Betrayed: Days of the Rogue

by Nicky Charles

  “It’s Damien.” He swung the hammer several times, pounding the nail into the board. “And you’re….?”

  “Eve.”

  There was no response to this. He just grabbed another nail and finished securing the board in place.

  Eve shoved her hands in her pockets. Talking to him was like trying to squeeze the last bit of toothpaste out of a tube; a lot of effort and not much to show for it. His reticence, however, made her feel slightly less guilty about trying to read his emotions. Forcing herself to relax, she opened up her mind and reached out towards him seeking some hint of how he was feeling, still wondering if her earlier failure in town had been a fluke or not. What would she learn about him? Was he bored? Curious? Annoyed?

  She searched, stretching out her mind and…discovered nothing. Not even a faint shimmer of feeling came off the man! First Rafe and now Damien. While she’d never really wanted inside their heads, it was…puzzling…that they were so inaccessible. What made them different from the rest of the population?

  Damien continued to work, ignoring her presence. She wished she dared ask him how he managed to keep his feelings locked away. Instead, she pursued her other purpose for seeking him out.

  “So, Damien. Do you have any idea when Rafe might be back?”

  He paused and gestured to the side with his chin before resuming his task.

  Eve turned her head, following the direction Damien had indicated. Rafe was coming around the corner of the house.

  As usual, her stomach gave the nervous quiver it always did in his presence but she pushed it away. No more of that; she needed to meet him as an equal, not like some simpering schoolgirl! Taking a deep breath, she watched him approach.

  His stride was long and easy, no sign of weariness showing despite the fact that he was obviously returning from a run. Clad in low-riding grey track pants, a sheen of sweat glistened on his face and stained the thin t-shirt he was wearing. Even as she watched, he pulled off the t-shirt, using it to wipe his face. The action revealed an impressive set of abdominals and the beginnings of an intriguing ‘v’ that disappeared below his waist band. Eve felt her eyes widen at the sight. It would seem her drawings of him were even more accurate than she’d imagined!

  Her feet had her moving towards him almost before she gave the command, an undefined pull urging her to close the gap between them. Yet, as soon as she moved, he stopped. He froze, the shirt balled in his hand, and snapped his head in her direction. His gaze bored into her; she could feel it across the distance. Memories of their kiss sprang to mind and a flame of desire burst into life low in her belly. She licked her lips, felt her breathing quicken; the need to experience the feel of his mouth on hers pushed everything else out of her mind. A whimper escaped her and she was sure his eyes darkened and his nostrils flared. Then he cast a glance towards Damien and his usually controlled mask transformed into an angry scowl.

  Chapter 11

  Rafe stopped in his tracks as soon as he realized Eve was standing in his backyard. A slight shift in the breeze allowed him to catch her scent as he rounded the corner, need for her hitting him like a physical assault. She was just feet away from him, the sun shining on her fairness, making her appear to glow like a fairy from a child’s story book. Nerve endings tingled as he recalled the sensations that had filled him when last they met, the waves of pleasure as their empathic minds had met. His body hardened and he wondered how much of his need was revealed by his track pants. And yet within seconds of that thought, he noticed Damien was present as well. That fact doused his desire as effectively as ice water and uncalled for jealousy had taken its place.

  It made his tone sharper than he intended.

  “What are you doing here, Eve?” His question rumbled over the distance that separated them.

  She hesitated, casting a look in Damien’s direction before moving closer. “I need to talk to you.”

  “You could have called.” He threw the comment over his shoulder as he headed inside, needing some space to cool down. Using the breathing techniques he taught his clients, he tried to achieve a calm outer facade.

  He’d purposely avoided her these past three days, using the excuse that he had to keep an eye on Damien. In reality, he knew he just didn’t trust himself around her. They had to talk, but the memory of their kiss still made his body tighten with desire, and the need to experience connecting with her again clawed at his control.

  She trotted after him, following him into the kitchen. “Call you? How could I? I was driving.”

