Page 51 of In Love and Revenge

That’s when I see it.

Her with her guard down.

She’s open.

Unapologetic.

Free.

So bloody beautiful.

My heart races and my mouth goes dry. Any anger I had disintegrates. She looks at me, her eyes alive with bubbling energy and pure goddamn magic.

I stare back into aquamarine blue.

I picture her wearing gold sequins as her laughter fills my ears. Picture her gazing up at me as I slide inside her. Not with punishment in mind for once, but with the consuming urge to worship her. The overpowering urge to sink inside her as she looks into my eyes and kisses me, my name a pleasured plea on her lips.

‘Aurora,’ I breathe.

She blinks, the water droplets clinging to her lashes as her lips part and she steps closer.

She stops toe-to-toe with me, and I stare down at her, my breath coming in slow, steady drags as I force myself to regain composure. I’m so close to pulling her to me and bringing my mouth down over hers until all thoughts of my money are gone.

Until all that exists is the thought of making her mine. Forever.

Memories of my mother crying at my bedside when I was nine years old force their way to the front of my mind, and I wince.

‘What is it?’ she whispers.

I swallow, shaking my head at her. ‘Nothing.’

I need to be careful.

I need to be so damn careful.

Chapter 13

Aurora

‘You need to get out of those clothes. Dove might have something in her office. Wait here,’ Rafael all but barks at me.

I stand, dripping, in the centre of his office, and he returns moments later, holding a pair of leggings and a t-shirt.

‘My bathroom’s through there.’ He jerks his chin at a closed door.

‘Um, thanks,’ I say, unable to meet his eyes as I take the clothes and scurry to the door, closing it behind me, sealing myself off from the heat of his gaze.

I’m in a small entryway. On one side there’s a small walk-in dressing area with rows of shirts and suits lined up on matching wooden hangers. And in front of me is another door, leading to the bathroom, complete with giant walk-in rainfall shower and long inbuilt vanity area. It’s all modelled in dark grey marble – the walls and floor, even the ceiling. There are a couple of large ferns fanning their leaves out over the counter beneath a giant mirror that reaches to the ceiling. The overall effect is dark, sexy, and masculine.

And the whole place smells like him. A heady, intoxicating scent that’s earthy and spicy, and makes my mouth water.

I step inside the bathroom and close the door.

‘Fuck my life,’ I mumble. ‘Good-looking, rich bastard. Good-looking, rich,impossibly awfulbastard.’

I peel my clothes off quickly; the idea of being in his personal space like this is too unsettling. I don’t want to glimpse Rafael Fairfax’s private life. Seeing him at Tanya’s was bad enough. Hearing the way his voice sounded when he was talking dirty to her ... seeing the impressive dick he’s concealing beneath his suits.

No, thank you.