Page 54 of Vengeful Vows

His question is a knife to the gut, and I snarl my disapproval.

Rafael grunts before slipping onto the chair across from the desk. “What the fuck did you do, Ark?”

“Nothing,” I snap back as I move to the bar, needing something to fill my hands before my nails add to the permanent nicks and scars covering half my body.

Rafael glances at me with his brows pulled, then asks, “What do you mean nothing?”

“How else can I explain it to you, Raf?” I pour a generous serving of whiskey, toss it back, then slam the glass down. “It’s pretty self-explanatory.”

“You carried her to your room, in your fucking arms. She may not have been clutching your biceps like Ann inKing Kong, but she sure as fuck had portions of your body brushing against her fingertips.” The bewilderment on his face increases. “Yet you didnothingthe instant you had her alone, in the very far corner of your apartment, away from the prying eyes of the woman who has your head in such a tail-fucking-spin thatI’mstruggling not to puke.” Since he isn’t asking questions, more summarizing events, he doesn’t wait for me to reply. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?”

“Advantage?” I choke on the whiskey lingering in the back of my throat. “Perhaps therein lies the problem. I don’t want to take advantage of her.”

“She hurt her ankle, dickwad. She’s not intoxicated or strung out on drugs. She knew what she was doing and would have been anextremelyobliging participant.”

I can’t deny a single thing he says since it is true. Every inch of Mara’s body begged for me to touch her. Her nipples. Her lips. Those fucking eyes. They were all begging, and it took everything I had to walk away.

I did it for one reason and one reason only.

Tillie.

As if he read my silent thoughts, Raf says, “You’re an idiot.”

“I’m reasonably sure we established just how fucked in the head I am decades ago.” I down another three-finger serving of whiskey. It does little to ease the bristling of hesitation prickling my arm hairs. “The fact you’re surprised has me hopeful I can pull the wool over more than your eyes in the near future.”

Rafael scoffs but remains quiet, the fight not in him.

I slump into my chair and then run my fingers through my hair. The scent my quick rake wafts up worsens my mood. I can smell Mara on me, and it has nothing to do with the number of times I’ve stroked my cock to the scent of her shampoo.

When she whispered that she trusted me, I stood so close we almost became one.

At that moment, there was no one in the world but us.

Then the quickest whiff of a perfume I will never forget saw me throwing it all away as if our sparks are empty candy wrappers.

I’ve never felt more ashamed or conflicted.

“So,” Rafael starts, pulling my focus back to him, “how do you want to play this?”

I stare at him, lost.

“Mara.” He scoffs again. “Obviously.”

“She needs to take a few days to heal her ankle.”And to let me get my head screwed on straight before I do something that will monumentally alter her life.“Once it’s good, she can continue with her placement.”

He twists the knife in deeper. “You still want her to work for you?”

“Of course I want her to work with me. Why the fuck wouldn’t I want her to work with me?”

He snorts. “I don’t know… probably because you don’t want to torment yourself anymore.”

I debate my reply before delivering the weakest one. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rafael’s eye roll is more mature than his tone. “All right. Whatever you say.” After hooking his left ankle onto his right knee, he repeats, “So how do you want to play this?” This time, he doesn’t wait for me to show my hand. He reveals his royal flush straight out the gate. “Do you want Darius to carry Mara to your town car and up five flights of stairs before showing himself into her apartment she’s never let any man in but you? Or are you happy for me to call a random Uber driver and hope he’s willing to accept a quick butt grab for additional services rendered?” I straighten, my glare hot enough to scald, but Rafaelacts oblivious. “I’d offer, but…” Air whistles between his teeth. “Her maid’s outfit does crazy things to my?—”

“End that sentence and I will end you.”

He stiffens, the smile leaving his face. “Therein lies therealproblem, Ark. You can’t play the game for both sides. That isn’t how it works.” He stands, straightens his jacket and tie, and heads for the door. “Reel her in or let her go.” He grips the doorframe, incapable of leaving without making sure I know I’ll never be without his support. “I’ll be around for a few more hours if you need to borrow a rod.”

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