Star Blessed

Unleashed

RAFF

They wandered around the square for the rest of the afternoon, holding hands and browsing boutiques. To the outside world, they were an adorable couple, still held in the thrall of a new relationship. Everytime he managed to pull a laugh from Meribella, Raff wanted to whoop with joy, but as they headed back to the houseboat she called home, he couldn't help but notice she grew quieter.

"You okay?"

She didn't speak until they stopped in front of the boat. He reached down to brush a stray piece of hair away from her face, marvelling at how soft it was, even after the saltwater dried in the sun. Noticing that the water had made it wavy, he tugged on the curl and watched it bounce back.

"I must look a mess, huh."

"I like the curls. It-softens you."

A dark eyebrow lifted. "What's that supposed to mean?" She leaned into him, letting her fingers run along the collar of his shirt. The heavy scent of perfume had faded, giving his nose a break, but the other smell was still there. The one he'd caught despite her attempts to hide it.

"You have to be one of the prickliest women I've ever met-- now, let me finish," he said, as her jaw dropped open and anger flashed in those sea glass eyes. "I couldn't do anything when I first met you without pissing you off."

She pulled back, crossing her arms. "Do we need to review the events of that night?"

Raff grabbed her by the hips and tugged her against his chest. It felt so good having her close. He'd forced himself to restrict the interactions that required touching, minus the hand holding. But there had been no kissing, no hand resting against the dip of her lower back. He let his lips turn up rakishly.

"Oh, lets. You swerved off the road after almost hitting a wolf, almost drowned, and I saved you with these amazing lips of mine."

"I believe you also called me utterly stupid--wait, I said it was an animal. I never said what kind! It was your fault in the first place! Oh, you..."

She banged her fists against his solid chest, but he silenced her arguing with a kiss. He prepared to pull back if she resisted, not wanting another mark against his character, but she slipped her arms around his neck and changed the angle, deepening their connection.

"Meribella," he warned, dropping a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth before trying to pull away. This was the opposite direction he'd intended to go, but gods how he'd wanted to do this from the first moment she'd opened the door this morning. The little whimper she made in her throat didn't help his resolve, but somehow he managed to break away.

Blinking up at him, eyes hazy with lust, she pursed her swollen lips into a pout. "Don't think you got out of that discussion."

"I wouldn't dare. And thank you for proving my point." Raff winked at her, but she only rolled her eyes.

"Goodnight. I really enjoyed today."

"It's one of the best days I've had in a very long time." The statement sounded far more somber than he'd intended, but no matter how he felt about this woman, he couldn't erase the trauma of the last months. That darkness would be with him for some time. "I'll talk to you soon."

She went inside, leaving him alone in the lingering light of evening, and he let loose the sigh that had been trapped in his chest for hours. All traces of a smile faded as he returned to town, making a beeline to the liquor store Meribella had visited.

The bell over the door jingled. No one was behind the front counter, but his ears picked up on movement in the back storeroom. A middle aged male, but his scent didn't match the one hiding beneath the perfume. His wolf snapped and snarled at the thought, but Raff nudged him to behave, aware that anyone could walk into the store. He certainly didn't need to be caught sniffing the air with glowing eyes.