrusion stretches through her. “slower, baby,” she bites her lip, blinking through the bleariness of her vision as she nods tersely.
she shifts her hips, then lowers her eyes to watch the penetration. she heeds rafe’s forewarning and slows her maneuver, feeling air immediately catch in her throat when the tip of his dick catches at her entrance. her pussy quivers, immediately accommodating to his breach. “good, good. just—fuck, like that.” he nods encouragingly, licking his lips at the sight of his tip of cock nudged inside of her.
he’s desperate to thrust upward and just hurriedly fill himself of her, but this was about her. so he squeezes his hands on her hips and prompts her to continue. “keep going,” with just the tip of him inside of her, she could still feel the girth of him swell and it has her whimpering softly. she levels her hips and continues, lowering painfully slow, taking him inside of her — feeling every ridge and vein of his dick brushing against her walls and through her wetness.
she mewls out a sob, digging her fingers deeper into the headboard. the pain subsides and all she feels is the complete pleasure of his cock swollen inside of her. she whines high and loud when she buries him deep at her hilt; feeling the tip of him curl just past her cervix as she makes her perch on his lap again.
“ay dios mio,” tears stick wetly against her lashes, her lip trembles, body shakes at the penetration. he’s always felt good inside of her but this position has her feeling everything, every curve, ridge and inch. it’s overwhelming but gives her an unprecedented pleasure.
looking down, she looks at rafe’s awestruck facial expression. his face is completely flushed, eyes are dilated and dazed, mouth’s gaped, fingers are digging roughly into her skin already imprinting deep bruises. “fuck sof. you feel so fuckin’ good, baby,” he marvels, breathing languidly through parted lips. his head lolls deeper into the mattress, captivated. “give me a second. you’re—shit, so fuckin’ tight and warm,” his eyes linger on her body, at her breasts and beautifully sculpted figure, before eventually wandering back up to her face.
his cock twitches at the sight of her kiss swollen lips and the doe eyed expression that she’s giving him. she sits atop of him with her ass pressed firmly against his pelvis and some of her slick slipping from her thighs onto his.
he licks his lips and nods his head, “you ready?” she nods her confirmation. “i’ll guide you with my hands first, okay. just grind your hips against mine.” he adjusts his hold, feeling his hand curve around her slender hips with ease.
sofia rolls her hips experimentally on a slow grind. rafe makes a low noise in his throat. “is this okay?” he huffs, nodding his head.
“yeah. it’s good, just go a little deeper,” he drags her hips against his, slow and deliberate. she whimpers at the pleasure of her clit dragging against his cock. “like that.” she nods as mimicked his movements, grinding her pelvis against his in an increased momentum. she releases her grip on the headboard and rests her hands on his chest; continuing her slow grinds.
“sofia,” he groans deep and guttural, reaching behind her to squeeze her ass.
“good?”
“so fucking good, baby.” he presses his hand against her stomach, letting her feel the bulge of his dick protruding through when he lifts his hips and meets her thrust-for-thrust. he holds the pressure there, never fully sliding his dick out so that he’s back inside of her immediately. “you think you can handle bouncing on me?” he didn’t want to overwhelm her, but she had seemingly picked up the feat well enough already.
she looks a bit hesitant at first but nods slowly. “just pull your knees up…yeah and—oh fuck.” she’d implemented a experimental bounce, tucking her legs at the sides of his hips and lifting up enough so that he’s slipped halfway out of her and then sliding back down onto him. “k-keep doing that.”
she feels the deliciousness of rafe’s thick cock buried deeply inside of her — fucking long and penetrative strokes into her cunt that has her body throbbing every time their bodies conjoin. she slides and brushes her cunt against his cock; feeling the responsive flutter it gives around him every time he enters inside of her.
she swivels her hips and ruts against his pelvic bone as they moved in a feverish, slow grinding tandem, lifting her hips in a whine as she meets each of his thrusts. “you’re doing so good baby,” his eyes narrowed, a line of sweat beads his brow, hands slightly trembled as he glanced down feeling enthralled at the sight of his cock pistoning inside of sofia, easing ever so gently inside of her.
“oh my god,” she whimpers, her head tossing backwards, mouth falling open. through rapid clenches of her cunt tugging at his cock; she shivers as the pleasure rolls through her body. she rolls her hips, teasing her clit against his cock again, wondering why she ever denied herself this delicious feeling of pleasure.
“kiss me,” she whimpers and rafe’s quick to acquiesce as he grabs her by the hips and sits up in an upright position. he grabs ahold of her chin and tugs her mouth towards his, sliding his tongue within hers and deepening the embrace. “i love you.
she leans her forehead against his, looking into his eyes. “i love you too, baby.” he whispers, feeling his resolve shatter the more she continued to milk him. rafe bites on his lip as he watches her move with a profound confidence; now alternating her movements between bouncing and grinding against him.
“you’re such a quick learner, doin’ so good for me.” he grabs her by the ass and strokes himself into her — deep and long, feeling her body shake at the penetration. their sex is noisy, the sounds of their slick skin grinding against each other’s entices sofia and encourages her to move with a profound gusto.
she holds onto rafe for leverage, yelling out pleading whimpers as she feels her cunt quiver at her impending release. rafe slides his hands between the slickness of her thighs, greedily seeking out her pussy. he fingers her, thumbing at her sensitive clit until she’s gasping and gripping his forearm to steady herself. “let go for me baby,”
she nods, tucking her trembling lip into her mouth as she drags her hips against his once more before she finally feels her orgasm burst out of her. she slumps forward, falling on rafe who’s still working through his own release. his grunts reverberate in her ears, accompanied by soft cooing praises and platitudes. it’s not too long before she feels the warmth of his cum mixing in with hers and spilling onto both of their thighs.
he pants roughly against her neck, feeling his body go limp against hers as his cock flaccids. “you okay?” he asks in between heavy breaths feeling her nod in response. he pulls away slightly to brush her disheveled hair out of her face and smiles sheepishly at her. “told you you’d be good at it.”
Authors note: I had this in my draft for weeks. Finally decided to finish and post it.
S4! Rafe x Sofia
All I can say/ is that you belong to me/ and a dreamer should dream
Sofia ran a finger down Rafe’s face, admiring how smooth it was. No sign of his facial hair present. She missed when he wouldn’t shave, letting her face rub against his when it wasn’t fully shaven yet. He’d laugh, seeming to enjoy her affections. She grin up at him brightly. Enjoying the smile that etched onto his face. One she had crafted, as if she molded it in between her fingers.
They lay together on his bed. Her legs tangled with his. She felt so at bliss just being able to be here with him like this. So peaceful, just the two of them. He finally looks up at her once he noticed her hand starting to caress his face.
