Page 19 of Anywhere

Rook licked his lips but didn’t say anything. His eyes screamed that he didn’t want anything.

I shook my head and grabbed the door handle. I was angry at him for rejecting me and putting me through what he had. I was angry that the spirits had done this in the first place, and I was furious with myself that I couldn’t get my own emotions under control. I didn’t know what I wanted anymore.

“Dat be what me thought. So da answer is naw. Now git off me car.”

Before I could get in and lock the doors, Rook opened the passenger side door and got in beside me.

“Whadda doin? Are ya deaf or daft?”

Rook crossed his arms over his chest and glared straight ahead, but I wasn’t starting the car until he answered the question.

“I don’t know,” he finally said and turned his head to look at me. “I don’t know what I want. I’m allowed to be confused. I didn’t see myself in any kind of union for at least another four or five years. So yes, I rejected the idea, and you immediately, without even giving the idea a second thought. I’m just not sure, okay? But I might be interested,” he said and nibbled his lower lip.

Fuck, he smelled good. Was the car suddenly hotter? My eyes moved from his blue ones to his lip. I suddenly wanted that lip. I wanted to grab his face and help convince him that this was exactly what he wanted, that I was what he wanted. Was that what I wanted? Fuck, I hated this!

We sat there for a long time. My fingers itched to touch him as the ritual connection buzzed around the small space like a charge of swarming insects.

“All right, fine. Put yer seatbelt on.” The balloon of tension that had been steadily rising popped, and a subtle smile graced his lips. I had to force myself to look away, and as Rook grabbed his seatbelt, I quickly adjusted myself so that he couldn’t see the annoying reaction that I had to his presence.

“Where are we going?” Rook asked as the car revved, and I put it into first gear.

I handed over the folded map and bit down hard on my cheek as our fingers touched. The spark was truly electric, and I could’ve sworn that everyone outside the car could see it even though there was no bright light.

Rook jerked his hand away. “What the hell was that?”

I glared at him as we pulled through the second gate. “Dat be why I din’t want ya ta come wit me. Da closer we are….” I used my hand to demonstrate distance. “Da stronger da connection. I was no stayin’ away simply because I want to punch ya in da face. Although, there is dat too.”

“All of that from a finger touch?” Rook wiggled in his seat, letting me know he’d been just as affected as I’d been. “What the hell would happen if we….”

“Dinnie ya dare say da word. So help da spirits if ya put dat image in me head.” I stomped on the gas and smoothly shifted the car through gears until we were zipping along in fifth. “Id’a be leavin ya at da side of da road, or I’d fuck ya first, den leave ya.”

“Fair enough.” Rook cleared his throat, then stared at the map. “What are these circled locations?”

“Villages or wadda be left a dem.” I glanced over at Rook’s confused face. “Someone be attakin’ our island. Well, me island,” I said.

Rook opened his mouth like he was going to ask a question, then looked away and stared out the window. There was no point in going into all the details with someone who had no interest in sticking around. This was my problem. These were my people to look after, and that’s what I planned on doing.

Slowing, I pulled onto the road that would take me to the tiny village that sat right on the edge of the water. They had a small port and provided fish to a few of the closer villages. The road was twisty here, and I always loved how no one was on them so I could soar around the curves.

“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” Rook suddenly said.

“Aye, it is,” I said, and then my heart sank as the remnants of the village slowly came into sight.

Smoke rose into the air from smoldering lumps, and I could feel death wafting off the place. Death had a different smell for us than for Flitters. It was not unpleasant, and it called to my power as I was sure it did for Rook, but human sacrifice was a sacred act and only to be performed for specific ceremonies. This was simply murder.

Parking the car, I stepped out and slowly made my way towards what was once a beautiful and prosperous village, despite its small size. This wasn’t far from where Caitlin had come from, and I wondered if she had friends or family here. We’d become good friends. She was more than a fuck buddy and had a sensitive personality. This would wound her deeply. I made a mental note to see her later.

“What the hell happened here?”

“Told ya. Me island is under attack.”

I walked forward, but Rook grabbed my arm. The sensation was like I’d been plugged into an electrical socket. The death called to my power, and the man beside me called to all my other desires. It was too much, even for me to handle.

“Hey, this is my family’s island too,” Rook said, his voice strained as he let go of my arm and stared at his hand like he couldn’t understand what he was feeling.

“Aye, da Adair’s do, but ya don’t,” I said. Rook’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t argue.

I looked him up and down, pushing aside the wild surge of desire coursing through my body as steady as a heartbeat. Shaking my head, I turned to walk away.