Page 183 of In Love and Revenge

‘And you forgive me?’

‘Yes,’ I sob.

The relief runs through his body like a flowing river gathering speed on its race to the sea. It softens the lines around his eyes and dissolves the dark pain between the molten bronze flecks. But most of all, it travels to his chest, and it softens the harsh edges of each beat of his broken heart, until they’re a smooth, rich melody playing inside him instead.

‘Beauty?’

‘Rafe?’ I whisper, running my fingers in gentle sweeps up and down his chest.

‘Please tell me I can bloody kiss you.’

I break into a smile. ‘Y—’

His lips crash to mine, stealing the word straight from them. The newspaper clipping flutters to the floor as I wrap my other hand around the nape of his neck and pull him close.

I kiss him back as fiercely as he kisses me. As desperately. Our faces screw up, cheeks wet with a mix of salty tears.

‘You won’t regret it. I’ll never let you regret it for a moment. I’m going to spend every day loving you so much that you’ll feel it, I swear,’ he says, kissing me again.

I whimper into his kiss, clutching on to him and holding him as close as I possibly can. Our bodies meld together, the need to feel the heat of him against me outweighing everything else.

He slides his tongue inside my mouth, sending a shot of pure heat straight to my clit.

I squash my breasts to his chest, starving for more than just his kisses. Starving for his touch. Ineedhim. I need to know this will all be okay. That no matter what happens, we’re going to be okay.

‘Rafael,’ I pant. ‘I want you.’ I tug his shirt from the waistband of his trousers, then reach to loosen his tie.

His rock-hard dick presses between us like a giant beacon.

He groans like it’s taking everything in him to exercise restraint as he takes my hands in his and stops me from unbuttoning his shirt.

‘We can’t.’

‘What? Why?’

‘I haven’t been able to ... Since you left I haven’t even touched myself,’ he confesses. ‘I’ll hurt you.’

‘You won’t.’

‘Aurora, it’ll be like a pressure washer aimed at a flower. Complete destruction.’

I snort at the dry tone of his voice. ‘I don’t believe you.’

But looking at his anguished expression, I can tell he isn’t trying to be funny. He really believes he could hurt me.

Wetness gathers in my panties at the raw need darkening his eyes and I lick my lips. Sex with Rafael has always been amazing. But feral Rafael? The one looking at me right now like he could come with a single touch from me has a fire burning through my veins. I’m in control, and one word from me is all it will take to stop this. Or to ...

I curl my hand around the raging erection in his trousers and look him directly in the eye.

‘I want everything. Every drop. It’s mine. And now I’m back, I’m taking it.’

He sucks in a sharp hiss, his heavy dick swelling inside my grip. ‘Bloody hell.’

We crash back together. Rafael’s hands drop to my jeans, and he unfastens them within seconds, pushing them and my pantiesdown over my hips. I break the kiss to push them down my legs and pull them off.

He unzips his trousers and pulls his weeping cock out. It’s both as perfect and as intimidating as I remember.

Hoisting me up in his arms, he slams me against the wall. My legs wrap around his waist on instinct, and the broad head of his dick slides through my wetness, seeking my entrance.