Page 65 of Legacy
“You’re lonely.”
He takes a step closer, his presence filling the space between us. “Admit it, Adriana, I know you.”
I swallow hard, my throat tightening as he closes the distance. His words hit too close to home, chipping away at the defenses I’d built over the past three months.
“You don’t know everything,” I say, my voice faltering.
I step back instinctively.
He follows, not touching me, but close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him.
His hand comes up, hovering just near my cheek.
My body stills.
“Don’t I?” he murmurs, his eyes searching mine. “You want answers. You want to feel something. You just want to be seen.”
His words crack something inside me, the ache of his voice matching the hollow space I’d been trying to ignore.
My breath catches as his hand finally brushes against my cheek, the warmth of his skin sending a jolt of familiarity through me.
My eyes close.
Rafael has been my friend with benefits for years. We last slept together a week before I found out about my“marriage.”
My body remembers every touch, every whispered word. He’s familiar,safe.
“Rafael.”
It comes out as a plea instead of the warning I wanted.
“Adriana,” he counters, his voice dipping lower. “You deserve more than this. You know you do.”
His other hand comes up, resting lightly on my hip, and I can’t stop the shiver that courses through me.
But he fucks up.
“You think Angelo’s been waiting for you? You think he hasn’t had anyone else while you’re down here playing the good wife?”
His voice is soft but laced with venom, cutting through my haze.
Anger flares, sharp and sudden, snapping me out of the spell.
I step away from him, breaking the contact.
“Don’t,” I say, my voice firmer now, though it trembles at the edges.
I put a hand up.
Distance.
I need it.
“Don’t do this, Rafael. I may not want this marriage, but I’m not… I won’t…”
He sighs, dragging a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face.
“I’m not trying to hurt you. But you deserve to know the truth. He’s not coming for you. Not yet. And maybe not ever. We haven’t heard from him since he signed the papers.”
