Page 180 of In Love and Revenge

My heart skips a beat ...

And I know.

She isn’t talking to her followers.

She’s saying those words for one person.

Me.

I jump out of my seat, sending it crashing to the floor. Blood rushes in my ears as my vision tunnels for the door. For my exit out of here.

My route to her.

The door crashes against the wall as I throw it open.

I sprint out of my office like my life depends on it.

I’m coming, Beauty. Bloody hell, I’m coming.

Chapter 44

Aurora

I peer inside the cupboard and pick up a crisp tube, expecting it to carry more weight, but it’s like a feather in my hand. I give it a little shake and the sound of leftover shards rattle inside the tube like a sad maraca.

‘I eat them when I’m missing you so badly that I feel like I might pass out.’

I whirl at the sound of his deep voice and the tube clatters to the floor.

Molten bronze irises are waiting to anchor me to them. The sight of them again is enough to make tears rush to my eyes.

Rafael remains rooted to the spot in his kitchen doorway. I don’t know how long he’s been there, watching me. But I doubt it’s been long, because even from across the room my body recognises his presence. It’s like a wave flowing through me, starting at my toes and working its way to my head.

He runs his tongue over his lower lip, his confession delivered with a quiet huskiness that warms my skin.

‘And then I wish I had passed out. Because maybe I wouldn’t wake up.’

‘Don’t ever say that. Please don’t ever say that,’ I choke out in a strained whisper.

He holds my eyes. ‘Those first fractions of a second when I wake are the worst. Because my brain’s a bloody sadist. It lets me forget that I won’t turn and see you there, lying beside me. It lets me have a moment of denial. One where I didn’t lose the best thing that’s ever happened to me.’

My mouth goes dry, wishing he would move. Step closer. Reduce this gap between us that feels like a chasm. Because even though I want to go to him, my body’s frozen, unable to do anything other than soak in the sensation of breathing the same air as him once again.

Two months.

It’s been an amazing time with my father. But there wasn’t a second that went by that I didn’t think of Rafael and wonder what he was doing and how he was. How hereallywas.

I allow myself a slow sweep of him, taking in his pristine suit – a grey one with a fine white pinstripe – complete with matching waistcoat, and his starched white shirt beneath it. The faint lines he gets around his eyes when he’s tired are deeper, more defined. And they’re framing what I can only describe as windows to a soul that’s been shattered, but is determined to keep going, for there’s still a glimmer of hope, alongside the bronze flecks.

His attention drops to the gold sequin top I’m wearing, and he fixates on it as his Adam’s apple bobs in his throat like he’s barely holding himself together.

‘Your chateau is beautiful.’

That gets his attention, and I can’t help but feel relieved when he meets my eyes again.

I smile softly.

‘I know you, Rafe. And there are only so many people it could have belonged to. Plus my father would change the subject every time I asked him.’