Page 75 of In Love and Revenge

‘Better the devil you know, isn’t it?’ He arches a dark brow, and I hate that he has a point, because as much as I despise him, he seems the safer option right now.

‘You figure, huh?’

‘I know. You can trust me not to do anything you don’t want or ask for.’

I huff out a humourless laugh. ‘I can’t trust you!’

‘Aurora.’ He steps closer and my nipples pebble like they’re magnets being drawn to him. ‘You have no idea the restraint I have. I didn’t kiss you in my office when you said not to, did I?’

‘What? You were screwing with me in your office ...’

He draws in a slow breath, eyes pinned on mine. ‘Don’t act so innocent. You knew damn well the moment you saw me watching your video.’

‘Just let me go. I wouldn’t want to distract you,’ I say sweetly, but it’s filled with a wrath that’s seeping from me, dark and unforgiving.

Rafael slams to a halt, whipping back towards me.

‘You’re already distracting me! I don’t do this with anyone! You think I want this? Having my thoughts taken over by you? Seeing you with another man and feeling like I’m—’

‘Like you’re what?’

‘Like I’m going out of my bloody mind!’

He moves so fast I have no time to react. He pins me against the wall, both of my wrists firmly inside his bruising grip on either side of my body.

‘How does it make you feel? Knowing I’ve watched all of your videos. Multiple times. That I’m addicted. That I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. Believe me, I’ve tried. But you’re under my skin. You’re ... Fuck ...’

He exhales, leans closer, until our faces are inches apart. I can’t help but trace the path of his tongue as he runs it over his lower lip, my breath hitching as it slides back behind his perfect teeth.

The next confession leaves him in a gravelly whisper.

‘And I don’t just want to watch. I want to touch ... taste ...savour. I want to do unspeakable things that your pretty little head can’t even begin to imagine.’

My breath stalls. I expected some embarrassment, a level of denial even. Not brazen honesty. Not from him.

‘But you don’t like me. And I don’t like you.’

His gaze drops to my mouth. ‘And it’ll be much simpler if it remains that way.’

He releases one of my wrists, and dusts my cheekbone with the backs of his knuckles, a deep edge of regret in his voice.

‘I’m a man who knows what he wants, Aurora. Even when what he wants is no good for him.’

I turn my cheek into his touch without thinking, but he lets go of me before I can soak in the warmth of his skin.

‘Are you saying I’m not good enough for you?’ I bite back quietly.

Rich molten bronze swims back into focus as he holds my eyes.

‘I’m saying I shouldn’t be this close to you.’

‘Because of Dove,’ I say in understanding, feeling the soft flow of his breath against my lips.

I’m not entertaining the idea of me and him for one second. Despite the fact my panties are damp right now and he smells ... damn, he smells amazing.

I still hate him.

He frowns, his gaze dropping to my mouth. ‘Because ofme. Because of who I am. And who I will never be.’