willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - epilogue.

"I honestly thought you would miss Christmas this time," Sarah exclaimed as she ushered Josie into the warm house. 

"Nah, they just wanted to run some more tests before they let us go." 

"Well?" Sarah stretched her neck out like a meerkat, as if she suddenly realized Josie had come empty handed. "Where is she?"

Josie couldn't help but laugh as she shook her jacket off and nodded towards the car. "Rafe's got her."

Sarah's eyes went wide with jealousy. "Rafe? What if he drops her? You're allowing that idiot take her in on his own?"

Josie shrugged. "Well, he is the f-"

"Doesn't change the fact that he's an absolu-" Sarah started but slammed her hands over her mouth as Rafe appeared in the door. "Oh my god!"

"Sarah, I will kill you. She just fell asleep," Rafe hissed as he gently put the carrier down on the hallway floor and closed the door behind him with a click. Sarah ignored him and on her tip-toes ran over to her brother and grabbed his arm as she leaned over to look at the sleeping two-day old baby.

"Oh... She's just the most precious thing I've ever seen," Sarah whispered and wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as she stood back up. Then she looked at her brother and pulled him into a hug. Rafe, slightly thrown off as he steadied himself, wrapped his arms around his little sister and shot a shocked glance at Josie, who smiled gleefully at the picture with a hand on her warm heart. 

When Sarah let Rafe go she cleared her throat and wiped her eyes. "Clearly she takes after your wife."

Rafe chuckled and looked at Josie watching them from across the room. "At least we agree on something."

Josie shook her head in amusement. "Sarah, you want to take her inside?" Josie asked and Sarah nodded excitedly.

"Quietly," Rafe wheezed as Sarah disappeared into the living room with the carrier. As he wrapped his arms around Josie he said, "What if she drops her?"

"Funny, that's what she said about you," Josie snickered and nestled her cheek into his warm chest. 

"That's ridiculous. As if I'd drop my own daughter," he muttered. 

Josie leaned back and looked at him. "You dropped me on our wedding night."

Rafe let out a displeased breath. "I didn't drop you, I tripped on your canvas bag. Who brings paintbrushes on their honeymoon?" he teased.

"Oh shut up," Josie gushed and pulled him in. But before their lips could meet, the ear-piercing cry of a child echoed from the living room. 

"I swear..." Rafe muttered and leant his forehead on Josie's.

But Josie just patted his chest and said, "Let's try and get through this Christmas without you killing your sister."

"No promises," he grunted and kissed Josie's forehead. "I'm gonna go get our daughter."

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 40: not by blood.

Snippet of Chapter 40: not by blood

"Merry Christmas!" Josie shouted as she opened the front door. Sarah came running as soon as she heard her best friend's voice. "Oh my god, you're back!" she exclaimed and pulled Josie in for a hug. "I was worried you would miss Christmas. How did it go?"

He drilled his eyes into hers, waiting for an answer to his question.Did you love me. Or do you love me?His chest was heavy like it had been so many times for the past few months. An invisible weight suffocated his breathing and lay barren his soul. She could make or break him at this moment. This was the moment where he found out if he would have to cope with existing in this world without her.When he'd opened the door he'd thought he was dreaming for a second. He couldn't believe that she was standing in his apartment right now.And why was she taking so fucking long to answer?

Here was Rafe Cameron, telling her that he loved her.It had been milliseconds since he asked the question. It was like Josie's mind and body overflowed. She had so much to say to him. And she couldn't possibly put what she felt for him into words. 'Love' seemed an understatement. But when she realized she hadn't yet replied, she let out a small breath through her agape mouth and shook her head, as if shaking off all the irrelevant thoughts until she could only get that one sentence out. The one sentence that mattered. The one he needed to hear. And she needed to say. "Jo..." Rafe started, hope draining from his face, leaving it pale, torn. She exhaled sharply and jumped the ledge. "I love you." Rafe's eyes met hers, slightly narrowed as if he was trying to decipher if he heard right. "You love me?"

