The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

"I appreciate you saying that, Maya. I really do. I remember how kind you were to me. But if you're going to get to know the real me, I'd rather . . ." She shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "I'd rather stick to that. With you and with Rafe. We'll get our twenty minutes a few times a day, and that's it for now."

"Believe me, I've argued," Rafe muttered. "But she's almost as stubborn as you."

As Annie walked by, she reached out and ruffled his hair, as I'd seen her do before, but gentler now, only laughing when he grumbled, then patting his shoulder, waving to me and leaving us alone.

Rafe waited until Annie closed the door behind her, then he slid onto the couch beside me. "So, any ideas how we should spend our time alone?"

I hesitated. I didn't want to. I wanted to just grab him and kiss him and forget everything else. That's how it used to be. See Rafe; forget the rest of the world. But now that world was thundering in my head, with those photos of Daniel front and center.

I turned away, trying to make it look casual, teasing even. But I needed that moment to clear my mind. Worrying about Daniel wouldn't help. I wanted to forget. Just for a minute. When I was ready, I glanced back at him and smiled. "I might have a few ideas. You?"

He grinned. "Maybe."

I inched closer. "I bet I can guess yours."

"I bet you can."

"Does it involve . . . ?" I crossed the gap and leaned toward him. "This?" I thrust a game controller up between us. "I play a mean game of Mario Kart."

He laughed and pushed the controller aside. "I'm sure you do. However, that's not quite what I had in mind."

I waited until he bent for a kiss, then jumped up and grabbed a handful of cases from the coffee table.

"Call of Duty?" I said, lifting one.

He stood and stepped toward me. "No."

I backed up. "Left 4 Dead?"

Another step forward. "No."

I continued moving back, waggling the cases in front of me. "So you don't want to play games?"

"Mmm, never said that. Just not those. I prefer something more . . . physical."

"Got it!" I shoved a case forward. "Wii Fit."

He laughed and plucked it from my hand. We did another two-step--me back, him forward, his gaze on mine, his grin sending heat rushing through me.

"Do you like chasing?" I said.

His grin sparked. "You know I do."

"Wrestling?"

"Definitely."

I held up Grand Theft Auto and WWE. He lunged. I dodged, dropping the games and racing across the room. He gave chase and I felt his fingers brush the back of my shirt. I veered and vaulted over the sofa. He tried to do an end-run around it, but I quick-stepped the other way, then back again when he reversed course.

We paced along our sides of the couch a few times. Then he sprinted. I raced around the other side. He lunged over the back, fingers grabbing my shirt and yanking me to him when I tried to run.

"Gotcha," he said.

I rolled my eyes and let him pull me close. When we were almost touching, he relaxed his grip. I broke away. He managed to snag my leg with his foot. I stumbled. He caught my arm and redirected my fall, and the next thing I knew, I was lying on the couch, with Rafe over me, my arms around his neck.

"You are remarkably good at that," I said.

"It's all instinct."