Charlie
DOING THE DISHES WITH RAIN was strange. With Austen, I just became the bitch and did everything he wanted me to. I’m fairly confident that Rain would never hurt me. But it’s also obvious by his blackened eyes and tense muscles that he has a dark side. As he picked me up into his arms off of the floor, his body was trembling. It seemed like he would blow at any minute, but he never did. I hate that I reacted the way I did when I broke the dish, but it was a reflex. One that I have had no control over for about two years now.
“You like music.”
It wasn’t a question but more of a statement of observation.
“I could only listen to it when Austen was gone.”
“Austen.” His body stills with an eyebrow raised in my direction, the blackness taking over his eyes once more. “Last name?”
Even though Rain tried to make his voice sound calm, the fury behind it was hard to miss. I set the dish I was washing back into the water and turn to face him. I know what he’s doing, but I don’t know why he’s doing it. I can’t risk anyone finding me or for anyone else to take on my problems.
“Listen, this isn’t your battle. I don’t want revenge or to get anyone involved. I know I should go to the police, but I tried that once, and let’s just say it didn’t go too well. Austen is well known in the city and has connections. I was back in his possession within two hours. The only thing I want is to get as far away from him as I can and for him to never find me. He’s ruined me for anyone. I’ve grown to hate the world, and for the last five years, all I’ve wanted is to find a secluded place where I can live and die in peace and solitude. Now that I’ve wrecked the damn car, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
My wet hands cover my face in frustration. I can’t believe I just said all of that.
“Well, for right now, you don’t have to worry about that,” he says. “I offered you a place to stay for a bit and I can promise you, if he should happen to find you here, which I highly doubt is possible, he won’t get within a hundred yards of you.”
I sure hope Rain is right. Strangely, not only do I believe him, but I also feel safe here in his house. As my head spins with thoughts, I finish up the last few pieces of silverware in the sink. The music channel I had put on earlier is still playing, and Luther is lying in the middle of the kitchen. Rain has been setting the dishes on the counter as he dried them, so I start putting them away. He chuckles as I open up every cabinet, trying to find the correct place for every piece. I pick up the last bowl and turn to put it away, but as I turn away from the counter, I run into a solid mass of Rain. His arms shoot out to steady me even though my feet never faltered. I look down slowly at the burn of his hands gripped tightly on my hips. It’s hard not to throw myself at the only man I’ve even thought about touching in years. The abrupt ache to feel him against me grows stronger as he inches forward, backing me up until I hit the counter. Rain’s intoxicating smell of citrus and linen only increases my desire. His eyes, ravenous, stare down at me, and the tingle of his breath, so close to my lips, make me lick them. The bowl suddenly disappears from my hand, and Rain places it on the counter behind me. His rough fingers gently push the hair away from my face, and I lean into his touch. Those lips are so close, but not close enough.
“Kiss me,” I whisper. “Just fuckin’ kiss me. Plea—”
An overwhelming need comes over me and my hands grip his arms as he presses his lips deeply against mine. Opening my mouth, his wet tongue invades me. His hands travel around my neck and hold my head in place as my knees get weak. Luther barks and stirs both of us from the intoxicating sensation, and we return to reality. Rain quickly backs away, breathing heavily as his molten eyes bore into me. My fingers touch my lips as I try to regain my senses. It’s easy to see Rain’s matched hunger from one look at the bulge in his jeans. His arms rise, rubbing his hands over his head and then to his face. I blink, trying to figure out what the hell to do now when he moves closer again but not close enough to touch me. Both of us still breathe heavily, uncertainty in our eyes.
“It’s been a long time since I let anyone touch me,” he says, his voice deep.
“It’s been a long time since I wanted anyone to.”
He nods then quickly moves around me and out of sight. A minute later, I hear the shower turn on, and I don’t see Rain for another thirty minutes. When he finally reenters the room, I risk a glance in his direction. He doesn’t look over, so I continue on with my riveting game of solitaire with the deck of cards I found in the drawer when I was trying to find where the silverware belongs.
“What do you feel like for dinner tonight?” he asks.
He opens the door to the freezer, looking inside. I guess he’s going to act as if that kiss didn’t happen.
“Anything. I’m not a picky eater.”
His head turns from the freezer. “I bet you aren’t. Cheesy chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole sound good to you?”
“It does.”
