Page 61 of Nemesis

I couldn’t hide it anymore. I tried to figure out where I’d messed up, racking my brain on what I’d done to tip him off. I had beensocareful with every single one of my actions.

But none of that mattered anymore.

He knows.

I barely had time to process what was happening when I felt myself nodding in response before he yanked me to him, his lips crushing against mine.

CHAPTER25

SOFIA

Ihesitated for a fraction of a second, keeping my lips shut until I finally gave in, my mouth opening on a moan, letting him inside.

His lips molded to mine and my fingers weaved into his hair, tangling and tugging at the roots, while his cupped my face possessively, trying to get as close as possible, each of us fighting for dominance.

My eyelids fluttered shut as his tongue slipped against mine, his hands tilting my head to deepen the kiss, wracking a whimper out of me. I let myself get lost in him, my body becoming pliant in his arms, his knee between my legs the only thing holding me up.

Our kiss crackled with aggression and lust, all the years lost relieving themselves in this single act. He kissed as if this was our first and last time. He kissed me like he wanted to consume me. Like he’d been deprived for too long and my taste was his only cure.

I leaned into his branding touch when suddenly, he stopped. My eyes snapped open to find him pulling away to look me in the eye, his warm palms still cupping my face. He drew in a deep breath, conflict roaming in his gaze.

“Why did you leave me?” he murmured, his thumb lazily caressing my cheek.

I let my gaze wander over his face before settling on a partial truth.

“I had to.”

His thumb paused its back and forth motion at my confession.

Sometimes the best lies are wrapped around a core of truth.

Despite my failure to convince him I was Olivia Morales, I couldn’t drag him into this. I didn’t leave him all those years ago, only for him to end up in the crossfire. I would never be able to forgive myself if I got him killed because of my own vendetta.

One moment, his hands were on me and the next, he was across the hall, running his fingers through his curls. The sudden loss of his warmth sent a slight twinge of fear through my middle.

“You had to? What does that even mean?” He scoffed, his voice gaining a slight edge as he shook his head, a forced laugh leaving him.

There was a pause and his jaw twitched when I stayed quiet.

“You fuckingleftme, Sofia.”

A swell of emotions surged in my chest. Losing him was a price I had been willing to pay, but I wasn't so sure anymore that it had been the right choice. I’d never expected to see him so torn up over it.

“Was it because of me? Because of what happened that night?”

“No,” I immediately said, unable to bear the thought of him thinking I regretted us.

I shook my head. “You were supposed to forget about me. You were supposed to move on…”

“How could I ever forget anything about you,mi alma?” he rasped out, his features contorting into a pained expression.

He started to move, turning away from me and the conversation, but I wasn’t letting him go. I had once before, but I wasn't going to do it again tonight. Not after witnessing what abandoning him seven years ago did, when I now knew how much my actions had affected him.

I let my defenses down and went after him, grabbing his arm.

“Mi cielito,” I whispered and he stiffened, halting in his tracks.

He spun around and I reached for him, craning my neck as I cupped his face, the stubble scratching the palm of my hands. My heart battered furiously against my chest, the racing beat sending it teetering on the edge of a cliff, afraid he was about to reject my touch.