Page 46 of The Dark Obsession

Each breath I take trembles when I look into his fiery eyes.

“Are you okay?” he whispers breathlessly. He drops his hands from around my waist and steps backwards.

“I am, with you,” I murmur and step closer to him. I study his face and close the space between us.

His gaze travels between my lips and eyes as I trace his set jawline with my thumb. His eyebrows knit in concentration, an unknown internal struggle raging in his head. It lasts only seconds before an upbeat song plays, and his lips stretch into a grin. His hands dance across his chest, and he moves to the beat.

I turn into a statue, my eyes wide as he unbuttons his shirt in a striptease fashion and throws it to the floor. His scar glints, almost translucent in the flashing lights. “Now it’s time for naughty,” he shouts over the music. He moves expertly to the beat, closing in on me again. His hips swing to the beat, with his arms in the air.

I stare in disbelief, unable to move.

His hands move to his waist where he turns, shaking his bum in my direction. He spins to face me. He dons a massive playful smile when he stops, breathing heavily not even an inch from my face. The heat radiates from his slightly flushed skin. He carefully lifts my chin and gazes into my eyes.

My heart drums loudly. I feel it in my throat, excitement raiding my system.

His eyebrows rise comically as he howls in laughter and falls onto his chair.

I stumble to the table. The room is spinning, because I’ve had a lot to drink—the fact I forgot to breathe for his whole dance might be a contributing factor too. “Well, I …” I giggle. “I didn’t expect that.”

“Why are you blushing?” He leans forward and brushes my flaming cheek with his hand.

I stare at my hands. “Well, I think I’m entitled to blush after that performance.”

He laughs again, his mood light and contagious, his chest shimmering with sweat.

I affectionately slap his shoulder.

The laughter carries on through the night. Memories of the last few days seem distant, for now. My head spins dangerously when I allow Rafael to help me up the stairs. He opens the door to my room, and I reluctantly enter.

He leaves the door open and heads for his room without a word.

I fiddle awkwardly with my backpack, and retrieve a pair of jogging bottoms to sleep in. I’m halfway through removing my shirt, my back to the door, when someone coughs quietly behind me.

“Are you joining me?” he asks.

I pull my shirt back around me.

He hands my vest to me from behind and leaves.

I put it over my head and stride from my room into his.

Rafael is looking out the glass balcony door, wearing a pair of shorts and a vest.

I come up alongside him. “You’re not shy, are you?”

He chuckles and approaches his bed, offering me the side of the bed closest to the door and, I note, farthest from the mirror.

“I feel comfortable around you, that’s all. Keep you smiling and all.”

I slide under the covers.

He walks around, gets in on the very edge of the bed, and faces me. “Sleep, Rosalie. Have sweet dreams.”

My eyes are heavy as I mumble my goodnights.

???

My eyes snap open to see Rafael already on his feet, the room is dark, and a cold draft blows through my hair, making my skin prickle.

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