A/N: I finished skipping through the movie to watch when Rafe came on screen and I couldn't help but add a touch of romance into this suspense-stricken fanfiction. There is always reason for romance; it can either be used for or against the character. Read on to find which way it goes. Please read and review, I enjoy getting feedback to see how the story is appealing to you, the readers. :-)
River sat down at the park the following afternoon. She eagerly hoped to find a letter from her father that she did not have the heart to look through her mail until that morning. She brought her mail from her coat pocket, looked through them, and came across her family crest sealing the last envelope. The tea colored enveloped briefly smelt of sweet magnolias; River flushed as she thought of her mother. Even in those short days of being in the boundary of Bucharest, River missed her mother. She worried about failing in the mission altogether. She was one out of what remaining number of Loup-garoux, and if she failed, most likely, death would be near. River caressed the waxed family crest and nervously opened the envelope.
My darling, River. I have received your letter with great anticipation in hopes to find progress with the Loup-garoux. You have done well thus far and I cannot complain any further. However, there is something that we must discuss. You have been giving yourself away bit by bit. Is this assignment too much for you to proceed with? I can send others to take your place and they will proceed with whatever you have gone forward with. I cannot risk losing you to the mangy Loup-garoux. Please send word that you will re-consider returning home or --
"Hello, my fair flower."
River lifted her eyes unexpectedly quick. She caught a glimpse of sunlight causing her to sneer.
Rafe chuckled. He came to sit next to her. "I was wondering about what happened earlier today at the postal. I kept asking myself, why would anyone go to the lengths of risking their life at gunpoint."
"I'm not one to be easily intimidated." River blandly explained. She folded the unfinished letter until Rafe snatched it from her hands to overlook her secrets.
"Then, what, per chance is this mail you risked your life for?"
River sat there watching as his eyes carefully read what her father wrote. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary except for the mention of Loup-garoux, but even then, that could have raised an eyebrow. She studied his face then looked away when his jaw clenched tight. He had leaned close to her, crossed his leg over the other, and brought his arm around her to draw her in. River discreetly felt uncomfortable to his gesture.
"I'm sorry for your loss. Is that what you were waiting for?"
River looked to him, her brows furrowed. She stared at him with obvious confusion and took back her letter to finish what her father wrote. Rafe leaned his head on her shoulder when she took a breath.
"This isn't right. My mother was fine before I left."
Rafe kept his head on her shoulder. More importantly, he wanted to take in her scent to remind him of why he inevitably decided to cross her. She smelt different not like other women he crossed. He could very well remember that Loup-garoux females smelt exotically sweet and that scent thickened when excited. But, Rafe also caught a second wind of something much more powerful.
River read the letter twice to clarify the news that her mother was gone. She did not leave the territory; she lost her life in a challenging battle against the mistress her father kept. River scorned the mistress thereafter and she determined, once the information of Loup-garoux has been successfully given, she would travel back to the Americas to take in the delight of dealing with her father's mistress, Delilah.
"Its very sad that I won't be able to say goodbye the proper way."
Rafe lifted his eyes to look at her. "You aren't going to leave?"
River shook her head. "I'm not ready to head home. There is still much for me to do here."
He lifted a brow; his devious smile appeared. "Good. It will be very unfortunate to not have the chance to have you longer."
Something had drawn River close. His hand buried into the smooth ebony hair she possessed, and his lips pressed firmly to hers. River found warmth in the kiss she had not deserved. Her hand clutched the letter tightly, crushing the parchment inked lovingly by her father. Her father sent her to study them, to learn of them, and nothing more than that. He trusted her with the most pristine respect to carry out the task; and now, River had begun to do more than study.
Her taste lingered in the mouth of a Loup-garoux. He was not an enemy, but a research project. River hardly found harm in tasting him. More consequently, she came further towards him with eagerness. As Rafe drew low to kiss her neck; he caught the slightest sound of a growl. He was unsure if it came from him.
Sooner than hoped, Rafe woke from his haziness to taste her mouth to reward her with a stinging laceration to her neck. Thin, stinging red lines began to form on her ivory flesh. River certainly snapped awake to rest her hand to her injured skin, groaning with surprise. She looked at him with confusion.
"You lied to me, little girl."
"About what?" River refrained from swearing.
Rafe stayed in a modest mood when he listened as River hissed and groaned. He hadn't cut her too hard, injured her slightly, yes, but nothing that couldn't be taken care of. He lifted a hand.
"I thought you came to see the sights of Bucharest. I would have been more than willing to show you around, all you needed to do was ask me."
River withdrew her hand to see if blood smeared in her palm. Luckily, there wasn't. She looked at him. Rafe smiled in his usual deviously crooked smile.
"The postal worker mentioned something about Loup-garoux. He mentioned that you told him something about it. I don't recall what exactly and after reading your letter, it has come to my attention that you came from wherever it is you said you came from to report progression. Who sent you?" He now turned to look at her straight. River looked away. "I am one of the last people you'd ever want to lie to, Lily."
River surprised that he kept calling her that. He seemed to have cherished titling her that. She couldn't find disgust for him. She couldn't look him in the eye fast enough that Rafe forced himself to turn her to him. She wanted to strike him in that instant. She refused to allow anyone to touch her in that manner, not even amongst her family. She refrained again, digging a nail into her thigh to prevent it from happening.
Rafe expected her to answer. His breath, shallow and quiet. River tried to find the words that would enlighten him, to slyly set his suspicion to the side and let her go. She had her reasons to lie; it wasn't the time to speak the whole truth to him, the Loup-garoux. River shifted her eyes and he followed them. Her lips quivered when she looked back to him. His nails grazed her skin.
"Is that fear residing in your eyes?"
No, River wanted to answer him. It was something different; something you wouldn't expect. She grows angry. River tightened her hands into fists trying her best to resist saying anything. With his dark laughter and the gentle kiss to her forehead, River believed she was safe enough to draw a comfortable breath. He rose from the bench, confidently lifting her to her feet. River unexpectedly kept her cool.
"Shall we insist on a more private location?"
Rafe didn't her an objection. He smiled, hooked his arm around hers and escorted her to the silver car waiting for them at the end of the park. He forced her inside first, and then he entered after her. His father hadn't looked back at them as he sped off into the street.
