Page 98 of Forbidden Deception

“Come on, get inside, or you will get a bad fever.” Rafael starts to turn, but I stop him.

“Please, stay here for a minute. Enjoy the weather with me.” I smile through the blur of the rain.

Rafael’s brows twist. He takes a moment to watch me, his shoulders pulling taut, the shirt across his chest drenched. I can see every breath he takes, every calculated twitch of his eyes, which are fixed on me. His hand clenches at his side, then he turns and hugs me.

“I’ll wait for you to tell me what is bothering you. Whatever it is, I’ll take care of it. Trust me.”

“But this one you can’t,” I whisper, but he doesn’t hear it through the rain.

I press harder into his chest, seeking comfort, wanting to embed myself there. Biting my lower lip to stop its tremble, I shut my eyes tightly.

“I’m yours till infinity, Venezia, and I hope you are mine, too.”

My resolve cracks.

My body shakes as sobs wrack me.

I break apart.

Rafael pulls me back, his mouth open and hands holding my shoulders while I shake, unable to control myself.

“Venezia, why are you crying?”

I sob harder, my cries piercing the sky.

“Baby, tell me,” he begs.

I shake my head.

My knees weaken, and I drop to the ground. Rafael follows, both of us on our knees now.

“So many…times my mornings were filled with the thought of you, with the intention of seeing you. My mornings, my nights, my tongue, and my body only sang praises in your name. You consumed parts of me that I loved. Now your name is written across the stars, and I won’t change it for the world.” I confess.

“Rafael, I…You are the first man I’ve fallen for and felt so vulnerable with, and you will be the last one, I promise.”

Rafael grabs my cheeks and pulls my head up. My gaze instantly locks with his troubled eyes.

“I just can’t…I won’t ever pull away from you. I won’t ever betray you. I don’t want to shatter and break you,” I whisper knowing it’s too late for this.

My lip trembles as does my hand when I lift it to his cheek. “You are my everything.”

A small smile curves his lips. It looks shaky; it looks a bit pained and a bit broken, but it’s sincere, and it’s there.

“You know, Mikko told me something,” he says slowly. “He told me I was a fool in love when I was falling for you.” He jerks my face closer to his, the wet rain a barrier of sorts between us. “And I didn’t deny it. The truth is, the minute I called you my love, you became the one for me. You are my eternal love, in this life and the next. I will ask God for you in every life, because there isn’t anyone more perfect for me.”

“Stop—”

“Maybe people like me don’t even get to meet God, let alone ask for something so selfish, but I will beg on my knees until they are bruised, and I will do it all for you.”

“Rafael, stop.”

“I love you, Venezia. I love you enough to plant sunflowers in my gardens for you. I love you enough to kiss your scars, enough to watch horror movies and put face masks on. I love you enough to let you into my home. I love you enough to—”

I pull away from him and stand up. I can’t do it. I can’t hold him like we are going to last forever.

“Where are you going?”

“I realised I forgot about my doctor’s appointment in a hurry to see you,” I blurt, then stride away.

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