RAFE'S LAIR (19 page)

    "Ava don't run away from me baby. I know this is all very unnerving and a lot to process. But are you going to spend the res
t of your life always wondering, wishing you could finally be completely fulfilled?" Rafe brushed her hair away from her face. "I promise you can trust me. Be brave my beautiful Ava and take a chance to finally have what you've been searching for.”

Rafe pr
essed his hand against Ava's back and started them walking to the car. Marie was already inside and had the engine on. Rafe opened the passenger side door and Marie leaned over.

    "Thanks again for last night and breakfast, we definitely had fun." Marie
said.

    "Anytime. You
’re always welcome. You ladies have my number, let me know a head of time the next time you want to come and I'll arrange for you to see the rest of the club safely. I promise it'll be way better than last night."

    "That's awesome
thanks." Marie said.

    "I'm curious though. How did you know about coming here on a Sunday?"

    "My mom and used to be members here."

    "Really! Who's your mom?" He asked Marie. That explained why she was way more comfortable in the club than Ava was.

    "Sass. She used to bring her clients here until she met my dad."

Rafe knew the name immediately. "I know your mom and your dad. How are they doing?"

    "Good. She isn't taking clients anymore."

    "Well I should hope not with your dad being her Dom now." Rafe replied.

    "Yeah they've been together a while and live out in Arlington now."

Rafe nodded. "Tell them I said hi. They should come in one night to see what we've done with the place. I'd
be happy to see them again." He told her. "Drive safe and like I said anytime you want to come back, just give me a call."

    "Awesome thanks, I'll let them know." Marie said waving.

Rafe turned to Ava. "Come back tonight Ava. Let me actually show you around and explain more. I promise you won't have to do anything you don't want to do. Take a chance and trust me. Get to know me. I promise you won't regret it."

Ava looked down at the ground. "I don't know. I have to work in the morning and..."

Rafe cut her off. "Ava we'll just start out simple, dinner, then afterwards a few drinks while I show you around a little more. That's all beautiful, nothing more until you say or until you put on the brakes and call it done. The second you tell me you want nothing more to do with any of this, I'll back off. I'll walk you back to your car and tell you to drive safe and won't ever bother you again."

Rafe knew in his heart he could never really let her go that easily, but he had to make her feel there was no pressure. He
had to get her back here where he could slowly show her how bad they needed each other. Rafe held his breath waiting for his mate's answer. He felt like he was turning blue and about to pass out from the lack of oxygen she took so damn long. She finally squared her shoulders and looked him in the eye.

    "Okay I'll come by for a little bit, but I'm only going to stay for dinner then leave." Ava said to him.

    "Dinner it is beautiful." Rafe said nodding. He was going to make damn sure it was more than just dinner though. "How does seven thirty sound?" He asked.

Ava told him fine and he lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed the inside of each of her wrists.

    "Until tonight." Rafe said helping her into the car and shutting the door. Then all too quickly, his mate was being taken away from him for the second time in only a week. It took all his will power to stay standing where he was and not go after her to bring her back to bed.

    "Well lover boy I have to say I'm proud of you." Ed said appearing next to Rafe.

    "Shut the hell up Ed. How long have you been following us around anyway? And I suggest you not fuck with me by telling me how you watched my mate sleep and change earlier." Rafe said still looking in the direction Marie's car had gone. He couldn't look at the demon right now; he just might have to kill the son of a bitch if he did. Beside him Ed just laughed.

    "I wouldn't dare do such a horr
ible, insensitive thing to you good buddy, old pal." Ed said dramatically slapping Rafe on the back. "I've actually been keeping an eye on just you cause I knew even when you were asleep, all your senses were focused on your mate."

Rafe dared a look at the
demon standing next to him. For the most part Ed was his usual obnoxious self, but he did believe Ed had been just watching Rafe in whatever realm he went to knowing Rafe's entire being was focused on Ava. Rafe truly had known every time Ava turned over, every sound she made in her sleep.

