Vixen - a dark romance story

Chapter 42

Ray Valentino

Chris ran a hand through his hair, mussing it up even further, his gaze turning distant.

"When I first saw you," he began, nostalgia creeping into his tone, "with your untamable hair, and sharp instincts. I knew that it would be the right fit. You're good at getting what you want, and you're not afraid to use your charms. A vixen is a female fox and you're just like one - quick, dangerous, cunning. A beautiful mystery."

He paused, his gaze returning to her face as if attempting to capture her every nuance and expression. Then, a sweet, dimpled smile broke through, softening his usually hardened features.

"And it suited you perfectly," he added, his tone softer. "My little vixen, always ready to sink her fangs into her prey."

Ray tried to play it off, but his accented voice and that smile made it difficult to keep composure. Fortunately, her tan skin helped mask the schoolgirl blush that was surely spreading across her cheeks.

She looked away and concentrated on her eating. The food suddenly didn't taste that bad.

Her eyes flicked back to him, taking in his strong body and faint scars, and her gut tightened. He looked like a Greek god, with all the hard lines and muscles like he had been sculpted from stone.

His presence was dominating the room, like a wolf in his kingdom. His every move and word seemed to be designed to draw her in and make her feel small and helpless.
Yet, at the same time, it was enticing, it made her want to get closer, to let him have his way with her, to submit to his will. Her chest heaved, and she forced herself to look aside again.

Ray could sense his penetrating gaze on her like a tangible touch. It felt as though he could see right through her, like he already knew about the secret desires and dirty fantasies that were swirling through her mind.

"Aren't you going to eat something ?" She blurted.

He chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. Either he was oblivious to her sudden change of subject, or he was enjoying her attempts at distraction.

"I was waiting to see if you'd finish that," he pointed to her plate with his chin, his tone somewhat challenging. "Give me a bite."

She glanced back down at her plate, realizing that the omelette was almost gone. Caught up in her thoughts, she hadn't paid attention to how much she had eaten. But there's no way in hell he'd have a bite of this abomination.

"No, that's mine." Ray picked up the last remaining bit with her fork, and shoved it into her mouth.

He watched her with a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief before he burst out laughing, the sound loud and unexpected.

"You're making that weird face again,"

She shook her head, a small giggle slipping free. "Don't know what you're talking about."

While he kept chuckling at her, she couldn't help but find him annoyingly charming. The laugh lines that crinkled around his eyes, the way his dimples deepened with each laugh, and how his smile lit up his entire face - it made her stomach churn with affection.

Ray smiled back.

She struggled to recall the last time he had laughed so freely, without the shadow of stress or work hanging over him. It was easy to forget how charismatic he could be when he wasn't barking orders or scolding her for not being professional.
But seeing him like this, comfortable and easy-going with a huge grin on his face, allowed her to glimpse the man beyond the hardened mafia boss persona.
This was the man she had fallen for—the one hidden underneath the strong exterior, the one with the warm laughter, the 20-something compassionate boy with a kind heart and a troubled past.

When the laughter faded, a heavy silence settled around them. She could feel the weight of the moment, the memories that haunted them both. The hurt of his leaving flooded back, along with the long, torturous months that ensued.

Yes, he might have done the right thing. Yes, his decision was selfless. But the pain was no less real, no less devastating. She had felt unlovable, lost, and abandoned, as if a piece of her soul had been torn away.

Could she truly trust him not to hurt her again?

Ray knew that she was risking everything by giving him a second chance, that she shouldn't let her guard down so soon, that history could repeat itself and he could rip out what remained of her heart. But the more she looked at him, the more her resolve slipped.

She mentally cursed herself for being so weak. She had been doing so well for two years, keeping her feelings at bay, keeping her distance. But all it took was a few words, a dance, and a laugh, and she was ready to give herself to him all over again.

There she sat, facing him, feeling the same flame ignite within her stronger than before. Her mind was telling her to be careful, to tread gently, but her heart was singing a different tune - a tune of love and forgiveness.