Beneath the Velvet Sky

Chapter 5: Cracks in the Armor

Even the strongest armor cracks under the weight of unspoken truths.

Elysia awoke with a dull ache spreading through her body, every muscle sore from the intensity of the previous night. She blinked her eyes open, the soft light filtering through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the bedroom. Her mind raced through fragments of the night—Rafael pushing her to her limits, her body responding despite her inner resistance. The soreness was a subtle reminder of how effortlessly her body had surrendered, defying her intention to remain in control.

Sitting up slowly, Elysia winced, her hand instinctively going to her ribs. She glanced over to the corner of the room, where Rafael stood by the large window, sipping his coffee. His posture was calm, collected, in stark contrast to the storm of emotions swirling inside her. That calm demeanor, after everything they'd gone through, made her blood boil.

Rafael, still unaware of her glare, stood silently, watching the ocean beyond the villa's horizon. The sight of him—so composed, so sure of himself—sent a fresh wave of frustration through her.

"You took advantage of me last night," Elysia spat, her voice breaking the quiet morning air. The accusation felt sharp, but underneath it was something more—her confusion, her anger at herself as much as at him.

Rafael turned slowly, his brow lifting in surprise. A brief flicker of amusement crossed his face, but it quickly faded. "Good morning to you too, tesoro," he said, his tone soft yet deliberate. "I thought you'd appreciate the rest." There was no smirk, no arrogance—just a trace of confusion, as if he didn't understand the depth of her anger.

She threw back the covers and stood, legs shaky but her resolve steady. "This isn't about rest, Rafael. You've been controlling me since the moment I let you into my life." Her voice trembled with rage. "You had no right—no right to push me like that. Jacob never used to do that."

At the mention of his control, Rafael's expression shifted, his face darkening. His jaw clenched, but he held his ground. "Don't bring him into this," he warned, his voice low, the palpable strain growing thicker between them.

"Don't you dare dismiss him!" Elysia shot back, stepping closer, fists clenched. "Jacob never treated me like you do. He didn't push me to the edge just to prove a point."

Rafael's hands balled into fists at his sides. "Respected you? Did that save him? Did that protect you and the girls?" His voice grew colder, frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I'm the one here, Elysia. Jacob left you with memories—I'm here protecting you."

Elysia's chest heaved, her emotions a volatile mix of grief and fury. "Jacob was good, Rafael! He knew how to love me—without making me feel powerless. He didn't need control to prove his strength."

Rafael's eyes flared with anger, but beneath that was a raw vulnerability he couldn't quite hide. "Don't you ever compare me to him," he growled, stepping closer. "You know I've always been the one dealing with the fallout. Do you really want to push me into that corner?"

Her lips curled in defiance. "This isn't about pushing you. It's about what you think love means."

His face darkened further. But instead of lashing out, Rafael turned away, his hands gripping the edge of the windowsill. "You always run back to him," he said, his voice quieter now, tinged with an uncharacteristic sadness. "But he's not here, Elysia."

She stepped closer, her voice shaking with emotion. "He's not here because of what happened to him, Rafael. But you—" She swallowed hard. "You make me feel like I'm losing him all over again."

Rafael turned back to her, the anger fading from his face, replaced by something softer, something unresolved. "You're not losing him," he said quietly. "But I need you to stop running from me."

For a moment, the space between them grew heavy with everything unsaid, their anger fading but leaving behind an electric undercurrent that neither could deny.