a controlling man. They are... abburido,” I managed, that last word said in Spanish. I took my time to turn my head in his direction, opening my eyes slowly.
“Boring. Huh. Well isn’t that fascinating,” he said in a husky tone, nodding toward Angelica. “Perfection is a matter of loneliness and imagination, designed for people who refuse to take a chance on life. I find those kind of people... sin valor. They spent their days pretending to give a damn when they only desire to feed their egos.”
“Wow. Worthless. My turn to say fascinating. Then I will guess that almost everyone you come in contact with, you find worthless.” The arrogance in the man wasn’t surprising. The manner in which he issued the words was. “I gather you see yourself as an impulsive and controlling man, one destined to take over the world.” I was unable to keep the edge out of my voice. I also was drawn to the scar as if the shattering of his amazing good looks had somehow shaped him into a cold and uncaring bastard.
Rafael chuckled, waiting until Angelina delivered a drink, her eyes shifting from the pompous ‘star’ toward me. He swirled his drink, licking remaining drops of liquor from the rim of the glass before taking a sip.
“Some would call me a dangerous man, but I am just a man, one who enjoys the sounds of music, the taste of a good bottle of scotch, and the company of a gorgeous woman. Does that make me a horrible person?”
“I’m not certain,” I said, studying his features. I was thrown by my reaction to him, the excitement building to the point I could lose my inhibitions.
Perhaps my very sanity.
“Fair enough. I am a musician by trade. I’ve been lucky through the years, savoring enough success to enjoy the fruits of my labor.” Rafael glanced around the bar. “This is the first time I’ve been home in almost a year.”
“Mmm...” I said, uncertain whether I wanted to continue the conversation. “Why are you considered dangerous?”
He took a sip of his drink before looking me directly in the eyes. “I’m not a good person, but I am an honorable man. I would enjoy getting to know you.”
While some amount of truth rang in his statement, the look in his eyes was different than any man I’d been around.
Alluring.
Captivating.
Predatory.
“I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”
He swirled his drink, nodding several times. “I sense you’re a woman in need, hungering for a man to take control, a desire burning deep within that you can’t understand.”
Exhaling, I took a full gulp of my wine, resisting tossing the remainder in his face. He actually thought he knew me? The man was... Exciting. Daring.
I was disturbed by the fact I was attracted to him, loathing the way my body betrayed me, desire bubbling to the surface. I’d always been drawn to the bad boys; men who had no value for women other than use of their bodies. Perhaps that was the way of romance, a longing that would never be requited, at least not in the concept of happy ever after. This time, I would ignore the yearning that continued to build, refusing to fall prey to a buff body and a gruff demeanor.
Tonight, I would learn to walk away.
“You don’t know me at all, Rafael.”
“I think I do,” he countered. “I’m an excellent observer, my instincts never wrong.”
This time, I laughed. “Well, you are certainly an arrogant jerk. I’ll give you that.”
“In my world, hunger knows no bounds, the danger and darkness clawing at the surface as troubling as they are invigorating. However, when domination of a beautiful subject is handled correctly, pain as well as pleasure forge a perfect union, allowing for nothing but raw ecstasy.”
“There is no such thing as ecstasy, Rafael. There’s only crushing fear of letting go, knowing that when you do, that very darkness will be suffocating.”
“I assure you, mi cielo, letting go is only the beginning of utter rapture.”
I knew the term. My sky. Any other woman would find his words appealing in every manner, falling immediately into his bed. I wasn’t that kind of woman. “As I said, arrogant.”
I took a sip of wine, savoring the flavor before pulling cash from my purse and easing the few bills across the bar. When I slowly slid off the barstool, he had no reaction, merely a brooding man sulking over his preferred glass of scotch. I walked around him without saying another word, knowing he