My Stepbrother's Dirty Little Secret novel Chapter 706

Chapter 706

My heartbeat climbed into my throat. The handle turned, the door opened and Raphael stood there.

His dark hair was slightly messy, like he’d been running his hands through it. He wore nothing except a pair of black boxers hanging low on his hips.

For one ridiculous second, my brain forgot how to work. His eyes landed on me, every trace of surprise disappeared almost instantly. Then his hand tightened around the edge of the door and the door started

moving.

He was going to close it.

Panic shot through me. Without thinking, I stepped forward, slipping through the narrow opening before he could shut it completely.

The door bumped lightly against my shoulder and Raphael froze. His brows drew together, “What are you doing?”

His voice stayed low, like he was afraid someone might hear us. I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I turned and quietly pushed the door closed behind me.

Moonlight spilled through the tall windows, painting silver lines across the wooden floor. He stayed near the door. I stayed pressed against the door.

The distance between us suddenly felt unbearable. I looked at him and noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes, the tension in his shoulders. The way he stood as though every muscle in his body expected another fight.

My chest tightened.

I’d done that.

I’d put that look on his face.

My eyes burned, “I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” I whispered, “I don’t know what the Council will decide. I don’t know if… if this is the last night I’ll ever get to be this close to you.”

His jaw flexed and I took one slow step toward him.

“I’ve spent the whole evening thinking about tomorrow,” weak laugh escaped me, “I hate tomorrow. I can’t leave tonight wondering what it would’ve felt like to simply… be with you.”

I stopped in front of him. My fingers twisted together nervously.

“I don’t want anything complicated. I don’t want to argue. I don’t want to explain. I don’t want to spend another night crying in a room across the hallway while you’re only a few steps away.”

I lifted my eyes until they met his.

“I just…” the words caught in my throat but I forced them out, “I just want to fall asleep in your arms

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tonight.”

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Raphael raised an eyebrow, “Are you really fucking insane,? Have you really lost your fucking mind. You’re actually standing here telling me this might be the last time we’ll ever see each other? Have you gone completely crazy?”

A bitter smile tugged at my lips, “You don’t know-”

“No. I do know,” his eyes held mine, “I know exactly how tomorrow can end and it doesn’t end with you walking away from me.”

I swallowed, “Raphael…”

His hands opened and closed at his sides as though he was fighting the urge to reach for me, Everything that happens tomorrow can still be stopped. You already know how. You tell them the truth. You stand in front of that Council and tell them what Giovanni did to you. You tell them why Hazel took you away. You tell them he abused you. That’s all.”

His eyes searched mine desperately.

“That’s all you have to do and you refuse to do it,” his shoulders rose with a deep breath before falling again, “So don’t stand here telling me tomorrow is taking you away from me. It isn’t the Council separating us, Gianna. It’s you.”

My body moved before my mind could. I closed the small distance between us. My forehead rested carefully against his chest. His heartbeat was strong beneath my cheek.

Safety.

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