Paul paused to watch us. Aric’s hand tightened on my hip. Paul noticed and nodded my way. “Celia.”
“Good-bye, Paul.” My husky tone failed to register as superfriendly, not that that was anything new. After a lifetime of being labeled as “weird,” I never let my guard down. A strenuous way to live, but as my family’s defender, I kept us safe that way. Only Aric had found a way through my defenses.
My sisters and wolves dispersed to the kitchen, leaving Aric and me alone. No, that wasn’t on purpose or anything.
Aric faced me, slipping both hands onto my hips. “How are you?”
I straightened to my full five feet three inches, which, when the wolf of your dreams stood a good foot taller, did absolutely nothing. “Considering I woke up to find a corpse slumped across my threshold, only to have the remains pop like a balloon and attempt to suffocate me? Okay, I guess.” I shrugged. “My sisters are safe. I’m thankful for that.”
Aric gave me a halfhearted smile. “I don’t want you to worry. I meant it when I promised to protect you.” One hand curled around my waist, while his opposite hand traveled beneath my long chocolate waves to cup the nape of my neck. I closed my lids, relishing the addicting warmth that always accompanied Aric’s touch.
I opened my eyes in time to see him lean forward. I turned away before his lips met mine. He dropped his hands and sighed. “I suppose I deserved that.”
My hands found the back of the couch. Lack of experience with males made me kitten shy, not tigress fierce.
“I’m sorry I haven’t called,” he added quietly.
“It’s all right.” I said it, but Aric could scent I didn’t mean it. Still, he humored me.
“No, it’s not, Celia.”
“You’re right. It’s not.” My fingers drummed against the ridge of the sofa. “So why haven’t you called?”
He ran a hand through his dark brown hair. He’d cut it since the last time I saw him. He kept the top long, the sides short. I wondered what else or who else had occupied his time.
Aric crossed his arms. “Things have been more complicated than I’d expected.” He glanced over his shoulder to find Shayna, “Miss I Respect Your Privacy,” peering around the corner. He laughed when she scurried away. “Take a ride with me and I’ll explain.”
When I didn’t move, Aric bent and kissed the top of my head. “Please,” he whispered. “We need to talk.”
Aric took my hand when I nodded, and led me to the door. “Celia and I are going out,” he called over his shoulder.
The wolves murmured an acknowledgment over Taran’s “It’s about damn time” remark. Aric grimaced at the comment as he lifted me over the threshold where the blood and pus had oozed. Nothing remained except the lingering memory of a tortured soul. I searched the wide floor planks, the steps as my feet descended, and the stretch of lawn. Nothing. He was gone. Forever. The revelation caused the already heavy sadness pressing against my sternum to intensify. I resisted the urge to lean into Aric for support and shied away from him once more.
Aric’s fingers found the small of my back. “I know you’re not happy with me, Celia. I’m hoping I can change that.”
I didn’t answer. I would’ve circled the world with him, and he probably suspected as much. But despite how he made my insides melt and my breath catch, I couldn’t ignore the last week. His rebuff had both stunned and hurt me, more than I dared to admit. I needed to know what happened . . . and if the possibility of “us” still existed.
Aric opened the Escalade’s passenger door for me. The tan leather seat chilled my bare legs. Although I didn’t react, Aric immediately started the engine and flicked on the seat warmer. He took me to the closest diner. The patrons ceased their conversation as we entered. Aric’s commanding presence made them take notice. They settled and resumed their meals once we took our seats. I flipped through the menu. The gore slathered across my front porch had initially erased my appetite. Except the scents of frying bacon and pouring pancake batter quickly proclaimed festering body parts be damned. So I didn’t complain when Aric ordered enough food to feed a small village . . . or a wolf and a tigress.
“I flew in from Colorado last night.”
“Oh?” I sipped on my orange juice. “What’s there?” Besides the countless droves of weresluts you’ve bedded?
Aric smirked. While he couldn’t read my thoughts, my tone probably screamed, Caution: bitchy Latina ahead.
“My mother, Celia.” He glanced out the wide diner windows with a panoramic view of Lake Tahoe. The breeze had picked up, sending a ripple of blue waves to splash against the sandy shore. “It’s where I grew up. Where I used to find my peace.”
I finished the last bit of my biscuits and gravy and moved on to the eggs. I could relate to what Aric meant. The mysticism of the lake welcomed us like humans never had. I knew my sisters and I had found our home when we visited the area.