Page 53 of Of Oaths and Secrets

“Rafaele kissed me,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widen, and for a second, she’s completely still. Then, a grin breaks across her face, and she practically squeals, her excitement bubbling over. “Oh my god! He kissed you?! That’s huge!”

I blush, not expecting such an enthusiastic reaction. “It was… it was intense,” I murmur, the memory of his lips against mine sending a shiver down my spine.

She grabs my hands, pulling me closer. “Nora, this is way bigger than you think. You don’t understand—Rafaele doesn’t just kiss people. He doesn’t go for physical contact. Ever.”

I blink, my mind racing. “He doesn’t?” Her words make me pause. I thought maybe the kiss was just in the moment, but now, I’m not so sure.

“I thought… I don’t know. I thought maybe it was just in the moment,” I confess, my voice trembling slightly. “But now I don’t know what to think.”

She squeezes my hands, her eyes softening. “You know as well as I do that he’s all about control. I’ve known him my whole life, and trust me, he’s never been the touchy-feely type. It’s justnot who he is. So for him to kiss you? That’s a big deal. Like, ahugedeal. He doesn’t slip like that easily. I think he cares about you more than he's willing to admit. He’s probably just scared to show it. That’s who Rafaele is. He hides behind all that coldness, but when he feels something? He feels it deeply.”

I nod, even as doubt gnaws at me. Maybe she’s right. Maybe he feels something. But I can’t let myself fall for him.

“We’ll see,” I reply evasively, eager to change the subject. “How are things with you these days?”

Lucia smirks, clearly aware of my deflection. “I’m doing good. Still annoying everyone, as per usual.” She grins, her eyes lighting up with mischief. “I was thinking, maybe we could have a girls' day out? What do you think? Get out of the house, do something fun?”

Her suggestion brings a smile to my face, and I find myself nodding. “That sounds like a great idea.”

“Good! I’ll text you the details. Maybe shopping, a nice lunch, something to take your mind off certain tall, brooding husbands?” She winks, and I laugh despite myself.

“Yes, and come visit whenever you want. I enjoy your company.”

“Same. It’s so refreshing to be with you instead of the stuck-up housewives who make criticizing me a national sport.”

“Urgh, I know. This is the reason why I always stayed back.”

Before long, she’s leaving, but with a promise to come see me again soon, and I’m once again left alone with my thoughts.

And as I sit there, the memory of Rafaele’s kiss presses in again, floating at the edges of my thoughts. Maybe Lucia’s right. Perhaps I’ve been holding back out of fear. What for? What am I so scared of? I should be able to guard my heart, right? A lot of people do it. Being intimate or physical with a man doesn’t mean you have to love him. It can’t be that hard.

I just can’t ignore the nagging truth—Rafaele’s kiss has opened a door, and whether I’m ready or not, I know I’ll have to walk through it.

Chapter Fourteen

Rafaele

I’ve never been an impulsive man. At least, I didn’t use to be. But things have changed, and I’m not sure what’s worse—admitting that to myself or realizing that it all stems from her.

How else can I explain why I’m standing in the middle of her bedroom, uninvited, while she’s in the shower? It’s irrational. Stupid, even. But I’m here, and the longer I stand in this space, the more tangled I feel.

The Columbia issue has been grating at me for days. I’ve given her so many chances to come clean, to tell me about the acceptance letter I saw, but each night she stays silent. And I… I don’t push because a part of me doesn’t want to make her feel cornered. But I also don’t want her to let the opportunity slip through her fingers and end up resenting me for it—more than she already might.

That’s how I ended up here, pacing in her room, waiting for her to step out of the bathroom. The door is slightly ajar, and I can’t help but imagine her under the water, her skin glistening, the steam rising around her. It’s a thought that’s becomedisturbingly familiar. Something I’ve never dealt with before. Something I’m not prepared for.

My cock hardens at the mere idea of her, and it startles me like it always does lately. I take a step back, trying to get a grip, running a hand through my hair.

“This is a bad idea,” I mutter, eyes darting toward the door. I know I should leave. I’ve never been this reckless, never this… out of control. But even as I say the words, my feet remain rooted to the floor, waiting for something I can’t explain.

Before I can force myself to move, the bathroom door creaks open, and there she is—wrapped in a soft, white robe, damp hair falling in loose waves. She freezes, her wide eyes locking on mine. For a moment, the room holds its breath.

“Rafaele?” she whispers, her voice uncertain.

I meet her gaze, trying to pull myself together. But the frustration spills out before I can stop it. "Why didn’t you tell me?" My tone is sharper than I intended, but the irritation of being kept in the dark eats at me. It’s the not knowing, the feeling of being shut out.

Her face tightens, and I realize too late that I’ve pushed too hard. She looks paler like she’s bracing for something.

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