“What?” He said, almost shyly. She knew that was the side of him only she got to see. Almost as if he was surprised she was extending love his way. Her love. —She loved how easily he ate it up. She wanted to press it into his fingers like flowers pressed onto a page. Remind him of her love. Her eternal love.
“You’re so pretty.” She said, soft as cashmere and silk. His expression softened.
“You think I’m pretty?” He teased. His eyes roaming her face, mimicking the way she was looking at him. His lips curling into a smile, his eyes gleaming.
“Of course you are.”
“Says the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen.” He says, leaning his face to hers. She blushed, a gentle smile touching her lips.
“Shut up.” She pushed his head away, she can feel his laugh vibrating against the palm of her hand; as he laughs into it.
“My pretty girl.” He leaned towards her once her hand is no longer in the way. Pressing kisses on her neck, on her cheeks. Down to her collarbone. She leans in, letting him. She would give herself whole, be his entirely.
“My—” He kisses her neck, “Pretty—” He kisses the edge of her breast, “Girl—” He pushes down her bra so he could get better access to her breast. His mouth engulfing her bud.
She squeals.
“Rafe!” He chuckles against her breast, he lets go with a wet pop. Stares at her from behind his lashes. His lips wet, shiny from his own saliva. His lips a bright pink now from how swollen they’d gotten.
“You’re something else.” She murmurs as she strokes his temple.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She kisses his nose, his hand reaching up to cup her breast now. His eyes shining as he continues to stare into her eyes. Sofia shakes her head, a small grin spreading onto her lips like jam spreading on toast.
“You know, if you’re just here to fuck—”
He scoffs, “Can’t a man just admire his girl.” He lets go of her breast, his eyes searching her face.
“Oh? Your girl, huh?”
“Yeah, my girl.”
His eyes zero in on her lips, he licks his own. He reaches over, panting soft kisses against her lips. His hand resting onto her cheek, deepening the kiss. His body moving to cover hers. One of his hands cupping her breast once again.
“You’re so annoying.” She murmurs against his lips as he laughs.
“Can’t help it.” He continues to kiss her, “You’re so beautiful.” He whispers.
She smiles against his lips as they continue to kiss. His hands reaching into her skirt. As her hands reach for his shirt.
Her heart swelled, was this what it was like to fall for someone. So wholeheartedly and deeply. Her heart felt like it was beating for him. For once, it felt good to just relax. Let go. And he allowed that space for her too. She felt safe in his arms. Felt so cared for.
His whole body covering her now, her clothes slowly discarded from her body. His half way off, she never felt more at home.
“Rafe!” Kiara shook him awake, he shoots up in the bed. Her tall form standing in front of him. Her eyes squinted. “Can you shut up? Some of us are trying to sleep.”
Rafe glares up at her through hazy sleepy eyes. He hates he’d been awaken, the only times he sees Sofia nowadays are through his dreams. The only time he can ask for advice.
“Yeah, you were being really loud.” Sarah’s raspy sleep voice cuts through. Rafe wants to roll his eyes, tell them to go to hell and go back to sleep. To find her again. But he promised he wouldn’t be a dick.
“My bad, sorry I can’t—forget it. I’m sorry.” He pushes his face back into his pillow. A lump more like.
“God.” Kiara mumbles to herself, she heads back to her bed. Next to Cleo and Pope.
But Rafe’s mind won’t let him sleep anymore.
“You really should let them sleep. You can’t keep dreaming about me, ya know.” Sofias voice wafts back into the space. Only he can hear her, he wonders if he’s back to sleep or this is a hallucination. Coke redraws.
“Sof, please—”
“Sofia.”
“Sofia.” He looks at her, unsure if she’s real. He nearly wants to reach over and test it. But a part of him worries she’ll disappear into nothing.
He’d always asks her why she did it. And it was always the reason why she would disappear.
“Rafe.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m not sorry. You deserve everything you get.”
He clears the lump in his throat.
“I know.” He isn’t sure which part he’s answering. But to him it’s all the same. “I know.”
“Good.” He looks up at her, tears filming his eyes. He wants to reach over so bad, it feels like an elastic band ready to snap. — She looks so goddamn mean. Nothing like his Sofia. Nothing in the same vain.
“You don’t have to keep tormenting me. It’s not fair. You’re the one who betrayed me.”
“Oh yeah?”
Rafe is unsure how to respond, he just eyes the woman he loves. No matter how much he’s hurt, the love he has for her doesn’t seep away. No matter how much he wants.
“Yeah, you’re—”
He doesn’t remember, but all he remembers is the last look of her hurt face. Before he’s awaken by Sarah once again. The Lisbon heat has his sleep sweat beat.
“You stink, go shower.” Sarah says, her nose scrunched up.
“Says you.” Rafe gets up, turning to see the spot he’d seen Sofia. She’s gone. A dream.
All he wants to do is understand. But he’ll settle for this. No matter how brief.
Synopsis: Sofia is pregnant, and the last thing she needs is for Rafe to find out. It’s her dirty secret, it’s not like he’s barging down her door to speak to her. He looks as if he’s done with her for good. Will outside forces, force Sofia to confront the situation at hand. Or will she be able to keep this secret up? Not like, her belly isn’t growing everyday or anything.
Author’s note: the main plot of the series is finished. Just wanted to show you how Sofia and Rafe are like as parents and as a married couple. Sorry for how short it is! It took me so long to brain storm these ideas.
MASTERLIST
Chapter 14 | Epilogue
Four Years Later
“Rory! Please, no running around in the house. You’re going to hurt yourself!” Sofia says in a sing song voice. Aurora lets out an audible grunt. She crosses her arms angrily.
“But mommy I’m having fun.” She pouts. She throws her head back.
“I know, but there’s other ways to have fun.” Sofia picks up her daughter, twirling her around. As Aurora lets out a giggle, she grins up at Sofia.
“You’re so silly mommy.”
Rafe’s not home, so it’s just them too.
“Vamos a bailar…” Sofia continues to spin Rory around, erupting more giggles from her four year old daughter. Sofia laughs along with her. As they sway to the sounds of Sofia’s voice.
“Can we play music, mommy? Please?” Sofia adjusts her better, turning to walk towards the record player Rafe had purchased for her. The vinyl’s next to it, tucked on a shelf.
“Which one?”
“That one! That one!” Aurora points to one of the vinyls. One Sofia constantly played when she wanted to clean around the house. Sofia smiled, reaching to remove it from the row of vinyls.
“This one?”
“Yes momma.” Sofia places the vinyl onto the record player, the music cracking to life. Sofia begins to sway Aurora around the room. Singing along to the lyrics.
