First kiss or not?

Rafael woke up with a start, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of where he was. The memories of the last few hours, Marco, the massage, and the overwhelming tension between them sowly filtered back.

He glanced over and realized with a jolt that he was still lying beside Marco, his hand dangerously close to the mafia lord's. Marco was still asleep, his breathing slow and steady. Rafael's eyes traced the strong lines of Marco's face; the sharp jaw, the slightly parted lips, the thick lashes resting against his cheek.

Without thinking, Rafael's hand moved on its own, lightly tracing the outline of Marco's face, as if committing every detail to memory. He traced his fingers from Marco's forehead to his nose, and then down to his lips. Those lips were incredibly alluring and tempting, and Rafael found himself salivating.

He inched closer, even though his mind raced with every warning not to cross the line. Ignoring the mental admonitions, he continued to close the distance between their faces, reducing the space between them significantly.

Just as Rafael's lips were about to touch Marco's, he felt a rush of air against his face. His eyes snapped open to find Marco staring at him, an expression of surprise etched on his features. Both of them locked into a silent, intense gaze.

Rafael pulled back, his heart racing, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. He struggled to regain his composure, trying to play it cool despite his frantic pulse. "Are you okay, sir?" he asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper.

Marco's expression shifted from shock to amusement. Rafael, still reeling from the close encounter, couldn't understand the reason behind Marco's changing expressions. Was Marco amused by the near kiss, or was it something else entirely?

As Rafael touched his lips, trying to hide his shame, he kept his gaze down, avoiding Marco's eyes. He felt a firm grip on his hand and looked up, startled.

"What are you so nervous about?" Marco asked, his tone soft but curious. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, struggling to find the right words.

Finally, he managed, his voice tinged with confusion, "When did I fall asleep?"

"Ah… it's been a while, sir," Rafael replied cautiously, still wary of Marco's reaction. He was trying to navigate the delicate balance between maintaining his cover and dealing with his own feelings.

Even though Marco was his crush and the stakes were high, Rafael had to stay focused. His position was precarious, and any slip-up could jeopardize everything.

"I'm sorry," Rafael said, scratching his neck awkwardly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I also fell asleep after massaging you. I did, after you did that."

Marco didn't seem to catch his words initially, so Rafael had to inch closer, leaning in to repeat his apology. The proximity created a palpable tension between them, their breaths mingling as Rafael spoke, "I... I'm really sorry."

Marco, feigning ignorance, remained silent, allowing the tension to build. Rafael's heart raced as he leaned in even closer, their breaths now fanning each other's faces. The closeness was electric, and Rafael could feel the heat between them.

"I believe I saw your sweet, luscious lips when I opened my eyes," Marco finally said, his voice low and sultry. "I must admit... they were a great sight to wake up to."

As Marco spoke, his hand slid down to squeeze Rafael's buttocks, causing him to jump in shock. Marco's touch was bold, and Rafael's eyes widened in surprise.

"I thought I told you to wait," Marco continued, his gaze darkening with desire. He leaned in, their lips almost touching, the tension between them reaching a fever pitch.

Just as Marco was about to close the gap for a kiss, the sound of a knock on the door disrupted them. Marco's secretary barged in, interrupting the charged moment. The spell was broken, and both men were left in a state of stunned silence.

"Oh… I'm sorry, sir," Patrick quickly retreated, a blush creeping onto his cheeks as he saw their tangled posture.

Rafael, equally embarrassed, blurted out of Marco's hold, his heart racing as if he had done something wrong. He buried his face in his hands, his cheeks flushed red with shame.

Marco's eyes darted from the door to Rafael, who had retreated to the far side of the bed. He smirked before standing up.

"Follow me," Marco said to Rafael, his tone firm and commanding. He walked toward the door without waiting for a response.

As the door opened, Rafael was finally able to calm down and remove his hands from his face. He was terrified but questioned why he felt this way. Had he truly done something wrong? The internal conflict was intense.

Rafael's thoughts were chaotic. If he started working fully for his rival and still had an intimate relationship with Marco, he would be betraying his own values. The idea of becoming a part of Marco's world, despite his internal struggle, was overwhelming.

His heart was torn between accepting the brewing sexual tension and rejecting it. He knew he had to choose carefully.

As he continued to think, he heard his name being called softly from behind the door.

He rose from the bed and walked to the door before opening it. There, he saw both Marco and Patrick, their expressions serious.

Marco's face was fierce and hard as he met Rafael's gaze. "Come with me," he said urgently. "You're following me to the base."

"Master?" Patrick asked, his expression puzzled as he looked between Marco and Rafael.

"Don't worry," Marco said coldly, addressing Patrick. "He can't do anything. If anything, my invitation will only instill fear in him. He will never be able to betray me or even think about it…"

Rafael stood there, looking like a lamb about to be led to slaughter. He had no idea where he was being taken but felt a rising sense of dread..