Raphael (The Immortal Youth Book 1)

by Monica La Porta

  One hundred and one. One hundred and two—

  The window opened and a girl’s head appeared, her long blond hair ruffled by the cold wind of a cold December night. “Who’s there?” Not Luisa, but her roommate.

  Raphael flattened himself against the wall of the casolare. The ancient building hosting the girls’ dormitories at the Wolf’s Haven rehab center had been kept in its pristine conditions. Which for Raphael meant that the tuff bricks composing the wall weren’t exactly pleasant to hug. Their hard and uneven surfaces were digging into his skin despite his leather jacket.

  Luisa’s roommate closed the window, and Raphael pushed away from the rough surface and rubbed his hands over his arms to warm himself. Before he could put in action plan B, which entailed entering the building from the main entrance, then stride through the dormitory, haul Luisa on his shoulder, and get out of there—despite his intention not to make a mess of things, he hadn’t put much thought into plan B—small steps echoed in the night.

  His nostrils were filled with Luisa’s scent and his wolf cried out in joy. Raphael didn’t need any light to find her. In the pitch black darkness, he walked toward Luisa and opened his arms. A moment later, they were kissing, frantically caressing each other, and he was once again flattened to the wall uncaring of the pain on his back.

  “I’ve missed you too much.” He took her face between his hands and lowered his forehead to hers. “I can’t be separated from you any longer.” His breathing ragged, he took her mouth for a long kiss.

  Luisa pressed her small body against his, her hands searching under his jacket. “And I don’t want to wait any longer to be with you.”

  He lowered his hands to hers and stilled them over his heart. “We’ll leave tonight.”

  She stopped breathing, and his heart plummeted to his stomach. Then her eyes swelled with tears.

  “No, baby, please don’t cry—” He hugged her close and brushed her lips.

  She angled away from him, her dark green eyes searching for his. “Raphael…”

  He gently washed her tears away with his hand, and she tilted her head and leaned on his caress. Then her lips turned up in one of her small smiles he liked so much, and she said, “I’m ready.”

  At her words, Raphael felt his eyes swelling up, but he didn’t will the tears away. He never had to be anything but himself with Luisa. “I love you.” He kissed her softly.

  She burrowed in his embrace. “I want to be with you tonight.” She wound her hands around his neck and pressed him down to her for a long, thorough kiss as their tears mixed.

  His hands to her waist, he raised her from the ground and spun her around. “My soul mate.”

  “I love you, my wolf.” she whispered in his mouth.

  Upstairs, her bedroom’s window opened and the blonde’s head peeked out. “Luisa? Is that you? What are you doing down there? Come back, it’s too cold to be outside and it’s curfew already.”

  Luisa laughed against his lips. “I need to go upstairs and wait for Carina to fall asleep or we’ll have the whole center after us in less than five minutes.”

  He wasn’t ready to let her go, but any moment her nosey roommate would come down. “Let’s hope Carina falls asleep right away.” He pressed his hands on the small of her back because he needed to feel her warmth, his mouth seeking hers for a kiss that had to last him until she was back in his arms. “I can’t wait to be with you—”

  Luisa let out a sigh as his hands slipped inside her jacket and under her sweater and finally found her skin.

  “Luisa?” Carina’s voice cut through the silence like a knife and made Raphael jump.

  Lost in the bliss of the moment, he hadn’t heard the window opening again. He swore under his breath, his heart galloping in his chest. “Go or I’ll do something stupid.” But despite his words, he crossed his arms over her back to press her closer to him. A moment later and with great difficulty, he loosened his hold on her and removed his hands from under her jacket, straightening her clothes as he went. But her hair was in disarray, her mouth was swollen from their kisses, and her eyes were still shiny. “It looks like I mauled you.” He brushed the tip of her nose and shook his head. “I should’ve been more careful.”

  “Soon, we won’t need to be careful any longer.” She raised on her tiptoes and pecked his lips, before moving away.