She turns her once more, to be faced with Rafe. Sofia jumps.
“How long have you been standing there?”
Rafe has a hand in his pocket and a smirk on his lips. “Not long, can I join you guys?”
“Yes! Yes! Join us dad!”
Sofia laughs as Rafe approaches, twirling them both around the room.
Rafe was alone with Aurora for the first time in a while. Usually so busy with work and finally he found a way to be with his family. Sofia, unfortunately for him, had work to do. She was now a preschool teacher.
“Ugh, dad! You’re doing it wrong!” Aurora chastises her own dad, Rafe tries to hide his laughter. But her outburst makes him chuckle outloud. She glares at him.
“Sparkly pink princess gets the red cup. Dr. Gloss gets the pink one.”
Rafe pulls his hands up in surrender. “My bad Rory. I thought since she’s called sparkly pink princess she’ll want the pink cup.”
“No, she doesn’t like everything pink. She likes colors that compliment her, duh.”
Rafe brows furrow. “Since when did you learn the world compliment? You’re four.”
“I heard mommy saying it to you.”
“So I’m dad and she’s mommy.” Rafe purses his lips comically. Aurora only giggles, pretending to make Dr.Gloss sip his tea.
“You’re so silly, dad.”
The front door opens then closes. He hears a shuffle of steps heading in their direction. Before long, Sofia’s head peers through the door.
She feigns a gasp. “You’re letting daddy playing tea part with you?”
“It’s dad, Sofia. Apparently you’re mommy and I’m just dad.”
Sofia smirks, “Not her fault she has her priorities straight.”
Rafe shakes his head, smiling at her. His eyes roaming her body, she moves closer, placing a kiss on his head before moving to do the same on Aurora.
“Hey mommy, can you join us please?” Aurora says, smiling up at her.
“Of course I will.” Sofia plops down on one of the seats. As Aurora prepares her “tea.”
“I got Dr. Gloss to finally get the one you like. The chamomile.”
“Okay, she needs to hang out less with you. Before you know it, we’ll have our very own like—boss baby.” Rafe says, eyeing Aurora.
“You’ve been watching boss baby?”
Rafe merely shrugs, “I was too lazy to change the movie.” Sofia laughs, it sounds like music to his ears. Aurora smiles at them both, pretending she isn’t listening.
“Our smart little girl.” Sofia coos at Aurora, kissing her cheek. Aurora giggles.
John B and Aurora glare at each other. Their uno cards pressed tightly to their chest.
“What do you know about uno?” John B says in a whisper.
“Everything.” Aurora whispers back, Sarah is trying to suppress her giggle. Little Jay shaking his head, rolling his eyes at his dad and his cousin.
John B dramatically drops his uno card, showing a draw 2 card. He smirks at Aurora but it instantly falls. A smile pressed onto Aurora’s face as well. She drops her card, showing a draw 2.
“No… no.” John B says, almost in horror. He picks up the four cards.
Sofia and Rafe are watching from the kitchen island. They’d lost already, much to Rafe’s dismay.
“I can’t believe she beat me.” Rafe murmurs, Sofia kisses his cheek.
“Sorry sore loser.”
His eyes widen, turning to her. “You lost too!”
“Yeah but not as bad as you.” Rafe rolls his eyes as he continues to watch.
“Uno.” Aurora says, John B’s mouth opens. “Sorry uncle Johnny.”
“It’s John B.”
“Well, I just beat you at uno. So it’s Johnny now.”
Sarah laughs as John B continues to be dumbfounded.
“I can’t believe I just got beat by a four year old.”
“Believe it buddy.”
Sofia turns to Rafe, “Yeah, she gets that from you.” Rafe only smirks, seeming proud of Aurora.
“So… you ready to tell them you’re pregnant again?”
Sofia cheeks flush, her elbow knocking on Rafe’s stomach.
“Not yet.”
Aurora turns to her parents, smiling at them with a big grin. They smile back. Sofia rests her head on Rafe’s shoulder.
Pope wasn't lying when he said it would be an early wake-up call. It just wasn't Pope who did the waking.
The birds outside create a cacophony that grates on Rafe's brain. He attempts to hide, curling into Sofia and digging his head into the curve of her neck, but the sounds still find him. Just like they do the others.
They all grumble through packing, quickly scarfing down rehydrated oats before hitting the trail again. The morning sun heats up the world steadily, though the cool night air still lingers in pockets beneath the rainforest canopy.
"How much longer?" Cleo calls out, a few steps behind Pope.
"Only a bit more. We're coming up on—"Pope's eyes flicking from the map to the trail ahead. "Some waterfalls… I think."
"These particularly important waterfalls?"
"Not the ones I think we're looking for," Pope admits.
"Hey, Rafe."
John B sidles up next to him, his right leg favoring a lighter step than his left—the bandage Sarah and Kiara wrapped earlier this morning still holding strong.
"What do you want?"
John B smiles. "Ever think you'd be trekking across a Mexican rainforest with the likes of us Pogue degenerates?"
Rafe rolls his eyes—playfully. "Not once."
"Me neither," John B replies with a smirk. Almost in sync, they step over a thick tree root.
"You good?"
"With life in general?" John B trails off, searching for the thread.
Rafe nods toward the women up ahead. Sarah walks beside Sofia, her arm looped through his girlfriend's; mid-story, both laughing.
"Getting my sister pregnant."
John B blushes. "Ah. That."
"That," Rafe echoes.
"She's good. We're good," John B says with a little nod.
"Ever thought you'd be trekking it across a Mexican rainforest with a pregnant girlfriend?"
"Not once." John B repeats Rafe's earlier answer with a reserved sigh. "So long as she stays safe, I'm happy."
"Agreed."
"Anyway, she's prepared." John B chuckles. "I've got all the gear, and she's lugging all the food. Stick with her if you get lost—else, you're shit outta luck."
Rafe can't help the low laugh. Of course, Sarah's pack is loaded with snacks. The little gremlin was getting more peckish by the day.
"It's kinda nice," John B muses, "not wanting to deck each other in the face."
"Yeah, well—there's still time." Rafe quips. "Don't know if it's a customary big-brother duty, but if anything ever happened to her on your watch…"
"You'd kill me?" John B finishes with a cheeky, all-knowing smile.
"Something like that," Rafe mutters, eyes rolling.
"Duly noted," Sarah's boyfriend replies, surprisingly sincere. "You know, Rafe, we just had a heart-to-heart."
Rafe glances over, taking in John B's smug expression, and nods with faux solemnity. "Only in your dreams, Little John."
John B laughs.