"Ehm," Josie started and brushed some hair out of her face and behind her ear. She was interrupted when Rafe barged through the door with all their luggage, and the numerous bags of Christmas presents they'd picked up on the way. "Jesus fucking Christ," he muttered as she dropped it all on the floor and sighed out. When he saw Sarah and Josie looking amused at him he smiled in proper holiday spirit and walked up to them. "I see you got your puppy dog with you," Sarah said and stuck her tongue out at her big brother. Then she turned to Josie, face full of excitement. "So, what do you wanna do tonight?"

"I don't mind. Got anything planned?" Josie asked as she slipped off her jacket and hung it up. 

"I'm glad you asked," Sarah stated firmly and dug out a crumpled up piece of paper from her back pocket and smoothed it out on her thigh. "Since you've never had an Outer Banks Christmas, I made a list of all the Tannyhill traditions we have to do. Rafe?" Sarah turned to her brother and waved the list in the air. "You in?"

Rafe just shook his head with a smirk and wrapped his arms around Josie's waist, leaning his chin into her shoulder. "Whatever, Sarah. From now on, I go wherever Jo goes."

Sarah couldn't help but form a sneaky smile as she pointed a finger at them. "Please, the whole family is here for Christmas. I'm not gonna be the first one on this holiday to mention how you're basically cousins." And at that comment, Rafe and Josie at the same time let out, "Not by blood!"

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 39: holding on.

Snippet of Chapter 39: holding on.

"You were always too scared to give this a shot."

Josie frowned at how sure he was of what he was saying. She scoffed and gestured to him. "I did give this a shot. And it blew up in my face."

He looked deep in her eyes then as he said, "Only because you didn't let me explain."

"You did explain and I get it, Rafe. But it was still fucking humiliating. And it took a while to get over."

There was pain in Rafe's eyes as he took in her words. She noticed his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. "And have you?"

"Yes," she said, truthfully. "But I'm not just gonna forget about it, Rafe. I was in love with you and you made me feel so small." She laughed slightly at those words at the fucking absurdity of it all.

But when Rafe didn't laugh, she realized what she had said. The words that never had come out last summer. Not to him. He swung around and met her gaze. His eyes drilled into hers so she for a second forgot everything that had happened between them. She gulped.

"Was?" His eyes darted around her face.

"What?" she let out, heat rising in her cheeks. She'd put herself in this situation. So many months had passed since she'd seen him she'd almost forgotten how little control she had over her body.

"You just said you were in love with me," Rafe gulped out, furrowing his brows.

Josie sighed. "Yeah."

"And?"

"What?"

"You didn't come here on Christmas to catch up, Jo," Rafe said, pointing out the obvious. Although you couldn't tell it was any holly or jolly from the screaming absence of decorations in his apartment. He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice. Josie held her breath.

"I love you. I love you now. I loved you before and I will always, always fucking love you. So I need to know if you loved me, or if you love me."

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 37: the death of us all.

Snippet of Chapter 37: the death of us all.

Josie looked around with a disgusting grin, her eyes landing on the white powder lined up in neat rows on the table. Rafe felt shame trickle down his gut as he tracked her gaze.

"I can't believe you. You keep talking about how your dad makes your life miserable, but here you are, doing drugs that you can't pay for, with people who couldn't care less about you. You could be out there proving to your dad that you deserve a shot at your own life. What, you think it's all just gonna fall into place out there while you get high in this dingy trailer?"

Barry let out a threatening, dry chuckle. "Get this bitch out of here, country club, before I make her miss tee time."

"Call her that one more time, Barry," Rafe said and grabbed ahold of Barry's t-shirt.

Josie scoffed in ridicule, not the least bit impressed with Rafe defending her. Or concerned with Barry's threats.

"Don't bother. I'm leaving." Without another glance in either Rafe or Barry's direction, she turned and stepped out of the trailer. She really didn't care. She really was done.

And that was that.

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 36: congrats.

Snippet of Chapter 36: congrats.

"You weren't even supposed to find out! I was trying to do something nice. And why does it matter? You'd only make money when someone wanted to buy your paintings and everybody loved them. You sold them all. Now you have credibility and a reputation." He paused and waved a hand towards her. "And you now have a bunch of money."

