Betraying Innocence (21 page)

Rafe

She was already in the shower when Rafe cracked the door open a slit and forced the towel through. He dropped it on the counter and nearly crushed his wrist closing the door quickly,
before
he could give in to the little voice begging him to steal
just one little peek
. He hurried back to his room and closed the door, putting two barriers between him and the temptation calling him. This was so not the night for that. They had bigger problems to deal with.

With the face of the ghost imprinted into the back of his mind, he waded through the mess to his desk, shoved the articles of clothes, books and dishes off and booted up his laptop. While it started, he hurried around his room, scooping up bundles off the ground and tossing them into the closet. He kicked several things under his bed and quickly righted his bed. It wasn’t a vast improvement, but it looked less hostile with at least a small portion of the floor showing. It certainly didn’t feel as if the room was going to swallow them up alive.

He was at the computer, doing a search for ghosts and possessions when Ana crept into the room, looking impossibly inviting. Her hair fell in wet tendrils down her back and over the shoulders of his black t-shirt. The shirt itself was long and baggy, looking like a garbage bag on a doll. It hung down to her knees, which were covered — mercifully — by his black sweats, which she had rolled around the ankles to keep from tripping. She stood nibbling on her bottom lip, staring down at the bundle in her arms. Rafe had to restrain himself from shoving her back against the door and ravaging that mouth for her.

S
he jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “Bathroom’s free.”

The chair beneath him creaked as he rose. He told himself he was only going to pass her, walk out and use the bathroom. He told himself this over
and over, until he reached her and she peeked up at him through long, thick lashes dampened and spiky around mossy green eyes. He stopped before he could control the movement of his feet. He found himself leaning towards her, his senses clouded by the musky scent coming off her. A deep, appreciative growl slipped his throat.

“Rafe?” Her small, breathy voice had the beast inside stirring,
raised its head in ravenous hunger.

He shuddered. His fingers trembled as they looped a coil of her hair. He shifted closer, dusting the curve of her warm cheek with
the end of his nose. He felt rather than heard her sharp intake of air.

He smirked. “Addictive.”

“What is?”

He put a sliver of space between them, just enough to peer into her wide, darkened eyes. “The smell of me on your skin
.” He gave her hair a gentle tug. “I could get used to it.”

With a sly wink, he left her in his room and hurried to take a shower, trying the whole time not to imagine her in there only moments before.

She was sitting in his computer chair when he returned, rubbing a towel over his hair. She sat hunched, nose nearly touching the screen as she read some article. The pen in her right hand moved quickly across a scrap of paper, a sure sign she was taking notes. She turned in her seat when he walked in and softly closed the door behind him.

“I don’t
know what to look for,” she said. “I keep coming up with possession and hauntings, but I don’t…” She scooped a shaky hand back through her damp tresses.

Tossing his towel into the corner, Rafe crossed to her. He rested one hand on the back of her chair and the other on the desk as he leaned in to see the twisted loops of scarlet marring the pages on the screen.

It was some website on possession and how to do your own exorcism, with real videos. Rafe frowned as he drew away.

“I don’t think what we need will be on the
World Wide Web,” he said, deftly reaching over and closing all the windows she’d opened. “We need to go to the source. But in the meantime.” He turned to her, took her hand and guided her from the chair. “You need rest. You look exhausted.”

“I am exhausted,” she said. “But I need to know what’s going on.”

He gave her fingers a light squeeze as he tugged her to the bed. “And we’ll find out, but first things first.” He straightened his jumbled sheets. “Get in.”

Luminous green eyes met his. “I can’t stay here.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

“I don’t know.” She pressed the heel of her free hand into her temple. “I’m too tired to think.”

“Well, until you figure it out…”

She looked at him. “Where will you sleep?”

Rafe grinned. “You mean you won’t share the bed with me?”

Patches of pink replaced her ashen complexion. She dropped her gaze. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

With a snort, he nudged her down onto the mattress. “That’s all right. I’m used to girls not being able to keep their hands off me.”

He laughed when she rolled her eyes. Neither said anything as she curled onto her side. He pulled the sheets up and tucked them tightly
around her.

“Sleep,” he murmured. “I’ll be here when you wake up. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Apprehension glinted in her eyes. “Promise?”

He brushed back a curl off her cheek. “I promise.”

Ana

Ana woke to the soft caress of warm fingers lightly grazing the length of her nose, smoothing across her brow, down her cheek and over her lips. Her lashes fluttered once before flickering open.

Leaning up on his elbow,
Rafe offered her a lopsided grin when her sleep-crusted gaze locked on him. He lay on a crudely made bed on the ground and looked thoroughly tussled and bedraggled with his hair in disarray around his beautiful face.

“
Hey,” he murmured, his voice heart-trippingly husky.

Ana flushed
. “Hi.”

He let his fingers wander down to her chin. “It’s morning.”

She pushed upright on the mattress. Warm, golden light spilled across the foot of the bed from the slight break in the curtains. Ana blinked. “I slept the whole night,” she murmured, awed.

“
Like a rock,” he said. “How do you feel?”

