Sealed With a Curse(25)

Aric nodded. “My students tried to help, but the thrill of the hunt made them careless. I ordered them to stand back.” He pushed his long hair from his eyes. “I finished him. But not before the prick took a chunk out of my thigh. While I healed, I sent them to search for more victims.” He stopped to face me. “Had I known my wolves would attack you, I never would have allowed them from my sight.”

The fire to Aric’s irises returned and the scent of his anger hit my nose like a tangible force. The urge to calm him consumed me. Instinctively I reached to touch his face. Aric watched my hand slowly inch toward the increasing warmth of his skin. But then common sense bitch-slapped me upside the head and I jerked my hand away. What’s wrong with me?

I took off, humiliated by my reaction.

Aric, of course, easily caught up. “Celia—”

“Why are you so pissed at your wolves for attacking me?”

“You’re innocent,” he answered simply.

My steps slowed as if the walkway had transformed into sand. I focused ahead and tried to ignore the sins from my past that rushed to the forefront of my mind. “You don’t know me, Aric. You’re wrong to think I’m innocent.”

“No. I’m not.”

I tilted my head to gauge Aric’s face. His tone sounded severe. Yet his strong masculine features held nothing but kindness. It seemed surreal for such a powerful being to be so compassionate. Except there was no doubt he meant what he said.

“Any other being would’ve killed those boys, Celia. You spared them at a great expense to yourself.”

Perhaps. But I’d refrained more for myself than for them, and namely because I didn’t relish killing anything.

Aric inched closer, sending his body heat to flicker across my skin in a playful caress. A small, sexy grin spread smoothly across his face, stealing my breath.

Whoa.

My mouth parted and I smiled back. It was easy. I liked how it made me feel. No. I liked how he made me feel.

But then Aric stopped smiling and cleared his throat. “My car’s just ahead.”

What?

It took me a moment to follow, unsure what I’d done to ruin the moment. Then again, I’d probably imagined the whole moment. God, I was pathetic. The small beep from his key fob finally made me move. I crossed the street to where his shiny black Escalade hugged the corner near a bridal boutique.

Aric kept his back to me and his breath came out slow and controlled, as if working to calm down. I thought he’d changed his mind about taking me home until he wrenched open the car door. “I’ll help you inside.”

“No. I’ll manage.” His rebuff hurt me, although I wasn’t sure why. I’d only just met the wolf. His actions shouldn’t have bothered me.

But they did.

I held on to my injured arm and used just my legs to climb into the monstrous hybrid. My flexibility and strength made it easy. Yet my injury caused my usual grace to falter. My backside fell into the seat, but it was the bounce off the tight leather cushion that sent a rush of pain up my arm and into my shoulder.

Damn it. I grimaced, but managed to swallow back a grunt.

My eyes remained shut when Aric’s warmth enveloped me. Slowly I opened my lids. I stared, mesmerized as his gaze locked onto mine and he held out his hand. “Don’t move,” he whispered. “Let me take care of you.”

Aric reached for my injured arm, careful to touch the sleeve of my dress and avoid my bare skin. His movements were measured and cautious, as if he held a delicate piece of crystal rather than the powerful arm of a tigress. I wanted to protrude my claws—just to prove I wasn’t weak. But the effort would have left me howling in pain, defeating the purpose and making me appear more stupid than strong.

So I kept still, and for once allowed someone to take care of me.

Aric gently slid my arm through the seat belt. His steady, gentle movements anchored time. He continued to manipulate my arm in a graceful dance until he finished working the seat belt around me and clicked it into place. Without a word, he shut the door and walked around to the driver’s side.

Aric paused before opening his door, once more taking in slow, deliberate breaths.

Several long seconds passed before he climbed in and cranked the engine. “Where do you live?” he asked, his tone low and gruff.

I gave him my address, though my voice shook as I spoke. Aric punched the coordinates into his GPS and took off. It was only when we crossed the Nevada border and were into California that he finally spoke again.

“I saw you earlier tonight, and at the beach.”

“I know.” I glanced down at my hands, which were filthy and caked with dried blood. My body tensed as I waited for him to explain this unusual draw between us. When he didn’t, I questioned him about the night. “Are you a cop?” Aric seemed to oversee the investigation, but that didn’t clarify why he had students.