Page 12 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but I invited you to dinner to see what Roman would say about you."

I arched a brow, forcing myself to hear the rest of what he had to say. "This was a test?"

"Yes," he answered immediately, I took a step towards him with what I could only describe as murder in my eyes.

"Not just you," he continued as if sensing how irritated I had become. "I was testing the both of us."

"Testing us?" I asked, feeling slightly better about the situation. "What kind of test was this?"

"I wanted to see if he would get suspicious of us and if he would think we were faking it."

"Oh," I mumbled. There was nothing else for me to say. He was doing something I should have thought of. We were in a fake relationship to get back at my ex and to prove to his board that he was a responsible adult. Of course, he would want to ensure we were seen as a real couple.

"We have to make our interactions look real in public," Rafael explained, his eyes searching mine for understanding.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing with questions and uncertainties. "I understand."

"We need to practice," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "Things like holding hands and kissing. It's the only way to make our arrangement believable to the outside world."

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, a mix of nerves and something else stirring within me. "Practice?" I repeated, trying to wrap my head around the idea of simulating intimacy with this man who had unknowingly captured my attention.

Rafael nodded, his eyes softening as he noticed my apprehension. "Yes, Yasmin. It's necessary if we want to maintain our cover. We can't let Ethan or my parents suspect us, not even for a second."

I took a deep breath, trying to quell the nervous energy buzzing beneath my skin. "Okay, let's practice then," I agreed, though my voice wavered slightly.

"Not yet." he chuckled, his eyes wandering to my dress and heels. "You should change into something more comfortable."

I looked down at myself, suddenly aware of the ache in my legs from wearing heels for so long. I wouldn't have realized my feet were killing me if he hadn't said something. "I'll just take a quick shower and be back," I mumbled as I ran out of the room. I faintly heard him say he would do the same, but I could be wrong.

I quickly stripped out of my clothes, racing to the adjoining bathroom to take the fastest shower of my life. Luckily, I managed not to get my hair wet, so I threw it up into a messy bun, got dressed, and rushed out to the living room. I stumbled in just in time to find Rafael making himself comfortable on the couch.

He looked up at me and smiled. I all but melted at the sweet smile on his face. He patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to sit. I walked across the room, taking the offered seat. Now being so close to him, I wasn't sure how I would make it through practice without offering to warm his bed.

He shuffled closer to me, his hand reaching out tentatively to touch mine. His hand was warm and solid against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I glanced up to meet his eyes, finding a mixture of reassurance and anticipation in his gaze.

"Let's start with something simple," Rafael suggested, his voice gentle yet firm. "Just holding hands."

"Sounds simple enough," I smiled nervously. "We're already doing it."

He chuckled, the sound going straight to my head. "Yes, we are."

"Did you ever think you'd be practicing affection at this age?"

He shrugged, his heated eyes finding mine. "Practice makes perfect, Flower."

"Flower?"

He nodded, rubbing his thumb over my fingers in a slow sensual movement. "You're as beautiful as the rarest flower."

I blinked, caught off guard by such a compliment. "My ego will be the size of a football pitch by the time you're done with me."

He smiled. "I think we should practice the more intimate parts of our act now."

I felt a flush of nervousness wash over me at the mention of 'intimate acts'. My nerves washed over me in waves as I tried to control my emotions. For me, right now, this wasn't just about maintaining appearances; it was about navigating the dangerous waters of physical attraction. Rafael was undeniably attractive, and I wasn't sure how much I could take before I threw caution to the window and attacked him with even more kisses.

"Sure, I understand," I managed to say, trying to sound composed despite the inner turmoil.

He must have sensed my unease because he added, "Don't worry, Yasmin. We'll keep it professional. It's just for show."

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