Page 35 of Disciplined: His Forbidden Crush

But look as he might, he found nothing.

He threw himself on the floor, contemplating having a symbolic tantrum. “I hate you, Rafael,” he said aloud. But then he wrinkled his nose. He didn’t hate Rafael at all. Quite the opposite.

But I don’t love him, he told himself, his heart speeding up. Do I? That would be crazy.

“I’m losing my mind,” he announced to the world, and with a sigh he flopped onto his back, letting his head fall to one side.

That was when he saw it. Just a dark shape under the wardrobe where there was no reason to be a dark shape. He slid his fingers into the small gap and felt the smooth, rounded plastic of his phone cover.

Summer smirked as he retrieved the device, and his wallet too, tucked behind it. “Rafael, you wily bastard,” he whispered, cradling the phone in his hands like a long-lost treasure. “You really know how to make a guy work for it, don’t you?”

The phone was dead, of course, after days of disuse. But with it finally in his possession, Summer allowed himself a moment of triumph followed by a twinge of remorse for betraying Rafael’s trust. But as he stared at the small, unassuming screen, he couldn’t bring himself to regret his actions. After all, it was just a few messages, right? What could be the harm in that?

“Here goes nothing,” Summer sighed, as he plugged in his phone to charge.

He sat on the bed, waiting for enough battery to turn the phone on. He could smell Rafael on the bedcovers, the scent of his sweat and his come. He couldn’t help but think about how much he’d been enjoying those rough, passionate nights when Rafael fucked him senseless. The heat between them was undeniable, the forbidden nature of their relationship only making it all the more intoxicating.

As he waited, Summer let his fantasies wander further. He imagined kissing Rafael—no, being kissed by Rafael. He closed his eyes and pictured Rafael’s lips pressed against his own, tasting the sensual mixture of lust and need that swirled between them. In his daydream, Rafael pulled him close, strong arms wrapping protectively around Summer’s body. In a soft whisper, Rafael confessed his love for Summer, making him feel cherished and adored.

Summer sighed, shaking his head to clear the enticing images from his thoughts. He knew it was nothing more than a fantasy. Rafael wasn’t the type of man who would indulge in such sentimental displays of affection. No, there was no room for softness in their world.

That was why Summer had left, after all.

Finally, he turned his phone on, watching as it came to life. Quickly, aware that time was ticking by, he checked his messages. Most were unimportant or spam, but one message stood out among the rest. It was from Coco.

Babe, you won’t believe what happened! Coco’s message read. My apartment flooded, and my asshole landlord is blaming me! Says I have to pay him $700 by the end of the day, or he’ll evict me. Can you believe this shit?!

Summer’s eyes widened in shock as he read the message, a sense of urgency and protectiveness for his friend bounding through him. Coco was like family, and he couldn’t stand the thought of her being unfairly treated by her landlord.

His thoughts raced, torn between loyalty to Rafael and the need to help Coco. He knew that sneaking out of the apartment would be a betrayal of Rafael’s trust, but how could he leave his friend in such a dire situation when he had the money to help her?

“Fuck,” Summer whispered under his breath, the weight of the decision bearing down on him. His fingers trembled as he weighed his options, knowing that whatever choice he made would have consequences. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, whispering to himself, “I have to help her.”

“Fuck it,” he muttered and sent Coco a text, promising to bring her the money.

Determined, Summer grabbed the spare key from its hiding place behind the TV. He hastily put on a pair of shoes and tucked his wallet in the pocket of his jeans, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Regret crept into the back of his mind as he thought about betraying Rafael’s trust, but he couldn’t ignore Coco’s plea for help.

Rafael would never understand if I asked for permission, Summer thought, his stomach twisting into knots. But I can’t leave Coco in the lurch like this.

He took one last look around the apartment, unsure why this felt so momentous. Then, with one last pang of guilt, he unlocked the front door and pulled it open.

And there, in the hall, was Rafael.

Chapter Fourteen

Rafael’s chest felt banded in iron as he stormed into the apartment, his grip firm around Summer’s fragile wrist. The door lock clicked into place, sealing them both inside. He could feel the heat of anger and betrayal radiating off of him, dangerous and violent.

He stared down at Summer, whose green eyes were wide with fear. “I trusted you, and you try to fucking leave?”

“Rafael, I—”

“¡Cállate! Your words mean nothing right now,” he spat, disappointment and regret twisting his insides like a knife. In his gut, he knew that he should’ve been more cautious—that he should never have trusted so recklessly. But something about Summer’s sincerity had been irresistible, and now he was paying the price.

Dragging Summer further into the living room, Rafael tossed him onto the couch, his hands shaking with rage as he did so.

“Since you can’t seem to understand basic orders,” Rafael snarled, yanking Summer back up and forcing him over his knee, “I’ll have to teach you a lesson in obedience.”

“Rafael, please,” Summer cried out, his voice desperate and pleading. “It’s not what you think, just let me explain!”

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