He catches Sarah's eye. Her pleased smile as she quickly takes in him and John B before she turns back around. She leans into Sofia and whispers something that makes them both smile. He can't help the subtle smile sticking to his mouth longer than intended.
~~~~~
They reach the waterfalls Pope mentioned by lunchtime, mist rolling off the cascading drop, balancing the sun's heat and the humidity clinging to their skin. Granola and rehydrated lukewarm mac and cheese are all they're afforded.
Rafe's starting to miss the Mexican food they'd been eating all week.
Kiara steals the map from Pope as they start out again, wanting to double-check that he and his trusty compass actually know where they're going—because it feels like they've been heading deeper and deeper into nothingness.
But signs begin to show.
Small structures of old stone, half-swallowed by earth, are covered in vines that twist and curl like nature's security system. A darker tree line stands ahead—denser, more ominous.
And then they break through.
Another lost city.
No bigger than the last, but far more eroded—like time and earth decided this one needed to be swallowed whole. Trees and roots burst from the ground around what used to be homes, temples, and gathering spaces. Everything looks trampled by nature—yet somehow, still standing. Persisting despite centuries of decay.
There's a beat of awe.
And it's not just Rafe. The others—Sofia, Sarah, John B, Cleo, Pope, Kiara—stare wide-eyed, brains short-circuiting.
How has no one found this?
"What the fuck," Cleo mutters, for all of them.
What the fuck.
Just like before, they move in slowly. Stepping over crumbled pillars and debris, skirting thick vegetation that's long since claimed the land. It's darker here, the massive canopy blanketing most of the city—save for the tall pyramid at its center. Like the forest was grown specifically to hide it.
Still, the heat is heavy, trapped in the overgrowth. The buzzing of insects is relentless. Distant screeches echo through the trees.
"Wow," Sarah breathes.
"Once again, I ask how," Kiara says. "How does this place look like it's never been discovered?"
Rafe starts down a crumbling staircase—at least two stories tall—leading to an overgrown path that winds through what used to be, no doubt, a vibrant community. The others follow in small clusters.
"I'd love to pick Hollis's brain about how and why she had the artifact that led us here," Cleo says, her footsteps echoing on the stone.
"Too bad Groff killed her," Rafe mutters.
He stops at the bottom, scanning the ruins. Sofia's hand curves over his shoulder as she steps up behind him. Sarah glances up from the step next to him.
"She never mentioned anything like this to you?"
"No," Rafe answers flatly. "She only ever wanted my money." Sofia squeezes his shoulder lightly.
"So what—do we head toward the pyramid?" Sarah asks, stretching her back.
"Seems like the right direction," Cleo offers.
"It's the only direction," John B murmurs.
Sofia's voice floats in from behind Rafe, aimed toward Pope. "Where's the trail from here? Wasn't this only the midpoint on the map from the museum? Maybe instead of heading to the largest structure, we should focus on where we need to be."
Pope sighs. "That's the problem. Everything I've found shows no clear continuation of the trail. So... all we've got is exploration."
"Then let's explore," Sarah decides, already moving.
They follow without much hesitation—what else can they do?
The quiet returns, broken only by the chatter of wildlife. A few monkeys hang lazily from broken stones in the distance, watching as they creep further in.
"Does anyone else feel like we're not alone?" Kiara asks softly.
"I feel like we're walking into a damn trap," Cleo mutters, adjusting her pack.
Sofia brushes her fingertips along the carved face of a nearby wall. "This is incredible."
She never got to take in the last ruins—she was too busy trying to get them out alive.
Rafe follows just behind her, his hand ghosting over the same markings—but his attention isn't on the stone. It's in the shadows. The silence here isn't peaceful.
"I don't like it," he murmurs.
Pope and Kiara lead again, slipping through a narrow corridor formed by toppled columns. It opens into an overgrown courtyard, a vine-choked fountain in the center, and moss-covered steps leading to raised platforms—likely ceremonial.
"You think this was part of the same system as the last site?" Sarah asks, one hand absentmindedly resting on her belly.
"Could be. Layout's familiar... but this place feels older," Pope replies. "More forgotten."
Then, a sound cuts through the air.
They freeze.
Not an animal. Not wind.
Footsteps.
Human.
Cleo throws Rafe a look. Her hand's already on the hilt of her knife. John B shifts protectively in front of Sarah.
Rafe moves closer to Sofia, jaw clenched, scanning the brush.
Then again—voices. Low, muffled. Foreign. Male.
Rafe catches Sofia's eye. She's already saying it with her look before she whispers, "Dalia's men."
"Move," Rafe mouths. "Now."
Pope points to a half-collapsed structure. "There."
They sprint across the courtyard, crouched low, diving behind the wall and pressing into the foliage. A heartbeat thuds in his ears.
Moments later, two armed men enter the courtyard.
They're not rushing. Just scanning.
Rafe lifts just enough to peer over the wall. They're too close.
One of the men nudges a stone with his boot, muttering about "not being far behind." The other mentions "clearing the path to the temple."
They're headed to the pyramid.
Eventually, the men move on, disappearing down the opposite path.
No one breathes for a long minute.
"So we're definitely not alone," Kiara whispers.
"We're not the first either," Sofia adds.
"Makes sense," Pope says, adjusting his grip on the map. "We're up against a private militia with serious resources." The paper crinkles too loudly, drawing glares. Pope winces.
"We could camp out here. Wait until they're gone."
"And let the bugs eat us alive?" Cleo scoffs, already stepping back out. "Pass."
They follow slower now. Rafe offers Sofia a hand over the rubble. She wipes her palms on her shorts and gives him a soft smile.
Their movements tighten. Quieter. Close to the walls, ready to duck at the first sign of danger.
Then the hum of noise grows louder as they near the heart of the ruins—the pyramid.
They step out of a long corridor and freeze.
A massive field stretches to the pyramid steps. Armored trucks sit parked just outside. Men mill around—some searching, some resting.
They duck back into the crumbling doorway of a nearby building.
Rafe peeks out again.
"How the fuck did they get vehicles in here?" he mutters.
"Sheer will and good luck?" John B offers.
"Absolute disregard for nature and decency," Kiara adds with a sneer.
They're outnumbered. Outgunned.
"There's gotta be another way," Rafe murmurs. "We can't go through them."
Pope's already pulling the map back out. "If the layout's the same, we follow the perimeter. Stay low, avoid the plazas."
"Circle the city?" Sarah asks.
"Exactly."
No one argues. Boots still echo somewhere in the distance.
They move again. Quiet. Careful. The city thins as they approach its edge—roots thick, terrain uneven. The old roads are mostly earth and broken stone.
Then they see it.
