Page 160 of In Love and Revenge

I blink up at him. How can he know what I’m thinking? How can he read me so well? How can I trust myself to think straight when he’s standing in front of me, making me want to forget everything and sink back into his arms?

‘I can’t do this right now,’ I choke, forcing myself to look away.

I lift my key to the lock for the main door to the building, my fingers trembling.

The heat from his body pours into me, melting my coiled muscles as I fight not to turn and face him. I can even smell his cologne. So rich and distinctive. Heady and addictive. Just like him.

‘I’ll stay here until you’re ready,’ he says, his breath sliding down the side of my face and neck, sending goosebumps in its wake.

‘I don’t know when that will be.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I’ll be here. I’m not missing that one millisecond when you decide you’ll give me another chance.’

‘What if it never comes?’

I feel his pain from the shift in the air and the weight in his voice.

‘It will come, Aurora. It has to. Because there isn’t a version of this universe where I can exist without making this right.’

He places his hand over mine and electricity shoots up my arm like a bolt of lightning. He holds my hand steady, and slides the key into the lock for me, letting me go the moment the door swings open.

‘Close it behind you,’ he says gently.

My throat burns and I desperately try to hold back tears. I merely nod, then rush inside, closing the door with more force than I intend. I run up the stairs and wait until I’m safely inside my apartment before I lean back against the front door and sink to the floor.

Everything muffles as I wrap my arms around my knees and push my head into my arms.

And I sob.

One week later

‘It’s the same guy,’ Joe says, peering through the windscreen as I unbuckle my seatbelt.

Glancing across the street at the shiny black Bugatti, and the suited, scowling hulk leaning up against it, I sigh. ‘Yep.’

‘You know him?’ Joe asks.

‘He’s my ... Yes, I know him.’

‘You want me to ask him to leave?’

‘What?’ I whip around to face Joe. ‘Why would I want you to do that?’

He stares at me like I’ve gone mad. ‘The guy looks like he’s about to murder someone, and he’s been hanging around outside your place every day when I’ve dropped you off.’

‘Rafael would never hurt me.’ I flick my gaze back to his brooding form and my stomach flips at how good he looks, standing there. He’s wearing a waistcoat again. He’s playing dirty.

His eyes narrow on mine as he sees me watching him. Then they slide to Joe as he leans across me to open my door.

‘You sure about that?’ Joe arches a brow, his attention fixed on Rafael’s murderous glare.

‘Positive. You don’t need to worry.’

‘Those from him too?’ Joe snorts, looking at the giant bouquet of lotus flowers blocking the doorway to my building.

My breath catches. They’re beautiful. Just like the six other bunches I have in my apartment. And the handbags. And the shoes. And the jewellery. And even the tubes of crisps. The gifts haven’t stopped coming since Rafael turned up here on that first day.

Climbing from the car, I turn and flash Joe a grateful smile. ‘Thanks for the lift.’