Page 24 of Something Borrowed

I’ve never been in love before.

I’ve always run from it. Hesitated when it presented itself or just flat out denied its existence. No one was ever up to the task of impressing me.

Rufino doesn’t give me the choice. I can’t stop myself from being in love with him. There is no control. Only wild, exhilarating, dangerouslove.

I move against him, dancing and touching, grinning to myself as the bright colorful lights flash over our skin and in the thin layer of smoke settled over the dance floor.

This might just be the biggest adventure I’ve ever been on.

“I don’t want to go yet.” I whine a little, leaning against his chest near the exit doors of the club. Tucked just out of view from where I spotted the two personal guards standing outside.

“It’s late, little vixen. We can see each other tomorrow.” He says, kissing my forehead. It is late. And I’m exhausted. It’s been a long, magical night. I want to go home with him though. It doesn’t seem fair that I should have to walk away from the man I am in love with.

He tilts my chin up with his long fingers and gently kisses my lips.

“Text me when you get home.”

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, kissing him again.

“Promise you’ll see me tomorrow.” I whisper.

“I promise.”

He doesn’t walk me out because it would be too risky. But I can feel him watching me from the doorway as I walk towards the waiting Uber.

In the car I can’t stop smiling. This doesn’t seem real.

I’m filled with a mix of excitement and tension. We took so many risks tonight and I’m not sure what my security guards did or didn’t see. I can only hope that they didn’t recognize Red and don’t go reporting my activities to my father.

The worst thing that could happen right now would be for my father to find out. He’s threatened so many times to send me away. I would die if he sent me away now - when I found love. When I finally found Red.

“Here you go, miss.” The driver says and I realize I have been lost in my thoughts for the past few minutes. I didn’t even know I had arrived at home.

“Thank you.” I say, climbing out of the Uber, glancing over my shoulder as I walk into the building.

The security guards are parking their car to follow me inside.

I roll my eyes, punching the elevator button harder and harder to try make it arrive faster before they can get here so I don’t have to ride up with them.

Unfortunately, one of them climbed out before the other parked and he shoves his hand in the closing door just in time to stop it. He steps inside with me and I huff.

He doesn’t say a word as the doors slide closed and we move upwards.

His eyes are locked onto me though - as though he knows something I don’t.

His phone rings, and he pulls it out to answer it.

“Yes, sir. We have arrived home. Yes, sir.”

He slides it back into his pocket.

“Was that my father?”

He doesn’t answer. Asshole.

The elevator doors slide open and he pushes me gently out of the lift and into the penthouse.

My father is awake and standing in the living room with his arms folded across his chest. His eyes are dark, tainted with anger and disapproval.

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