The Beckoning of Broken Things (The Beckoning Series) (10 page)

“C-c-c-c-cold, so c-c-c-c-cold,” Rafe says to me through teeth that are going to rattle out of his jaws if I don’t figure out how to help him. “C-c-can’t stop sh-sh-shaking. C-c-can’t stop.”

“Help! Someone help! I need a doctor!” I shout. I thought maybe some of El Demonio’s staff would be wandering around
, but I guess Daniel’s protection spell took care of that. “Shit! What the hell am I going to do?”

“N-n-need t-t-touch. T-t-touch me.”

I place my hands on his t-shirt. The guy is shivering like a rattlesnake tail.

“S
-s-skin. N-n-need s-s-skin.”

Rafe looks like he’s in agony.
His eyes are squeezed shut. He’s sweating profusely. He’s rocking and rolling on the concrete and stone around the pool. If I don’t come up with something, his skin is going to be scraped from his body, leaving a bloody mass of muscle. I grab Sober’s paw and place it on Rafe’s arm.

“God, n-n-no, M
-m-marissa, n-n-not the d-d-dog. S-s-skin. Human s-s-skin.”

I take a deep breath and place my hand
on his cheek. He grabs my hand and squeezes it so hard I wonder if the bones are going to be crushed. An erratic, chaotic sensation flows up my arm, like someone is rearranging my thought process, jiggling my insides and wreaking havoc on my nervous system. This is followed by the most intoxicating sense of arousal. And there it is again - it’s like I’ve never been touched in my life, and I’m about to experience the best sex I’ve ever had, or could hope to have, ever. I’m filled with the excitement of the unknown, the forbidden, the promise of love and adoration. I imagine that vast secrets and pools of mystery are about to be revealed.

Rafe’s trembling body starts to soothe.
The violent quakes become shudders. The shudders turn into slight trembles. He slowly unfolds and starts to stretch out in the sun. He’s now aroused, too, hard as one of those Hindi lingam stones you see on “travel to far away temples” brochures, and I want to climb on top and slide away, giving myself over to an onslaught of new sensation.

Instead of hurting, my crushed hand is pulsing with pleasure. If an orgasm could be had through the hand, I’m having one. “
Rafe,” I say through clenched teeth. I sure wish it didn’t feel so good to be touching him.

His eyes are still closed. “What?’

“Can you let go of me, please?”

“I don’t want to.”

“I’m going to have to insist.”

“Insist away. This feels great. This feels better than any sexual encounter I’ve ever had in my life.”

I don’t know what to say to that. I mean, I’m happy for the guy and all, but he’s having that experience with
me
and I’m not available. Right now I
want
to be. God help me, I
want
the man. But I know it’s just an illusion, and I also know what Daniel could do to the guy. Or, rather, I know what he was capable of a week ago. Now, the extent of his powers make
me
want to
shudder and quake. “Come on, Rafe, let go.”

“Nope.”

His hips are rocking slightly
, and I swear to God, it feels like those hips are thrusting inside of me. My hips want to pick up the cadence and make sweet music with him. He’s amazingly strong, and he seems to bear down on my hand even harder. I shake my head and roll my eyes.
Here goes.
In my mind, I pick up a paintbrush and paint my hand with oily lotion. As the slick, fragrant substance I have imagined into form spreads across my palm and fingers, I slowly slide free from his grip.

Rafe moans as if he’s in pleasured agony.

It does feel pretty darn good to slide skin on skin with the guy. Now he’s got just the tip of my finger and the focused sensation in my fingertip is a throbbing, pulsating ache. Gathering my will, I pull away from him. I’m breathing hard. My skin is glowing bright and brilliant. I draw my hand up to my nose and inhale deeply.
God, it even smells like sex.
I feel ashamed that I’ve let Rafe have this effect on me - me, the soul bound lover to Daniel Navid.
Still, he did bind me without my choosing.