He takes out a package of frozen chicken, fills one side of the sink with cold water, and then places the chicken in. Without another word, he heads upstairs to the loft and Luther is right on his heels. I hear the closet door opening and a bunch of racket from upstairs. I’ve almost won this game of solitaire when Luther starts barking and there is knocking at the door. The knocks are in a rhythm, just like they were the last time. Rain comes racing downstairs and into the kitchen, but I’m already panicking. I back all the way into the corner where he put me before. He puts his hand up, as if to calm me, nods, and then disappears out the door. Only about ten seconds pass before the door is pushed back open and I hear a voice that isn’t his. It’s a woman’s.
“Rain, you can’t keep me out like this. I refuse to let you push me away. Just let me meet her.”
A beautiful, tall, young woman walks into the kitchen. I straighten myself immediately, only to realize that I’m in my pajamas. Not even the nice ones that Rain got me, but my dingy ones that I used to clean in during the day when Austen was gone. My hair is a knotted mess and I haven’t put one single ounce of makeup on since the night I ran away. I’m sure I look like a little homeless girl that’s taking advantage of whoever this man is.
“Hello there,” she says with a smile. “I’m Nicole.” She stretches her hand out to me, and reluctantly, I take it.
“Hello.” As she lets go of my hand, I smile and tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “Sorry, I’m in pj’s.” I have been all over the city to parties and corporate events. I’ve gotten really good at faking a perfect little smile and manners that are total bullshit.
“Nonsense, you are so pretty.” Nicole then turns to Rain. “Why didn’t you tell me how pretty she is?”
“Nicole, you really better be going now.”
Rain tries to gently push Nicole back out of the door, but she pushes him back and he lets her pass. She sits down at the table in the chair next to me, and I slightly jump at the closeness of this stranger. I tend to be less jumpy around other women, but the uncertainty of every moment right now has me more on edge than usual. I admire her expensive-looking red silk blouse as she removes her coat and sets a bag on the table that I didn’t realize she had brought in. She leans in to say something, but before she can talk, Luther comes charging into the room with a toy and jumps right on her. His entire huge body is sitting on top of her in the kitchen chair as she squeals.
“Luther, stop! You’re going to knock me over. Rain, get him off of me.” She laughs as Luther drops the toy and licks her face. “You silly ass dog.”
“Luther,” Rain shouts, but his dog completely ignores him. Between Nicole’s laughing, Rain yelling, and Luther’s licking, I start laughing. “Luther!” he shouts again. “Platz. Hier.” Rain’s naturally deep voice becomes deeper and scary. I’m taken aback by the sheer power that exuded from his throat. Luther jumps off of Nicole and rushes to Rain’s side. Pressed against his leg, Luther’s head is aimed up and his eyes are locked in on Rain, waiting for his next command. Rain wasn’t lying when he said that Luther has been trained. It was like his entire mannerism changed completely the moment those words left Rain’s mouth. It was incredible.
“Stop being a dumbass,” he says. Then he ruffles the top of Luther’s head and sits down in the other chair at the table. Luther goes back to Nicole, but he’s much calmer now and leans against her legs as she pets him.
“So,” Nicole starts. “I hear you’re staying with Rain for a while.”
“Just until I get my car up and running again.”
“Well, in the meantime, I figured you could use some things. You know, girl things. Hair dryer, good shampoo and conditioner, lotion, and a few other things. I’m sure you want to get back on the road, but it’s good you’re here. Rain could use the company.”
“Nic,” Rain says curtly.
“He’s been out here for so long by himself, he could use a good woman around.”
“Nic.”
“Are you married?” she asks.
“That’s it. I tried to let you stay. Now you’re done. Out you go.”
Nicole stands, and Rain pushes her coat over her shoulders.
“It was so nice to meet you. I’ll stop by again, so we can talk.”
Her words fade as Rain pulls her outside. I’m not sure who she is, but I’m so grateful she stopped by. From the similar knocks on the door, I can only assume that she was the one who came by the house before. After being outside with her for a few minutes, he returns and sits down in a chair across from me with a huff.
“Is that a girlfriend of yours or something? She was so nice for bringing me these things. You didn’t even let me thank her or pay her for them.”
Rain stares at me and I can tell he’s analyzing my face. It’s getting irritating that he can read me.
“That was my sister. She’s annoying, sarcastic, and has no shame. Don’t make me sorry I just told you that.”
“Your sister? I thought you said you didn’t have a family?”
“Not everything that people say is true. You said that it was your dad’s car that you wrecked when really you stole it from your boyfriend to run away because he beats the shit out you. You weren’t forthcoming with that either.”
A knot forms in the pit of my stomach from the way he just said that so nonchalantly. “I had my reasons,” I say.
“So do I.”