The moment her heel grazed the inside of his thigh, Raphael let go of her. Just like that. The hand on her stockinged leg withdrew, and he stepped back—gentlemanly, composed.
Grace blinked, disoriented. Just seconds ago, she’d been melting into his kiss, wrapped in that warm, pine-scented embrace of his. Now, suddenly pulled away, a wave of loss swept over her.
She hadn’t meant to push him away—not really. It was just that his touch on her thigh had made her go all soft and tingly, and her instincts had kicked in. But now she was sure she must’ve hurt him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine. Not your fault.” Raphael’s voice was low and rough, still edged with breathlessness. But his eyes… dark, stormy, unreadable. Like fog that refused to lift.
Grace didn’t know what to do. She sh
