Wicked Game - Rafe Cameron X OC

Chapter 6.

Katherine's heart skipped a beat the moment her eyes met Rafe's. He stood near the edge of the patio, casually leaning against a wooden post as if he didn't have a care in the world. But she knew better. There was something in the way he was looking at her—like he had been waiting for this moment.

She quickly looked away, her stomach tightening. She didn't want him to know he had that kind of effect on her. Didn't want him to see how just a glance from him could send her spiraling into a whirlwind of uncertainty. She turned to JJ, hoping to distract herself.

"Let's get out of here," she muttered under her breath, but JJ didn't hear her. He was too busy flirting with some girl he had just met.

Great. She sighed, taking another sip of her beer. It was too late to back out now.

As if sensing her discomfort, Rafe began making his way toward her. His stride was slow, confident, like he knew he had all the time in the world. He didn't have to push through the crowd; people just parted for him, as if they could feel his presence without even looking.

Katherine tensed, glancing around for an escape route, but the backyard suddenly felt smaller, more enclosed. Her friends were scattered, lost in their own worlds. Kiara and Pope were still by the pool, and John B was deep in conversation with a group of guys. She was on her own.

"Hey." Rafe's voice was smooth, casual, as if this were just a normal encounter between two people who didn't have a complicated history.

Katherine forced herself to meet his gaze. "Rafe."

He smiled, a slow, infuriating smile that made her blood boil. "I didn't think you'd actually show up."

"Yeah, well, who would miss out on free beer," she shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Rafe gave her a flat smile, licking the top row of his teeth. He opened his mouth to say something, but Katherine interrupted him.

"Sarah asked you to invite me." She sipped from her red cup.

"Yeah, she did," Rafe said, his smile fading just a little. "But I'm glad you came. I was hoping we'd get a chance to talk."

She narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Talk about what?"

Rafe shrugged, his hands slipping into the pockets of his expensive jeans. "About why you've been avoiding me."

"I'm not avoiding you," Katherine lied, her pulse quickening. She didn't owe him any explanations.

"Sure, you are." He took a step closer, and she instinctively took a step back. "You think I don't notice?"

"Notice what?" she retorted, her heart racing. "I'm just here to hang out with my friends. That's it."

"Your friends, huh?" Rafe glanced around the party, his expression unreadable. "These people aren't your friends, Katherine. You don't belong here."

Her temper flared. "You think I don't know that? I know exactly where I stand, Rafe. But that doesn't mean you get to decide where I do and don't belong."

For a moment, Rafe didn't respond. He just stood there, staring at her like he was trying to figure her out. Then, to her surprise, he laughed—a soft, almost amused sound that only made her angrier.

"You've got balls," he said, his eyes gleaming with something she couldn't quite place.

Katherine smirked at him, putting her mouth to her cup. "At least one of us does."

Rafe tilted his head, his gaze never leaving hers. "Funny."

Before she could respond, someone called Rafe's name from across the yard. He glanced over his shoulder, and Katherine took the opportunity to slip past him, her heart pounding in her chest.