Tears leak out of Rafe’s closed eyes.
They drip, drip, drip on the hot surface and evaporate within seconds. He opens them and turns his head to lock his soulful, seemingly innocent blue eyes with mine. “Thank you. I’m afraid that’s the first of many episodes I’m going to have.”

“We can’t keep doing it this way.”

“The touch.” He states it flatly. “I know.” He pushes up to sitting. Sober wanders over and licks his face. “Thanks, mutt.” He fingers the dog’s ruff and cocks his head to look at me. His eyes flick to something behind me. I turn to see what he’s looking at, as he bolts to standing, leaps, and shoves me out of the way, just as a flaming arrow zips through the air and lands with a thunk in a tree in the middle of the garden surrounding the pool. After scanning the surroundings, he races over to shield me.

I shriek and push Rafe off of me. This much contact will overwhelm
me. We both vault to standing and look around wildly. I race over to the arrow, pluck it from the trunk, and pitch it into the pool before it catches the backyard on fire.
So much for the protection spells,
I think darkly.

A voice booms. “I believe I have your attention.”

“Who are you?” I ask.

“
Armando Navid, of course. I see my son has chosen wisely. He’s bound himself to a disloyal young woman, consorting with the Stealth Numen while he’s trapped in darkness. Very smooth, Ms. Engles.”

“You know nothing about me or how loyal I am.
Where are you? How can you see us? I can’t see you.”

“That’s because you are an am
ateur, Ms. Engles. Les enfants.”

“It’s a mental trick, Marissa,” Rafe whispers in my ear.

My head pivots in his direction, but I can’t see him. I can only see a shimmer, like the kind you see emanating from hot asphalt in the summer. “What do you mean?” I whisper, hoping he can hear me.

“It means he probably read about our escape or saw it on the news, just like anybody.
He’s just projecting his voice.”

“How does he know where we are?”

“He tracked our signatures. Sorcery 101. I’m humming with Haldol, you don’t know what you’re doing yet…we should have covered our tracks.” He pauses. “Still, he doesn’t know we’re here together. He’s just guessing.”

“The Stealth Numen isn’t with me,” I shout. “He took off once we got here. He’s a traitor.” I wait, head cocked, listening.
“Did you hear me?”

“Yes, I heard you.
That means you’re both vulnerable and accessible. Rafe has done his job well. He works for me, you know.”

My head whips around, searching for Rafe. All I see is the shimmer.
“What does he mean, you work for him?” I hiss.

“I can explain.”

“You’d better. I’ll toss your ass out of here. Then let’s see how you deal with your withdrawal.” I turn in the direction of the voice. “Don’t you think a formal introduction is in order? You’re like my father-in-law, Armando. Come out where I can see you.”

“He won’
t be able to do that,” Rafe whispers. “Good job calling his bluff.”

“That can come at another time.
For now, I just wanted to get your attention, and let you know I’ll be watching you. Consider yourself warned.”

“Duly noted
!” I shout. “I’m so scared.”

“You should be. I’m far older and more skilled tha
n you.”

“I’ve got beginner’s luck.”

“That can only get you so far, Ms. Engles. We’ll be in touch.” A loud pop indicates his departure.

“How the hell did he do that? Daniel put protection spells around the property.”

Rafe falls into view again as if he stepped through a looking glass. “Yeah, I sensed your boyfriend’s spell. That’s why I said the old man won’t be able to reveal himself.” He shrugs. “Armando employed a sorcerer’s trick. I’ll bet your dark lover stitched a teensy weensy hole in the protection that only he knew about. His father, being his father, would be able to guess where that hole was. That’s how he got the arrow in here and how he was able to project his voice.”

“That makes no sense. Why would Daniel put a breach in the protection?”

“It’s probably a microscopic tear. He might have rushed when he put up the spell. Or, he might have wanted to see if anyone found it. Then he’d know who his enemies are. It’s a way of sourcing them. Every skilled sorcerer knows to seek a breach when encountering a protection spell bound by one as skilled as Daniel. Only the very best will be able to find it. Those are the ones to watch out for.”

