Page 74 of The Dark Obsession

Rafael looks thoughtful in his silence. He bites his lip and stares at the wall. He closes his tired eyes and exhales loudly.

“Raf,” I say nervously.

“What’s up?”

I slide closer to him and put my hand on the side of his chin, gently turning his face towards me. “What are you thinking about?”

Uncharacteristically, he shrugs. “I’m just thinking.” His voice shakes. “What could have happened to you if we hadn’t arrived when we did?”

A shiver rolls down my back.

Rafael’s eyes remain closed, but he slides a comforting arm around me, then apologetically looks at me through his impossibly long eyelashes. “Sorry …” He closes his eyes again. “It makes me angry enough knowing he’s even kissed your lips before.”

“It makes me feel sick.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe I let someone like that—”

“You didn’t know. You couldn’t have known. I understand the attraction. He’s a good-looking man.” His hand runs down my back, and he reaches for my face with the other hand.

“I still don’t understand why you’ve been so great to me.” I lean into his hand and kiss the palm.

“Can’t you see?”

I close my eyes as his lips touch mine, and he lifts me to move me onto his lap. My arms lock around his neck. His hand moves up my back, this time, finally, under my shirt. His fingers tickle my back and I unbutton his shirt, throwing it to the side. His cool skin burns through his vest against mine as he removes my shirt and holds me close. He presses his full lips against my collarbone and takes a deep breath.

I lift Rafael’s vest over his head and lean in. My lips move over his chest. I bite his hardened skin; his sighs are music to my ears.

“You smell good,” he whispers, nibbling my ear.

I giggle as my hands slide over his muscular back. I’m stuck on his words,“Don’t you see?”I repeat it in my head, Rafael watching me bemused.

His lips touch mine.

“You confuse me,” I let out between kisses.

His lips twitch, and a secretive smile forms against my heated cheek. “Mhmm.” His lips brush my jawline.

“It seems like you want me confused.”

He stops to consider his answer. “I want you intrigued enough to ask.”

My breath catches in my throat as his lips move down my neck, biting tenderly.

“Ask what?”

His hand runs over my shoulder and down my arm. “Well, you’ll figure that out.”

His lips beguile me as they linger on my collarbone.

Suddenly he shifts my body onto the sofa and his shirt hits me in the face as he stands. “Put it on!” He hisses without looking back.

I push my arms into my sleeves as Rafael throws open the curtains so hard that the curtain pole flies off its hook. I flinch, my hands whipping up and covering my ears as it clashes to the floor, causing an echo throughout the circular room.

“You motherfucker!”

The dark window looks empty, I struggle to see anything but the reflection of Rafael, my fingers trembling on my shirt buttons. My gaze falls on Rafael’s back and moves along the window. I can’t blink as I stare at the smudge that drips down the window. I stand and move forward, staring at the deep crimson handprint smeared across the glass. “B-blood.”

“Now, Rosalie, relax. He’s probably trying to scare us.” Rafael moves to my side, covering my view of the window, and pushes my hands out the way. His steady fingers move up my shirt, buttoning it swiftly. He almost lifts me from the front room and into the hallway. His hand wraps around mine, and he approaches the front door, flicking the lock, he yanks it open.

The night is empty and somehow humid. A shiver runs down my back as I inhale and peek over Rafael’s bare and burly shoulder. His body is unusually hot as I grab his arm and attempt to bring him in.

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