"Of course I do." He knelt down in front of me and took my hands. "And I know this is my fault. Alesa came here for me and landed in you."
"Well, now. I guess you owe me, don't you?" I kept my face solemn and saw his stricken look. "Oh, relax, Rafe. You know I don't blame you. Stuff happens. We all have baggage and you never could have predicted what she'd do. And I was the one who made you so mad you used your demonic powers. So I guess I can take some of the blame here." I kissed his lips, briefly, not letting it get into too much.
"I appreciate your attitude. But I can't let you accept any of this responsibility. Corralling Destiny for Lucifer is going to be tough. I have no illusions about that. I just want this to go away so I can keep you safe, damn it. I don't want to lose you." This time Rafe leaned forward, one hand threading through my hair when he took my lips, his mouth lingering as he plundered mine. I felt that kiss all the way down to where he'd worked my knees apart and slid in between them.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and sank in, meeting his greedy kiss with my own. Yes, I wanted him. Jerry had been right about that. And I loved Rafe. Enough to . . . ?
A knock on the door pulled us apart.
"Glory, you told me to remind you when it was nine thirty." Erin called through the door.
"Thanks, Erin. I'll be leaving from the back in a few." I sighed and touched Rafe's cheek. "Got to go."
"What's up?" He brushed back my hair.
"I'm meeting Nate. He asked for my help with Ray. Our rocker is back on the sauce, vampire-style." I stood, with Rafe's help, and walked over to the mirror above the bathroom sink.
"Oh, God! Look at me! Damn, Caryon. I can't believe he took my eyelashes." And of course my hair was a fright too. Add to that the fact that Rafe had kissed away my lipstick and I was a total freak show. I rummaged in the makeup bag I kept back there but didn't hold out much hope.
"Wait here, I've got an idea." Rafe patted me on the back and headed into the shop. I repaired my lipstick and got rid of the remains of my eyelashes with my powder puff.
"Here, put these on. You're going to a rock concert. You'll fit right in with the crowd there." He handed me a pair of vintage Ray-Ban sunglasses.
"Shades?" I grinned at myself in the mirror. "Brilliant. And you're right. Ray's friends totally wear these at night. Especially if they're hungover."
"There you go. Now tell me something." Rafe grinned at me in the mirror.
"Anything." I attacked my hair with a brush.
"Two things." Rafe turned my face toward his. "Holy crap. You really can see your reflection. I heard Spyte say something, but I guess I wasn't really thinking about the ramifications. Doesn't it just blow you away? After all these years?" He laughed.
Tears sprang to my eyes. Of course Rafe understood. He knew me so well. "Yes. But it's a double-edged sword." I turned back to check my face in the mirror. "I want to be able to do my makeup without that computer thingy Ian made for me but then I see that I never should have bought this sweater. Gold is not my color."
Rafe frowned. "I see what you mean. I like you better in blue or red. Want me to run out to the shop and get you a different one? I know you like to look good when you see the rock star."
I threw my arms around Rafe's neck and smeared my lipstick kissing him again. "You are absolutely the best friend I've ever had."
"And an idiot." He laughed again and pulled back. "I know your size, which I realize you don't like for me to say out loud. Just promise this is a mission of mercy and you won't fall for that asshole again."
"I promise." I grinned, dropped the sunglasses, then turned to repair my lipstick again. In moments Rafe was back with a blue sweater that I'd been thinking about keeping for myself anyway. I swear the man was way too observant when it came to me. I blocked my thoughts. Jerry wouldn't have a clue what size I wore or what color to choose