A massive stone wall rises ahead, nearly hidden by growth and terrain. It curves out of view, separating the city from the jungle.
"What the hell…" John B breathes.
"I didn't even realize we were this close to the edge," Sarah says.
"It's not marked on anything I've seen," Pope adds.
They follow it for a few yards, brushing away vines and watching where they step—until something interrupts the stone pattern.
A gate.
Massive. Half-swallowed by earth. Unremarkable, save for the faint impressions of where hinges once might've been. But there's a path—clearly visible on the other side. Worn flat. Leading somewhere.
"This," Pope whispers. "This is it. Has to be."
"And now we have to figure out how to open it," Sofia asks, brushing the cracked surface.
Sarah leans closer. "Doesn't look like it's opened in a long time."
Pope steps back, turning slowly to examine the surrounding wall. That's when Pope perks up. Rafe glances where Pope is gliding to, a weathered mural carved into the stone beside the gate, partially covered in moss and dirt.
"Guys—help me clear this."
They all move in, scraping back vines and earth until the faded image reveals itself: two pyramids etched into the stone, one taller, one smaller, drawn side by side. Between them, a faint symbol—circular, possibly a key of some kind—hovering above the smaller one. The gate, represented crudely, sits beneath the mural with a line connecting it directly to the smaller pyramid.
"Not again," Cleo mutters.
John B responds, "Wouldn't be a proper ancient mystery without a few trials and tribulations, right?"
"Let's just hope there's no booby traps," Cleo replies.
"Well, if there are poison darts, Rafe's taking that one," Sarah teases.
Rafe glares.
Pope's breath catches. "This is a map."
"And it's leading us exactly where we need to go." Rafe states, "The key—or whatever opens this gate—isn't in the one Dalia's men are raiding."
"It's in the smaller one," Pope confirms. "Just behind it."
"So… we go in through the back," Cleo nods. "While they're distracted."
Sofia steps back, eyeing the gate. "Let's just hope they don't figure that out first."
A beat of silence.
Then Rafe nods. "Let's go."
They all nod—except John B. The pogue shifts slightly beside Sarah.
"Wait," John B says. "Sarah shouldn't come."
Rafe stops short. He glances back, his brow tightening. "Why?"
"She's pregnant, man."
Sarah lets out a sharp breath. "Don't do that."
"I'm not trying to sideline you," John B says quickly, but his stance doesn't budge. "But going back toward a bunch of armed men with only half a plan and a wall mural? That's not smart."
"I'm pregnant, not fragile."
Kiara steps forward then, firm. "If something goes sideways, it's not just you we'd be worried about."
Sarah crosses her arms, staring them down.
Rafe shifts. "Look, I don't think anyone's saying you can't handle yourself, but if they spot or hear us, we have to run or fight… it's just not worth the risk. Not for you. Not for the baby."
Sarah opens her mouth to argue, but this time, even Cleo nods, arms crossed over her chest like she's already decided.
"We're not leaving you," Pope adds, handing her a walkie. "Channel four. Short messages only."
Sarah accepts it reluctantly. John B slips an arm around her.
"Don't be gone long," she says.
"We won't," Kiara promises.
Cleo readjusts her bag. "We'll hang here. If they regroup, we'll warn you."
Rafe moves beside Sofia as they break off. She adjusts her pack, eyes sharp. Ready.
"You good?" she asks quietly.
He nods. "You?"
She mirrors it.
He glances at Pope and Kiara. "Let's go."
They disappear into the brush, the pyramid looming ahead. The group splits.
~~~~~
Rafe leads, one hand near his sidearm, the other brushing aside vines and low branches as they creep the long way around the city. Sofia stays close, her hand gripping the back of his shirt when the terrain steepens. Kiara and Pope trail behind, silent, eyes flicking about on high alert.
The smaller pyramid comes into view through breaks in the canopy—partially buried in the jungle, its stone staircase cracked and uneven. Humble compared to the grand one towering beyond it, but unmistakably significant.
Then—movement.
Rafe freezes, throwing an arm up, stopping Sofia short.
Voices, low and fast. Male. Spanish?
They're just ahead.
Rafe ducks behind a crumbled wall, pulling Sofia with him until they're pressed shoulder to shoulder into the mossy stone. Pope and Kiara flatten themselves nearby. Rafe glances toward the noise—shadows shifting at the tree line, maybe twenty yards off.
"Did you hear that?"
"No—there. I saw something move."
Leaves rustle. Rafe tenses.
Sofia slips her hand into his. No words—just pressure. His thumb brushes over her knuckles as he listens.
Then, a sharp movement in the brush. And it didn't come from them.
Then chaos.
Gunfire erupts into the rainforest. Immediate. Wild.
The mercenaries fire blindly into the jungle, shouting over one another. Birds scream overhead and scatter. Bullets tear into trees and dirt. Rafe jerks instinctively, pulling Sofia closer, wrapping one arm tight around her, shielding her body with his.
Dirt kicks up inches from his boot. A branch splinters above Pope's head.
"Shit—" Kiara breathes, ducking lower.
"They didn't see us," Pope mouths. "They think it's animals."
More gunfire. One of the men swears, calling something about monkeys. The other laughs—dry and humorless. Rafe's heart hammers, chest pressed firm against Sofia's back.
She doesn't flinch. Just leans into him, calm, sharp-eyed. When she shifts slightly to peer through a crevice in the stone, her hand stays curled against his stomach, grounding them both.
He squeezes it. Quick. Reassuring.
"We need to move," he breathes.
Sofia nods against his shoulder.
He gestures right—away from the noise—toward a narrow path curling between two collapsed stone walls.
This time, she grabs his hand before he can turn.
"You okay?" she whispers, locking eyes with his.
He nods. "You?"
"I'm with you."
That's all it takes.
They move—quiet, fast. Boots barely touching the ground. Ducking beneath twisted branches, weaving through rubble and thick roots. The gunfire fades behind them. Then silence.
Almost.
Forest sounds return slowly. Birds. Insects. The whirl of distant wind.
They don't stop until the smaller pyramid looms closer, framed by tangled vines and time.
Rafe crouches behind a low ridge of rock, scanning the area.
No movement. No sound except their breathing.
They're clear.
He finally exhales, not relief exactly—but something like it.
Sofia leans her forehead against his shoulder, hand still wrapped around his wrist. "That was close."
"Too close," he mutters, pressing a kiss to her hair. He lingers a second longer. "You good?"
"I will be when we get out of here."
Kiara drops to one knee beside them, brushing leaves off her arms. "They seriously shot up half the jungle for nothing."
Pope peeks through the brush and lets out a low whistle. "Fucking idiots."