She narrowed her eyes at him when his voice grew softer at that last sentence, in how his eyes searched for hers. "Oh my god..." The idea dawned on Josie and stilled her heart like thick ink had replaced all the blood in her body. Those words she'd heard him say to Barry that night in the garden.

I've got some cash coming in soon, I swear! After midsummer.

"What?" Rafe's eyes held fear in them. The world seemed to stiffed around them.

"What about your debt?" Josie's eyes were cold.

"What?" Something similar to confusion laced Rafe's features.  As if the words were taking out of thin air and it took a while for him to grapple what she was talking about.

Her words were poison as she hissed out, "Was this all just a ploy for you to pay your debt?"

Rafe's face scrunched up. "Woo you so you'd pay the money I owe? That's sick. I know you don't believe that yourself!"

"I don't know, Rafe. I heard you say to Barry that you'd get money after midsummer."

"That was just something to say to get him off my back, Josie! You must know that!"

"I know you less the more I talk to you. The more I find out, I have a harder time figuring you out."

"That's not true, Jo." He didn't have it in him to tell her that she knew him better than anyone in the world. "Is it so hard to believe that someone could do these things out of love for you?"

Josie's scoff was short of a laugh. And hearing him use the word 'love' like that made the tears stream evenly down her face. 

"You don't love me, Rafe. You don't try to buy the people you love. You don't lie to them. And you don't use them to get out of the fucking holes you dug yourself," Josie spat and started walking away. But before Rafe could get one foot in front of the other, she swung around and yelled so hard her voice turned raspy, "Don't you dare follow me."

And that was that.

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 35: night of all nights.

Snippet of Chapter 35: night of all nights.

His eyes drank her up.

He'd seen the dress before. They arrived together. And she'd been breathtaking. But now, she was glowing from the sweat of the dance. A few locks had fallen from her hairdo and were resting gently on her forehead, bouncing joyfully as she laughed at something her friends said. He couldn't tare his eyes from her. From the blush on her cheekbones when she turned to look at him with those soft green eyes. He had to clutch harder onto his half-full glass of scotch, convinced that he'd otherwise be pulled towards her as if by a silk thread, floating through the crowd until he could be at her side and never leave. He bit his bottom lip as she smirked at him, a vicious smile that would tare down worlds if she wanted it to. He found himself struggling to breathe under her gaze. He could never be good enough for her. The knowledge seeped deep through his bones. He would stay with her for as long as she wanted him. And when she sent him away he'd be watching her from a distance, not believing that he could exist in a world where she doesn't laugh. He could only breathe the air she'd breathed, walk on the ground she'd paved before him. He could only remain in this shape for as long as she deigned look upon him. He was lost in everything but her.

Broken from his trance when someone pulled Josie away and into the house, Rafe gulped down his drink and licked his lips. He took a deep shaky breath.

"Fuck," he sighed under his breath, now for the first time completely aware of how fucking fucked he was when it came to loving Josephine Wallace.

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 34: play nice.

Snippet of Chapter 34: play nice.

"I can wear whatever I want, Rafe," Josie said pointedly as they walked out of the dressing room. She reminded herself that she was mad at him despite the fact that he'd just made her leave her physical form.

"Of course you can. But I can't promise I can pretend to hate you when I'm two seconds away from grabbing that ass you're so intent on showing off. Or when people drool over you. I can't promise to control myself. But sure, wear whatever you want. I can fight." He didn't even look cockily at her as they sat down on the sofa.

His whisper sent shivers down her spine and she almost melted into him at the same point as Sarah came out from the dressing rooms, wearing a vision in white.

"I thought you two were fighting," Sarah sighed disapprovingly.

"We are," Josie said and shuffled away from Rafe on the sofa.

"Pfft," Rafe scoffed at Josie before he pulled her back to him by snaking an arm around her waist. Then turned to his sister. "Only virgins wear white, Sarah," he nodded to her massive tulle-coated dress.

Sarah propped a hand on her hip and scowled at him cockily. "You really wanna go there? Josie's wearing a white top right now, jackass. How did you not see that when you're basically sitting on top of each other? Please keep it together."

