Chapter 862: Uh oh
"There’s lust, and then there’s... this," Rafe murmured, his voice hoarse as he reluctantly lifted his head from her shoulder. His breath was still uneven, his chest rising and falling against hers, but the rawness in his tone betrayed the depth of what he was feeling.
Beneath his hands, he felt her tense, her body suddenly stiffening against his. His frown was immediate, concern flickering in his dark eyes. Had he said something wrong? A pang of doubt crept in as he studied her expression. And then she pressed her hands against his shoulders, her movements urgent but not panicked.
"Arabelle?" he asked, his voice soft but questioning, as he began to ease away from her. Untangling himself from her was no simple feat and the unmistakable evidence of their passion lingered between them. The sheer intimacy of the moment made stepping back almost unbearable, but he did it anyway.
Once he managed to put a small distance between them, he finally got a good look at her face. Instead of the blissful satisfaction he had expected, he saw something else entirely—panic.
"What is it?" he asked again, sharper this time, his brows knitting in concern as he straightened up. Did she feel forced? Had he ended up doing something against her will?
Arabelle didn’t respond immediately. Instead, her hands reached up to cup his face. Her fingers trembled slightly as they tilted his head, her worried gaze searching his eyes as he pulled the skin under his eyes.
"Arabelle?" he pressed, his confusion deepening.
She ignored him for a moment longer, her lips pressing into a thin line as her scrutiny continued. Finally, she spoke, her voice laced with worry. "You’re not under the effect of the drug, are you?"
For a moment, Rafe simply stared at her, dumbfounded. And then, as her words sank in, a slow grin spread across his face, wide and almost boyish. She thinks this is because of the drug? Well, understandable. He’d have been doubtful too if not for the fact that he’d wanted her even before he knew her name.