Page 133 of In Love and Revenge

‘I love you too. And I’ll love you until my scarred heart takes its last beat.’

Tears prick my eyes as I gaze back into molten bronze that’s shining with devotion, warming me from the inside out. ‘Promise?’

‘On my life,’ he whispers, drawing me into another kiss.

We stay tangled in one another, coming at the same time a few minutes later. Two bodies, two hearts, two souls. Each time between us has been passionate, and intense, and electric.

But this time it’s simple.

We’re two people who have fallen head over heels for one another. Making love like we’re desperate to cling on to every fibre of the other’s being. Like we need one another to exist, to thrive, tolive.

‘Beauty,’ he breathes, dropping his forehead to mine. ‘Are you sure you love me?’

His vulnerability cuts me like a knife. He thinks his father isn’t proud of him. Maybe that he doesn’t even love him.

Looking into his broken gaze, I realise he’s never had anyone he truly feels like he’s enough for. Rafael Fairfax, ruthless CEO, award-winning businessman, a man people admire and dream of meeting.

And he’s never felt like he’senough.

I press an achingly tender kiss to his lips, hoping it conveys just how much I mean what I’m about to say.

‘I’ve never felt like this about anyone in my life before.’ I search his eyes, holding his face in my hands. ‘No matter what happens, I promise I love you, that I will always love you.’

The next crush of his lips on to mine is tinged with salty tears. But he doesn’t need to worry. Because I mean every word.

No matter what happens, Rafael Fairfax has embedded himself so deeply into my heart that I could never dig him out even if I wanted to.

Because if I did, there’d be nothing left of me.

Chapter 33

Rafael

‘I’m so close. I know I am. I just can’t work out what I’m missing.’

I walk up behind Aurora and slide her hair to one side so I can press a kiss on her shoulder. She’s been working on her father’s case all morning, the sea of paper she’s spread over my dining room table a testament to her exhaustive research.

‘The solicitor just called. They told me my father’s appeal will be denied unless we can find more evidence. If only I were smarter, Rafe. If I knew things about law instead of fashion, then I could help him. But this is useless. I’m getting nowhere. I’m failing him,’ she says, her voice trembling.

‘Listen to me. You are not failing him. You’ve never failed anyone. Not him, not your mother. You hear me? You’re strong and you’re smart. Even the police got this bloody wrong.’

‘Thanks. But that doesn’t help get my father out, does it?’

‘How can I help?’

She turns inside my embrace, the despair in her eyes making way for hope as she looks up at me. ‘You’ll help me?’

‘Of course I’ll help.’

I kiss her, pulling my lips from her before I get carried away. Ever since last night’s spectacular meltdown on my balcony, things have been different between us. She’s been happier. Lighter. It’s like she needed us to open up to one another. And if I’m honest, I needed it too. Last night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. And waking up and sinking inside her as she looked into my eyes and told me she loved me again, confirming it wasn’t all a dream, has made me feel like I’m punching the damn sky, despite the niggling voice hissing in my ear that this was never supposed to happen. She was never supposed to love me back.

Mebeing vulnerable and open to the hurt that love can bring is one thing. But inflicting that on Aurora?I should have been more careful. But damn, I don’t want to be. If anyone is ever going to love me then I want it to be her.

God, do I want it to be her. I just have to ensure I never make her cry.

‘Tell me what you need?’ I say.

Her brow furrows and she gnaws on her lower lip.