-9-
Yasmin
The evening drew to a close as Rafael and I exited the elegant restaurant where we had just shared a meal with Emily and Roman. With each step we took toward his car, I couldn't help but mentally scold myself for almost letting slip the secret I had guarded so fiercely for years. The glint of curiosity in Rafael's eyes during dinner had been enough to make my heart race, a dangerous reminder of how close I had come to revealing too much.
I wanted to tell him but after years of keeping such a secret, it was becoming harder to let anyone in. That's why I didn't tell Ethan, I wanted to at the time but there was a part of me that was scared he would treat me differently if he found out. In the end, I was right not to tell him. He turned out to be the very thing I was afraid of.
The drive to the hotel was tense, mostly because I was too busy berating myself to say anything else and Rafael was on a business call most of the time. Once we finally made it up to the penthouse, Rafael's demeanor shifted, his expression taking on a serious tone that matched the gravity of his words. "Yasmin," he began, his voice calm yet tinged with urgency. "We need to talk."
My nerves fluttered like trapped butterflies in my stomach as I nodded, gesturing for him to continue. I waited for him to ask me why I was panicking so much at dinner or remained silent all the way home but what he said next left me speechless.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but I invited you to dinner to see what Roman would say about you."
I arched a brow, forcing myself to hear the rest of what he had to say. "This was a test?"
"Yes," he answered immediately, I took a step towards him with what I could only describe as murder in my eyes.
"Not just you," he continued as if sensing how irritated I had become. "I was testing the both of us."
"Testing us?" I asked, feeling slightly better about the situation. "What kind of test was this?"
"I wanted to see if he would get suspicious of us and if he would think we were faking it."
"Oh," I mumbled. There was nothing else for me to say. He was doing something I should have thought of. We were in a fake relationship to get back at my ex and to prove to his board that he was a responsible adult. Of course, he would want to ensure we were seen as a real couple.
"We have to make our interactions look real in public," Rafael explained, his eyes searching mine for understanding.
I swallowed hard, my mind racing with questions and uncertainties. "I understand."
"We need to practice," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "Things like holding hands and kissing. It's the only way to make our arrangement believable to the outside world."
I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, a mix of nerves and something else stirring within me. "Practice?" I repeated, trying to wrap my head around the idea of simulating intimacy with this man who had unknowingly captured my attention.
Rafael nodded, his eyes softening as he noticed my apprehension. "Yes, Yasmin. It's necessary if we want to maintain our cover. We can't let Ethan or my parents suspect us, not even for a second."
I took a deep breath, trying to quell the nervous energy buzzing beneath my skin. "Okay, let's practice then," I agreed, though my voice wavered slightly.
"Not yet." he chuckled, his eyes wandering to my dress and heels. "You should change into something more comfortable."
I looked down at myself, suddenly aware of the ache in my legs from wearing heels for so long. I wouldn't have realized my feet were killing me if he hadn't said something. "I'll just take a quick shower and be back," I mumbled as I ran out of the room. I faintly heard him say he would do the same, but I could be wrong.
I quickly stripped out of my clothes, racing to the adjoining bathroom to take the fastest shower of my life. Luckily, I managed not to get my hair wet, so I threw it up into a messy bun, got dressed, and rushed out to the living room. I stumbled in just in time to find Rafael making himself comfortable on the couch.
He looked up at me and smiled. I all but melted at the sweet smile on his face. He patted the space beside him, gesturing for me to sit. I walked across the room, taking the offered seat. Now being so close to him, I wasn't sure how I would make it through practice without offering to warm his bed.
He shuffled closer to me, his hand reaching out tentatively to touch mine. His hand was warm and solid against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. I glanced up to meet his eyes, finding a mixture of reassurance and anticipation in his gaze.
"Let's start with something simple," Rafael suggested, his voice gentle yet firm. "Just holding hands."
"Sounds simple enough," I smiled nervously. "We're already doing it."
He chuckled, the sound going straight to my head. "Yes, we are."
"Did you ever think you'd be practicing affection at this age? "
He shrugged, his heated eyes finding mine. "Practice makes perfect, Flower."
"Flower?"
He nodded, rubbing his thumb over my fingers in a slow sensual movement. "You're as beautiful as the rarest flower."
I blinked, caught off guard by such a compliment. "My ego will be the size of a football pitch by the time you're done with me."
He smiled. "I think we should practice the more intimate parts of our act now."
I felt a flush of nervousness wash over me at the mention of 'intimate acts'. My nerves washed over me in waves as I tried to control my emotions. For me, right now, this wasn't just about maintaining appearances; it was about navigating the dangerous waters of physical attraction. Rafael was undeniably attractive, and I wasn't sure how much I could take before I threw caution to the window and attacked him with even more kisses.
"Sure, I understand," I managed to say, trying to sound composed despite the inner turmoil.
He must have sensed my unease because he added, "Don't worry, Yasmin. We'll keep it professional. It's just for show."
But even as he spoke those words, I couldn't deny the flutter of anticipation in my stomach. The thought of pretending to be in a relationship with Rafael, even if it was just for the public eye, sent a thrill through me. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I wasn't supposed to be attracted to him. He was just supposed to be the man that helped me get revenge on my ex but to my hormones, he was so much more.
We sat facing each other, the air thick with unspoken tension. I took a deep breath and leaned forward slightly, my lips parting as if to initiate a kiss between us. At the last minute, I pulled back, feeling the awkwardness of the situation weighing heavily on me.
"This feels so awkward," I admitted my voice barely above a whisper, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Rafael smiled understandingly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's okay, Yasmin. We'll take it slow." He raised his hands to show me and then put them behind his back, giving me complete control of the situation. His gesture relieved and unsettled me, the responsibility of initiating the intimacy suddenly felt heavier. How was I supposed to resist him when he did things like this?
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I closed my eyes and leaned in once more, this time accidentally pressing my lips to his nose. Luckily Rafael didn't budge, simply shuffling once again, waiting for me to make a move.
On the third try, I stopped hesitating. Instead, I took a moment to truly look at Rafael, to admire his chiseled features, his intense gaze, and the way his lips curved into a reassuring smile.
Rafael grew impatient, his desire evident as he leaned forward, closing the gap between us. His lips met mine, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. They were soft, warm, and inviting, and I closed my eyes, losing myself in the sensation.Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing heart. I closed my eyes and leaned in once more, this time pressing my lips gently against his. My nerves threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself to focus, to concentrate on kissing him.
The kiss deepened, becoming more passionate, more real. I could feel the heat between us, the undeniable chemistry simmering beneath the surface. My hands wrapped around Rafael's shoulders, pulling him closer as the world around us faded into insignificance.
Rafael responded in kind, his hands coming up to cup my face gently as he slipped his tongue into my mouth.
When we finally pulled away, breathless and flushed, I realized that this would be much harder than I had anticipated. Keeping my feelings in check and maintaining the facade of a fake relationship, was going to require every ounce of self-control I possessed.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he teased, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
I couldn't help but laugh, the tension dissipating as I raised my eyes to his "No, it wasn't," I admitted, a genuine smile forming on my lips. But as I looked into Rafael's eyes, seeing the same desire reflected in me, I knew that this was just the beginning of a tumultuous journey we were about to embark on together. But I knew that whatever came next, I was willing to explore it.