“Yeah, but why would he put a breach in a place that’s mine?”

“He probably didn’t think you’d be back here so soon.” He shrugs again. “Or…”

“Or, what?” I hiss.

“Or, he doesn’t care about you as much as he says he does.” Rafe brushes off his pants. “Where can we get something to eat? I’m starved.”

“I don’t see a take-out place, do you?” My voice is laced with sarcasm.
“What do you mean, he doesn’t care as much as he says he does? He loves me. We’re soul bound.”

“Soul bound can be a form of control, Marissa. Or, had you not thought of that?”

I want to punch Rafe right now. Haul my arm back and give him another black eye. “Let’s have a little chat about you working for Armando, shall we?”

“
There’s nothing to chat about. I’m like a gun-for-hire. A guy’s got to make a living somehow. He hired me to do jobs a few times. I did them. I got paid, very well, I should add. I don’t have any loyalty to him, if that’s what you’re asking. He just asked me to do what I do best.”

“And what is that?” I’m so pissed and confused right
now; I just want to wander off with my dog and sort things out.
Daniel might not love me as much as he does? Rafe worked for Armando, the guy who’s going to try to do something to me to get at his son?
Why did I help this guy escape, anyway?

“You’re a Light Rebel, right?”

“So?”

“Your guy is a Night Numen, right?”

“What are you getting at?” I spit out the words.

“You asked me a question. I’m answering. Do you want the answer or not?”

I squint in his direction.
Rafe’s coppery red hair glints and gleams in the sunlight. He’s smirking at me, appearing nonchalant. His blue eyes dance with mirth. This is all just a game to him. Again, I want to punch his lights out.
Two can play this game.
“Answer me, don’t answer me. Suit yourself.” I wander towards the opening to the dining area. The whole house is one big open air, luxurious stone, granite, glass, and hardwood dwelling overlooking the valleys below. El Demonio did have good taste. I’ll give the guy that. The two-story, 5,000 square foot house was built with clean, simple lines, an abundance of natural stone and wood, and water lining the walkways leading to the house, through the house, everywhere. It’s a marvel of a home. And now it’s mine.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Rafe darts to catch up with me.

“I’m foraging for food. My dog and I are hungry.”

“Don’t you want to hear what I do?”

“I said, suit yourself. Do you want to tell me or not?”
Men are so simple,
I think, with an inner smile.

“Your skills are light.
Daniel’s are dark. I walk between those worlds. I’m a twilight kinda guy. That’s how I roll.”

Inwardly, I think that’s very cool, but I don’t want him to know that. “Wow,” I say flatly.
I wonder if this will help me find Daniel?

“It’s pretty impressive,” Rafe adds.

“I’m impressed.”

“You don’t sound like it.”

I whirl to face him. “Actually, I
am
impressed. I just don’t like to be toyed with any more than you do. I don’t like to be messed with, mentally fucked, or have my mind toyed with like it’s a game.”

His face pulls back away from me a little bit as if he’s caught off-guard.
“Wow. You’re really honest, aren’t you?”

“Am I? I just say what’s on my mind.”

“I’m not used to that. I’m more used to people saying what they think I want to hear so they can…” His voice trails off, and he looks away.

“So they can get to the goods, right? The party favor in your pants?” I laugh.

“Hey, it’s better, bigger, and badder than a party favor.” He appears mock horrified.

He laughs, too, and once again, we are pals.

“You should try it out sometime. I’ll give you the deluxe tour.” His eyes sparkle with mischief.

“Thanks, but no thanks. Let’s find food instead.”

“What makes you think there’s any about?”

“It wasn’t that long ago that I was here, and the kitchen was well stocked. I’m just not a fan of cooking, if you were hoping I’d whip you up a meal.”