  Driving. While a rogue werewolf was in the neighbourhood. It was a slight step up from sitting on the porch but… Mentally, he counted to ten. Even though he knew Damien was busy doing repairs, she didn’t. In her mind the wolf was still roaming the area. How did she justify leaving the house? Did the woman have a death wish? He struggled to hold back the reprimand that hovered on his lips. Instead, he went to the sink to get a glass of water. Leaning his hip against the counter, he glared at her over the rim as he drank.

  She stared at him for a moment, her gaze obviously fixed on his bared chest. Her interest in him was pleasing, but not appropriate for the moment.

  He prompted her. “You said you had to speak to me?”

  Blinking, she dragged her eyes to his face and began to explain. By the time she was done, he was gripping the glass so tightly he was surprised it didn’t crack.

  Setting it down with a thump, he turned to look out the window, glaring at Damien. The man was repairing the fence, never once glancing towards the house. To look at him you’d think he’d been working here the whole time. “And this wolf encounter happened when?” He fought to keep the anger from his voice.

  “About an hour ago, I guess. Like I said, I fell asleep waiting for you and—”

  Rafe clenched his jaw. Damien must have taken off right after he left to go for his run. A part of him clung to the hope that she was mistaken though. “Are you sure Damien wasn’t working out back when you got here?”

  “No. At least, I don’t think he was.” She wrinkled her brow as she tried to recall. “But I was in such a panic that I might not have seen him. Does it matter?”

  Rafe cursed silently. For the past three days, Damien had worked steadily. He hadn’t exhibited any signs of aggression. In fact, his manner had suggested he was almost…content. Why the sudden change? What had caused a display of aggression towards Eve? Was Damien fixating on her? A chill settled over him as he contemplated what could have happened.

  With great effort he sought to keep his voice steady so his fear and anger wouldn’t be apparent. “What did he say to you when you were talking just now?” He nodded towards where Damien was.

  “Not much. Um…his name’s Damien. He wanted to know if we were…friends.” She stumbled on that last word for some reason, and then ended with her overall assessment. “He’s not very talkative.”

  “Stay away from him.”

  “Damien? Why?”

  “He…” Rafe compressed his lips, frustrated that he could say so little. “He has a reputation.”

  Eve snorted. “A reputation? You sound like an old lady warning me about the evils of men.”

  Turning to face her, he narrowed his eyes and spoke in a low warning tone. “I’m not kidding, Eve. Stay away from Damien Masterson.”

  Her face blanched. “Sure. Whatever you say.” Eve took a step back, bumping into the edge of the table causing the salt and pepper shakers to tip over. By the time she’d righted them she appeared more composed. “But shouldn’t you be more worried about the wolf?” There was a hint of reprimand in her words. “It seems to me that’s a bigger problem than your hired help hitting on me.”

  A growl almost slipped from his lips at her comment. Damien had better keep the hell away from Eve! Reining in his temper, Rafe quickly tried to create a plausible explanation. “I am worried about the wolf. In fact, I’ll be contacting someone about it tonight.” And that wasn’t a lie. Reno would be getting an earful about his forme
r partner.

  “Good. I hope they can trap it.”

  “They’ll do something, but in the meantime I want you to stay here.” Rafe knew the folly of what he was saying, but short of chaining Damien up or moving into Eve’s, he didn’t know what else to do.

  “Rafe, we’ve already had this conversation—”

  “That was before, when it seemed like the wolf wasn’t going to stay around. But it’s still here and it’s…” He paused, trying to find the right word. “Becoming aggressive. You said yourself how scared you were. Do you really want to be alone tonight, knowing that it could be right outside your cabin? Maybe even under your bedroom window? An animal that size could easily—”

  “All right! All right! You’ve convinced me.” She wrapped her arms around herself and shivered. “Geez, Rafe, now I’m going to have nightmares.”

  “Better bad dreams than the real thing.”

  She looked at him, her eyes widening as the implications sank in, and nodded slowly.

