Nolan's Evolution (6 page)

Nolan looked back at him seeing something. "What is your mischief Thanatos?"

“I thought you might take that path. Refuse to give a farewell." He lifted one blonde brow. Licking his lower lip he tried to summon some sort of bravery. He wasn't sure if this was going to end in a fight or in a handshake. "My mischief? Well simply this…and it's only from years of being around you that I know this.” Thanatos drew in a breath and looked his friend right in the eye. "That’s why I brought her with me.”

              Nolan’s eyes widened. You could see the gray of his eyes turned to a white fiery silver. He swallowed and met Thanatos glare. He had to work hard to control his temper at this moment. “You did what?”

              The green eyed one smiled… mischievously. It seemed he had finally gotten one over on his partner. He'd never seen Nolan so rattled. “Stay,” Thanatos barked softly, when he saw the flight in Nolan’s eyes. He turned toward his truck, and made a motion.

              Nolan’s mouth went dry when she stepped out of the vehicle. She was a perfect angel. No beauty could match her. He felt that ache in his heart and a pull right down deep in his soul. She was his match. His heart was in his throat. He gave a groan. “What are you doing to me?” The words were meant for Thanatos, but he couldn’t even grant him a glance. It would be impossible to pull them from the girl that slowly made her way to them.

              Raina bit back a sob, and the desire to run the remaining yards. She couldn’t get enough of him with her eyes. She wondered if he’d allow her touch, even just to hug him. Oh that beautiful face!

              She slowly inched toward him. It seemed like an eternity those few yards. But it was only a matter of seconds before she stood before him. She couldn't find the words and hoped that he would fill that silence for her.

“Hello, Raina,” Nolan whispered.

              She bit her lip, coming to a halt. The sound of his voice caused a tingle up her spine. “Nolan,” she whispered back.

              Thanatos grinned. “I am going to wait in the truck. You two… take your time.” He felt a bubble of pleasure, when neither even acknowledged him.

“You care for yourself, and come home safely.” He spoke to Nolan.

Nolan did nod at this, but he didn’t look away from Raina.

              “How are you?” Nolan’s voice sounded rough, he cleared his throat to clear the emotions.

              “I’m okay.”

              His hands had a mind of their own. They reached up and cupped her face.  “You aren’t eating,” he said gruffly. His thumbs brushed over the cheekbones that stood out more since the last time he saw her this close.

              “My protector telling on me?” She smiled gently. “I’m okay, Nolan…” She bit her lip, when his eyes clouded. Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. “No, I’m not okay.” She pulled in a shaking breath.

              His thumbs swiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks. “I miss you, Aelan,” he sighed.

              Raina closed her eyes. “You are going away?”

              “Yes.”

              The blues opened, and her lips trembled. “How long?”

              “I don’t know.”

              “You don’t know?”

              “It will be a long time,” he sighed.

              “Can I go with you?”

              “Raina, you know you can’t.”

              “I do,” she sobbed.

              He shook his head. “Don’t think for a moment that this is what I want, Raina; to be away from you? To not have you with me? That could not be farther from the truth! But this is how it is, my love. I need you to be strong. I need you to throw yourself into your teaching. I need you to live…even if it’s not with me!”

              She bit her lip to stop the trembling. “I don’t want you to go.” Her lip escaped her teeth to fall into a pout.

              He grinned; his thumb caressed the teeth marks on the lower lip. “You know what your pouting does to me.” He tilted his head. “It often gets you kissed.”

              Raina’s eyes lit, and fell closed, as he bent down to kiss her. He gentled her with his soft assault; his tongue gently touched the imprints left by her teeth. He felt her shiver slightly, and his hands left her face to pull her to himself. He sensed her surrender, and deepened his kiss. A sort of desperation set into him, when he realized he could be holding her for the last time. A groan ripped through his chest, and he lifted her up into his arms, increasing his attack.

              Raina’s fingers were in his hair. She was having much the same thoughts. She cared little that she was in an open parking lot, where anyone could happen upon them. She was in his arms and she was being touched, by him, and his scent was all around her. It was all she had been dreaming of, desiring, for months.

              Nolan’s arms flexed about her when she tugged his hair gently. Would he ever not feel this passion for her? He often pondered this, and he very much doubted it. Her soft breath, catching in excitement, set his heart to tumbling. He leaned back against the car, to support himself. His knees had become a little weak. He felt her nip at his lower lip, and chuckled. “Always so insistent.” He teased. He drug in a breath, and let her down slowly. The touch of her body against his was a sort of torture.

              Raina protested.

              “For my sanity, we must,” he whispered.

              She set her forehead against his chest, and worked to catch her own breath. “Don’t go,” she murmured into the front of his shirt.

              “I have no choice, Aelan.” He set a kiss against her hair.

              “Will you call me?” Her fingers dug into his sides.

              He cleared his throat. “No, Raina.” He felt her tense. “Love, this is goodbye for now.” The tension slackened, and turned into trembling.

              “If you leave…I may die.” Her voice was dead.

              “If you love me, you will take those words back,” he growled. He tipped her face up. “Take them back, Raina. Do not do that to me. You cannot put that on me.” His grey eyes beseeched hers.