"I'm keeping it together," Josie gasped and put a palm on her chest. Sarah rolled her eyes and gave them both an unconvincing look.

"I can't with you two right now. Just sit there, smile and tell me my dress is beautiful," she smiled and gestured to her dress.

"Your dress is beautiful," Josie said and smiled genuinely. Sarah did look beautiful. Josie looked over at Rafe, who looked positively bored, eyes drifting out the window. She sighed displeasingly.

"Hmph, ouch..." Rafe rubbed the spot on his ribs where Josie's elbow had hit him. He rolled his eyes and cited, "Your dress is beautiful."

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 33: claim.

Snippet of Chapter 33: claim.

Josie breathed out slowly and lifted her head from her hands to meet his gaze, brushing her hair back from her face. "He asked me if I was fucking you now."

"I'll kill him," Rafe said under his breath and started pacing the room manically. Josie sighed. She did not have the energy for this. She couldn't calm him down too. 

"Why? He wasn't lying. I went straight from him to you." She flung a hand in his direction. She wouldn't have Rafe put this on JJ. Yes, words were spoken, hurtful words. But she'd deserved it. She hadn't once interrupted and let JJ know that she hadn't just been using him. She had liked him. She hated how much it wasn't enough though. Not enough to compete with what she felt for him. Not once she'd finally realized.

Rafe tilted his head back and sucked his teeth. "He doesn't have any claim on you, because you didn't fuck him," he reasoned, hitting a sharp hand into his other palm. He was mostly speaking to himself, as if answering the disgruntled voices in his head like a fucking maniac. 

But when Josie didn't confirm that last sentence he turned around. "You didn't fuck him, right Jo?"

Anger sizzled in Josie. He was saying such stupid fucking shit right now and not being the least fucking helpful about the situation. "What does that even mean, Rafe? Claim? So because I fucked you, you have a claim on me?" 

She got off the edge of the bed and stood up. Her eyes were doing that thing were they might just set him on fire if he didn't make this right, explain what he meant. But Rafe didn't care. He had a rage within him himself that made him blind to how quickly it was thinning the ice underneath him. 

"Did you fuck that Pogue?" He leaned forward slightly and and gestured out the window as he spat the words, drilling his eyes into hers. He was slipping. 

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 32: right for you.

Snippet of Chapter 32: right for you.

"You've just had a concussion JJ. She's just looking out for you," Kie protested.

"Well she made damn sure that's not her job anymore," JJ said then and a stone drenched with acid guilt fell in Josie's gut. She didn't say anything. If she did she was sure the heavy lump in her throat would conjure tears in her eyes.

"JJ," Sarah started but he wasn't holding back anymore.

"What? I don't know whose idea this fucking charade was. Pretending like she didn't just fuck everything up for your brother," JJ spat and gestured wildly towards Sarah.

"Hey!" Josie let out and put a hand on Sarah's arm. She hadn't told JJ about Rafe. But she knew the breakup had been too easy. This must have been brewing for days.

Sarah had leaned back at JJ's explosion in her direction. When no confused looks reached Josie, she realized that JJ must have told the boys all that had happened, all his suspicions, about every time Josie had shut them down and probably lied to his face. And Kie wasn't stupid. If she didn't already know, she did now, after Josie and Rafe's encounter in the living room. And Josie had told Sarah straight up herself. Everyone basically knew about her and Rafe. Or suspected to the point where it was probably just a few rounds of logic in figuring out how very close those suspicions were from the truth.

She couldn't stop the shame from all the lies bubbling up in her gut. And she became painfully aware of the people around her. Her friends. For the first time, she felt like an outsider. These people had welcomed her, made her one of them. And she'd gone straight to the enemy.

"Just spitting facts Josie," JJ said sourly, the alcohol making the words roll off his tongue like marbles down a very steep, slippery hill.

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 31: pheromones.

Snippet of Chapter 31: pheromones.

"We can't tell anyone," she said finally, a serious look on her face. The smile dropped from Rafe's lips and he let his head fall back onto the pillow.

"This again," he sighed and looked at her. "As much as it's horny as fuck sneaking around... It would make my life easier if people just knew that you are mine."