  Damien used the garden hose to wash off the dirt and sweat from his labours. The fence was done and he was satisfyingly tired from the workout, his leg only aching slightly from the extra use. Sluicing water over his face, he enjoyed the coolness before shutting off the hose, and stretching out in the sun to dry. The warmth of the sun’s rays felt good against his now chilled body and he tilted his face to the sky appreciating the sensation.

  It felt good to relax, not to be constantly looking over his shoulder, wondering if the Trackers were on his heels. There’d been few moments like this in his life. Times he could relax and let his guard down. With Beth, of course. And with Reno.

  He sobered at the memory of that short time span. Reno and himself as partners, sharing a drink, joking, saving the halves… He’d felt he’d finally found his place in the world. And when he’d met Beth, life couldn’t have been any better. Tightening his lips, he pushed those memories to the back of his mind. That had been another life, another Damien. He was a rogue now. Nothing else.

  Melancholy threatened to overtake him and so he poked at the embers of rage that lived in him, going over all the wrongs, the slights, all the evil that festered in the world. He had a purpose, a goal. He’d neglected it these last few days, establishing himself as Rafe’s handyman, but he needed to stay focussed, ready to act. He stretched out his muscles, easing the slight stiffness in his leg.

  “Damien!” Rafe exited the house and stalked towards him. He seemed pissed off, and Damien got to his feet ready for a fight.

  “What?” He glowered at the man, not about to take any shit from him.

  Rafe stopped a few feet away, a muscle working in his jaw. After a pause, during which he appeared to be trying to control his temper, he spoke. “I see the fence is done.”

  “Yep.” Damien waited. That had been an obvious statement. What did the man really want?

  “I thought you would have had it done by the time I got back and be started on the next job.”

  Not liking the implied criticism, he scowled. “I had to go get more boards. Is that a problem?”

  “No. No problem.” The muscle ticked in Rafe’s jaw again. “I see you met Eve.”

  He nodded. “Yeah.” As an afterthought, he added, “she was looking for you.”

  Rafe grunted. “So she said.” He glanced towards the house and Damien followed the direction of his gaze. Through the window he could see Eve watching them. “I’m driving her over to her house to pick up some things. She’s staying with me for the next while.”

  Raising his brows, Damien wondered why Rafe was telling him this, and why Eve had denied the relationship earlier. Something didn’t add up. His wolf perked up its ears as well, suspicious of the man before them. Damien pushed the animal aside, having no time, or use, for its mutterings. He needed a clear head, not one clouded with an animal’s perspective.

  “Stay away from her.” Rafe growled the warning, and from the expression on his face Damien had a sneaking suspicion the man had surprised himself by saying it.

  “Why? Is she yours?” A sick feeling twisted in his stomach at the thought. He widened his stance and curled his lip in a subtle challenge. Exactly why, he didn’t care to examine.

  “No. Just…stay away. I don’t want her hurt.”

  “And you think that’s what I’d do?” Damien relaxed his aggressive posture, not surprised by Rafe’s response. The man might claim he had friends who were rogues, but when it came right down to it, prejudice against his kind always raised its ugly head.

  Rafe looked at him steadily, his face completely serious. “Quite frankly, I don’t know what you’d do.”

  Damien was silent for a moment, thinking of the deaths that had occurred at his hands, of the Fae who had died because of him, and then nodded slowly. “Neither do I.”

  Chapter 12

  Eve set down her paint brush, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She’d completed the first of her ‘The Pines’ series of paintings and it was good. Really good. The hues of the sky were perfect, the shading on the trees was exactly as she’d envisioned, and the mountains in the distance were misty and beckoning, drawing the viewer deeper into the scene. It was as if she’d been able to tap into nature itself. If the rest of the series turned out even half as well, she’d make them the centre piece of her exhibit.

