The Awakening (50 page)

              She shook her head, and laughed. "It’s all you."

              He sighed, the proceeded to the tank, whipping off the paint spattered shirt.

              Raina looked away with a blush, and then turned back when he gave her a sharp whistle.

              He reached behind the tank, pulling something behind his back. "I have something you may like."

              Raina watched curiously.

              His green eyes lit. "Only for you would I do this." He then pulled the Stetson from behind his back, and set it atop his head.

              Raina clasped her hands in delight. "Seriously? A real cowboy hat for a real cowboy?"

              "This will be the one and only time," he chuckled. "One and only."

              Raina laughed. "Well, I appreciate the gesture!"

              He smiled, well pleased, and then climbed up on his pedestal.

              He did look quite mischievous up there. The perfect target to be dunked!

              It wasn’t long before a line formed. Raina noted many of the ticket purchasers were not children, but full grown women, of course. She couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.

              She thought she’d be gathering tickets, or giving prizes, but a roust a bout handled that. She got the incredibly hard job of holding Thanatos towel. Lucky her.

              Thanatos called out teasing remarks to the ball throwers, hoping to throw them off their game. Eventually, he did go under, and came back up, slashing water. Raina growled when he flicked his wet hands in her direction.

              “I hold your towel…if you want something to dry your face, I’d suggest you behave.”

              “Yes ma’am,” he smiled seductively, and tugged her closer by way of said towel.

              Raina let go quickly, and blushed, as he dried his face. “Back up there,” she ordered, causing laughter and agreement from the waiting line.

              He grinned, pushed back his wet blonde hair, and lifted himself back up with ease. He tossed her his wet Stetson, and winked. “You can hold on to that too.”

              Raina rolled her eyes, but for the benefit of the panting crowd, fanned herself with it. The ladies positively cooed.

              Their little act proved to help with sales, so they kept it up. Raina was actually enjoying herself with Thanatos, and that was a shock to her system. His powers of persuasion were stronger then she thought. She could not allow herself to be drawn too far in. Nolan’s warning rang in her mind. Thanatos does what benefits Thanatos.

              True to her word, Elenora did manage to make her way back to them. Nolan was still in tow.

              Raina couldn’t spare a glance at him. She was afraid her face would light like a bright red neon sign. She stared down at the towel, and the Stetson, and then smiled.

              If Elenora wanted proof that Thanatos was indeed doing his job drawing her from Nolan, she had to be convincing, not a shy, defeated little girl. She would play her part, make them both proud. Well, maybe proud, with a little jealousy on Nolan’s part. Well, she was feeling pretty jealous herself right now. It wouldn’t hurt him to feel it too.

              “Sun in the eyes?” She walked up to Thanatos, as the next in line bought their customary three balls. She smiled up at him, then stepped up on the stair to the cage. She held the hat up.

              Thanatos chuckled. He wouldn’t say anything to give her away. Not with two immortals, with their crazy immortal hearing standing there. “Thank you, beautiful.”

              She laughed, stepping all the way up, and leaning in, setting his hat on his head. The green eyes, peaking up from underneath that white hat was shocking, and she felt her breath catch.

              He tucked her under the chin with his wet knuckles, then, to her surprise, caught that same chin, and pressed his mouth warmly to hers. It was quickly over, but did stir a laugh from the on lookers. Raina blinked at him, and Thanatos eyes danced. She frowned, then, forced a smile, as she turned to climb back down.

              She was mad, mad at him, mad at herself for putting herself in that position. But it was probably the best thing that could have happened.

She did not even want to look back at Elenora and Nolan, but couldn’t help a peak. Elenora was positively beaming at Thanatos. Nolan was seething. She knew by the heavy lift and fall of his chest, as he steadied his breathing. His face remained forward, not giving her a look. He was glaring at Thanatos.

Thanatos calmly kept up his teasing calls to the ball throwers. He managed to stay up on his pedestal through the next couple tries. Finally, it was Nolan’s turn.

Raina felt her heart pick up speed, as the man handed Nolan the three baseballs. She wished she knew what was going on in his head.

Elenora stood at a distance, smiling, obviously thinking, as usual, that this was all about her. But Raina knew the truth…this was about her. It made her feel smug.

Thanatos exchanged a smile with Raina, and gave her a wink. That’s when the first ball hit…not the target, but the front of the cage. The ball stuck there, and then fell to the ground, leaving an indent where it had hit.

“Just getting your attention,” Nolan growled. Then with a speed, and a power, that he should have been trying to subdue, the next ball flew. It hit its target, dumping Thanatos in the water. “Back up,” Nolan shouted. “I still have another ball.”

Thanatos laughed, adjusting the seat, and hopping back up. “And to what do I owe such animosity?” He lifted his brow to Nolan.

Nolan’s eyes grew steel grey. He looked to Raina knowingly, and then glared once more to Thanatos. “Keep your hands off.” He threw the ball, hit the target, grabbed his stuffed prize, and stomped off, leaving Elenora frowning at Raina, and chasing after Nolan.

Thanatos came up, tossing water from his face. He frowned after him, and then looked to Raina, as she brought him the towel. “So much for him being subtle, and convincing Elenora it was working.”

Raina blushed.

“He can’t help himself,” he whispered. “Believe me, I understand.” He handed her the towel, and sighed, getting back up, and starting his chanting again, as though what had just happened, hadn’t.

The rest of the day went without incident. In fact, they did not spot Nolan or Elenora the rest of the day. This was a good thing.

The bidding on the art projects was fun. Thanatos purchased the little girls picture “Aelan” and handed it promptly to Raina.

