Page 31 of The Wedding Pact

He knows how good he looks doing this, that’s totally clear. And I can’t blame him for being cocky about it. I would be too if I was as good as he is.

I throw my hands up in the air in playful defeat, but we continue to dance, glancing at each other every now and again and grinning.

Clearly, he’s enjoying himself.

As am I.

The way he’s looking at me now is hella sexy too, his bright eyes flashing with exhilaration.

The alcohol I’ve been drinking seems to have given me wings and my blood feels fizzy and hot in my veins. In fact, my entire body is burning, but not because it’s warm in here. It’s something much more dangerous. I fear it’s lust.

Damn it.

And now I’m going to have to spend the rest of the week in Raffa’s company without giving in to these intense feelings of wanting him. Wanting something from him that he’s clearly not interested in giving.

I haven’t yearned for someone like this in a really long time.

But I’m afraid that if I let myself get involved with him – more involved – he’d ruin other men for me.

And if I can’t have him fully, I shouldn’t go anywhere near having just a bit of him.

Too much yearning is bad for the mindset. It can drive you crazy.

I know this.

I know it too well.

But it doesn’t stop me wanting him.

6

RAFFA

After we finally stop dancing, both of us tired now and thirsty, we go back to the pool bar to watch the sun set into the brilliantly turquoise sea.

The excitable partygoers seem to be making the most of the free bar and are getting more drunk and definitely much louder as the night draws in.

Ida and I keep to the outskirts of the group, choosing a sofa as far away from the epicentre as possible and ordering drinks to our table.

I made sure to speak to as many people as possible earlier, in order to get all the pleasantries out of the way so we could relax later. Everyone we spoke to seemed to be fascinated by our relationship and Ida did a great job of being chatty and interesting – as well as asking people plenty of questions about themselves – without letting any one person hog our attention for too long.

I can see why her show’s become so successful with her at the helm.

Everyone seems to be keeping a respectful distance from us now though, as if they’ve sensed we’re happy in our own little world of coupledom and don’t want to be approached.

Our fake relationship appears to be doing its job.

‘This is so much fun,’ Ida says, her grin wide as she gazes around her at the festivities.

I prop my head on my hand and lean my elbow against the back of the sofa. ‘So, you’re glad you said yes to my crazy proposal?’ I ask.

‘Sure am. It’s one of the best decisions I ever made.’

I nod slowly. ‘But the wildest?’

‘Yeah. But I’m quite partial to “wild” and I thought you sounded like a fun guy in your DMs so it wasn’t a hard decision.’

I smile at this. ‘I appreciate your faith in me.’