Josie arched her brows at him, her insides jumping over a hurdle at that word. "That I'm what now?"

"Oh ha ha," he said dryly and looked at her with a face of determination. "You thought after all this we would go back to random hook-ups?" he whispered and reached down to squeeze her ass cheek.

She gave him a teasingly scolding look and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm a busy lady."

"I think you've proved that to everybody," Rafe teased back and pinched the side of her waist.

Josie jumped and hit him on his bicep. "You're one to talk!" she gasped in disbelief at his blatant slut-shaming.

"I haven't even kissed another girl since you got here," he protested firmly.

"What!" Josie laughed in absolute disbelief at the bullshit he was spitting right now. "I know that's not true. Every time I see you with your friends, you're practically surrounded by women." Josie clenched her jaw at the pictures that now flashed before her eyes, the jealousy that bit down firmly on her at the memories. But Rafe shook his head.

"So? Just because they want to fuck me doesn't mean I want to fuck them, Jo," he said, a cocky grin on his lips. Josie rolled her eyes and hit his bare chest. But before she could retract her hand, Rafe grabbed ahold of her wrist and pulled her to him. She was leaning her upper body on his chest, looking up at him when he spoke, voice devastatingly low. "Plus, I needed to find a way to get your attention."

"Pfft," Josie discarded and looked away. "It didn't work," she lied but Rafe saw through her like fucking linen.

"But let's talk about you." Rafe firmed his grasp on her. "I was starting to run out of fingers to count the amount of people I would have needed to punch before the end of summer."

"Shut up," Josie said and smirked but she knew Rafe wasn't joking. "Jared was just to make you jealous. Although we're good friends now, turns out," she said and winked at Rafe who rolled his eyes displeasingly. "He told me to give you a break."

Rafe arched a brow in surprise. "Is that so?" he hummed and stared up at the ceiling in thought. "I've always liked Jared. He's a good guy. Smart guy." A smug grin coated Rafe's lips and Josie scoffed. But she couldn't help but roll her eyes at how damn good he looked right then. He caught her off guard when he drilled his eyes into hers. "I was jealous, you know. Like..." he let out some air forcefully through his lips and sucked his teeth. He spared her of the details. The words on his lips were: Manic, don't-know-what-I-was-capable-of jealous.

But Josie smiled angelically, blissfully unaware of the unease he felt at the control she had over him. He brushed it off. He wouldn't want it any other way. He belonged to her completely.

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NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON

Two months with her aunt Rose's new family in the OBX would be fine, if the painfully hot, infuriating son of her aunt'...

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 30: stalker.

Snippet of Chapter 30: stalker.

"We can't tell anyone," she said finally, a serious look on her face. The smile dropped from Rafe's lips and he let his head fall back onto the pillow.

"This again," he sighed and looked at her. "As much as it's horny as fuck sneaking around... It would make my life easier if people just knew that you are mine."

Josie arched her brows at him, her insides jumping over a hurdle at that word. "That I'm what now?"

"Oh ha ha," he said dryly and looked at her with a face of determination. "You thought after all this we would go back to random hook-ups?" he whispered and reached down to squeeze her ass cheek.

She gave him a teasingly scolding look and shrugged her shoulders. "I'm a busy lady."

"I think you've proved that to everybody," Rafe teased back and pinched the side of her waist.

Josie jumped and hit him on his bicep. "You're one to talk!" she gasped in disbelief at his blatant slut-shaming.

"I haven't even kissed another girl since you got here," he protested firmly.

"What!" Josie laughed in absolute disbelief at the bullshit he was spitting right now. "I know that's not true. Every time I see you with your friends, you're practically surrounded by women." Josie clenched her jaw at the pictures that now flashed before her eyes, the jealousy that bit down firmly on her at the memories. But Rafe shook his head.

"So? Just because they want to fuck me doesn't mean I want to fuck them, Jo," he said, a cocky grin on his lips. Josie rolled her eyes and hit his bare chest. But before she could retract her hand, Rafe grabbed ahold of her wrist and pulled her to him. She was leaning her upper body on his chest, looking up at him when he spoke, voice devastatingly low. "Plus, I needed to find a way to get your attention."

