Page 65 of The Dark Obsession

He rushes around to my door and grabs my hand to lift me from the car. We run to the front door, hand in hand, the tension between us as electrifying as the sky above, which flashes and grumbles. He throws open the door and stops to look at me, his playful grin enticing me completely. I let myself imagine him, imagine what is next and what it’ll be like.

“Rafael,” Adriel shouts from down the hallway.

Rafael eyes him, then flashes me an impressive smile. “Come on,” he stage whispers.

We run up the stairs and down the glittering hallway. He lifts off his shirt before we even arrive at his bedroom. His strong arms wrap tight around my body. I grasp at his bare back, and he opens the door.

“Sir,” a small voice shouts from the other side of the room.

“Sonofa—” he huffs angrily. “Why are you here?”

“Sir,” she repeats, frowning. “I came back early, and Adriel told me to clear the tray from your balcony.” Her bulging eyes and flushed cheeks make her look younger than ever. She ignores me and fixates on a shirtless Rafael.

“Right, you can leave. I’m busy.” Rafael scowls as he watches Lucy leave.

My fingers tickle playfully down Rafael’s back as Lucy closes the door with one last glance at Rafael.

“Wait,” Adriel shouts down the hallway.

Rafael clenches his fists and falls back on his bed, the fire in my stomach burning painfully. Lying back on his bed, Rafael looks more like a Greek god than a man. His muscles stand out, pushing against his beautiful skin. His wild curls stick up and fall messily over his forehead. The disciplined and pampered lawyer look is all but gone.

“The real Rafael,” I say, beholding him.

“Huh?”

“Nothing,” I say, smiling to myself.

Adriel coughs loudly from the doorway.

“If I were doing something wrong, Adriel, do you think I’d be lying here in a pair of uncomfortably tight jeans with the door open?”

“Uh, sorry …” He notices my damp hair and clothes, then regards Rafael, who’s lying half-naked across his bed, looking perfectly at ease. “I thought you two weren’t—”

“We’re not.” Rafael winks dramatically. “What’s up?”

I perch on the end of Rafael’s bed and smile up at Adriel’s serious face, which has no trace of humour.

He hurries to the bedroom door and peeks around to survey the hallway, closes it, then sits on the end of the bed next to me. “Somethings not right with Lucy,” he whispers urgently.

Rafael snickers. “Well, sheisobsessed with me.”

“No. Actually, yes.” Adriel’s face is stonelike. “She didn’t know I was in. I was in the front room and heard someone enter.” Adriel looks awkwardly, not making eye contact with anyone. “So, I followed her upstairs and into your room.” He nodes in Rafael’s direction. “I watched her put a candle on the chest of drawers, then open your drawers and remove your belongings and look at them carefully, then fold them back up. I made her aware of my presence. She jumped and claimed to be straightening your stuff. Then about half an hour later, I notice her whispering on the phone.”

Rafael walks to the drawers.

“What the hell?” I say, standing up.

Adriel pulls me back down. “Now, this doesn’t mean she’s done anything wrong. It just seemed weird.”

“I wonder what she could be doing in my drawers.” Rafael’s nose crinkles in disgust.

“I wondered the same. Maybe she was innocently looking at your underwear.” Adriel chuckles humourlessly. “I do think we need to keep an eye on her though.”

I nod in agreement. “She always ignores me anyway.”

“Jealousy,” Rafael says and stands. “She thinks we’re screwing.”

Adriel stands too. “And you’re not?” He chuckles, for real this time, “I’ll ask her to do some jobs around the house, keep her occupied,” he mumbles and leaves.

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