Page 50 of Forbidden Deception

“You shouldn’t walk around alone,” he mutters, putting on his sunglasses with me walking beside him.

I bite my lip, holding in a smile.

“Admit it. You want to spend time with me,” I tease, carefully watching his expression.

His face twists as if he is about to deny it, but he stays silent.

“You know, I noticed you don’t lie. Like you never hide what you feel or what your intentions are.”

He nods but doesn’t elaborate.

Once we reach the lobby, Rafael signals for our rental car, and when it arrives, he finally lets go of my wrist and opens the passenger door for me. Then he slides into the driver’s seat.

“I’m not sure if they will let you on, but you can try to negotiate. I’ll ask, actually. They will totally fall for my puppy eyes.”

“Sure.”

“You don’t sound convinced. Are you doubting my abilities?”

Rafael looks over at me. The windows are down, so his hair is a mess in the wind.

“I don’t. In fact, I might find myself punching the guy if he doesn’t let me on because you asked.”

“Perfect.” I clap my hands.

When we soon reach the port, we stand in line together, watching the sun slowly start to descend; me with a grin on my face and Rafael with a small frown, watching everyone around us.

“Aren’t you excited? It’s going to be such a beautiful ride.” I sigh, imagining it.

“You should have asked me, and we could have gone on a private boat.”

I take a step to my left at the guide who is crossing out names of people. Red hat, sunglasses and a full white uniform.

“Hey,” I smile at him, Rafael stood behind me.

He turns his head to me. “Name?”

“Venezia Campbell. I had a question if you don’t mind?” I ask carefully.

He dips his chin while looking for my name on the clipboard.

“I have my friend who wants to join me, would it be possible to allow him on? We can pay for the ticket right now too, we don’t mind,” I smile.

His head snaps up and I faintly catch a frown on his face through the dark lenses. “Idomind, miss. We can’t allow—” his voice trails off when he glances behind me at Rafael and visibly swallows.

“We are not allowed to do that without ID checks and—” he gets cut off with Rafael shoving his ID in his face and twenty note in his hand.

“Thanks.” Rafael mutters before grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards the boat.

I shake my head, climbing from the dock to the boat, then sitting in the front seat. I want a clear unobstructed view. I pull Rafael to sit down next to me.

“I want to enjoy it with people around me. I often spent my time alone—most of my life, actually—so silence kind of freaks me out a little. It’s why I try to fill it as much as I can, because my mind is a scary place, Rafael.” I turn to him, hoping he can see in my eyes that something truly terrifying lies in my past.

Rafael pushes my hair off my shoulder, and the boat heads away from the coast.

“And you shall forever bother me with your chatter. You may not realise it, but I’ve let a lot slide with you, Venezia. There is some mystery wrapped around you, and I will uncover it one day, then lay you bare in front of me.”

My eyes burn, and I look away, a breath falling from me when his hand grabs mine off my knee and places it in his lap.

---