Before Maria could move away, Rafael caught her arm again.
Hard.
The sudden pull threw her slightly off balance and she fell backward onto the edge of the bed.
The mattress dipped under her weight.
For a second she just stared up at him.
Rafael didn't help her up.
He stood there looking down at her, one eyebrow lifting slightly as if the situation amused him.
"Careful," he said quietly. "You fall too easily."
Maria pushed herself up on her elbows.
"You pulled me."
Rafael stepped closer.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
He stopped between her knees before she could move off the bed.
Maria immediately tried to shift away, but the edge of the mattress was already behind her.
Rafael placed one hand on the bed beside her shoulder.
Leaning down slightly.
Close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath.
His blue eyes studied her face.
Rainwater still clung to strands of her black hair, some of it sticking to her cheek.
Rafael reached forward and caught her chin again.
This time his fingers slid from her jaw to her throat.
Not squeezing.
Just resting there.
But the message was clear.
Maria's breath slowed.
"You look nervous," he murmured.
"I'm not."
Rafael smiled faintly.
"That was almost convincing."
His thumb brushed lightly across the side of her neck, feeling her pulse.
Fast.
He noticed.
"You disappear in the middle of the night."
His voice dropped lower.
"You come back from Adrian's house."
He tilted his head slightly.
"And then you walk into my room looking like this."
His gaze flicked briefly to the soaked dress.
Then back to her eyes.
"What exactly were you expecting to happen?"
Maria's fingers tightened slightly against the bedsheet.
"Nothing."
Rafael chuckled quietly.
"You should really try lying better."
Maria tried to move past him.
Rafael's hand tightened around her throat just enough to stop her.
Not choking.
Just holding her there.
His expression remained calm.
"Stay."
She froze.
Rafael leaned a little closer, his face only inches from hers now.
For a moment he simply looked at her.
The green of her eyes.
The small cut on her lip.
The stubborn way she refused to look afraid.
It seemed to entertain him.
"You know," he said softly, "most people in this house are terrified of me."
Maria frowned slightly.
"Good for them."
That earned a short laugh.
Rafael straightened slightly but didn't move away.
"You, on the other hand..."
His fingers slid slowly from her throat.
"...keep testing your luck."
Maria finally shifted off the bed the moment he let go.
Putting a little distance between them.
Rafael watched her quietly.
Then gestured lazily toward the wardrobe.
"Go change."
Maria hesitated.
Rafael tilted his head.
"Unless you plan to walk around my house like that all night."
She grabbed a dry dress from the wardrobe.
Just as she disappeared into the bathroom, Rafael spoke again.
His voice calm.
"Maria."
She stopped in the doorway.
"If I hear you've been visiting Adrian every night..."
A pause.
His eyes met hers again.
"I won't be asking questions next time."
The warning sat heavy in the air.
Then he added casually,
"Get dressed."
He picked up another cigarette from the table.
"And come to my office."
Maria looked at him for a moment.
Then quietly closed the bathroom door.
Rafael lit the cigarette slowly.
Smoke filled the room again.
And he waited.