Raina opens the French doors and steps onto the deck, her eyes uneasy as she searches theirs. Kas turns away, desperately trying to tame the oppressing emotions. Cliff gently takes Raina's arm, "You're going to catch a cold. It's freezing out, and your hair's wet."

Raina's eyes never leave Kas, "Is everything okay?"

Kas keeps his back to her, "Go inside, Raina," his words soft, despite his turmoil.

Raina ignores his request, stepping towards him, placing her hand on his arm. Her touch calms him, and he slides his hand over hers. "Your hand is as cold as ice, Rain, please go inside."

She lays her forehead against his arm, wrapping her arms around the side of him. Kas turns towards her, the earlier rage replaced by his immense love. He pulls her into his arms and rests his head against hers.

Cliff watches how they begin to heal each other wordlessly. He thinks back to another winter night, twenty-six years earlier, and smiles. He remembers holding his very pregnant wife in his arms, staring into a similar starry night sky, feeling so blessed to love and be loved so deeply. He is extremely grateful that his son has been blessed with the same kind of love.

Kas slips Raina's hand in his, leading her back inside out of the cold winter air. He grabs the ointment and very gingerly rubs it on the various welts all over her back. He knows that his touch is hurting her, even though he is being as gentle as possible, but she doesn't say anything, never flinches. He grinds his teeth, his jaw is rigid as he forces himself to rein in his anger while he finishes applying the cream. It physically pains him to see the vivid proof of her father's cruelty marring her body.

"Raina, honey, sit down, we need to talk," Cliff takes her hand, leading her to the couch as she enters the living room.

Raina lowers her gaze as Cliff carefully guides her onto the couch before sitting on top of the coffee table in front of her. Kas leans against the wall, allowing his father to have the lead on this for now.

"I know why you did what you did, and I can't begin to tell you how much I appreciate your love and devotion to my son, but you were wrong in how you handled this." Cliff takes her hand in his again, "Raina, look at me when I'm talking with you," he very gently requests.

Raina meets his gaze, her eyes full of apprehension from the uncertainty of what her father-in-law is going to say next.

"You know very well what your father is capable of doing to you. You going there alone was not only reckless, it was foolish."

Raina looks down, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

"I asked you to look at me, Raina," he tells her, his tone as gentle as before.

Kas bites the inside of his cheek to keep from telling his father to tread easy with her, knowing why Raina isn't looking at him. He keeps his mouth shut, giving his father a chance to continue on his own for the moment.

Raina's cheeks flush as her eyes meet Cliff's again.

"Never put yourself in danger like that ever again. We would have worked this out, figured out another way to clear Kas, a way that didn't require a physical threat to you or anyone else."

Raina doesn't know what to say, what to feel. She can see Kas out of the corner of her eye, standing against the wall, and she worries what he is thinking right now. She focuses her attention on her father-in-law, not knowing if she is supposed to answer him or just listen, so she remains quiet.

"This isn't the first time that you have put yourself in a dangerous situation. I know about what you did with Mr. Sutton, and although I agree fully with everything you said to him, and would've paid to have seen his face covered in the drink you showered him with, you could've gotten hurt. You can't keep trying to handle everything on your own anymore."

Raina's gaze has slipped back to the fingers she can't keep still at the moment.

"Honey, I need you to look at me when I'm talking with you," Cliff encourages softly.

The scarlet flush on Raina's cheeks spreads like fire as she raises her gaze to meet Cliff's again. "I'm sorry," she whispers.

Kas steps forward, but Cliff stands up, stepping in between him and Raina. "Stand up, Raina."

Raina tries to concentrate on not letting her gaze waver again as she obeys.

"Turn around."

She pauses, not understanding the reasoning behind Cliff's request. Kas stays where he's at, hating to see Raina uncomfortable by being lectured by his father, but he knows that his father is going somewhere with this, and he trusts his father's judgment, so he stands down.

"Did you hear what I said?" Cliff asks, keeping his tone calm and even.

"Yes, sir." Raina blushes again, then slowly turns around.

"I'm going to peek at your back, honey."

Raina spins back around, her eyes reflecting her self-consciousness. "I'm fine," she mumbles, her gaze back to the floor.