  “I’ll wait in the alcove.” Raphael let Luisa go and watched as she disappeared around the corner. Then he retreated into a small cellar opening on the side of the building, one of those hiding places he had discovered during his visits to the rehab center. The alcove—he had named it such because it sounded better than cellar—wasn’t big enough to stand inside, but was large enough to sit in it and be sheltered from the cold wind.

  To make things worse, it had started raining. The cold intensified, and the wind brought the rain into the alcove, soaking Raphael in frigid water, but he had the memories of Luisa’s kisses to keep his mood uplifted despite the adversity he suffered.

  Soft steps startled Raphael from his stupor a few hours later. When she leaned into the alcove and smiled, it was as if the sun shone on him. Hand in hand, they silently walked in the shadow of the building and reached his bike. He gave her a second helmet and his spare jacket, mounted the bike and waited for her to take her place behind him. Her slim arms encircled his waist and she leaned against his back.

  “Ready?” he asked, and she softly squeezed her hold in response.

  The ride back to Rome went fast and they reached the barge at the first lights of dawn. Walking down the marble staircase that led from the bridge to the riverbank, Raphael’s heart sped up at each step. At the jetty, he swept her in his arms and cradled her small body to his.

  Her big eyes widened and she blushed.

  He felt her heartbeat synching with his and lowered his lips to her forehead to whisper, “Welcome home.” Then he passed the threshold and entered the barge, shaking with pent-up emotions he could no longer keep at bay. Carrying her, he walked slowly, grateful her small weight anchored him to the moment, because otherwise he would have floated away.

  “I meant for this to happen on Valentine’s Day, on your birthday…” He couldn’t finish his thought because Luisa pulled his head down to her and kissed him.

  Shaking, as he was, tears falling from her lashes, she whispered, “I can’t wait.”

  He nodded and silently walked the last few meters toward the small room at the other end of the barge, and to the bed he had made earlier. There, he deposited her on the worn quilt he had sprinkled with rose petals. Before lowering himself to the bed, he took a breath and looked at her, taking in her beauty.

  “I love you, forever,” he said, taking her hand in his.

  “And ever,” she finished, tugging at his arm so he would move closer to her.

  The exhaustion, the hurt, the bad memories, all disappeared as Raphael lay beside her and she smiled at him. “I need you.” His body humming with longing, he helped her shrug off his jacket, then removed his. Then her sweater fell to the floor, followed by his shirt, her jeans and his. Clad only in their underwear, they looked at each other, their hands exploring, their eyes widening, their breaths halting at the same time.

  Passing his fingers under the clasps of her bra, he opened it, then lowered the straps and left a trail of kisses from her shoulder to the hollow of her breasts. There, he rested his mouth feeling her heart exploding. His hands moved along her ribcage, skimming over the goosebumps on her skin and making her gasp. When he reached the waistband of her boxers, he smiled against her chest remembering that time in Coin’s dressing room. Hesitantly, he hooked a finger in the band and slowly pulled it down past her hips. Luisa shifted and bent her knees to help him, kicked the boxers out of the way, then removed his with hurried gestures and sought his mouth for a frantic kiss.

  Their wolves howled at the same time and they separated their lips for a chuckle. Raphael bumped her forehead with his, his whole body shaking in anti
cipation, his heart in his throat as he moved over her, blanketing her small frame.

  She tilted her chin up for another kiss, and her hands wound up on his back, roaming up and down. After a moment, feeling he couldn’t resist any longer, he angled toward the edge of the bed, his hand trailing down looking for his jeans and one of the square foils he had stuffed in its pocket. An act he had performed a few times in the past proved challenging with his trembling hands, but she dropped a kiss on his shoulder and that helped. Gently, he coaxed her knees apart and she welcomed him as he ever so slowly descended into her. Pleasure, as whole and perfect and pure as he had never experienced before engulfed him and his wolf.

  One, at last. One, forever.

