I steeled myself, looked up at Rafe, and smiled. “Oh, it’s nothing.” My stomach twisted as I tried hard to sound flippant. “I got some dirt in my eye, that’s all.”
“Oh!” said Rafe, coming closer. “Let’s see.”
My mouth dried up, and I was aware of every breath as Rafe brought his face so close to mine that our noses were almost touching. Looking straight into my eyes, he smoothed a stray lock of hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. Rafe entwined his fingers through mine, brought them up to his mouth, and brushed his lips over my fingertips in the lightest of kisses.
“Why did you lie to me about who you really are?” I flicked a glance up at him.
Rafe looked to the side and avoided my eyes but didn’t let go of his hold on me. “I guess I just wanted you to like me for me.”
“Did you think it would have made any difference?”
“It has in the past. Every woman I am with usually wants the title that comes along. Even Leticia is only with me because she wants to be queen.”
My eyes narrowed. “Well, I am not like that.” I pushed him away and folded my arms across my chest. “I was already in love with you when I thought you were an outlaw.”
Rafe’s eyebrows rose. “You were? You are?” But he still didn’t say anything about how he felt. He was always so mysterious; I had no idea what he was thinking.
“Yes, you silly fool,” I said, waving my hands about. “I think I fell in love with you from the first minute you walked into that dungeon. I didn’t even know at that time if I could trust you or not.”
Rafe strode over to me and took me in his arms gently, pulling me toward him. He looked into my eyes for a soul-searching moment before his lips descended onto mine in the most urgent of kisses. I melted into his arms as he pulled me closer, his arms tightening around my waist. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. In that moment, I felt the whole world melt away. There was only Rafe and me and a world of possibilities before us. I never wanted this moment to end. It was everything I had wished for and more.
Finally I broke off the kiss, which had left me gasping for air. When I looked back up at him, his gray eyes were focused and staring straight into my own with an intensity I had never seen before.
Rafe held me close. “You are the most beautiful, courageous, and fascinating girl I have ever met. I cannot help the way I feel. I know it’s wrong. But ever since I met you, you are all I think about.”
“What about Leticia?” I asked breathlessly, my heart leaping at the possibility that Rafe really may have feelings for me.
Rafe ran a hand though his dark wavy hair. “Leticia is my betrothed only in name. It was a promise I made to my mother before she died, when Leticia and I were still very young.”
“But you cannot go back on your word.” I stated. I knew the answer before I even asked the question.
“No, I cannot. There is no way I can change the course of these events. Leticia and I will be married next spring.”
I disentangled myself from Rafe’s arms and pushed him away. “Then why did you kiss me?”
“I couldn’t help myself.” He didn’t so much as blink an eye. “Ever since I saw you in that dungeon at Oblek’s castle, wearing those funny clothes, I was completely besotted. I wanted to get to know you before I revealed who I was or my feelings for you.”
I put my hands on my hips. I didn’t believe him. And I absolutely refused to be someone he had on the side with Leticia as his bride-to-be. “And when were you planning on revealing the fact that you are engaged to be married?”
I was now hiding behind my anger, which had started building up slowly but steadily. Then it hit me. I had been so stupid; he’d never intended to give up Leticia for me. It was the most humiliating moment of my life, and my heart was crushed, smashed into little bits. I was not sure I would ever be able to fit it back together again.
Rafe furrowed his brow in confusion. “I was going to tell you. I just wanted time for us to get to know each other before you found out.” He stopped and ran his hand through his hair as he always did when he was flustered.
My eyes narrowed. “And then what? You expected me to just be okay with it?”
He shook his head. “No, I thought . . .” His voice trailed off. He didn’t seem to have an answer.
I threw him a pointed look. “I can’t do this,” I said finally.
His stormy eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that you are betrothed to Leticia, and I know that you cannot break your vow to your mother. I respect you for that, but I cannot be with you and kiss you knowing that you are to be married.”
Rafe was silent.
“And what about after you finally get married, what then? I will not be your dirty little secret. I will not let you treat me like some tart,” I said, trying very hard to keep my voice under control.
He looked more confused. “Tart? What kind of tart?”
If I were not so angry, I would have laughed. “Not that sort of tart, silly,” I stormed, but in a whisper because I didn’t want anyone to hear us. “I won’t be your mistress or girlfriend on the side, or whatever you were planning. I won’t do that.”
Rafe looked upset for a moment, but he soon composed himself and had that charming smile back on his face. “I
