Page 31 of Forbidden Deception

Taking another pizza slice, I look out into the ocean. The waves are slow and calm, the grey sky reflecting onto the clear waters. It’s like I can feel each time the waves slowly retreat, taking a deep breath, before rushing forward, letting out its breath.

I glance over at Rafael and find his gaze fixed on the sea too. I want to memorize this, keep it as a photograph and never let anyone see this secret side of Rafael. While I know Rafael is a serious man, there are small moments when I catch glimpses of Rafael as a troublemaker; one who loves seeing the card tower fall because his hand has sliced through it a smirk on his face at the disaster he caused.

Rafael is a man of mysteries but not enough that I won’t figure him out.

“I went to a boarding school and love wearing all kinds of clothes. Rain and cloudy weather is my favourite. I like forests. Junk food is my new obsession, and I’ve never fallen in love,” I blurt. Then I wait, biting my lip.

Rafael slowly turns to me, his eyes flashing with an intensity different from the usual calmness.

His jaw clenches, then he swallows the last bite of his pizza and stares right into my soul.

I hold my breath.

“Private school, interior design, rain, and I also don’t like forests. Brown is my favourite colour, and I’ve never fallen in love either.”

Why Rafael just answered me, gave me small pieces of himself without me pushing, I don’t know, but I can’t do anything to wreck any of the progress I’ve made.

“So that means the wife I’ll find for you needs to be your woman? One woman kind of man, are you?” I lift a brow.

“Are you doubting my loyalty? I’ve never cheated, and when I do get married, I won’t ever cheat on my wife.” He grabs another slice of the pizza and takes a careful bite giving me a side eye.

“Can I—” I clear my throat. “Can I ask a personal question?” My voice is quiet in the warm car that smells like pizza, Rafael, and leather.

“My answer won’t stop you.” He juts his chin at me.

“Are you a virgin?”

Rafael drops his head back against his seat, looking up at the ceiling of the car. His Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows. Then he turns to me, locks of hair falling into his eyes. The grey streaks in his hair have never looked this handsome on him.

This man is muscle, pine wood, coffee, and hotness combined.

He has this relaxed charm about him. He doesn’t show off nor put too much effort into his appearance, and yet the way he looks at me makes me feel like I am the only important one in his life. Quite like this moment. He is looking at me like everything else in the world falls dim in comparison to me.

But it’s just how he is.

I shouldn’t think too much into this.

“No, Venezia. I’ve fucked my share of women.” He lets out a small laugh when my mouth drops open, and he shakes his head.

Leaning forward, he nudges my jaw shut.

I don’t know what I was expecting. I guess just because I’m a virgin it doesn’t mean everyone would be in the same boat as me. Rafael is thirty-six, for God’s sake. Of course he isn’t a virgin. Something twists in my stomach when I imagine him fucking someone else. They got to see him naked. They got to see him. Touch him. Have his hands on their skin and—

Stop! What is wrong with me?

“Oh, right.” I sit up, mindlessly taking hold of his wrist and pulling it down to my lap. “Have you ever had a girlfriend?” I don’t even know why I am trying to ask.

“Shut it, Venezia. It’s not your business.” He rolls his eyes, pulls his wrist from my grasp, grabs tissues from somewhere, and cleans his hands.

He throws some on my lap, too.

“Wow, I can’t believe this. Oh, I am so going to tease you about this for the rest of your life. I cannot believe a man like you has never had a girlfriend,” I tease, finally taking hold of this topic instead. “Don’t worry. I will tell your prospects, and they will be over the moon that they will be your first.”

Rafael picks up the empty pizza box from the middle and places it on the backseat, leaning next to me in the process. I catch a strong whiff of his musky pinewood perfume, and my eyes slip closed for a moment as I breathe it in.

“It’s getting late, and it’ll start raining soon,” I announce as we get back on the road.

“What is your middle name?”

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