Cliff steps towards her, gently raising her chin so she is looking at him. "Raina, turn around," Cliff softly commands, his eyes kind, but leaving no room for disobedience.

Raina reluctantly obeys, shame and embarra.s.sment seeping into her when she feels Cliff raise her shirt modestly.

Kas watches his father stiffen when he sees the marks on Raina's back. He can tell that his father is experiencing the same murderous thoughts he is feeling when he witnesses his father's fist coil tightly at his side. Cliff lowers her shirt, his anger reaching threatening heights as he thinks of how much she has suffered. He grabs her hand, turning her around, but her eyes are glued to the floor again. "What your father did to you is despicable," he begins, trying his best to keep the rage out of his voice, "he doesn't deserve to be called a father." He tilts her chin, "I know you have been conditioned to avoid looking at him when he was angry, but I'm not like your father. You do not have to look away from me, I would never hurt you. Even though I might get upset with your choices sometimes, I will not talk at you, I will talk with you, honey. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"You don't have to call me 'sir'. Call me Cliff. h.e.l.l, I'd be tickled pink if you wanted to call me 'dad'."

Raina's eyes meet Cliff's, not expecting his offer. The warmth in his eyes calms her uneasiness. He smiles at her, then laughs, "You don't have to call me 'dad' if you don't want to."

Raina returns his smile, "No, I would like that."

Cliff pulls her into a hug, "Honey, you are like a daughter to me, I love you, and I can't stand seeing you hurting, so don't do anything like that ever again, okay?"

She nods her head as Kas joins them, borrowing his wife for a hug of his own. He looks at his dad gratefully as he pulls Raina into his arms.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

Later that night, Raina slips into bed as Kas turns out the lights. When he climbs in next to her, she lays her head on his chest, listening to the calming rhythm of his heart. "Are we okay?"

He brushes a strand of auburn hair away from her face, his thumb caressing her cheek, "What do you mean?"

"You've been so quiet."

He sighs, lying pensively for a few seconds before turning on his side to face her. "You want the truth?"

Raina nods softly, her heart beginning to palpitate faster, anxious about what he might say.

"Yes, of course we are okay, but I'm furious with what happened, with what your father did to you. And, in all honesty, I'm pretty p.i.s.sed at you for going there. I know why you went, and it is ripping me apart being angry with you knowing the reasoning, but I just wish you could understand how much you mean to me. When I heard your father hurting you...a part of me died, Raina. The thought of someone threatening you, laying a hand on you, kills me, and when I heard your father beating you...," he stops, biting back blistering fury and pain at the memory, "I thought I was going to lose my mind. In less than a year, you have been put in the hospital twice. I love you so much, I'm your husband, I'm supposed to protect you."

"Why can't we protect each other?"

Kas stares at his beautiful, brave, stubborn wife and smiles, shaking his head at her resolve. "Fine, we will protect each other, but that means that you will protect me by not ever doing anything like that again, because if you do, I won't survive it," his expression turns serious. "I mean it, Raina, promise me."

"I promise," she whispers, leaning into him, her breathe hot and seductive against his neck. Needing to feel him, his raw power, his strength, a strength that doesn't deliver pain, she brushes her lips against his skin, "Make love to me."

Kas groans, wanting nothing more than to prove to her how much he loves her, his body saying what words sometimes can't. "I don't want to hurt you, sweetheart."

Raina slides her mouth closer to his ear, tasting and teasing the sensitive place low on the side of his neck, "You won't," she a.s.sures him. "I need you, Kas, please."

That is his undoing, and he presses his lips hotly against hers, the intensity of the past couple of days fueling the pa.s.sion behind his emotions. Surrendering control of the emotional vortex, he closes his eyes, feeling nothing but the potency of the sweet fire between them. He deepens his kiss, savoring her lips against his, her soft, needy tongue exploring his as her mouth grants him full access. He pulls away, moving his fiery kisses down her neck.

Kas slides his hands down her arms, threading his fingers through hers as he turns her around so that her back is to him. He brushes his lips against her heated skin, leaving a blazing trail of exquisite hedonistic chills in its wake. Raising her arms, he rests her hands firmly against the headboard as he continues to deliver sweet torture with his gifted mouth. He is careful not to touch her back, it paining him just to look at it. Carefully, gently, he makes her his, immense satisfaction filling him as he hears her moans of pleasure. He takes her towards blissful oblivion as he continues to love her this way, taking his time enjoying her, pleasing her, trying to make her momentarily forget her suffering.