A smile broke out across her face as her attention swung back to him. “I feel amazing. I feel
… awake!”

Rafe grinned as he
tossed back the blanket and leapt agilely to his feet. Ana was only partially relieved to see he wore black sweats slung low on his tapered hips. His chest and the wide set of his shoulders were bare to the early morning glow. He raised his long arms, reached for the ceiling, making every muscle along his torso coil like springs. Something popped and he gave an appreciative grunt as taut muscles slackened. He dropped his arms and sighed.

“
Good! You…” He turned to her and his words trailed off when their eyes met. His became dark and smoky.

Ana moistened her lips. “Thank you for letting me stay here and for what you did last night. I’m not sure I—”

He extended a hand to her. Ana nervously bit her lip before accepting and watching in amazement as his long fingers curled around hers, dwarfing her entire hand. She was drawn out of his bed and brought to stand before him. Her foot caught on the corner of his discarded blanket and she stumbled and was steadied by his free hand on her waist. The skin burned where his fingers rested lightly.

“I meant what I said last night,” he said quietly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Heart a wild mess in her chest, Ana could only stare up at him. Her spit lodged in her dry throat, taking several attempts before going down. The pit of her stomach fluttered the way it only did when Rafe was close.

“Come on,” he murmured. “I’ll walk you home.”

Still giddy and not trusting herself to speak, Ana quickly gathered her damp clothes from the previous night and followed him out of the room. They moved quickly and quietly down the steps towards the back door. Rafe slid the glass back and motioned her into the yard.

“Will you be okay?” he asked when they reached her back porch.

Hugging her nearly dry clothes to her chest, Ana shrugged. “I don’t know. I think so.”

Rafe reached for her. His fingers glided lightly down the length of her forearm to her wrist to finally wrap around her hand. “
Do you want me to come in with you?”

She laughed, the sound coming out shaky. “And risk getting killed by my dad?”

His features never wavered from their determined set. “I don’t care. I’ll stay if you want me to.”

Her smile vanished
as her heart did a hard flip. She turned her hand and threaded her fingers through his. Without letting herself think about it, she went up on her toes and brushed a kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

But rather than let her retreat, his free arm snaked around her middle and she was drawn against him. His warm breath heated the side of her face. She released his hand and raised her arms to slip around his neck. Her fingers tunneled through the silk strands of his hair. His hold on her tightened.

“I’ll come get you in an hour,” he murmured into her ear.
“Wait for me?”

Ana nodded. The tip of her nose brushed his shoulder with ever
y bob.

He kissed her temple before stepping back, but
did not release her. She could see the hesitation on his face, and smiled.

“I’ll be okay.”

He continued to hesitate, but with a reluctant nod, let his arms fall away.

Ana gave him a final grin before turning to the back
door and slipping inside.

The moment she closed the door behind her, between her and Rafe, she instantly wished she’d let him come in with her. The early pre-dawn hadn’t reached the silence of her house and dark shadows pooled in every corner, sinister shapes waiting to pounce.
She felt her stomach roil and her palms grow damp. Every nerve in her body ached with the urge to yank the door open once more and beg him not to leave her alone.

Instead, she found herself moving through the kitchen towards the hallway. Her gaze went to the basement door and her
insides coiled with icy dread. Her teeth chattered. She cut half-moon grooves into the heel of her hands as she balled them at her sides. The heavy silence amplified the hard crack of her heart as she braced her spine and closed the distance at a sprint. She made it all the way up to her room before expelling the breath wedged in her lungs. She trembled so hard, her bones rattled.

Queasy and unsteady, she went to the closet and quickly prepared for school.

Both her parents were in the kitchen, murmuring over steaming mugs of coffee and buttered slices of toast when Ana returned downstairs, fully dressed. She dumped her bag next to the door before venturing the rest of the way inside.

“Morning,”
she said, moving to the fridge.

“Morning,” her mother said, nipping into a piece of toast.

“How’d you sleep?” her father asked, straightening away from the counter.

Tactfully avoiding their gazes, Ana shrugged. “Fine.” Still not meeting their
eyes, she snatched a yogurt cup and retreated to the sink.

“Are you sure you’re well enough to go in today?” her mother asked. “I know the school won’t mind if you stayed home.”

Back turned on them, Ana rolled her eyes. She snatched a spoon from the cutlery drawer and fisted her hand around the handle tight.

“I’m fine,” she said. And of course the school would be okay with her staying home, she thought bitterly. Why would they want a crazy person attending?
It was a wonder they hadn’t found a reason to expel her altogether.

“But if you aren’t—”

“But I am!” Ana pivoted on her heels and rounded on her parents. “I’m fine. I don’t even have a headache.” Which was true. That night had been the first time since the move that she’d actually slept. She felt refreshed and alert.

“We only want you to be all right,” her mother said. “You can’t be angry with us for that, Ana.”

With an agitated sigh, Ana closed her eyes. “I know. I’m sorry, but I really am fine.”

Mom raised both hands in surrender and let the matter drop.

Dad sipped his coffee, glanced at his watch and cursed. “I’m going to be late.” He grabbed his keys and wallet off the counter and hastily stuffed them into his pockets. “Do you need a ride?” he asked Ana.