Rafe reluctantly lets Sofia go as they all rise. The pyramid is only a few feet away now. Its steps are eroded, and the entrance at the top is barely visible through the overgrowth.
The base of the smaller pyramid is partially swallowed by the jungle, vines creeping like veins over the stone. Whatever entrance once existed isn't obvious—at least not at first.
They fan out slightly, still close, careful not to speak too loudly. Even with the gunfire gone, Rafe knows better than to think they're alone.
"Here," Pope calls softly, waving them over. He kneels beside a low, jagged opening half-hidden behind a collapsed slab. It's not an entrance in the traditional sense—just a break in the structure. Narrow. Just wide enough to crawl through.
"You sure?" Kiara asks.
Pope nods. "There's airflow. And I can see the floor slope down."
Rafe crouches beside him, peering into the dark. It's tight but passable.
He looks at Sofia. "You up for it?"
Sofia arches a brow. "After that sprint through gunfire? Yeah. I'm good."
He smirks faintly, pressing a hand to her lower back, guiding her toward the opening. He follows after, with Pope and Kiara close behind.
It's cooler inside—musty and damp. The air smells old, thick with mildew. They crawl a few feet before the tunnel opens into a lower chamber. Rafe stands slowly, brushing dirt off his arms, eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through cracks in the rock.
They're inside.
But it's different this time.
No grand ceremonial chamber like the last site. No vast open floor.
This one's more intricate. Instead of one large space, walls weave along the inner floor—almost like rooms, but with no doors. Nothing that would make any of them private. From up here, it almost looks like an ant farm—open, segmented, visible save for a few obscured pockets.
Sofia steps beside him, peering over the ledge. Her arm wraps easily around his waist, and he leans into her touch, resting a hand on her shoulder.
She whispers, "What kind of place is this?"
Unease itches down his spine.
They descend the steps together, tighter now, careful. Who knows if they're the first ones in here?
————————————
Next part: Coming Soon
*Hi. Sorry for the delay. Busy life things got in the way. But I've been on a roll with writing the next few parts, so it will be much sooner for the next chapter than this one.*
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liked by rafecameron1, barrycastillo, sarahcam, wheeziecameron, toppernorton, kelceallen and 300 others.
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sarahcam: cuuuuute! i miss you guys 🥺 val’s been asking about iliana, we need to catch up the next time you guys are in town again.
➥ sofiaramirez we miss you too sarbear! 😭🥺❤️ we’ll be back in obx this weekend for my grandmother’s birthday but we can still hang out then!!
➥ sarahcam: yay! we can leave the kids with the guys and go out for drinks 😉
➥ sarahcam: WAIT I JUST NOTICED THAT YOU’RE PREGNANT AGAIN? TELL RAFE TO STAY OFF OF YOU OMG. ALSO WHY AM I JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS THROUGH INSTAGRAM?! IM ABOUT TO FACETIME YOU. ANSWER YOUR PHONE!!
➥ rafecameron1: @sarahcam ?? what did i do. she’s the one who’s on me
wheeziecameron awww who is this cutie?
➥ rafecameron1: um your niece?
➥ wheeziecameron: 🤦🏻♀️ i meant the cat, rafe…
➥ rafecameron1: oh.
rafecameron1: my head is in its favorite position 😏
➥ wheeziecameron: gross.
➥ toppernorton: aaaaand now we see why you guys have two kids.
➥ barrycastillo: @wheeziecameron this is not even the half of it. imagine being in a group chat with them.
➥ rafecameron1: @wheeziecameron god forbid a man flirts with his wife 🙄
➥ sofiaramirez: @rafecameron1 you just can’t help yourself can you?
Author’s note: lowkey inspired by junji ito’s “Tomie.” Been reading a lot of his work this month. And that’s one of my favorites of his.
Rafe was never one to be a writer. He hated anything to do with his bad penmanship. His inability to capture things with words. His prose wasn’t one he’d say could live up to the greats. But he couldn’t help it now. She was someone he needed to remember. Someone he needed to express beyond the physical.
Her beauty something that deserved a section in his worn out notebook. One he never lets anyone call a diary. His words couldn’t ever live up to the real thing. Words couldn’t express his love for Sofia. How she made his heart flutter, made him feel like the man he always wanted to be. Her faith in him was one he couldn’t compare to someone who worshiped a deity. That would be too far.
But he appreciated it nevertheless.
He wrote about her and when he couldn’t write. He took pictures and when that went away too. He decided to draw her. But he couldn’t draw beyond a stick figure. So he could only observe from the photos.
Sofia. His Sofia. Her beauty and her faith. Her affections. She was like no other. His Sofia. His muse.
He’d become a mad man. A man obsessed. And he didn’t care. He would do whatever it took to etch her name into eternity.
he’s so needy. always desperate to be around her no matter in what proximity. he loves being held by her, at how she holds him with an affection that he’s never felt before. his favorite position is when he’s got his head buried against her stomach. he likes when she brushes her hand against his neck and holds him against her, not once showing any irritation at his clinginess and how much he needs her. he turns his head and presses a kiss against her stomach, feeling the reverberations of her body as she giggled softly.
she looks down at him as he meets her gaze, her beautiful big brown eyes stare at him with an intensity that makes his stomach flutter. “i love you.” he whispers softly but full of vehemence.
she smiles, brushing her hand against his cheek. “i love you too.” rafe kisses the palm of her hand before lowering his head back on her stomach; nestling comfortably in her embrace.
Sofia was left feeling perplexed by Rafe’s hands. A Kook boy like him who’d never known a day of hard work in his life? She imagined his palms to be soft and pillowy and his fingers smooth and sleek.
Different to her hands. Roughened from carrying the heavy carts of stock for the bar; chapped from wiping down tables; coarsened from fixing her scrap metal car every other month.
No matter how much lotion she lathered her skin in, or how many manicures she booked– it was impossible to hide the marks of being a pogue.
So the first time Rafe touched her she expected his hands to be the same as him: pristine, polished and lined in velvet.
But as he cupped her face, drawing her into a kiss, her cheek bristled from the rough-hewn skin. It’s not like it wasn’t nice…she liked it. Especially when his hands trailed lower and lower, slipping beneath the flimsy material of her red bikini.
But she wondered what he was hiding. Rafe Cameron and hard worker were antipodes in her book. He made everything look effortless– all casual handshakes and airy smirks. But right now she didn’t want to think about any of that and let his callouses rub deliciously against her hot skin.
***
After they fucked, lying beside each other on the bed, she grabbed his wrist, examining his hands.
