Not Fade Away by Donna S. Frelick

Author:Donna S. Frelick [Frelick, Donna S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: INK'd Press
Published: 2018-06-11T18:30:00+00:00

Rafe hadn’t been asleep long when he woke again, and, compelled by long habit, surveyed the darkened room. Charlie lay tucked up against him, her back against his chest, her hair spilling across the pillow. She was sound asleep, her breath causing her shoulders to rise and fall in quiet rhythm. Outside, the snow reflected all ambient light, casting a faint silvery glow into the room.

Behind his ribs an emotion he didn’t recognize had a gentle hold on his heart. Beyond mere satisfaction of body or peace of mind, he felt . . . something deeper. He’d heard people speaking of it—Rescuers longing to finish a mission and get home; old comrades sitting around a familiar bar; even, once or twice, Kwai, Shef and his father. They spoke of something to hold on to, to fight for, to protect. He had never known what they meant. Until now.

He wondered if that tender feeling around his heart had caused him to wake out of his own dark dreams to watch Charlie sleep. But no, the reason was probably more carnal in nature—he was hard again, wanted her again, though he’d already enjoyed her welcoming warmth and quick response more than he should have. He had never been inclined to spend so much time with his bed partners before. He hadn’t seen the point. But the benefits were obvious with Charlie.

He moved to brush her hair back from her neck so he could kiss her there, then suddenly froze as she tensed and raised her head. “Was that Happy?” she said, turning to him in confusion.

Rafe had heard it, too. A muffled, warning woof! from the dog in the other room. Then a continuous low growl and a sound of scraping claws as the animal got up to all four paws.

Charlie sat up, her eyes wide. “Someone is outside. A person. He wouldn’t bother if it was just a deer or a raccoon.”

Rafe swung his legs out of bed and reached for his clothes. “Get dressed, but stay here. I’ll send the dog to you.” Like she’d said, the dog was smart, but Rafe didn’t need the creature underfoot while he dealt with this problem.

Meanwhile, his woman was giving him a stubborn frown from the center of the bed.

He shook his head. “I mean it, Charlie. Don’t come out of this room.”

“Shouldn’t we call the police?” The frown had turned into a full-on glare.

He paused to return her glare, boots on but untied. “No! I’ll take care of it.”

She got out of bed to grab her own clothes without another word. He glanced at her, noted her lips set in a thin line, and experienced a nanosecond of regret for his tone. But he didn’t have time to apologize. The dog was beginning to bark now.

Rafe snatched his stun gun out of its case under the bed, then slipped out the bedroom door. Down the hall, the Old Man’s door was still closed, his rest undisturbed. Rafe moved soundlessly past Del’s room and flattened himself against the wall before the opening onto the great room.

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