My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 542

Chapter 542

Gianna

1&1

15 8gus

My heart immediately betrayed me.

Because Raphael was almost lying on my bed.

On my bed.

Like it was the most normal thing in the world.

One second I had been completely lost in my music, and the next I had nearly launched my tablet across the room after finding a six-foot-four mobster behind me.

And now he was smiling, actually smiling. The sight alone should’ve been illegal.

His dark hair was slightly messy from the motorcycle helmet. His black t-shirt stretched across broad shoulders.

My face felt suspiciously warm. Raphael’s eyes stayed on mine like I was the only thing in the room worth looking

My stomach did a strange little flip.

Then I forced my mouth to work, “Hi.”

The word came out embarrassingly soft.

One corner of his mouth lifted, “Hi?”

Then his smile grew slightly. A few months ago Raphael smiling was a rare event that deserved international news coverage, now he kept doing it… at me.

My eyes drifted over his face, the sharp jaw, the eyes, the faint shadow of stubble. Then my brain finally remembered something important.

The text messages.

The necklace.

New York.

The things he’d been saying lately.

The things he’d been heavily implying.

The things he definitely wasn’t supposed to be saying if he wanted me to remain a functional human being.

Heat rushed straight into my cheeks, his eyes immediately noticed.

His gaze softened slightly, “You’re blushing.”

I instantly pulled the blanket higher, “I’m not.”

“You turned pink.”

I glared at him, “I did not.”

1/3

15 Borns

Raphael looked completely unbothered, then he reached over and tucked another loose strand of hair behind my ear. The simple gesture made my pulse jump, his hand lingered for a second before dropping.

My heart was beating so hard I was convinced he could hear it because for months I had imagined this, wondered about it, dreamed about it, convinced myself it would never happen.

Raphael Capone wasn’t supposed to be lying in my bed looking at me like this.

Raphael Capone was supposed to be emotionally unavailable, confusing, infuriating and oblivious instead he was here.

I looked away first because I was weak.

His voice came quietly, “What are you thinking about?”

I laughed nervously, “Nothing.”

His eyebrow lifted, ‘the liar eyebrow’, the one that meant he didn’t believe a word coming out of my mouth.

I groaned, “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“That look.”

“What look?”

“The one that says you’re analyzing me.”

“I am analyzing you.”

I dropped my head into the pillow, “See?”

His low chuckle filled the room, the sound rolled through my chest. When I looked back at him, he was still watching me, still impossibly close, still looking entirely too comfortable in my bed.

My heart gave another traitorous little flutter. Then his eyes drifted briefly to the necklace resting against my throat. The necklace he had given me, the one I hadn’t taken off once.

Something warm appeared in his expression, his fingers reached out and lightly brushed the pendant. The diamond caught the light, his gaze lifted back to mine and suddenly I couldn’t breathe properly because the way he was looking at me now felt different.

it was as if he’d finally made up his mind about everything.

Then Raphael’s thumb brushed softly against the pendant once more, “I see you followed instructions.”

My cheeks immediately became hotter. I hated him. I really, really did but a smile pulled at my mouth anyway, ” You gave me approximately fourteen warnings.”

“Twelve.”

“Fourteen.”

“Twelve.”

“It was fourteen.”

Then he seriously added, “I considered sending more.”

2/3

15 Borus

My laugh hadn’t even fully faded when his hand moved. His finger hooked lightly through the chain, the gold links slid against his skin, once, twice. The pendant swayed between us. Then he slowly wound the chain around his finger.

The necklace tightened slightly against the back of my neck, the pendant settling higher against my collarbone.

My smile immediately disappeared and Raphael watched me the entire time. The chain tightened another fraction. My body reacted before my brain could catch up. I straightened automatically, drawn closer to him. My heart began beating so hard it felt ridiculous.

I swallowed, “What?”

The word came out softer than I intended and raphael studied my face for a second.

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