The Calling (Darkness Rising 2)

"Play along," he mouthed back. "Please."

There was no teasing glimmer in his eyes. They pleaded with me so desperately that I felt a chill in my gut.

I went to turn off the water. He grabbed my arm and shook his head. Then he moved me closer to the shower, leaned in and whispered, "Ask me to join you."

"What?"

He clapped a hand over my mouth and whispered, "Trust me. Please."

I remembered Sam saying she'd stayed behind to make sure her phone call didn't bring someone running. What if it had? What if they'd come while we were gone and cut a deal with her? Or snuck in and planted bugs, and were just waiting for the right time to nab us?

I cleared my throat. "Better not stick around or I might ask you to join me."

Rafe chuckled. "If I thought you were serious, I'd take you up on that. I was just coming in to do a better job washing up. There wasn't any water at your place and my cuts and scrapes are filthy. Guess it'll have to wait."

He waved for me to continue. When I arched my brows, he motioned to us, then to the shower. He wanted us in the shower, where no one could hear our conversation. Which was a little extreme. And extremely awkward. He'd given me a lead-in, though, so I used it.

"No, you really should get them cleaned," I said. "And I should take a look at them. I suppose we can accomplish both if you keep your shorts on ... and keep your hands to yourself."

He grinned. "Fine by me."

I turned my back and took off my jeans and socks. When I'd finished, he was climbing into the shower. While the view was very nice, my gaze went to his shoulder, to the paw-print birthmark there, a mirror image of the one on my hip.

I hadn't told him about my first shift to cat form. Now, suddenly, I wanted to. Really wanted to. I wanted to share that with him, see his reaction, tease him about beating him to it and hear his laugh--

He turned and waved me into the shower with him. He backed up to give me room, but it was a shower stall--not much room to be had. The hot water beat down, soaking through my shirt. I leaned back into it, forgetting Rafe as I luxuriated in the feeling of hot, clean water.

When I opened my eyes, he was watching me. Really watching me. I looked at the water pounding off his lean chest, trickling down to his soaked boxers, and ... and I wasn't thinking it'd be nice to lean over and give him a chaste kiss. Really wasn't.

I was sure this would be a scene I'd lock away to replay when I was alone, but for now, I couldn't cross that space between us. He'd brought me here to tell me something, and even if he hadn't, I wouldn't cross it, because that would lead to places I wasn't ready to go.

You don't make out half naked in a shower with a guy if you aren't planning on going somewhere with it. Actually, you shouldn't be half naked in a shower with a guy if you aren't planning on going somewhere with it. But under the current circumstances, normal rules didn't apply.

I eased forward and leaned up to his ear. "Is this what you wanted?"

He chuckled. "Mmm, I'd better not answer that." His gaze traveled down me, then zipped back to my face. "Sorry."

"Focus, Rafe."

"I am. Just on the wrong thing." He leaned in to kiss me, but pulled back sharply, his face twisted in a look of pain, like he'd just been jabbed in the back.

"Are you okay?"

"No. Not really." His look then was so wistful I felt that chill again. Then he leaned down to my ear and whispered. "It's a trap."

"Sam?" I whispered. "You think they came while we were--"

"No. Not Sam."

"Then..."

I looked up into his face and saw the pain there, his eyes dark. Then I looked out the shower door at his clothing, dropped in the far corner of the bathroom.

If he'd just wanted to talk to me in private, he could have gotten me aside easily. Just let me come with them to look at houses. Talk to me in one of them. Or in the forest. But he'd been the one who'd wanted me to stay behind. Who'd suggested I take a shower.

I looked at his clothes again and whispered, "They're bugged."

He didn't reply, but I saw the answer in his eyes. I backed toward the door. He caught me and slapped his hand over my mouth, then leaned down to my ear. Water trickled from his hair onto my shoulder.