Page 71 of Infernal Secrets

She bent, grabbing a pair of pajama pants from the floor. After pulling them on, she pushed her wild hair from her face and stomped in my direction.

I’d been so transfixed by her appearance that I lost my chance to retreat. When she bumped into me in the darkness and screamed, panic overwhelmed me.

My hands came up to grasp her upper arms, and she struggled against me, striking my chest with the sides of her fists. “Rae! Rae, it’s me!”

She froze.

“It’s me, Ash,” I said, softly.

Her body deflated, slumping forward.

Pulling her close, I cradled the back of her head like I had at the graveyard, letting her bury her face against me until she regained her composure. Her entire body trembled, and my heart ached that I’d caused the fear I sensed, making the air taste bitter.

The hall light turned on, and Cyn snapped, “What the fuck is going on out here?”

I tightened my hold on Rae when she jolted at the sound of his anger. “Calm down. She didn’t know I was in the hall.” I tried to keep the same soothing tone as before. “I scared her.”

Cyn carded his hand through his hair. “You need to stop.”

While he didn’t say what he meant, I knew. He’d caught me out here on more than one occasion.

Rae pushed against my chest, and I released her. “What are you two doing out—” Her words died when she looked at Cyn.

He hadn’t taken the time to put on a shirt, and now she stood speechless, gaze riveted to his naked torso. Her attention moved over the tattoo on the left side of his chest that climbed his neck and ran down his left arm to his hand and fingers.

I couldn’t stop the spark of jealousy that lit within me at her perusal of Cyn’s body.

I could admit he was a good-looking man—lean and cut from his time serving the council. But right now? I wanted to punch him.

“See something you like?”

She jerked her head up, and her cheeks took on a flush of color.

“Put on a shirt,” I muttered, crossing my arms.

“You’re lucky I’m wearing pants,” he said. He looked at Rae. “Are you okay?”

“Um, yeah. Sorry for waking you,” she whispered.

He shook his head and slapped the light switch, turning off the hall light before disappearing into the guest room he shared with Zeke. I wasn't surprised that Zeke slept through the commotion. He could sleep through anything.

I turned back to Rae but couldn’t see her face clearly in the dark. “Are you okay?”

She exhaled, shoulders slumping. “Yeah.” Turning away from me, she went into her room. “Might as well come in. I don’t wanna wake anyone else. Sorry about all that.”

“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,” I said, gaze roaming her room.

With the lights on, I caught feminine touches in her bedding, lampshades, and the items on her dresser. I liked that she wasn’t messy. I spent way too much time trying to get Zeke to clean up after himself.

“You’d think I wouldn’t scare so easily after all the things I’ve seen.” She sat on the edge of her bed, resting her elbows on her thighs, covering her face in her hands. “I’ve just never had one of them act so aggressively. It’s got me a little freaked out. Couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d get a snack or something.” She dragged her hands down her face as she sat up and squinted at me. “What were you doing out there?”

Scratching my beard, I frowned. I needed to get a trimmer soon.

“Well?”

I couldn’t lie to her, but what could I say?

“I wanted to check on you.” Not a lie, but I wouldn’t expand on the reasons urging me to stay close to her.