Rafe was wide awake the instant Ava got out of his bed this morning, even before she tried to sneak out. He'd stayed put hoping if she thought he was asleep, she would venture out and he could talk to her. He hadn't gotte
n any sleep really. Ava was right, that damn couch was probably the most uncomfortable thing he'd slept on in probably fifty years. After having spent last night on that damn couch, he'd decided he had to get a new one that would fit him better. He knew he would spend many a night on it when Ava wanted Marie to stay with them, so he had better like sleeping on it. Ed pulled Rafe out of his head again talking to him.

    "So what's the plan now chief?" Ed asked.

Ed knew the only way Rafe had so calmly let Ava go was because he had some sort of plan. He already knew that involved her coming back to the club again tonight. Which Ed was actually really freaking surprised she actually agreed to. Now the question was. What did Rafe plan to do after he got her here?

   
“Well?" Ed prompted waving his hands.

Rafe turned and started heading back to his loft. He had a lot to do before Ava got here tonight, the most important thing being he had to feed. He'd done it last night and really didn't need to, but after his fi
rst meeting with Ava, he wasn't taking any chances period. He needed to get that done an over with so he could go take a shower and still get a romantic dinner set for her well before seven thirty. He felt, rather than heard Ed following him.

    "Hey spee
dy Gonzales. You gonna answer me?"

Rafe didn't stop. "I'm going to make sure that she's enjoying herself so much that she doesn't want to leave again. So I need to feed first so there's no chance I slip again, then I need to get a romantic dinner ready for
her, and after that I'm just gonna wing it. Is that enough of a plan for you Ed?" He said glancing over his shoulder.

    "Actually yeah it is." Ed told him and had to laugh when Rafe's strides faltered for a moment. "I'll take care of the dinner part for
you so you can focus on the feeding and getting yourself all pretty for your lil honey."

Rafe actually did trip to a stop on that one and Ed smacked into the back of him.

    "Dude give a demon a warning before you throw on the e-brake like that. Kay." Ed grumbled.

    "No offense, but you expect me to believe you know how to cook?" Rafe said turning around to look at Ed. "Let me rephrase that. You expect me to believe you can cook food that's actually edible for a human to eat?"

    "Hey asshole I take that as an insult! For your information I'm a great cook." Ed said back to him.

Rafe shook his head and started walking again. "Sure Ed, whatever you say. Thanks but no thanks; I'll take care of dinner myself."

Ed grabbed Rafe's arm to stop him. "Dude just trust me on this, I promise I'll make your Ava a bad ass meal that she won't ever forget. It'll be the most mushy romantic shit she's ever seen." Ed assured him.

Rafe just glared at him a moment. Shaking his head, he said. "Okay I'm going to go out on a lim
b here and trust you. But Ed; don’t you fucking let me down on this one." Shaking his head, he started walking again. He called over his shoulder. "I have no fucking clue why I'm trusting you with this, but you better not fuck it up goat boy."

    "Relax R
omeo, I got this. Your little lady will be in awe of my mad skillz." Ed called back grinning from ear to ear.

                                      CHAPTER 28

      Rafe came out of his room buttoning his shirt a little before seven thirty. He was totally running behind. He'd wanted to be down in the parking garage way before now waiting for Ava, but things didn't seem to be going his way tonight. First it'd taken him a lot longer than he wanted to find a suitable donor, then when he'd gotten back to the club he had to deal with some BS dispute with one of the members. Finally getting that under control, he'd hauled ass up here to jump in the shower. Again, he didn't want to be holding his Ava with another's scent on him. He didn't give a flying fuck that everybody said there was no way she would be able to smell it. He would be able to smell it and all he wanted to be able to smell was his mate.

He walked into hi
s dining room and his jaw dropped. The table was set like some ridiculously fancy restaurant, hell he didn't even recognize his own table. Ed put had candles, wine chilling, real silver and crystal. The whole nine yards. Long stemmed red roses sat in a vase off to the side so he and Ava would still be able to see each other across the table to top it all off. He didn't even recognize the damn dishes and silverware so he didn't know where the hell they came from and he wasn't about to ask.

