Page 13 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

But even as he spoke those words, I couldn't deny the flutter of anticipation in my stomach. The thought of pretending to be in a relationship with Rafael, even if it was just for the public eye, sent a thrill through me. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I wasn't supposed to be attracted to him. He was just supposed to be the man that helped me get revenge on my ex but to my hormones, he was so much more.

We sat facing each other, the air thick with unspoken tension. I took a deep breath and leaned forward slightly, my lips parting as if to initiate a kiss between us. At the last minute, I pulled back, feeling the awkwardness of the situation weighing heavily on me.

"This feels so awkward," I admitted my voice barely above a whisper, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Rafael smiled understandingly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's okay, Yasmin. We'll take it slow." He raised his hands to show me and then put them behind his back, giving me complete control of the situation. His gesture relieved and unsettled me, the responsibility of initiating the intimacy suddenly felt heavier. How was I supposed to resist him when he did things like this?

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I closed my eyes and leaned in once more, this time accidentally pressing my lips to his nose. Luckily Rafael didn't budge, simply shuffling once again, waiting for me to make a move.

On the third try, I stopped hesitating. Instead, I took a moment to truly look at Rafael, to admire his chiseled features, his intense gaze, and the way his lips curved into a reassuring smile.

Rafael grew impatient, his desire evident as he leaned forward, closing the gap between us. His lips met mine, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. They were soft, warm, and inviting, and I closed my eyes, losing myself in the sensation.Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I closed my eyes and leaned in once more, this time pressing my lips gently against his. My nerves threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself to focus, to concentrate on kissing him.

The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate, more real. I could feel the heat between us, the undeniable chemistry simmering beneath the surface. My hands wrapped around Rafael's shoulders, pulling him closer as the world around us faded into insignificance.

Rafael responded in kind, his hands coming up to cup my face gently as he slipped his tongue into my mouth.

When we finally pulled away, breathless and flushed, I realized that this would be much harder than I had anticipated. Keeping my feelings in check and maintaining the facade of a fake relationship, was going to require every ounce of self-control I possessed.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he teased, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

I couldn't help but laugh, the tension dissipating as I raised my eyes to his "No, it wasn't," I admitted, a genuine smile forming on my lips. But as I looked into Rafael's eyes, seeing the same desire reflected in me, I knew that this was just the beginning of a tumultuous journey we were about to embark on together. But I knew that whatever came next, I was willing to explore it.

-10-

Rafael

I leaned back in my chair, staring at the numbers on the spreadsheet in front of me without actually registering them. The figures blurred together as my mind constantly drifted back to that moment two days ago. The moment when everything changed when a simple kiss altered the course of my thoughts, and now all I could see was her.

"Rafael, are you even listening?" Roman's voice cut through my reverie, drawing me back to the present.

I blinked, trying to refocus on the numbers and graphs before me. "Sorry, Roman. My mind's just elsewhere today."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Is everything alright? You've been off for two days now."

I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to be honest with him. But Roman had always been more than just a business partner or friend; he was like a brother to me. "Something did happen two days ago," I confessed.

Roman leaned back in his chair, giving me his full attention. "What happened?"

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "Yasmin and I... we kissed."

His eyes widened in surprise, and then his brow furrowed in confusion. "But I thought you two were already together? It's natural for you to kiss."

I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt for deceiving him. "We were faking it. It isn't a real relationship."

Understanding dawned on Roman's face, and he leaned forward again, concern etched in his features. "Why would you fake a relationship with her?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "My board was pressuring me to settle down. They want me to have a stable personal life and my parents threatened to help them, so it was either agree or accept defeat."

Roman nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "And Yasmin agreed to this arrangement?"

I nodded. I could easily tell him that Yasmin had a stake in this too, that this arrangement was just as beneficial to her as it was for me, but I didn't. I kept my mouth shut. It wasn't my place to reveal that she was Ethan's ex-wife or that she planned on getting revenge on him. I certainly wouldn't explain that I was the one that talked her into getting revenge. "She had her reasons too. It's complicated."

"Well, uncomplicate it," he shrugged. "If you can't stop thinking about the kiss, it's probably because you like her and want to do it again."

Because I liked her, and I wanted to do it again? That was absurd, right? I've only been thinking about the kiss because it was the first step in making our charade believable, wasn't it? My racing heart and the constant image of her in my head were just because I hadn't been with anyone else in months, that had to be the cause of it, right? Even as I asked myself these questions, I knew I was only torturing myself. I already knew the answer to all my questions and the truth wasn't something I was willing to acknowledge. At least not now.

"Forget I said anything."

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