“Lookin’ for something there,” her teased, lifting his head up slightly to watch what she was doing. He had half a mind to yank his arm back, suddenly feeling like he was being judged. But Rafe decided to let her hold him, lapping up her reaction. She looked amused but curious: her big, shiny eyes drinking in his hand, her thumb rubbing circles into his palm.
Sofia was a funny girl, Rafe noticed.
She drifted through life with a sunny smile and an unaffectedness that he craved. He wasn’t deaf and he wasn’t blind. He heard the girls chatting shit as he meandered through the party with Sofia on his arm. He saw the chary looks being thrown at her when he led her upstairs.
But when he checked on Sofia, her bright glowy gaze and that big grin of hers remained intact.
She was thick skinned…like she had to be. Rafe was too. When half the island thought you were a raging psycho– hell when half your family did too– you learn to toughen up.
“You gonna tell me why you’re giving me a hand massage right now? Or is it just your way of saying thank you after–“
“Oh shush,” she let his hand drop, turning to face him in bed. “Your hands aren’t like what I thought they’d be.”
A slow, lazy smirk played across his lips. She was so strange. The handful of coke dazed hookups he’d had always ended with them jumping out of his bed, eager to escape him. Sofia continuing to touch him, even when they weren’t fucking, fascinated him.
“Oh yeah? My hands didn’t pass your examination then, Miss Sofia?”
She rolled her eyes, settling into the pillow.
“I thought they’d be soft.”
Rafe’s face betrayed his feelings. His brows furrowed, smile vanishing. She caught on quick.
“I’m not disappointed! I promise…it felt good.” Sofia gave him another one of those coy, coquettish smirks that made his stomach flutter. “It’s just that with hands like those you’d think you’d be some sort of mechanic or builder you know?”
Rafe considered her words. The fact she noticed enough to feel the difference in his palms. He’d never felt noticed before…at least not in any way that mattered (or in any way he accepted). And here she was marvelling at each callous on his finger and the texture of his touch. Here she was enthralled at his efforts, caressing the proof of his rough-hewn labour.
Rafe instinctively reached out for her, his hands going to drag her into his body.
After heaving the cross up the convey, the rope burn masticating his skin, and lugging the firewood to burn it…after beating up Singh’s men and digging nails into his pulpy flesh whenever he felt stressed…Rafe’s hands were a leathered mess.
“A mechanic or a builder? That’s funny because I’m both of those things actually.”
Sofia giggled, her soft head slotting perfectly into his embrace, “oh yeah? Here I thought you were just living off of some trust fund.”
Rafe prickled with a bitter burst of insecurity. But he tried to keep up the levity. It was hard to get snappy at Sofia, when she was looking up at him so prettily, “hey– I worked for it okay? Wanna take another inspection of my hands huh?”
Now it was Sofia’s turn to consider him, her honeyed eyes darting across his visage, “hmn no need, you’re holding on to me pretty tightly. I can feel them just fine.”
Rafe teasingly squeezed at the soft flesh of her hips, “glad I made you feel good,” he mumbled, his touch never relenting.
He’d been afraid of hurting her. She was so small and so seemingly delicate. But Sofia luxuriating in his calloused hands, softening as he fervidly kneaded at her doughy skin, showed to him she wasn’t as helpless as he thought. There was a raggedness to her that made her fit right up against his serrated edges.
Sweet, sunny Sofia. Her hands were just as rough as his.
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request idea! sofia has a panic attack, and topper or one of rafe’s friends see, and they know to go get him because he knows how to calm her down ❤️🔥
❝ in your arms is where i’ll find home, r. cameron. ❞
ooo. 𝒔𝒚𝒏𝒐𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒔… when topper realizes that sofia’s having a panic attack, he goes to the person he knows will help her calm down.
ooo. 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔… sorry for the long wait anon! i actually contemplated on switching this ask and having sofia being the one to help rafe calm down buttt i ultimately decided against it. this one’s kinda short (and not my best work) but i hope you enjoy!;)
“hey, have you seen sofia?” rafe questions, his curiosity piqued as his eyes wandered around the room in search of his girlfriend.
he’d ventured off only for a few moments with a sworn promise of a haste return as he went to catch up with a few friends. when he sauntered back into the kitchen, he was surprised to see that she was no longer standing where he’d left her. it had only been ten minutes that passed between their brief separation so he didn’t understand how she could’ve disappeared so quickly. rafe scoured the living room and backyard, searching through the crowd of bodies for her to no avail.
worry immediately coiled in his stomach.
he attempted to call and text her — but he knows that the clamorous sounds of music playing through the speakers had hindered her audibility. rafe exclaimed an expletive, his worrying now transitioning into panic and fear as the thought of something happening to her wandered through his mind. rafe suddenly approaches topper, wrapping his hand around his elbow and tugging him offside, interrupting the conversation that he was in.
topper’s a bit taken aback by rafe’s interjection and is forcibly retracting his arm out of rafe’s hold when he felt his fingers inadvertently tighten their hold around him. a bit of whiskey spills over from the rim of his cup from the exertion, forming a dark wet puddle that had already began to stain on his father’s favorite imported carpet. topper groans exasperatedly, dreading another lecture about responsibility that he knows was now inevitable. “dude! what the hell—”
but the worried look furrowed in rafe’s brow had relented topper’s scolding. “what’s wrong?” he posited, noticing the way rafe’s eyes continuously averted around the room in search of something. it was a look that topper had never seen from rafe before and he could see the sheer panic accruing with every passing second.
“you seen sof around anywhere?” and of course topper should’ve know that she was the cause of rafe’s concern.
sofia had been the only one to always pull such visceral emotions from rafe; another thing that topper hadn’t witnessed prior to their dating. rafe’s always been overprotective of her, especially when they’re out in public together — the hand intertwined with hers always got a little tighter and his eyes would narrow as his lips pursed tersely in a glower, shielding her away from the wayward looks that people gave whenever they saw them together.
topper’s lips mimics rafe’s as he frowns, “nah man not since you two came in earlier.”
rafe nodded somberly in his acquiesced defeat as he turned around and walked towards the stairs, deciding to search around the third level of topper’s house.
…
he’d just finished chugging down his fourth glass of whiskey when he feels his bladder fill in forewarning, prompting him to set the empty glass aside as he ascended up the stairs that lead to his bedroom.
he nudged the door open with his shoulder, his hands are already loosening his belt from the loops and tugging the zipper down in haste as he feels the pressure prodding. his hand reaches for the bathroom door, tugging it open but he’s taken aback when he sees a girl sitting on the floor with her knees tucked against their chest. “uh…” at first he assumed that maybe she sought refuge in here because she were sick and had decided to use his bathroom because it was in close proximity, even though he’d publicly informed everyone that it was off limits.
he contemplates between asking the girl to briefly step out so he relieve himself or closing the door and leaving her alone to their own devices to use the downstairs bathroom instead. the accruing pressure on his bladder avers the former option. just as he’s parting his lips to speak he hears the sound of ragged breathing emanating from the sitting girl. the sounds were rough in his ears; the breaths she exhaled got deeper, more uneven, spiraling into broken wheezes that pounded painful.