Again, he had managed to shock her today. And she was quite pleased over this.

They made their way to the truck at the end of the day. Both tired, both apprehensive. Whether today was successful or not would remain to be seen. Nolan’s little reaction probably had needed some tamping down. If anyone could soothe Elenora it would be him though.

“What are you thinking?” Raina glanced up at him, as they came to the vehicle.

He paused; hand on the handle of the door. “Either Elenora is elated by a day with Nolan…or she is steaming over that tiny incident.” He shrugged. “We’ll be finding out,” he sighed.

Raina shivered, as Thanatos helped her into the truck. Her shiver turned to laughter, as she sat atop something, as she got in. She pulled the stuffed animal out from underneath her, and giggled.

Thanatos rolled his eyes. “He’s so stupid!”

Raina smiled and pointed the prize at Thanatos. “It’s an alligator!”

Thanatos shoved the door closed, then climbed in on his side. “And?”

“And it’s sweet! He was so angry, yet he still managed to grab the one he knew I’d want!”

“An alligator?”

She smiled, and nodded. “Of course!”

He rolled his eyes, and gunned the engine. 

They rode in silence for a while.

Raina could feel him fuming. “What is it?”

He growled, rolled his window down, grabbed her alligator and tossed it out the window. He stared straight forward, ignoring her gasp of outrage, then promptly laid on the brakes and turned to her. “I can’t stand it Raina!”

She blinked at him. “You…you threw…”

“Forget about the stupid animal. We are talking about your protection, and you are acting like it’s a silly game. The two of you will be the death of the other…seriously.”

Raina’s eyes filled. “We deserve to have something! You obviously don’t understand the meaning of a kind gesture.” Her blue eyes looked sorrowfully back behind them, where somewhere her tossed gift lay on the concrete.

“I don’t?” The green eyes went from his purchased art in her lap, to her flushed face.

Raina bit her lip. “This was kind,” she admitted.

He smiled warmly. “Yeah, I thought it was.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “What’s the difference with Nolan getting me a stuffed toy?”

“I know a foolish action when I see it. What if Elenora saw him put it there?”

She shrugged. “I’m sure Nolan was careful.”

“That dope is foolish and in love…there’s nothing careful about his actions now. If you want to stay alive, you will get these foolish ideals out of your head Raina. It’s not the time for puppy love!”

She turned toward the front of the car and folded her arms. “That was extremely rude of you,” she growled.

              Thanatos nodded. “I suppose it was.” He sighed. “I can’t help it Raina…you make me so…jealous!”

              “Jealous?” She frowned at him, and then glanced over her shoulder, seeing headlights fill the cab. It was a red Charger…Nolan’s silhouette.

              “Always showing up at precisely the wrong times,” he mumbled. He put the truck in drive.

              Raina smiled, as they started on their way, heading to her home. When they got there, Thanatos paused at the end of the drive, allowing Nolan in first. He pulled in after, turning to Raina. “You know I get angry because I really do care?”

              Raina nodded. “Thank you for today. Even if you did kind of ruin it there at the end.”

              He sighed. “I was a jerk,” he admitted. He rolled down his window, as he saw Nolan approaching.

              “Elly…Elenora, is fine. She’s on her way home tonight…red eye.”

              “I know,” Thanatos growled. He looked to Raina, then back. “Nice stunt today.”

              Nolan frowned. “I knew what Raina was doing…and I sure as hell know she wasn’t asking you to kiss her.”

              Thanatos glowered at him. “It was working wasn’t it?”

              “Come on, Raina,” Nolan sighed in defeat.

              Raina nodded, hopping out, clutching her Aelan drawing.

              Nolan smiled at her, as she approached, reaching for her hand.

              “I’d cool it on the touchy feely,” Thanatos growled. “It will make all of this a lot easier.”

              Nolan nodded. “You’re right.” He squeezed Raina’s hand. “I’ll see you to the door, and then I’ll be going.” He nodded again to Thanatos. “Thank you for watching over her today.”

              The green eyes glared. “Sure, friend,” he said sarcastically. He backed out, giving Raina a once over.

              Raina relished Nolan’s nearness, as they started up the drive. He let go of her hand though, as they passed his car.

              “Go on, I’m right behind,” he whispered.

She headed up the walk, laughing at Turk’s insistent barking. She turned back to share the laugh.

Nolan was already there, taking her by surprise. He pulled her to his chest.

She smiled.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he said softly. “And I mean to erase any of his touch.”

She blushed. “His touch didn’t mean anything,” she whispered.

“None the less, this is just an exception to the rules” he sighed, and did as he promised. It was short and sweet, but it effectively drove all thoughts other than him away. In the end, he lifted something toward her.

              Raina blinked away her confusion from the kiss, and looked down, gasping. It was her alligator.

              “Were you so mad at me, you had to toss him away?”

              She laughed, and hugged it to her chest. “The green eyed devil did it.”

              He gave a sigh of relief. He closed his eyes briefly, and then opened them to her. “He is right about me touching you Raina.”

              She shook her head. “You have been so careful, Nolan. I do not mind it!” She smiled. “In fact I welcome it.”

              He grinned. “Yes, and that is why I must refrain. You make it too easy, Aelan.” He kissed her forehead sweetly.

              Her eyes lit, and she held up Thanatos gift. “Aelan?”

              He flushed. “Yes.”

              She lifted up on her tiptoes, and kissed the underside of his jaw. “One day you will explain,” she said softly. “For now, I like the mystery of not knowing.”