  She was working from photographs she’d taken, Rafe having forbidden her from returning to her cabin alone. Normally she would have protested but, truth be told, she wasn’t too keen on being alone with the wolf still on the loose. The image of its snarling jaws and hate-filled eyes had completely erased any bravery she might have had in that area. Rafe said he’d talked to someone about the beast and there’d be a team of animal control experts coming within the week.

  A week living in Rafe’s house… At first she’d been leery of the arrangement, however, she had her own room and somehow they managed to avoid each other these past few days, though she wasn’t sure how. Wherever she was, Rafe wasn’t. If she was entering a room, he was on the verge of leaving it. It had to be purposeful on his part, yet it was done so smoothly she almost felt he could sense her approaching and choreographed his own movements accordingly. Oh well, it made things run more smoothly and that’s what she wanted, wasn’t it?

  Well…not really. After her initial reservations about staying with him, she’d begun to hope that it was partly a ploy on his part to spend more time with her, that there’d be a repeat of the kiss. Frustratingly, that wasn’t the case. They hadn’t as much as brushed arms in the past three days!

  It wasn’t like he left her totally alone or made her feel unwelcome. Casseroles appeared in the oven for her to eat, space had been made in the bathroom cabinet. If she was outside, he was always within shouting distance, working on repairs or exercising. She’d done some amazing sketches of him doing chin ups and push ups. For a counsellor, he kept himself in fantastic shape. And she’d discovered he had a scar on his lower abdomen; a hint of it showed when his track pants slipped low on his hips. The urge to trace it, and even explore lower, was hard to deny.

  “What are you doing?” Damien spoke beside her and she gave a start. The man walked so quietly he’d snuck up on her more than once. She turned her attention to him thinking here was another man that she couldn’t figure out. At times he’d be brusque and ignore her, while on other occasions she’d catch him watching her with a strange look on his face; puzzled, attracted, and angry all once.

  Right now, he held a bottle of water in his hand and was leaning against the porch railing where she’d set up her small portable work station.

  Eve quickly glanced to the side. For once, Rafe wasn’t watching, though she could hear him working in the small shed near the back of the property. Usually if Damien was around, Rafe would stop what he was doing and stand guard whenever the man approached her. Exactly why, Eve wasn’t sure. It wasn’t as if Rafe could be jealous. And Damien, while prone to being sullen and taciturn, didn’t really bother her.<
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  “Just finishing a painting.” She turned the canvas so he could see. “What do you think?”

  “It’s good.” He studied the piece for a few minutes before looking her way. “You’re very talented.”

  “Thank you!” The compliment was unexpected coming from him and she felt her cheeks flush.

  A smile hovered around the edges of his mouth. He started to reach out his hand as if to touch her face but then drew back. Eve noticed how he slowly clenched his fingers into a fist before letting his hand fall to his side. A pained look crossed his face.

  “Is something wrong?” As soon as she spoke, she braced herself for a rebuttal. He didn’t give the impression that he’d welcome questions of a personal sort.

  “No.” He paused and glanced away as if debating the wisdom of continuing. His lips compressed and then, flicking a glance at her, he spoke. “You remind me of someone. My…wife.”

  “Oh.” Eve blinked. That wasn’t what she’d been expecting. “Are you…um…separated?”

  Something flared in his eyes, anger perhaps, but then he seemed to rein it in. He swallowed hard as if it were difficult to speak. “She’s dead.”

  Eve was shocked. The woman must have been very young. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must be very hard for you.” Hesitantly, she reached out and placed her hand on his arm in a gesture of comfort, expecting a sharp rebuff at any moment.

  He stiffened, staring at her hand perhaps not quite believing she’d actually touched him. Then, as if her gesture had released some sort of valve, the tension appeared to ease out of him. “It is. Thanks.”

  “I sort of know how you feel. I lost a good friend a few years ago. I was in Europe at the time, studying art.” Eve felt her eyes growing misty at the memory. “I never got to say goodbye. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her.”

  “Me, too.”

  They exchanged a look and Eve felt the tendrils of a connection growing with the man. He gave her a ghost of smile.