"Pfft," Josie discarded and looked away. "It didn't work," she lied but Rafe saw through her like fucking linen.

"But let's talk about you." Rafe firmed his grasp on her. "I was starting to run out of fingers to count the amount of people I would have needed to punch before the end of summer."

"Shut up," Josie said and smirked but she knew Rafe wasn't joking. "Jared was just to make you jealous. Although we're good friends now, turns out," she said and winked at Rafe who rolled his eyes displeasingly. "He told me to give you a break."

Rafe arched a brow in surprise. "Is that so?" he hummed and stared up at the ceiling in thought. "I've always liked Jared. He's a good guy. Smart guy." A smug grin coated Rafe's lips and Josie scoffed. But she couldn't help but roll her eyes at how damn good he looked right then. He caught her off guard when he drilled his eyes into hers. "I was jealous, you know. Like..." he let out some air forcefully through his lips and sucked his teeth. He spared her of the details. The words on his lips were: Manic, don't-know-what-I-was-capable-of jealous.

But Josie smiled angelically, blissfully unaware of the unease he felt at the control she had over him. He brushed it off. He wouldn't want it any other way. He belonged to her completely.

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 29: my fault.

Snippet of Chapter 29 (smut warning):

"I don't hate you now," she let out but couldn't bear to look somewhere else but the floor. "It's so far from hating you it's like... I... I can't breathe anymore." She gulped and looked at him. "And I want you."

"Finally," was all Rafe said before he closed the distance between them and grabbed Josie's face, pressing his lips onto hers. 

It was like Josie's whole being gave itself up to his touch. She didn't have the energy to resist herself anymore and so she melted into him as he kept a firm grip on her. He steered her further into the boat, and as they walked down the hallway, they paused to kiss up walls, taking off items of clothing as they went. By the time they were in a cabin, the only thing left on Josie's body were her underwear. After he closed the door behind them, Rafe grabbed ahold of her and pressed her up against it, his large hands moving like a frenzy over her body as their tongues fought for control. But then suddenly, Rafe ripped himself from her and put his arms above her head on the door. She looked up at him through dark eyelashes, her eyes impatient, chest heaving. Rafe's eyes on her was invigorating, full of lust and possession. Shivers shot up and down Josie's spine under the heat of his gaze. Suddenly, keeping eye contact the whole time, he started moving, sliding his hands down the door until he was on his knees in front of her. He looked up at her then, eyes dark, but awaiting. When she nodded, he hooked his fingers under the lace of her underwear and gently slid them off. When Josie arched her back as Rafe lifted her thigh and placed it over his shoulder, she was already panting in expectation. And as Rafe's tongue dipped into her and stroked over her clit, she swore she could've just come right then and there. Her mind may have been full of doubts and confusion for weeks. But her body had been craving this man's tongue between her legs since he caught her using his shower at the beginning of the summer.

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 28: not fair.

Snippet of Chapter 28:

"Stop it, Rafe. You're being mean." Tears were brimming in Josie's eyes but she forced them back, ignoring the stinging. There was no way he was telling the truth. He'd always been so mean to her. They'd always been enemies. She was starting to get whiplash from this back and forth. Acid was building in her throat.

"I'm not being mean, Jo. I'm trying to talk to you. I'm trying to tell you..." Rafe stopped and rubbed his hands over his face in frustration.

There was a pause and Josie sent a gaze up towards the house, checking that no lights had turned on. But it was all still pitch black. "We shouldn't even be talking right now. Sarah would freak."

"I don't care what my sister says, for fuck's sake," Rafe sighed and scratched his head. "Do you think I meant for this to happen? Do you think I meant to fall for my sisters annoying best friend? My stepmother's niece and the only woman who doesn't fall at my feet? Do you think I want to stay up thinking about you every night? Do you think I enjoy having my nails cut into my palms every time I see you and JJ together?"

"I... I don't believe you," she shut him down. "You always get what you want, Rafe. You're obsessive and stubborn. And you're just saying this because you think it's what I want you to say."