He went into the k
itchen to find Ed pulling something out of the oven. He set it on the counter and pulled the lid off, and for the second time tonight, Rafe was shocked to silence by the demon. Ed had made what looked like twin lobster tail and fillet mignon. With several side dishes that looked and smelled just as good. He hated to admit it, but the asshole had gone way farther than he would have.

The demon turned to Rafe and he got a good look at Ed's apron and that put them right back into Ed territory. The sarcastic son
of a bitch had on an apron that looked like a woman's body in a skimpy polka dot bikini with big boobs, that said 'kiss the cook cause I'm sexy'. With his hands covered in big polka dot pot holders to match the apron, and a spatula in one hand and the lid in the other he looked absolutely ridiculous. What totally completed the ensemble was the big assed biker boots and a shit eatin grin on his face.

    "Oh good dear, you
’re just in time for dinner." Ed said all straight faced.

    "Have you taken a look at yourself in the mirror Ed?" Rafe asked him.

Ed looked down at his apron and back up to Rafe. "What! You don't like my itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini?" He asked with a big smile.

Sloan and Ethan came in right th
en and both stopped short.

    "You have got to be fuckin kidin me." Ethan said. Pointing at Ed, he continued. "Kay y'all, I may be a little on the twisted side, but I ain't got nothin on this fool. You couldn't even pay me to wear that shit. Ed have you f
inally caught your brains on fire with your damn tail?"

The only thing Sloan could manage was "I'm scarred for life." And turned around and walked out of the kitchen with his head down.

    "What?" Ed called after him. "This is my in the zone master piece apron. Whenever I wear this my dishes come out magnifique." he said kissing his pot holder covered fingers. "Don't hate cause I'm sexy."

    "Get the hell out of my kitchen before there's any chance my mate sees you and runs screaming out the door." Rafe s
aid pointing at him. Then left the kitchen to head to the garage. "I expect to come back to an empty apartment." He called as he opened the door.

    "Fine you hurt my feelings so I'm taking my
soufflé with me and not sharing." Ed yelled following him out of the kitchen with the soufflé in his hands.

Rafe stuck his head back in the door. "Good now get the fuck out!" He yelled back and slammed the door after him.

Ed looked down at his soufflé as it caved in. "Now looked what he's done!" He yelled throwing up his hand. "I slave in that hot kitchen all day and for what? Not even a 'thank you, the food looks wonderful darling.' Then he doesn't even care that he's positively ruined my soufflé." Ed looked over at Ethan standing next to him.

    "Dude are you e
ven listening to yourself? Seriously you need help." Ethan told him. He held out his hand. "You totally forfeit your demon card so hand it over asshole. The moment you put on that apron it should have been confiscated and now it needs to be burned after what just came out of your mouth."

    "I'll have you know I'm not the only demon that has feelings." Ed said stomping off to gather his cutlery. "And we all are awesome chefs." He yelled from the kitchen. Grumbling he gathered up his tools and checked on th
e chocolate covered strawberries and rich chocolate mousse he'd made earlier just in case the elephants that lived here ruined the soufflé'. A fire eater is always prepared dammit.

The champagne was perfectly chilled and the glasses spotless. The chocolate
was absolutely decadent. Everything was ready for Miss Ava Rose. All Rafe had to do was not fuck it up from here on out. The candles were in place, the china set along with the silver. The roses were absolutely the best. It was all perfect so far, all he had to do was the last little finishing touches.

Ed had gone out of his way to make this night special for Ava. Rafe was just along for the ride as far as Ed was concerned. Ed had felt like the worst scum known to demon kind when he saw how bad Ava looked.
He hadn't meant for her to suffer like she had. Ed would regret that he'd been the one to cause her to endure that pain for the rest of his miserable life. None of this would make up for it, but at least he knew everything he'd done tonight would help put a smile on her face.

He took one last look around the kitchen and dining room. Everything was perfect. He dimmed the lights, lit all the candles, and called it good. He took the rose petals and candles he'd saved for Rafe's room and scattered the petals o
ver the bed and the candles around the room. He turned off the lights in there and lit all those candles. He walked back into the kitchen got his mess and phased the hell outta there. Rafe was on his own from here on out.

    "Don't you fuck this up buddy.
" He said as he disappeared.