              Raina’s pulse picked up. She saw his torment and his love. It was raw and it was real. “I will not die,” she admitted. “But I will feel like dying without you…these months have been…”

              He set his fingers gently over her lips. “Pure Hell. Yes, Raina, for me too.” He removed his fingers and tenderly kissed her again. “And I will pay for this too,” he sighed against her mouth. His lips played sweetly against the line of her jaw, up to her ear. “But it will be a cost well worth it.” He buried his face into her hair, and drew in her scent. “Do you know you are a necessity to me? I crave your scent…the sight of your flushed cheeks. This memory, right now, will haunt me in my dreams.” His fingers trailed her spine. “You have made a life of frustration for me, Aelan…beautiful frustration.” He nipped at her ear, and then gently began to set her from him.

              “No,” she protested. She knew with his strength holding her back would be no problem, so he didn’t fight hard because she easily stepped back into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his waist, and she pressed herself to him. “One more minute! I need just one more minute.”

              He smiled sadly, and his fingers began playing in her hair. He liked that he could feel her heart beat against his body. It pounded; much like his own. He allowed her one more minute, and then set her aside.

              She mournfully turned her face up to him.

              “We have to end now Raina, or I will not have the will power.” He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I love you.” He cupped her chin. “Listen to Thanatos.”

              She nodded. “I always do.”

              He looked pleased. “Go on then,” he whispered.

              She shook her head.

              “Go,” he sighed.

              “So that you can disappear from me again?”

              He growled, took her hand, and led her back to the truck where Thanatos waited.

              “Nice show,” Thanatos chuckled, when Nolan opened the door, and deposited Raina into the passenger seat. “Those girls from inside were certainly surprised you weren’t the ice prince they thought you were. They were very envious of Miss Raina here.”

              Nolan couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out. “Raina helped thaw me a bit.” He reached across and latched her into her seat belt.

              Raina blushed. She also fought the tears, knowing their goodbye was nearly complete.

              Nolan made sure she was secure, and then stole a quick kiss. He couldn’t help himself. God he was going to miss her. He looked to Thanatos. “Thank you for forcing this on me.”

              The green eyes softened. “I did it mostly for her.”

              Nolan chuckled.

              “Be safe my friend. I will watch over her. Keep me in the know.”

              Raina watched Nolan closely. She took his hand, when he went to move away.

              Nolan squeezed her fingers. “Don’t make me wake you up.”

              She smiled at this. “I love you, Nolan.”

              He grinned. “And I you, Aelan.” He trailed a finger down her cheek, and then he was gone, the door slamming shut.

              She blinked at the suddenness, and then they were driving away. She bit her cheek to prevent herself from crying.

              Nolan watched them pull away, and he swallowed hard. Oh yes, he would suffer over this little meeting. She’d be in his dreams tonight, and he would suffer.

              Turning about, he went for his car. All desire to take a run had left him. He needed to finish packing, and he had suddenly turned quite weary. He slumped into his car seat, and smelled her. She was on his shirt, on his hands, his lips. He needed to get home to wash her away, clear his head, so he could get done what needed done on the road before him. It was looking like a long road indeed.

Chapter 4 Friends

The next morning Raina awoke, still in a fog. She had come down from her euphoric delight of seeing Nolan and was now met with reality. But something had happened in that meeting. Something she had needed to feel. And that was that Nolan still loved her…still wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. Sure, he was doing something he felt was necessary and she would honor that but now she knew without a doubt he thought of her as often as she thought of him. She'd never give up hope that there was a way. This is not the end of them.

Instead of being depressed and morose, as she had been most mornings, Raina decided to be happy. After all, she did have a date with her friend. A smile crossed her that. Yes, she was going horseback riding with Thanatos. She giggled at this and, throwing back the covers, she went to prepare for her adventure.

Thanatos was prompt and true to his word, a lovely Stetson sat upon his head.

He tipped his hat in greeting giving a lopsided smile. "Morning ma'am," he drawled out.

She of course giggled at this. Gentlemanly Thanatos was not something she was used to. She did accept his arm as he helped her to the truck.

Their ride was relatively silent. Raina wondered if he was testing her emotions because of what she had gone through yesterday.

"It was the right thing to do," she said softly. "I needed that. Since seeing him, it's like something was lifted. Of course I'm sad I can’t be with him but I feel a bit normal. You think I’m crazy?" She peeked over at him nervous that indeed she might seem crazy.

"Not crazy at all, Raina. I was afraid you might be a little upset with me for talking you into it."

"After seeing him? Very little could make me upset." She blushed and glanced out the window. "You really can't tell me what he is going to be doing?"

"Not a chance, beautiful," he chuckled. "But don't worry about him. Nolan knows how to take care of himself. He's always been the capable one. The smart one." He peered over at her through his green gaze. "You think you're ready for your interview?"

"After seeing him, I feel like I will be better suited for my interview. I needed that, Thanatos, thank you." She gave him a small smile. "You're a good friend."

"What every man wants to hear from a pretty girl," he teased. He gave a shrug and kept his eyes on the road. "Thank you for that. Being your friend means more than I ever thought it could."