  Their bodies dancing in a rhythm that was their own, Raphael left her lips for her throat where he nuzzled at the collarbone, then moved to her shoulder. His canines lowered and he licked her skin, feeling the frenetic rush of blood in her veins. Lost in the bliss of her warmth and her choked moans, with his teeth aching and his wolf demanding the mark, he pressed his mouth down. The moment he latched onto her soft skin, she arched her throat and his fangs erupted all the way through and pierced her. A white light exploded behind his eyelids, sending him into another level of pleasure. When he thought it couldn’t get any better, she tilted her head and sunk her teeth into his shoulder. Then he knew ecstasy.

  Mine.

  Yours.

  Always.

  Together.

  Forever.

  In the aftermath, they drifted away as one, their thoughts as intertwined as their trembling bodies, tears falling freely, the smashed rose petals releasing the sweetest of fragrances.

  Framed by the oval window, the sun shone bright in the sky when Raphael woke with Luisa cuddling in his embrace. Trying not to disturb her sleep, he reached for the quilt and raised one corner to cover her. She snuggled closer with a contented sigh and he kissed her crown, then rested his chin over her head wondering at how perfectly they matched. The mark on her shoulder complemented his, its sight filling him with pride and a sense of belonging that made his heart soar.

  When she opened her eyes, Luisa regaled him with the most radiant of smiles. Tender caresses and soft kisses followed, their bodies awakening as they sought each other for the rest of the morning. Only when their stomachs growled, he realized it was long past lunchtime.

  “I’ll go fetch something to eat, then we’ll better keep going.” Raphael wasn’t ready to leave their haven, but the more they waited the more dangerous it would be. He sat and leaned to pick up his clothes strewn on the floor.

  Luisa hugged him and leaned against his back. “We are the lucky ones.”

  “I know.” Pressing her hands to his chest, he tilted his head over his shoulder to kiss her. “Everything in my life happened so I could find you.”

  She remained silent for a moment, then freed one hand and with her fingers traced lines on his back. “Love your wings.”

  “I couldn’t wait to show them to you.” Her movements lulled him and he purred.

  She lingered a moment over one of the ridges left by the belting. “It was Rico, wasn’t it?”

  Raphael hadn’t told her what had happened and didn’t want to mar the moment by talking about his big brother. “Next full moon those will disappear, and it will be as it never happened.” He slightly turned to kiss her mouth. “I want to show you something.”

  “What is it?”

  “A surprise.”

  Her whole face lit. “I love surprises.”

  After hastily donning his boxers, he wrapped her in the quilt and couldn’t help some more kissing. Then he scooped her in his arms and walked back to the barge’s main room where he lowered her to the tattered rug he had covered in rose petals as well. On his haunches, he gestured at the coffee table behind. He had made the furniture by placing a wooden board over a terracotta vase, then arranged his gifts for her on it. “It’s not much—”

  She threw her arms around his neck and lowered him down to the rug. “It’s perfect!” After yet another long kiss, she leaned away from him and grabbed the plush teddy bear. Cuddling the bear to her chest, she sat straighter to look at the other items displayed on the table. “You bought me flowers, balloons, this—” she pressed the stuffed animal to her heart, “—and chocolates!”

  “One day earlier, but…” He tilted his head to the side with a smile. “Happy Valentine’s Day, baby.”

  “Raphael.” Her eyes brimmed with tears.

  “Don’t cry,” he whispered, moving closer to her.

  She took shelter in his embrace as small sobs shook her frame. “It’s joy. I can’t contain it. I’ve never been so happy. Am I dreaming?”

  He couldn’t help a small laugh as he shook his head. “No, this is better than a dream and it’s forever.”

  “I love the sound of it.” She chuckled and sobbed at the same time, and he hugged her tighter.

  “And what is this?” She pointed at the wrapped package.

  “That’s your birthday gift, but I want you to open it tomorrow.” They would be on the run, and he wanted for her to have something to sweeten the harshness of the situation.

  “Okay,” she said with a huff, then laughed. “May I have the chocolates now?”