"Trust me, Josie. I never know what you want," Rafe said and then sighed, completely deflated. He looked at her with pain in his eyes and said, "Funny thing is, I don't think you know yourself."

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[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 27: nightmare

Snippet of Chapter 27:

He pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered, "God you're a fucking nightmare."

"I'm not a nightmare," Josie scoffed and backed away a step.

"Well... This," he gestured between them. "This is a nightmare."

"What is, Rafe? Me helping you? Fucking bandaging you up like I'm your fucking nurse? Looking out for you when you willingly surround yourself with dangerous people?" she spat. How could someone be so fucking ungratef-

"No," he sighed reluctantly.

"Well what then?" she yelled. Rafe groaned and waved his hands.

"Fucking wanting you!" he exhaled and drilled his eyes into hers. Josie's head swarmed. No words in her head made any sense. His broad chest heaved in time with his breaths. There was nothing but pure fire in Rafe's eyes. They practically sucked her in.

"Kiss me," she said before she knew what was coming out of her mouth.

"What?" Rafe let out, not knowing if he'd just imagined those words from her lips. But Josie didn't respond. She pulled him to her by his shirt and pressed into him until their faces were only an inch apart. She paused. But as soon as he'd gotten over his initial surprise, there was no hesitance in Rafe as he grabbed her face and kissed her hard.

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 26: keep it in the family.

Snippet of Chapter 26:

"Shit," Josie sighed and jumped out of the van, crossing between the biker and JJ before he could do something rash. Everything had happened so fast. So until now, she hadn't gotten a proper look at the dirt bike, or its driver. But as the helmet came off she realized. Rage burnt through her like wildfire.

"What the fuck Rafe? We could've hit you!" she yelled and strode over to him. His buzzed head was sweaty from wearing the hot helmet. Casually, he brushed ran a hand through his hair as he looked at Josie.

"You're needed at home," was all Rafe said. He licked some sweat from his upper lip and nodded towards JJ. "Leave your dog. Family only."

"What's going on?" Josie asked, suspicion coating her face. Rafe didn't look like something bad had happened. He looked completely calm. But then again, Sarah always claimed he was a borderline sociopath. He ignored her question. 

"Just get on the bike, would you?" he said and swung his leg over his bike. He squinted towards the sun as he wrapped his hands around the handle, waiting for her.

"She's not going anywhere with you, man," JJ scoffed but Rafe just sighed impatiently.

"Come on. You know I could've let Callum finish you, and I didn't. You should be lucky you got away with a concussion, Pogue. This doesn't concern you," he said and gestured between himself and Josie, who cursed at them both under her breath.

"Actually it does," JJ said and took a step closer to Josie, as if marking his territory. "Not that it's any of your business."

"Oh, oh okay," Rafe chuckled mockingly and stretched out his helmet in Josie's direction. Josie sighed and looked disapprovingly at Rafe, at his incredible confidence that she would do as he said and come with him. Of course she would. If there was something wrong at Tannyhill, she needed to go. But he just had to be so fucking smug about it. She ripped the helmet out of his outstretched hand and turned to JJ, who looked at her in equal parts disbelief and disappointment.

"I'm just gonna check if everything's alright," she said reassuringly and stroked his arm. "It'll be fine. I'll text you."

JJ returned her smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. They remained cautious as they flicked to Rafe, who just had to open his fucking mouth. 

"She'll text you," Rafe echoed restlessly, his tone dismissing the weight of JJ and Josie's conversation like it bored him. "Let's go, Jo," he said and looked at JJ's disapproving expression. Hatred seared from his gaze. 

"Don't worry, Pogue. I'll take care of her," Rafe said smugly with a wink. 

Josie rolled her eyes and gave Rafe a dead stare. Then she turned around to JJ and pulled him to her by his t-shirt. JJ's hands trailed down her waist, to her hips and to her ass as their tongues interlaced and lips meshed passionately. JJ's eyes were drunk with possession and lust when their lips parted. She gave him a final smile before turning around to Rafe's bike. The smug grin had vanished from Rafe's face and he stared into the distance with squinted eyes as she got on behind him and shoved the helmet over her head.

