Page 119 of Dead Set on You
“Must be my close call with it,” I breathe, earning a chuckle that rumbles through both of us.
His hand drags down my thigh, gathering the material of my dress, fingers trailing fire over bare skin. The sensation sears itself into my flesh, my bones, my DNA.
The deep ache coiled low in my core threatens to overcome me. A shaky breath shudders out of me as my legs part slightly, instinct and desire overriding logic, reaching for—
A knock on the door snaps us out of the moment.
We still. Rafael’s lips hover against my neck, my fingers tangled in his hair, his hands gripping my thighs.
He scowls at the door.
“Who is it?” His voice is a raspy bark.
“Can you open the door?” a woman asks.
Rafael groans. “What is it, Gracie?”
“Mama wants to leave, and she’d like to say bye. Also, there’s like a million people out there looking for you, so whateveryou’re doing right now better be more important thanyourlaunch party.”
Rafael drops his head with a shake, his hair disheveled and his shirt untucked. His hand doesn’t so much as twitch against my thigh. In fact, he caresses the skin there with the pad of his thumb, his eyes glazed with desire as he turns his head toward the door. “I’ll be right there.”
“Two minutes!” she commands before her footsteps retreat.
Sighing, he leans his head against mine and groans again. “Mierda.”
“Mierda,” I echo, breathless.
For a second, we just exist in the wreckage of what almost was. I’m buzzing—frustrated, flustered, and way too aware of every inch of space (or lack thereof) between us. Because almost isn’t enough. Not anymore.
Rafael pulls away, reluctant, disheveled. He watches me as he tucks the shirt into his pants and attempts to fix his hair. It refuses to stay in place. “Good?”
I run my gaze over his (still unfairly attractive) form and crinkle my nose. “I liked the sweatpants better.”
He smirks, thumb brushing my lower lip like he’s memorizing the feel of me. “I need ten minutes.” Everywhere we touch, my skin burns. “If you want to stay.”
“I … should probably go. You have your party, and I shouldn’t have come and—”
Rafael drops his hand to my waist and tugs me to him. “I wouldn’t have cared if you were the only one who showed up. In fact, I hate it didn’t go that way.”
I flatten my hands against his chest, smoothing down his now-rumpled shirt.
“Too bad for you, everyone loves you.”
“Is that so?”
I push up to my feet and meet him at eye level. “More than can possibly be healthy.” I feel his smile as I press my lips to his,leaning into him, breathing him in and committing his scent to memory.
Another knock rattles the door, and Rafael curses.
I nudge him away. “Go.”
“I’m sorry.” He opens the door, blocking his older sister from view. Her eyes snag on me, widening with shock, before the door shuts.
Rafael’s gone—and it takes all of my willpower not to follow.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVETHAT NIGHT (THE HARDEST PART)
I fix my hair, recover my clutch, and check my phone. Ten texts from Gemma.
