Page 24 of In Love and Revenge

I roll my eyes in disgust. ‘What is it? The thought of being caught? Having something you shouldn’t? You need those extra risks, huh? Is age making it hard to get it up?’

He steps closer, towering over me and I’m assaulted by his rich, earthy cologne.

‘I don’t have any issues getting it up, Aurora. I assure you.’

The way he growls the words with such rich, husky conviction has an unwelcome tremor running up my spine and leaving a tingling heat in its wake. I don’t want to picture Rafael Fairfax fucking. Not now. Not ever.

‘Whatever,’ I huff, spinning away.

‘Where are you going?’ He catches my wrist this time, pulling me to a stop and whirling me to face him. I almost crash into his broad chest.

‘None of your goddamn business!’ I snap.

‘Where’s your car?’ he grumbles, scanning the street like one might magically appear.

‘Ever heard of a thing called “the Tube”?’ I throw him a condescending sneer and tug at my wrist, but he has it in a strong grip and doesn’t seem in a rush to let go.

‘You’re not getting the Tube at this time of night.’

He exerts a little pressure on my wrist, his thumb massaging my pulse point, which I don’t think he realises he’s doing. It forces me to take a step closer to him, so I don’t lose my balance. I look up at his set jaw and furrowed brow. He isn’t going to drop this.

‘Listen,’ I say, trying a different tactic and aiming for something resembling gratitude in my tone. ‘It’s admirable that you’re concerned over the safety of a woman whose wellbeing is none of your business. But this is a nice neighbourhood, and I’ve done it lots of times. I’ll be fine.’

His eyes slide from mine, and he assesses the large mansions set back from the street on their large plots, complete with manicured lawns and driveways overflowing with luxury cars.

‘Loaded people have loaded secrets,’ he says darkly, making no sense whatsoever.

I attempt to extract my wrist from his grip again. ‘Fine, whatever—’

‘I’ll take you home.’

‘What?’

His eyes return to mine. ‘I said, I’ll take you home.’

‘I heard you, I just ... No! No, thank you.’

‘Aurora.’ He huffs, like I’m testing his patience. ‘It wasn’t a question.’

I hitch my brows. ‘Used to getting your own way, are you?’

‘When my way is the correct one, yes,’ he replies, manoeuvring us so his hand is no longer around my wrist but is on my lower back, and he’s steering me on to Tanya’s driveway.

He leads me to his car, then opens the passenger door for me. I slide in wordlessly, glaring at him as he closes the door, then rounds the bonnet and sinks into the driver’s side. I could spend all night arguing with him, but it’s not worth it. Might as well just let him think he’s won and put up with being in his vicinity a little longer.

A rich hum surrounds us as he starts the engine, then drives out on to the road effortlessly, one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on his broad thigh. I glance around the interior of his car. It’s immaculate and smells divine.

It only makes me hate him more.

I stare out of my window so I don’t have to look at him. My head is spinning with a million different comebacks I should have used in order to prevent myself from being stuck in his car with him.

‘It shouldn’t take long to get to Chelsea,’ he says.

I glance at him. ‘My boyfriend lives in Shoreditch.’

No way do I want Rafael Fairfax seeing where I live. The thought makes me shudder. Rafael’s eyes flick to mine, then he reaches for the heating controls and turns the temperature up.

‘You have a boyfriend?’ he asks, his tone weighted with something I can’t put my finger on. Almost like he can’t believe anyone would actually want to date me.