15. Raven #2
As for Aldine, he probably did have information we needed, given our location, the challenge we faced, and his current inability to help with anything.
“Okay,” I said. “You’re probably right.”
“Of course I’m right,” Chace replied. “It’s been four days already, and we’re wasting time with everything we don’t know.”
I nodded my head slowly. “So, when do you―”
“I’m sorry.” He cut his hands across his chest. “Is there a reason you remain perched on the top edge of the roofline like some bird? I’m not loving this.” He waved his hand, indicating the spacious gap between us. “Can you come down here so that we can talk face-to-face?”
A frown pulled at my features, yet he wasn’t wrong. Raising our voices so that we might hear each other across the distance was less than ideal. The too-far-aware Aoes likely listened in from just about anywhere.
Shifting forward, I began my descent, careful of the aged and less than sound wood slates covering the pitched roof. I had barely started my downward crawl when the shingles gave way, propelling me into an uncontrolled slide.
I grabbed at tiles in a pointless effort to slow my fall, wood nipping at my skin, but I failed to decrease the speed at which my body plummeted.
I succumbed to gravity at a reckless rate. Skidded across the roof like I slid down on a water slide.
And when I reached the bottom edge of the roof, I launched off the end into the open air.
My body slammed into an unmovable force―Chace.
His arms folded around me, catching me, and holding me steady. My breath stalled in my chest. My heart beat a frantic rhythm.
And I stared up at him, trying to remember a time when I felt more confused. Confused because he was touching me, and I didn’t hate it.
My body buzzed, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away. He, too, continued to stare.
Did his heart hammer as wildly as my own? Was… Was he even breathing?
Something shifted between us and…
Holy reaping hell. My gaze dipped. Did I just feel―
“Ruthless Raven,” he quipped, his grip tightening on my upper arms and relocating me half a foot back. “More like Reckless Raven, if you ask me.”
He sneered.
I clenched my teeth, and my eyes burned with the sudden desire to incinerate him. Turn him into nothing more than ashes.
At least he’d destroyed the unwanted moment, because I was no longer thinking about what was going on below the belt. His or mine.
He turned away and started talking about our task, Aldine, and what we had learned, or hadn’t learned so far. I caught most of his words…I think. But gods below, my finger throbbed.
I shook my hand violently then examined the fingertip closely, searching for the source of the pain. A long, thin splinter cut deep beneath my skin.
And on the same damn hand with the soul-scraped bruise.
Crap. It hurt. Kind of a lot.
How could something so small cause so much pain?
“Stupid old shingles,” I muttered and picked at the splinter, attempting to tug it free. First with my fingers then with my teeth.
I wanted it…needed it…out, only the splinter wouldn’t budge.
“Are you even listening to me?”
I shivered and twisted my attention to Chace. “What?”
His expression morphed, and I wavered in uncertainty at what I saw. Confusion? Concern? Camouflage crankiness?
Why was he so hard to read?
I didn’t want to take the time to figure out the why or the what behind his manner.
With a groan of frustration, I returned my attention to the demanding ache in my fingertip.
Gripping my sore hand, I pressed my thumb firmly against my bruised palm.
The newly added pressure to my already aching bruise dulled the effects of the splinter.
“Let me see.”
I snapped my head up, my gaze colliding with Chace’s. He held his hand out to mine in both request and waiting.
I hesitated with indecision, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I could hear my father’s warnings regarding the Badden family, but an unexpected feeling seized me. I didn’t want to deny Chace, and I had no idea why.
We hadn’t exactly spent the last four days bonding or growing exceptionally close over our shared experiences.
Nevertheless, I released my hand to his trust.
After a quick examination of my finger, he hummed. “Splinter from the roof tiles?”
I nodded once. “And that tiny sucker smarts something serious.”
“Hmm.” His fingers slid over my hand and glided to within centimeters of the offending wood sliver. “If we extract this intruding element, will you be able to concentrate on the conversation?”
“Of course,” I said. “I was paying attention despite the minor irritation.”
“No, you weren’t,” he countered. “You were clearly consumed by the itsy-bitsy prick.”
“You know what…” I yanked on my hand, done with his passive bullying behavior.
Only when I pulled, his grip on my hand tightened, refusing to let go.
“Let’s extract that prick, shall we?” His mouth closed over my finger, and a gasp of surprise leapt from my lips.
With a swirl of his tongue against my skin, he located the tip of the splinter and, damn my traitorous body, my core heated and my legs clenched.
His nostrils flared, and his gaze narrowed, then he sucked, hard.
The discomfort of the splinter vanished, and then I felt too many other things.
Things I shouldn’t feel while peering into Chace’s eyes.
I’d swear, our hearts beat like a pair of competing drum performances.
He blinked. Dropped my hand and stepped back.
But even as he put distance between us, I couldn’t break eye contact. His intense gaze held me immobile.
Until he turned his head and expelled the wooden sliver, spitting it to the ground.
Clearing his throat, he raked his fingers through his hair and turned his back to me. “Hopefully, you can now concentrate on something other than your finger.” He spared me a glance and then started walking toward the door. “We’ll continue the discussion about Aldine later.”
“Wait.” I startled, my shoulders shaking straight. “Don’t you want to―”
“Later.” He yanked open the door and stepped into the stairwell beyond.
What just happened?
I glared at his back, unsure if I wanted to throw something at him or run after him.
Taking a step back, I bumped into the slopped roof’s edge. My blood fizzled and my eyes burned as I made my decision.
I lurched forward and swept a handful of pebbles from the terrace floor. With muscles shaking, I threw them at the insufferable man.
None of them hit their mark.