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“Do it anyway?”
My sigh came heavily, and yet I still found my phone and the hidden folder with pictures of my paintings. I scrolled to the right one, and with a tight stomach, offered it out. Raphael’s fingertips grazed mine. But it was his rapt attention that grabbed me.
He studied the screen then lifted his gaze. “This is fucking good.”
I went to take it back. He pulled his hand away, keeping my phone.
“Can I swipe to see the others?”
“If you must.”
His gaze linked to mine. Fresh energy fizzed between us.
“I’ll only do it if ye ask.”
How the heck did that turn so dirty in my head? Flustered, I gestured for him to proceed. “Please.”
Raphael took his time over examining each. He didn’t say anything, and with each swipe, I leaned in more, wishing I could read his mind.
At last, that serious brown-eyed gaze was mine again. “You’re a damn good artist. If I ever find the people who said otherwise, I’ll make them wish they didn’t.”
A shiver ran over me. I’d needed those words, and in a rush of certainty, I knew I wouldn’t have trusted them from anyone other than him. It shouldn’t have made sense, except Raphael had proved himself inherently trustworthy, despite the short amount of time we’d spent together. It wasn’t that alone. Desire and energy poured into me.
I wetted my lips.
On the wall between us, his phone buzzed.
He glanced down. “Fuck. Car’s here.”
The moment was over. Raphael became all action, jumping down the wall and helping me to descend after. Then we were in the car and perched on the edge of the leather seats, hoping the driver wouldn’t notice we were leaving a water mark.
In minutes, we were outside the gates of Ossington Palace. Raphael flagged down one of the guards to see me inside, quietly telling me I’d be vulnerable the moment I left the car.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Inside my rooms, I showered off the lake water, shampooing my hair twice to make sure it was clean. For bed, I changed into my favourite t-shirt, then dropped down onto my mattress and checked my phone.
A message waited from Raphael. He’d sent his number.
Highlandspilot: In case you need to call me.
I saved him as a contact then replied with mine. Somehow, messaging him properly with real names felt like we’d moved on a step.
Alex: In case you need someone to night swim with in murky lakes.
Raphael: If ever you want a dip somewhere that isn’t going to poison us, I know a place.
My stomach fluttered with those damn butterflies again. Logic told me that what I’d felt this evening had been one-sided. Raphael was being paid to take care of me. Therefore I couldn’t get any fanciful notions about him wanting to be around me in his own time. Yet this sounded like the opposite. I stuck my tongue in my cheek and tested that water.
Alex: Skinny-dipping potential?
Raphael: I’m sure that can be arranged.
He hadn’t even hesitated. I stretched out on the cool sheets, sounds of the city coming through my open window along with humidity that stuck my t-shirt to my hot skin. I wanted the previous owner of the shirt here with me.
I wanted a lot of things.
Alex: Talk me through it. Describe the place.