by Jade Laredo
“Please don’t …” Through chattering teeth, she whimpered. “Send me back.”
Raphael lifted the girl into his arms. Looking up at Rowena for support, the housekeeper nodded her head, encouraging him to continue with his coddling. With a groan of disgust, Leticia made her feelings known.
“Really, is this quite necessary? Why look at her, she’s hardly a child …”
Losing his patience, he mustered his last reserve.
“Get out!”
Leticia gathered her composure, and marched from the room. For the first time, Raphael swore he heard his mistress curse outside his bedroom door. Lifting a brow in disbelief, he received a sideways smirk from Rowena.
“You’ve bonded with the mite.” The housekeeper told him. Stoking the fire some more, she cocked her head, and shrugged her shoulders. “You might as well hold the poor dear until she falls asleep.”
Raphael rolled his eyes. Tilting back his head, he wanted to laugh. Certainly, he had a knack for getting himself trapped in to the strangest of situations. Fondling a young girl, much less a child was not exactly his cup of tea.
“Must I?”
Raphael looked down at the girl. Feeling guilt-ridden, he slid an able arm beneath the girl’s neck and crawled atop the covers, bearing to her shivering form. Closing his eyes, he listened to the uneven rasping of her breath, and prayed his warmth would help until the doctor arrived.
Minutes passed into quiet hours, and soon there was nothing but darkness. At some point, he guessed Rowena departed the room set upon her housekeeping duties and he had drifted off to sleep. Disappointed, he realized Doc Lawrence had not come. It was early Christmas morning, and no doubt, the old man slept somewhere toppled over in his cups.
“Just you and I, sweeting.” He whispered.
The sound of his voice must have startled her for he felt her stirring beneath his touch. Raphael’s mouth curved with softness amazed she still held on. Relieved, he pulled her near, feeling the dank heat of her naked flesh. It was then he noticed, the melding of a familiarity as old as time. The slightest touch brought his fingers against the soft expanse of a taut nipple and the weight of her breast beneath his hand. Curious, he moved his hand, exploring the unknown. To his surprise, he found a perfect mound and more than a hand full.
Raphael jerked from his coddling position. Throwing back the sheets, he starred in utter disbelief. Bathed by firelight, her gooseflesh shimmered beneath an orange ethereal glow. He studied her rounded hips and the pelted expanse, which nestled between her shapely legs.
God, but he was a fool.
How could he have missed something like this?
“I d-don’t want to d-die alone ...not-like-this.” She whispered, barely a rasp. Struggling for another breath, she pleaded with him. “Please don’t leave me.”
Startled by her desperate words, he felt his heart wrench. She touched a chord in him he had naught felt before. Once again, he pulled her into his arms, but this time it was different. He no longer felt drawn to save an innocent child. Something in him felt possessive, almost primal. Lifting her chin, he brought his lips to her ear and whispered.
“You’re not going to die. You are going to live. One day you are going to marry. You will have a fine husband and beautiful babes to rear. After a long and happy life, then you will die happily in the arms of your husband. Do you hear me?”
“God-has-sent … one of his angels,” She chattered feverishly. “W-what does he call you?”
“Raphael.” He whispered.
“And now the Lord has sent me to heal thee for I am the angel, Raphael.” She murmured a passage from the bible before closing her eyes.
Raphael smiled. “Hush now, lie still and I will hold you through this night.”
She barely breathed coherence, yet recognition escaped her lips. Raphael watched her grow still, so still his heart faltered until finally he felt warm breath against his neck. Drawing her close, he nestled her against his chest, holding the wraith-like creature into the wee hours of the morning. He gave a silent prayer, asking God to save her pitiful soul, and in return, he would do everything in his power to see she continued to live as he had told her.