Page 34 of The Devil's Pawn

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RAQUEL

I was right about him, or at least I think I was. There’s a danger behind those heavenly eyes. One I’m only starting to see, even while it’s not directed at me.

But those that have met that side of him must fear it when they smell it coming, like the thickening of the air right before the storm comes crashing down.

For some reason, I don’t fear him at all. I don’t think he’ll hurt me, and I hope he doesn’t hurt my family. Though he probably could.

Once I leave, I won’t have to worry about anyone fighting. There’ll be nothing to fight about. I’ll be gone.

He holds me in his protective arms as we sway together to a soft ballad playing from the speakers he arranged in his garden.

I couldn’t believe he planned such an intimate dinner. The food was amazing. It’s as though he knows all the things I like.

After the plates were cleared, we shared a huge piece of tiramisu, another one of my downfalls. And just when I thought the night was over, he surprised me with music. And damn, does the man know how to move.

“I love dancing with you,” he says softly.

His eyes are on mine, stealing my breaths away, and I’m not sure how many I have left to give. His arms hold me around the small of my back as we dance the hours away, lost to the melody. To each other. The sun dips away, the fiery sky cast in a spark of orange and red.

“I love dancing with you too,” I sigh contently, smiling with a heart so full, I can’t contain it. “You didn’t have to do any of this for me, but I love it so much.”

“You deserve it, Raquel.”

One hand glides up to my face, and every time he touches me so tenderly, it wakes up my insane desire for him, curling with the warmth of a fire he’s set in the pit of my stomach.

“A woman like you deserves to be treated this way every day. Don’t ever forget it.” His knuckles drop to my lips. “Know your worth, baby, because I do.”

My heart flips erratically, joining my stomach.

Can I keep you?

Why couldn’t my parents have forced me to marry him? I’d definitely have been on board with that. I don’t know if this is how he treats every woman lucky enough to be with him, but I’m glad I’m on the receiving end. It’s nice to be with a man who isn’t trying to hurt me for a change. He smiles, like he’s heard my thoughts.

And as he leads me into another dance, I giggle shamelessly when he spins me once before I’m back against him—body to body, heart to heart, soul to soul. It’s like we’re creating our own music. Our own lyrical bond. But when the music finally ends, when the words stop swirling around us, I don’t know where either of us will be.

Another song picks up, and it’s as though we’re consumed by each other. The touching, the feeling of our hands and bodies, all of it…it’s overwhelming. Being with him tonight has somehow brought us closer together.

My head rests on his shoulder as the song ends, and he kisses my hair.

“Did I mention how beautiful you look in this white dress?”

I lift up my head with a grin. “Uh, I think you may have mentioned that before and after you kissed me.”

“We kissed?” He tilts his head sideways, his lips quirking up. “When?”

I roll my eyes on a laugh. “You’re an idiot.”

“Only when you’re around.” He bites his bottom lip, his hypnotizing gaze crawling over my face, getting me all hot and thoroughly bothered.

“How about you remind me, baby?” he asks, his tone smoldering. “Was it a good kiss?”

My nipples harden under the tight confines of the silk material.

“It was perfect,” I say hoarsely, remembering him whisking me off the last step as soon as I came down wearing this dress he bought me.

“Describe it.” He gazes down at my lips, eyes hooded. “Don’t skip a detail.”

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