  “Sure.” He reached for the box and gave it to her. They sampled a few of the chocolates, but Raphael’s stomach growled. “I’ll go get something to eat.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  After a short walk, they ended up eating pizza at a nearby pizza by the slice place. The simplest of meals but to Raphael it was the best food he had ever had. Sitting on the high stools at the pizzeria window, he looked outside. Red and pink balloons hung from canopies and were driven every which way by the February breeze. People walked by with heart-shaped boxes or gifts wrapped in pastel papers. Flower shops displayed what was left of their bouquets. Rome was all decked out for Valentine’s Day, and he couldn’t help but think it would have been nice to spend her special day in the city and not on the run.

  As if reading his thoughts, she nudged his arm and dropped her head to his shoulder. “I don’t need anything else. Just you.”

  Walking back to the barge, Raphael realized with a twinge of sorrow that they couldn’t delay their departure any longer. The usual chaos of a Friday afternoon in Rome, combined with the coincidence of also being the day before Valentine’s, meant they would get stuck in traffic even with his Monster. “We must get our things and leave now.”

  “Okay.” She squeezed his hand and hurried her pace to match his running steps.

  They reached the barge a few minutes later and were collecting their stuff, when a stench both familiar and foreign hit their nostrils and they turned at the same time toward the entry.

  “Vampire?” Frowning, Luisa asked then shook her head. “Too early—”

  Raphael’s heart slammed against his ribcage as he recognized the underlying scent of werewolf. A moment later, a known bulky frame filled the door.

  “Going somewhere, pup?” Rico asked.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Careful not to attract any unwanted attention from Rico, Raphael scooted on the wet floor of the tender boat and tried to reach Luisa’s arm with his outstretched fingers. The rope chafed his wrists at every movement, and he could feel the blood trickling down from the fresh cuts, but needed to know she was okay. “Luisa?” His ankles were tied too, and he felt numb from the waist down for the forced position.

  She was shivering and hadn’t said a word the whole ride. Rico had hit her on her face and split her lower lip with his rings. Raphael had done his best not to antagonize the werewolf knowing that Rico would take it out on her to spite him.

  “Told you not to do or say anything.” Rico kicked him. “You’ve never been good at obeying.” The werewolf redirected the tender, then focused back on Raphael. “But it ends tonight.”

  “Let her go,” Raphael said, even though he knew no amount of begging would ever dissuade Ric
o from exacting the revenge he thought he was entitled to.

  Rico laughed. Over the noise of the tender’s engine, it sounded like cackling. “I can’t believe Tancredi once thought so much of you. You were never that great, if you ask me.”

  Raphael stilled his mouth before he would aggravate the situation with an insult, and said instead, “I did what I was asked for and never shied from any task. Even when you sent me in rival gangs’ territory.”

  Rico looked down at him. The werewolf had always been scary, but the vampire blood had changed him for the worse. He now had a manic edge to him that terrified Raphael. “Those little runs you did for the gang?” He shook his head. “You must be kidding. You can’t believe they were enough to grant you all the favors you received from me.”

  Raphael wondered about those alleged favors. “Those little runs, as you call them, brought the Reds hundreds of thousands of euros.”

  “You were supposed to work for the Reds. Or do you think that we’d patch you in just because you have a pretty face?” Rico corrected the route once again.

  Raphael didn’t bother answering. Instead, he took advantage of the werewolf’s temporary distraction to scoot closer to Luisa. Finally, his fingers touched her cold arm. She was only wearing a thin shirt and jeans when Rico had barged in.

  Pointing a gun at Luisa’s head, Rico had said, “Loaded with silver bullets,” then forced them to walk to the aft, where he had slapped her to convince Raphael to take the external ladder and descend into the tender.

  “Or did you think I would ever leave you alone?” Rico was acting erratically. More than usual.

  Raphael had seen Rico high, but never like this. From the little he could gather sitting on the bottom of the small boat and the landmarks he had recognized, Raphael inferred they were sailing toward the sea. “Where are you taking us?”