Page 113 of Forbidden Deception

He narrows his eyes, then walks past me in silence. The door softly shuts behind him.

Silence envelops us. I turn towards Venezia to see her already looking at me with tears once more in her eyes.

I sigh, reaching forward and grasping her jaw in both my hands. I tilt her head up and bring her closer to me, her hands grasping at my hips.

“Stop crying, my love. I’m okay. We’re okay.” I press a soft kiss to her lips, her eyes, and her cheeks.

“How could it be okay, Rafael? I left you after you confessed your feelings for me, and I didn’t give any explanation. And when you came running after me, I saw you get hurt. I couldn’t even stop the jet, and—”

“Breathe.”

She stops and takes a deep breath, sniffling and looking up at me. Her gaze turns soft once she looks into my eyes.

“Forgive me?” she whispers.

I lean forward, and my lips graze her ear. She shivers, and goosebumps rise on her skin. I smirk.

“I’ll see how I’m feeling after I fuck that apology right out of your mouth for hurting me. You’ll be begging for it when I have you alone, Venezia. I hope you know that I am not going to let you go ever again.” I grab the back of her neck in a firm hold and plaster her to my body.

She gasps, her eyes wide and curious.

“You hurt me, and that cannot go unpunished, can it?”

When she doesn’t answer, I tighten my hold on her hair, and she finally nods.

“Yes,” she whispers, her eyes flaring.

“Good girl. Now let me take you home.” I capture her lips with another kiss, and a moan slips out of her when I pull away.

The ride to my penthouse is a long, tortuous one. Venezia refuses to let go of my hand. She keeps looking at me like she’s begging me to forgive her. Oh, I forgave her long ago, but I need her to know she hurt me.

A lot more than I could ever imagine.

We arrive at my penthouse, and I spot the extra keycard on the side table next to the door. Khyros has left.

“It’s a cute place,” Venezia says from my side, her hand still in mine.

It makes me smile.

I tug her to me, and with a soft gasp, she falls into me. Letting go of her hand, I unbutton the first button of her shirt. Then the next. And the next. Venezia’s chest rises and falls in short breaths, her eyes never looking away from me.

Her hands slide up my chest and over my shoulders, pushing my jacket off. Then she unbuttons my shirt and pulls it off, and I take hers off. My eyes fall to her yellow lace bra, and my chest expands.

I look up at her and find her watching me carefully.

“Betraying me is going to cost you, Venezia, far more than you realise.”

She reaches up and links her hands behind my head. “I’m ready to pay my price.”

“I don’t think you are.” I grasp her arms and tug them off me, then swiftly turn her around, pulling her arm behind her back with one hand.

My other hand sneaks up, and I unhook her bra, throwing it somewhere. Her breasts bounce when let free, and my mouth waters.

“Ever since I saw you Venezia, I have become a crazy man. My obsession with you was known amongst everyone around me.”

I pinch her nipple, and she jolts.

“And only when I realised my feelings did I finally decide that this crazy love would only ever be yours. I told you I had never loved or had any woman I called mine. You were my first, and I will make you my last too.” I pinch harder, pulling at her chest.

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