Ana shook her head. “I’m good.
Thanks.”

Hurriedly, he pressed a kiss to his wife’s cheek, waved at Ana and jogged from the kitchen. A moment later, the front door opened then closed shut.

Ana tore the cover off her yogurt and dunked her spoon into the bananas and strawberries. She kept one eye on the clock while she ate, counting down the minutes until Rafe picked her up.

She’d just finished licking her spoon clean when there was a soft knock at the front door.

Her mother straightened and twisted around in her seat. “Who could that be?”

Ana’s heart jumped a second before she
pushed away from the counter, hurried down the hall and shouted, “I’ll get it!”

Without missing a beat, she grabbed the knob, twisted and wrenched the door open. Her smile died on her face. Her eyebrows creased in confusion.

“Vinny?”

Vinny Andrews
stood on the threshold. He looked as neatly groomed and polished as ever in his creaseless jeans and blue sweater. His sandy brown hair was combed to the side, away from the green of his eyes and he was smiling charmingly.

“Good morning,” he said.

Giving her head a shake, Ana caught herself. “I’m sorry. Good morning.” She hesitated a split second before adding, “What are you doing here?”

His smile became uncertain. His mouth opened, but whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the loud crack of her mother’s heels as she joined Ana at the door.

“Yes?” Mom said, looking Vinny over.

Vinny instantly straightened. “Hello, Mrs. French. I’m Vincent Andrews. You met my father yesterday at—”

“Yes!” her mother said, realization dawning. “It’s nice to meet you, Vincent. What brings you all the way out here this early in the morning?”

Vinny beamed at her. “Dad suggested I swing by on my way and pick Ana up for school.”

Inwardly, Ana cursed. Her gaze darted past Vinny to the driveway, relieved to find that Rafe hadn’t arrived yet.

“That’s so kind of you,” her mother was saying when Ana returned to the conversation.
“Especially since it’s completely out of your way.”

Vinny shrugged. “We’re a close town. We like helping each other out.”

“Aw, that is so sweet!”

For someone who claimed small towns
creeped her out, her mother looked positively infatuated by the whole show of neighborly support. Ana would have rolled her eyes if she could without getting caught.

“Ana, isn’t that sweet?” Her mother’s elbow gouged into her side, bringing Ana back to the present.

“Very,” she replied, giving him the best smile she could muster. “Unfortunately, I already have someone picking me up.”

Her mother blinked. “Who?”

Smile held tightly in place by force, Ana replied, “A friend.”

“Wh
at friend?”

She did roll her eyes this time. “I
do have friends, Mom.”

Vinny broke in before Mom could respond. “Oh, that’s fine then. I’ll see you at school.”

With a polite inclination of his head, he turned on his heels and skipped down the steps. Ana and her mom watched as he sprinted to the shiny gray BMW parked behind her mother’s Mercedes. He threw open the driver’s door, paused to give her a wave and climbed in. A moment later, he was backing out of the driveway.

“That was horribly rude,” her mother said once he was out of sight.

Ana squinted. “How?”

Her mom closed the door and turned to her. “
He came all the way down here to do a nice thing for you—”

“Yeah, but I didn’t ask him to.
” Ana turned back towards the kitchen. “Plus, it would have been ruder if I just stood up my friend.”

Her mother followed as Ana went to retrieve her backpack. Her wary gaze burned holes into Ana’s spine.

“What friend?” her mother pressed.

Ana hoisted her bag up off the floor and swung it on. She delayed answering by adjusting the straps and tugging her hair free
. But it became apparent her mother wasn’t about to let up on the question.

“
Rafe,” she said.

Her mother folded her arms. “
Why didn’t you just say that?”

Ana shrugged, throwing her arm
s open wide. “Maybe because I don’t know. That’s why.”

Mom’s brows furrowed into a knot of impatience. “What—”

A quiet knock echoed through the house. Ana’s heart jumped and her stomach muscles tightened. She knew beyond a reasonable doubt that this time, it would most definitely be Rafe.

Sure enough, when her mother beat her to the door and threw it open, it was Rafe standing on the porch, fully clad in torn jeans,
a rumpled AC/DC t-shirt and a battered jacket in soft, black leather. He looked nothing like Vinny. He was so utterly the opposite of Vinny that it was shocking. He was also the ideal image of that one guy every parent in the world warned their daughters against, rugged and dangerous. He was gorgeous.

Eyes the color of
warm honey went straight for Ana. They swept down over her once before settling on her face. There was relief on his.

“Hey
.” he said to her before he turned his attention to her mother, who stood with a disapproving scowl turning down the corners of her mouth. “Good morning, Mrs. French.”

If his polite greeting was supposed to appease her mother, it failed miserably. Her eyes narrowed
further until she glowered at him through thin strips.

“
Good morning Rafe,” she said, not unkindly. “You look well today.”

“
I had a fantastic sleep.” Face completely blank, he turned to Ana. “Ready?”

“
Yeah.” Ana said, inching her way over the threshold to join him. “I’ll see you after school. Love you.”