Just as she feels she is going to free fall into nirvana, he pulls away, turning her around to face him. He places her hands on his shoulders, before sliding his hands down her sides, gently grasping her hips, lowering her onto him. She wraps her legs around his waist as he sends her back into climbing ecstasy. Tenderly, he guides her up and down, his eyes never leaving hers. Raina takes the lead, moving her body on his in a way that drives him wild with desire, making him crave her more with each breathtakingly seductive swivel of her hips, pushing him further into her. She moves slowly, delivering delicious torture as he climbs higher with her. A low groan, full of need, escapes his lips as he concentrates on holding himself back, making sure she is completely satisfied first.

Kas conquers her mouth again, plundering her, savoring her. "You are beautiful, so amazing," he whispers, his voice low and gruff from desire.

Raina looks at him shyly through her long lashes as he compliments her. "I love you so much," she whispers, "I am so sorry I hurt you."

He brushes his lips against hers, "Shhh, it's over. I have you, you're safe now." His talented tongue explores her, making her forget all about everything else as she loses herself in the intoxication of him loving her.

The shrill sound of Kas' phone pulls him from his slumber. He slides his arm out from under Raina's head. Her auburn hair spills onto the white cotton sheet, and Kas is filled with need for her again. He grabs the phone before it awakens her, inwardly groaning when he sees that it's barely 5:30 a.m. "Pierce," he answers quietly.

"Sorry to drag you out of bed, but we have a dead body and a charred laptop," Dexter's voice rings out on the other end, "I can call Derrick in on this one if Raina needs you."

Kas glances at Raina as she stirs. "No, tell me where to meet you. I can leave in fifteen." He doesn't want to leave Raina alone, but knows that it will only make her feel guilty if he stays.

Raina opens her eyes, smiling beautifully at him, and he has to force himself to focus on Dexter giving the address of where to meet him. "Alright, I'll be there soon." He closes his phone as he climbs on top of Raina, being careful not to rub her back against the sheets, "I've gotta go, darlin'."

"What happened?"

He brushes a kiss against the corner of her eye, "Dead body, fried PC."

"I can help Erik with the computer."

"No, you need to rest," he tells her, giving her neck a quick kiss before heading towards the shower.

"I'm fine, Kas. I want to help."

He gives her a pointed look with her choice of words, and she bites her bottom lip, making him want to climb right back into bed with her.

"You don't have to wait on me, I can meet Erik at the lab."

"Not happening," he calls over his shoulder while he grabs a towel.

"Kas, please."

The depth of the need behind her imploration stops him. "Are you sure you're up for this, Rain?"

She nods, relieved that he is relenting.

"Fine, but only for a little while," he sighs, "I'll ask Erik to pick you up. I don't think you should be driving yet."

She slides off of the bed, careful not to show the pain she feels so he won't change his mind. "I'll make you some toast to eat on the way."

Raina takes a quick shower after Kas leaves, slipping into a soft long sleeve cotton shirt that won't irritate her sensitive skin. She glances at the clock, Erik should be there in ten minutes. She quickly dries her hair, avoiding the mirror. Grabbing her jacket and the largest pair of sungla.s.ses she owns, she slips them on as she steps outside when the doorbell rings.

Erik takes the bag from her, knowing she must be extremely sore. He doesn't know what to say to her, so he wraps her gently in his arms. He pulls away, studying her, "Are you sure you should be working today?"

Raina inwardly grimaces at everyone's concern and pushes back her agitation, knowing they mean well. "I'm sure. Thanks for picking me up."

"No problem. I have an iced hazelnut coffee waiting for you in the car."

Raina slips her arm through Erik's, appreciating his thoughtfulness, "Thank you."

Raina lowers her head, adjusting her sungla.s.ses, trying her best to hide her bruises as they slip inside. She is grateful for the geek sheik's department being accessed directly from the elevators, not wanting to be seen by anyone right now. Erik sees her attempt at discretion, and he steps on the other side of her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer to him, mostly blocking her from view from the few people they pa.s.s on the way to his office.

