Page 56 of The Dark Obsession

My thudding heart falters at Rafael’s apologetic smile, and it finally slows down, giving me time to take a deep breath. “I really—”

Rafael leans across the table, his hands cup my face, and his lips graze mine.

My lips fix to his, and my hands hold the back of his head, pulling him closer. I allow a second to break from his slowly stiffening lips and notice his muddled face. I press my lips against his once more.

This time, he doesn’t respond. “Sorry,” he says, smiling shyly. “I hated seeing you look so scared. I don’t know why I kissed you.”

My shoulders slump at his repeated rejection, his confusing and reasonless rejection. “You like me, though?”

He nods and stands to turn to the door. “I’m going down to Adriel. I’ll probably be in the kitchen. Get dressed.” He gives me one more smile and leaves.

I stare through the glass barrier between me and the ledge, watching this mornings fog filtering down, a billion tiny drops clouding the sky. I think back to those times abroad when a foggy sky meant unbearable heat, and compare it to England, where it’s sure to mean the cold is only getting thicker. The birds still sing through the empty courtyards below me, which lead to a wooded area. I search for them through the trees which surround the beautiful house, and the flowerbeds which spread across the grass. I try to focus on one spot but my eyebrow starts twitching annoyingly as it does sometimes when I’m scared. The feeling of fingers moving slowly along my back, as if the smoky fog has hands of its own, has me momentarily rooted to the spot. I stand hurriedly when I finally gain movement in my legs, and the hairs on my arms prickle as I pull the glass door shut and yank the curtains across, leaving myself in Rafael’s dark bedroom.

Ding.My phone illuminates from the bedside table. I manoeuvre around the bed and slide along the edge, then move my fingers up the wall to search for the switch. My phone’s ringtone sounds noisy, startling me. I abandon the light switch and hurry to answer it. I realise it’s a number I’ve not seen before. “Hello …?”

“Rosa,” a soft male voice replies.

I know at once who it is, and my fingers tighten around the phone. “Dale.” I ready myself to put down the phone. I scan the bedroom’s darkness and stride towards the bedroom door.

“You enjoying staying with your boss? I’ve seen you throwing yourself at him,” he mutters, breathing heavily down the phone.

“What?” I say, trying to prolong the conversation. I tiptoe from Rafael’s room and down the hallway.

“He’s rushed to your side fast enough in the last few days. I see things, Rosa. You are so desperate for him, it’s embarrassing.” he spits dangerously.

“No, you’re wrong, but what’s it to you if I were?” I rush down the stairs and run into the kitchen.

Rafael stares at me as I bounce around with the phone and press the loudspeaker.

“Well, you never gave me a real chance, Rosalie. What can he give you that I can’t? Surely his lips make you think of mine.”

Rafael’s jaw drops, and he approaches the phone. He doesn’t breathe when I scramble to reply.

“What kisses, Dale? You’re being crazy.” My voice squeaks at the end.

“I’m thinking about us, about you. I miss you. I can’t not see you,” he says as if out of breath.

“There is no us.”

“Hey, Raf.” Dale’s voice changes tauntingly.

“What the hell do you want?” Rafael growls in a low voice.

“Nothing. Just checking that you weren’t doing anything regrettable. She’ll be with me soon enough.” Dale snickers.

Rafael snatches the phone from my hand. “Understand this, Dale. You have no choice in the matter. You make me sick, Dale, SICK. You’re a desperate piece of—”

The phone cuts off, and Rafael’s cheeks are as pink as I imagine mine to be. He puts his arm around me, my shivering body unable to move.

A cold sweat has formed uncomfortably on my back. I should have removed the cardigan. Rafael lets me go and Adriel squeezes between us.

“Rose, honey.” Adriel lightly squashes my cheeks between two hands.

I jump, only realising he is in the kitchen when his freezing hands are on my face.

He looks at me, his ocean blue eyes shining, his eyebrows creased with concern.

“Breathe,” Rafael says from behind Adriel.

---