The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1)

I had to tell my parents. I stepped just inside the screen door and said we were going for a walk, which got a long moment of silence.

"Just to the overlook," I said. "We'll take Kenjii."

"And your cell phone," Rafe said, coming up to the door. "Don't forget your cell, because if I fall, I'm screwed. I don't have one."

Smooth. He obviously knew my parents weren't impressed with him. If he took any offense at that, he didn't show it, just added, "I'll have her back by dinner."

"Would you like to join us, Rafael?" my mom asked. "Or do you go by Rafe?"

"Usually." A disarming grin. "Unless I'm in trouble."

I opened the door and motioned him in as he continued, "About dinner, I appreciate that, but my sister will be expecting me."

"Another night then," Mom said. "Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue, and invite your sister."

"Or," I said, turning to Rafe, "if you want to skip the whole awkward meet-the-family social event, you could just submit your life story, including your views on politics, religion, and every social issue imaginable, along with anything else you think they might need to conduct a thorough background check."

Mom sighed. "I really don't know why we even bother trying to be subtle around you."

"Neither do I. It's not like he isn't going to realize he's being vetted as daughter-dating material."

Rafe grinned. "So we are dating?"

"No. You have to pass the parental exam first. It'll take you awhile to compile the data. They'd like it in triplicate." I turned to my parents. "We have Kenjii. We have my cell phone. Since we aren't yet officially dating, I'm sure you'll agree that's all the protection we need."

Dad choked on his coffee.

Mom waved us to the door. "Go. Have fun. Dinner will be at six thirty."

TWENTY-TWO

THE CLIFF WAS ONLY a ten-minute walk from the house. There was no easy way up, so Kenjii had to stay at the bottom. She was used to that and just staked out her customary spot. I left my jacket with her. Rafe did, too.

This was tougher than the wall--natural cliffs don't come with conveniently spaced holds and holes. I'd done it hundreds of times, though, so I knew the easiest path and showed Rafe.

It didn't matter that this wasn't a race. When we started climbing, it was like the first time--a heart-pounding, palms-sweating, adrenaline-pumping dizzy runner's high.

I didn't deliberately check my speed, but when we neared the top, Rafe was still beside me. I slowed and he was right there, his face inches from mine. He grinned, that blazing grin now, hair plastered to his face, eyes glittering.

I leaned over and kissed him. He hesitated for about a nanosecond, like he really hadn't expected that, and I laughed. Then he kissed me back, a light kiss, almost teasing, making me shiver.

"Probably not the safest place to make out," I murmured, pulling back to glance at the ground, fifty feet below.

"I don't care if you don't," he said.

We kissed until he tried to shift closer and nearly lost his foothold. I pulled away and scrambled up the last few feet. When he reached the top, I was standing there. He grinned and stepped toward me. I stepped back. His grin widened. I glanced over my shoulder. The cliff topped out on a hill, with forest stretching behind us, the mountains a distant backdrop.

"Uh-uh," Rafe said. "If you run, I'll chase. You know how much I like that part."

"All the more reason to do it."

His breath hitched and the look in his eyes made me want to run. I didn't care how silly or childish it was, I wanted to run so badly I could imagine it, the smell of the forest, the wind rushing past, the pounding of his feet right behind me.

Suddenly he was right there, his mouth on mine, my arms around his neck. Then he stopped. He caught my arms and backed up, studying my face.

"Has anyone had access to your drinks recently?" he said. "Any strange allergic reactions? Bug bites?"

"Shut up."