Page 78 of Forbidden Deception

“What’s your professor’s name?”

I’m falling, and in the end, I’ll shatter into pieces no one will bother to pick up. Watching him fuss over me when I am crumbling on the insides destroys me.

“Venezia.”

A tear escapes and falls down my cheek as I half-heartedly smile up at Rafael.

“Samuel Ricco.”

Rafael drops to his knees in front of me, his brows pulled down and worry clouding his face. The moment he is in front of me, the sharpness around him disappears, and he is nothing more than a man worrying for his girlfriend.

“Those two men my security sees almost every day outside our office… It’s because of him, right?”

My eyes widen, but I nod.

“I took care of them long ago, but I didn’t realise they were connected to you. Did they do anything to you?”

“I’m okay.” I quickly wipe away my tears, but Rafael shakes his head.

“This won’t do. Come to my office, Venezia.”

I get up and follow him, and he leads me inside. As soon as the door shuts, Rafael pulls me into a hug. His arms instantly tighten around me in an embrace.

“You said this will always help you calm down.”

My mouth drops open. I can’t believe he remembered when I randomly told him months ago that hugs or any kind of touch calms me down.

“You are far too romantic,” I mutter.

He chuckles, his chest vibrating with the sound. “I guess you are turning me into a madman. I told you I had never shared myself with anyone, and you have me wholly, completely. My everything is yours.”

Pulling away so his words don’t hurt as much, I grab my phone and turn it on, putting a song on.

“Dance with me?” I ask with a grin as the tunes start.

“Now you are taking advantage of the situation.” He crosses his arms, his warm, dark eyes on me.

“Are you saying no?” I place a hand on my hip.

We look at each other in silence for a beat.

Two beats.

Rafael sighs and grabs my hands, placing one on his shoulder while keeping hold of the other.

“Do you know how to dance?” My brows lift.

“I don’t,” he confesses, and I look up in surprise. His jaw tics when I move too fast, so I slow down.

“You didn’t dance with anyone at any events or something?”

He shakes his head.

“First dance with me? Wow, I am getting quite a lot of your firsts.” I look at our joined hands, feeling his gaze on my face.

“I’m only doing this because you are feeling sad over that letter. I will take care of it soon,” he promises.

The music changes to a slow, soft song, and Rafael takes the lead and spins me around. I gasp when he dips me, then we start to truly dance instead of fooling around.

---