"That's how you wanna play?" Rafe gritted his teeth as they drove away, his hands clutching the handles so hard that the plastic cut indents into his palms.

"I'm not playing, Rafe. I'm with him," she said simply, ignoring the heat that resonated like electricity from his abs through his shirt and to her hands. Angry at her body's incessant reaction to him, she swallowed hard and loosened her grip on Rafe, checking herself. 

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 25: deal's off.

Snippet of Chapter 25:

But Rafe walked closer to her and said quietly, "I'm curious, actually. What's the deal here?" His eyes flickered to JJ and spoke up. "She nursed you back to health and now you're together? That feels like a charity case to me." His grin was offensive, patronising. Josie blocked off JJ's advancements towards Rafe by holding out her arms behind her.

Rafe knew exactly what he was doing. He was aiming to damage, to cause friction between Josie and JJ while acting innocent and inquisitive. But he wasn't quite pulling it off, with the manic gaze he threw at Josie with his blown black pupils.

"Rafe," Josie said firmly, suddenly terrified. There was nothing holding him back from telling JJ everything now. Nothing. He was over it. He just wanted to hurt her. She was sure of it.

"No seriously. Is that it? I mean... How far are you prepared to go to convince yourself?" he whispered. This was familiar. It was like when Rafe said she was having to convince herself to be attracted to JJ.

Smirking at Josie's wide eyes as she reacted to the reference, he turned at JJ, licked his lips, and asked, "Do you like the little pink princess ones?"

But JJ furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Josie's eyes went wide, her cheeks flush with embarrassment that he remembered that specific pair of underwear to the extent he would bring it up. That he would use the memory to hurt her. And she blushed even more at the thought of how she owned a whole pack of them, and that she was wearing one of them today. It was as if he knew. His smug fucking expression made her worried that her clothes had suddenly vanished. She tried to gulp but her throat was thick and she couldn't speak.

"What does that mean?" JJ said in a bored tone. But seeing Rafe's smug and pleased expression JJ frowned and looked at Josie for clarification.

"Wow," Rafe said and nodded in surprise. "Maybe you're not the slut you pretend to be," he said and leaned in with a smug expression so that only Josie could hear what he said. She gulped at his hot breath on her neck. "Or he's just not interesting enough and you're just passing time before you come running back to me."

"Fuck you, Rafe," she whispered back, as poisonously she could manage.

"No thanks. I don't waste time on yesterday's scraps. But please, let JJ have a go before you dump him." At those words Rafe turned around and walked off. Before he was out of ear-shot he turned around and walked backwards, "Oh and, deal's off, baby."

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear

[willshookaspear]

NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE - 24: grow up.

Snippet of Chapter 24:

"You're insane," Josie spat, taking a step closer to Rafe. Those were triggering words, she could tell. Rafe's nostrils flared and muscles ticked in his jaw as he stared her down, his pupils pitch black and dilated.

"Say that again," he dared, his voice a rough and vibrating resonance. He took a step closer to her, so she could feel his hot breath on her face as he looked down on her. But Josie wasn't fazed. She took a small step closer to him, and looked up at him with narrowed eyes. He furrowed his brows as he looked at her. Hot electricity pulsated between their almost flushed -together bodies. Rafe's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. His raised his hand and put it around her jaw. His grip was gentle, but the voice that spoke the words that came next wasn't, "Say. That. Again."

He reached his thumb up to her mouth and pulled her bottom lip down, revealing her pink gums and white teeth. Josie stayed silent, intently observing what he would do, his eyes drunk with something other than rage, his jaw clenched in an attempt to control himself. What, she wasn't sure of. So she waited. Rafe's eyes drifted to her mouth, to her plump bottom lip he was still pinning down with his thumb. Josie opened her lips and slightly leaned forward, taking Rafe's thumb into her mouth, not breaking away from his gaze.

As his finger felt her soft tongue, he inhaled sharply and retracted his hand, instead putting it on her neck. He slammed his mouth against hers.

AO3: NOT BY BLOOD | RAFE CAMERON by willshookaspear