“hey, are you okay?” he asks, not even bothering to acknowledge how foolishly redundant the question sounded as he crossed over the threshold and walked further into the bathroom. and it only takes a brief second for the realization to settle as he gauged at her brown shoulder length hair, denim cut offs and floral blouse — the outfit looked similar. it was what sofia was wearing when she came in, “sofia?” topper laments, seeing the rigidity tense in her shoulders at his beckon.
she doesn’t lift her head from its perch, just continues to exhale rasped breaths that seem to sound explicably worse than before.
topper alerts, feeling both panic and worry penetrate him all at once. he takes a preemptive step towards her, attempting to console her in any way that he could offer until he remembers rafe’s frantic search of her earlier. “it’s okay, i’m-i’m gonna go get rafe!” he assures her, as he departs from the bedroom hurriedly adjusting his clothing again as he retreated downstairs.
thankfully, his search for rafe doesn’t extend too far because just as topper reaches the main level he sees rafe’s towering figure pushing through the crowd of people as he approached the front door. “rafe!” its miraculous that he manages to hear topper’s clamor over the music; but he does and immediately turns around, furrowing his brows as he noticed the florid look marring across topper’s face.
“i was gonna check outside again—”
topper shook his head, pointing his finger over his shoulders. “i found her. she’s upstairs in my bathroom, but i think something’s wrong—” the remainder of topper’s sentence falls into the void, unfinished and forgotten, because rafe’s already haring up the stairs two steps at a time.
something’s wrong, that’s all it took to have rafe running up the stairs to find her. his heart leapt in his throat, an uneasy queasiness coiled in his stomach as he treaded up the stairs desperate to find her. he rounds the corner, reaching topper’s room at the end of the hallway. he pushes the door open without any regard, ignoring the way it bounces and trembles against the wall at the heaviness of his exertion.
“sof!?” he hears her before he sees her. the rancorous sounds of her deep gasping breaths pull him towards the bathroom where he sees her lowered to the floor. at the sound of his voice, she untucks her head from its hidden perch against her knees. his heart drops sullenly at the sight of her, at the wetness that clung against her lashes as she looked up at him through her foggy vision. “baby,” he falls to his knees in front of her, his hand seeks purchase on her leg offering her gentle comfort.
“hey, look at me.” he reaches his other hand up to cradle her cheek. he feels her tremble beneath him. “it’s okay. just take deep breaths, baby. slow and deep,” he says, through an exercising tutorial as he parts his mouth and inhaled a sharp, deep breath. he held it for a brief moment in his throat before pursing his lips and exhaling softly into the air.
he was all too familiar with what was happening, as he himself had fallen victim to panic attacks before. he knew how paralyzing and terrifying they were; how it felt like all of the air from your lungs was being suctioned out of you until you were choking on your own body. it was his mother who aided him through his attacks when he was younger, who taught him these breathing techniques that she discovered through her own research.
he remembered every technique that she used to help regulate his breathing again; how she maintained such a steady composure despite the fear that trembled through his body, how she kept her voice leveled and gently talked him through a conversation to distract him, how she repeatedly offered him reassurance that he was going to be okay. now the situation was reversed — with him being the one reciting the techniques to lull his girlfriend’s breathing again.
sofia trembled with every breath she took, but complied as she mimicked rafe’s deep suspires. “good, you’re doing so good, baby.” he encourages, brushing his thumb over her cheek that was still wet with fallen tears. “just keep looking at me and breathing. yeah?” he reaches for a clean washcloth that he finds hanging up and wet it with cold water, gently wiping it against her forehead in attempts to calm her down.
it’s a slow and steady staccato with every exhaling breath that she takes. but rafe continuously guided her through her hyperventilations, caressing her cheek as a gentle reminder that he was here and that she was okay, holding the weight of her stare as he saw her pupils that were previously lined with tears, slowly subside.
when her breathing finally evens, rafe leans forward and consoles her in a tight embrace, pulling her against his chest as he kissed the top of her head. “you’re okay now.” sofia nods, burying her head in his neck as she felt her body go lax at the familiarity of his touch.
they sit there wrapped in each other’s embrace until rafe presses one last kiss against her head and offers to end the night early so they could go home. sofia’s quick to acquiesce, letting rafe’s hand rest on her back and gently guide her to her feet. he wounds a protective arm around her as they make their way downstairs; only briefly acknowledging topper with a head nod that said thanks before making his way outside to his truck.
he keeps a hand on her thigh the entire drive back home, his eyes look over at with every given opportunity through each red light and stop sign — allowing his gaze to linger in its heeded attentiveness. when they get home, he leads her upstairs into the bedroom where she immediately burrows herself beneath the warmth of the covers. “i’ll be right back,” he avows in a soft whisper, pecking a kiss on her cheek after assuring she was tucked in.
he’s makes his egress, descending down the stairs until he reaches the kitchen. rafe grabs ahold of the tea kettle that sat empty atop of the stove, pulling up the sink’s lever as he filled the pot with water. he then places it back in on its respective perch before turning the stove on medium heat.
he returns upstairs to his bedroom less than ten minutes later, carrying a cup of tea that he extends to sofia. “what’s this for?” she asks as she sits upright in the bed, reaching for the small cup.
rafe shrugged as he rubbed a hand sheepishly against the back of his neck. “i’m not entirely sure, but my mom used to make me tea for me whenever i had an attack. it always made me feel a little better afterwards so i thought that it might help you too,”
a soft smile of appreciation spreads across sofia’s lips at his considerate gesture. “thank you for this and for helping me…” she murmurs as she lowered her gaze to the untouched cup of tea.
“you don’t gotta thank me, baby.” rafe assures her, his hands seeking purchase on her thigh again. “you know i’ll always be here for you,”
she nods, biting on her lip as she looked up at him again. “can-can you hold me? i think i’m still a little shaken up from earlier,” and rafe’s already leaning over and absentmindedly setting her cup of tea aside so that he’s able to kick off his shoes and sprawl his body out across the mattress behind sofia. she curls her body against his chest, tucking her head in the space between his neck and clavicle — barring her arms around his waist.
rafe holds her a little tighter that night, pressing chaste kisses into her honey and vanilla scented hair, until he feels her body go lax as she succumbs to her exhaustion.