Raina starts working on the hard drive recovered from the help of Jiao's bravery while they wait for the crispy PC to be delivered. Erik pulls a chair next to Raina, wanting to monitor how she's doing, remembering how Kas asked that he not let her push herself too far, warning him that she won't admit to needing a break. He keeps a close eye on her as they work side by side, making slow progress on the heavily coded and damaged electronics.

It doesn't take long before the burnt delivery arrives, and they both grimace from the extent of the destruction. Raina glances worriedly at Erik, not sure if she can recover anything from equipment this far gone. She pulls her thick auburn hair back into a ponytail, minimizing its distraction as she begins her work of carefully dismantling the machine. Erik sees the raised edge of a large welt peeking out from underneath the top of the back of her shirt, and pains shoots through him, "I'm so sorry, Raina."

Raina turns, seeing the horrified expression on his face, and her cheeks flush crimson as she rips the ponytail holder out of her hair, the auburn shield falling back down.

Erik stares at her hesitantly as she refuses to look at him. He can imagine what the rest of her back looks like, and rage fills him as he remembers the sickening amount of times he heard the belt striking her in the recording. He pushes away from the table, needing to step away from her in his current combustible state.

Raina stares at the task in front of her, her gloves already darkened from the soot, she feels Erik's eyes on her, and she chews on her lip, humiliated by the entire team knowing her secrets. She hangs her head, knowing Erik is struggling for composure right now. "I'm fine, Erik, really. Please, just forget it."

Erik grabs his chair, flipping it around, sitting on it backwards as he swivels Raina's chair towards him, "You are not seriously suggesting that I can ever forget something like this are you? Because, I can't. I love you, girl. You are my best friend, and in case you haven't noticed, I'm not handling this very well, and I'm sorry about that, but I don't know what to do or say to help you right now."

Raina places her hand on Erik's, squeezing it rea.s.suringly, "You saying what you just said, that makes everything much better already. You're my best friend too, Erik, part of my family. Having all of you in my life has given me so much more than I ever thought I would have."

"I think you have this backwards, Rain. I'm supposed to be the one comforting you right now."

"Yeah, well, I never was good with things like this," she teases. She pulls her hand away and laughs at the dark smears she left on his, "Now that your hand is all dirty, how about you hold this so I can take it apart."

Raina changes her gloves before she carefully removes the hard drive, gingerly setting it down. Painstakingly, she begins the tedious job of removing the screws. Erik hands her the tools as she meticulously separates the melted plastic from the screws so she can remove the platter, being very careful that none of the pieces fall on the essential piece. They are both amazed that the platter is intact, suffering minimal damage.

They spend the next few hours working on the data, and Erik can tell that Raina is becoming increasingly more uncomfortable as the time pa.s.ses. Despite her trying to hide her discomfort, he sees her shifting in the chair. "It's past time for lunch, I'll go pick us up some food while you lie down on my couch."

Raina wipes a stray hair off of her forehead, concentrating on the coded material, finding it both infuriatingly frustrating and hopeful at how the cryptic information is very similar to what they found on the equipment recovered from Jiao's help. "I'm good, I'll continue to work on this until you get back," she tells him, never breaking her intense concentration from the screen.

Erik takes her hands in his, removing them from the keyboard as she gazes up at him quizzically. "I'm not trying to boss you around or anything, but you need a break. Please appease me and lie down, at least until I get back."

Raina nods her head, not wanting to break her momentum, but remembering her promise to Kas and not wanting to stress out Erik. He ushers her to the couch and places his jacket over her when she lies down. "Rest," he playfully orders, "I'll turn the light out on the way."

Raina is sound asleep when Lawson walks into the dark room, checking on the progress of the data Erik and Raina are working on recovering. He sees Raina asleep on the couch, her back to him, and he hears a low moan, like she's having a bad dream. He calls her name, but she doesn't awaken, so he shakes her, calling her name a little louder. He is caught completely off guard when she turns over quickly, striking out at him, busting him hard in the mouth. The unexpected blow knocks him flat on his b.u.t.t. The salty taste of his blood fills his mouth, and he curses. Raina is wide awake now and can't believe she just punched Lawson.

"What the h.e.l.l is the matter with you?" he yells, looking at the blood on the hand he used to wipe his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you," Raina quickly states, feeling acute remorse and a little panic from Lawson's agitated state.