He took a step closer, completely ignoring the couple waiting by the door. His scent wrapped around me completely: imported cologne mixed with that raw man smell that always left me dizzy.
“Shy? You?” He let out a low laugh, shaking his head. His eyes kept roaming over me, damn near devouring me. “Fuck, if you weren’t my cousin…”
Before I could answer, he turned to Carol and Murilo:
“Changed my mind. On second thought, I’ll head to Rua das Pedras with you guys.”
Carol raised an eyebrow, surprised. Murilo gave a sly little grin but stayed quiet. Diego, though, turned all the way back to me like I was the only one there.
“Want me to keep you company, Rafa?” he asked, voice lower, almost intimate.
I froze for a few seconds. That Diego… the same guy who lived in the clubs, never missed a party, and always had a crowd of girls chasing him… was ditching Privilège to stay with me?
My heart was pounding so hard I was sure he could hear it. Heat rushed up my chest, a mix of shame, thrill, and that forbidden want I had no business feeling for him.
“Yeah…” I managed, barely above a whisper, but with a shy smile I couldn’t hold back. “I… I’d love that.”
He smiled that smile that always turned my legs to water. He reached out, and when I took his fingers, a shiver shot straight up my arm. His touch was warm, firm… and he held on a second longer than he needed to.
We got to Rua das Pedras and the night was exactly how I liked it—loud, packed, music spilling out of every bar.
After wandering around, we ducked into my favorite creperie. The place was slammed, like always during Carnival, but we scored a table toward the back, right by the big screen playing a Rihanna video. The heavy bass thumped through the floor, matching the pulse I felt low in my belly.
Diego pulled my chair out. When I sat, my skirt slid higher on my thighs and I caught him tracking the movement with his eyes. He sat right beside me, so close our legs brushed under the table. Carol and Murilo were already in their own world across from us, trading kisses and giggles.
Diego grabbed the menu and asked what I wanted. I went with a strawberry caipivodka, Carol ordered her usual Blue Lagoon, and the guys got vodka with energy drink.
We were laughing and talking easy when I noticed two guys at the next table straight-up staring at me. Diego noticed too.
“They won’t stop looking at you,” he murmured.
I shrugged like I didn’t care, but inside I was buzzing, feeling hot, wanted, and powerful.
“Probably just looking at Carol,” I said with a little smirk.
He gave a short laugh and looked me dead in the eyes, serious:
“No, Rafa. They’re looking at you.” He paused, voice dropping. “I’ve told you you’re gorgeous before, right?”
My face burned. I must’ve gone bright red, but I held his stare.
“Yeah…” I said softly, biting my lower lip. I took a breath, found some nerve, and added, still looking at him, “But you can say it again… I like hearing it.”
Diego smiled that smile that could melt anyone. We’d already had a few drinks, so he was looser. He leaned in closer, knee pressing against mine under the table, and spoke right into my eyes:
“You look even better like this… all flushed and smiling that way.”
A flutter hit my stomach. My face got hotter, but I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Stop, Diego…” I muttered, voice coming out soft and whiny.
“I’m just being honest,” he said, taking a slow sip, eyes still locked on me.
“Liar,” I shot back, nervous, the first thing that popped into my head.
I turned toward the screen and pretended to watch Rihanna. I knew if I looked at him again I’d grin like a total idiot—that dumb, nervous smile soaked in want, impossible to hide. It felt like trying to stay steady while a quake of nerves and pure lust threatened to knock me over.
Diego kept staring. Every time our eyes met he gave me that dangerous smile that made my stomach flip and heat crawl up my whole body, mixing shame with raw excitement.
I stayed caught in that look, imagining all kinds of forbidden shit… until the waitress showed up with the crepes that made my mouth water just from the smell. The sweet-salty aroma yanked me back to the table. I took a deep breath, smiled, and forced myself to focus on the food for a minute.
I ordered another strawberry caipivodka, hoping the booze would take the edge off the crazy tension in my chest. The crepes were hot and perfect, and for a little while I managed to distract myself, playing with the soft dough between my fingers.
When we finished, Diego flagged the waiter, paid the whole bill without letting anyone argue, and turned to me with those hazel eyes that always hooked me.
“So… you feel like taking a walk?”
My heart did a full flip. I lost my breath for a second, swallowed hard, tried to play it cool and said:
“Let’s go. I’m down.”
The second we stepped outside, Carol turned to her brother and said loud enough for me to hear:
“Take good care of Rafa, alright?” Her smile dropped and she got serious, tossing out a light threat: “Or you’ll answer to me.”
Then she looked at me, mouthed “behave,” and winked.
I rolled my eyes and laughed, feeling a little chill in my stomach. Behaving was the last thing I wanted that night. If it were up to me, I’d get completely lost with him.