“Sorry, Mom.” She made sure there was enough room for them to come inside. Bianca had entered the room, and Lucy watched as Guy went straight to her. The mystical aura was between them again, and she couldn’t help but watch. The power was unlike anything she’d seen. Their energy pulled toward each other, and tilting her head to the side, she watched both as they wrapped around each other. Their wolves were trying to grab each other, and Lucy couldn’t help but smile.
A hand waved in front of her face, and she blinked away the image.
“Are you okay?” Caleb asked.
“Yes, I’m okay.” She couldn’t tell him what she’d seen. The powers that had been dormant inside her were growing fast, and she was terrified. No one in the pack understood what she was going through, and she didn’t know who to turn to. There was no one in the pack with powers.
“Hey.” Caleb caught her face in his hands, and the fear building within her stopped. “That’s it, look at me, and take it easy. Nothing is going to hurt you. You’re with me now. You’re safe.”
“I’m safe.”
Seconds passed. She didn’t know how much time actually passed, only that it did. With each second, she grew just a little calmer, and staring at him helped.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll take good care of her,” Caleb said, smiling at both of her parents.
She looked up to see they were both staring at her with concern. “It’s nothing.”
“You’re sure?” her dad asked.
“I’m sure.”
“Okay, have fun, and enjoy the night.”
They followed Bianca and Guy out of the door. She saw Caleb’s car at the end of her long driveway.
“Where are we going tonight?” Lucy asked.
“We thought going to the human town would put you both at ease,” Caleb said.
She glanced over at him as he moved toward the main passenger side. Guy was already letting Bianca into the backseat. Caleb had picked the human town for Bianca. If they had taken their date at Wolf Valley, they’d encounter no end of Guy’s conquests. She’d spend the night as a bodyguard to her friend.
“Okay. I can sit in the back with Bianca.”
“No. You’re sitting next to me.” Caleb opened the door. “Get in.”
“You’re being a little rude.”
“I’ve got to be. It’s the only way you’ll learn.”
She chuckled even though what he said was rather insulting. Buckling up her seatbelt, she flicked down the visor, and checked on her friend in the back. Bianca was looking out of the window, and Guy was looking at Bianca as if she was his entire world.
I want that, and I can’t have it.
Caleb broke through her trance by grabbing her hand, locking their fingers together.
She tried to pull her hand away from him, but he wouldn’t let her go.
“This is all part of being on a date.”
“Holding hands?”
“Yes, I’m the expert. You are not.”
“Exactly how many women have you dated?”
“Does that matter?”
“Of course it does.”
He smirked.
“Come on, wise ass, how many women have you dated, and that doesn’t include women you’ve screwed.”
“And what do you allow for an actual date?” he asked.
“There has to have been dinner, talking, and maybe even dancing.” She rested her head against the chair. “That goes for you as well, Guy.”
“What?”
“How many women have you dated? No lying.”
The car went silent, and she saw Bianca was no longer staring out of the window.
“Well, I don’t hear you answering,” Lucy said.
“Fine, we’ve not dated, okay?”
Lucy chuckled. “Don’t try to tell me that you know more than I do. You’re a virgin here just like me.”
“Yeah, but I’m only a virgin on the whole dating thing. I’ve got everything else covered.”
Her cheeks heated as he pressed a kiss to her hand. What was it about this guy that was calling to her? She didn’t know.
The rest of the drive went by without any event or meaning. They all talked about the latest television series they’d been watching. She loved watching Bianca come out of her shell as they all talked. There might in fact be a chance for her friend and Guy. She would still kick his ass if he hurt her. Lucy didn’t like the thought of anything happening to her friend. She loved Bianca like a sister.
Caleb parked toward the back of the lot so no one would have the chance of caging them in. Climbing out of the car, she waited for Bianca to get out when Caleb took hold of her arm.
“The point of this being a double date is you’re with me. I’m not dating Guy. I’m here for you.”
“And I thought you and Guy were a beautiful couple.” She rested her head against his shoulder, loving the sound of his laugh.
“You know you shouldn’t hide who you are.”
Lucy tensed up, pulling away. “What do you mean?”
“This playful side of you. I like her, and I’m more than happy to play with her.” He gripped her chin, turning her to face him. “Don’t hide from me.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Then it’s another good thing that we’re dating. During dates, we get to know each other.”
“We do?”
“Yes. Like, what is your favorite time of the year?” he asked.
She frowned. “It’s Christmas, why?”
“I love summer. I don’t have to wear as many clothes.”
Unable to contain her laughter, she hugged him a little tighter. “You’re interesting, Caleb. You shouldn’t hide that.”
“From you, I won’t.”
****
Finding the booth in the bar hadn’t been a problem. Caleb had been to the bar many times as he loved their fried chicken and hot wings. What he didn’t like was how many people were actually in the bar. His wolf was pushing forward, and every protective instinct was coming out. He didn’t want his woman put in danger, and right now, he couldn’t guarantee her safety.
“You okay?” Guy asked.
“Yes. I’m fine.”
Placing his arm across the back of Lucy’s chair, he listened as she and Bianca talked over the menu.
“I can recommend the wings and the fried chicken,” he said.
“Is that all you eat when you come here?”
“Pretty much.”
“It’s all he eats anywhere we go,” Guy said.
“I’d like the chicken Cobb salad. Do we go to the bar, or does a waitress come here?” Bianca asked.
“The waitress comes to the table, takes our order.” Guy leaned over Bianca’s shoulder, reading from her menu.
“What do you want?” Caleb asked.
“I don’t know. I like the sound of meatballs and spaghetti, or the chicken fried steak with mashed potatoes.” Lucy licked her lips, and he couldn’t help but imagine what those lips would feel like around his dick, which thickened at the thought. He wanted to be inside her. He wanted to fuck her, to take possession of her pussy, and surround her with his scent.
“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“Nothing. I don’t need to look at the menu to know what I want.”
“And what exactly do you want?”
“I want my fried chicken.” He stroked a finger down her arm, knowing he wanted damned more. She was firing his blood, making him crave stuff he’d never craved before.
They were interrupted by the waitress.
After they gave their order, Guy took his signal to take Bianca away from the table. The couple went to the dance-floor.
“They’re destined to be together,” Lucy said.
Her arms were folded as she looked toward the dance-floor. “You really do care about her, don’t you?”
“Of course. She was the only one who was willing to be friends with me. She didn’t care that I was human, and later on, she didn’t care that I was a witch.” Lucy shrugged. “We’re together forever.”
“If you leave, she will try to follow, and it will torture her wolf.”
“I’m not going to.”
“She loves you as well. It will hurt her for you to leave.”
“Are you trying to get me to stay?”
“That depends.”
“On what?” she asked.
“Is it working?”
She released a sigh, and Caleb looked toward the dance-floor. Guy had gotten Bianca into his arms, and the couple looked sweet together. Bianca was tense, but his friend was showing a great deal of restraint, which surprised him.
“It is. I can’t let her leave. If you could see their aura, it’s magical.”
Turning back to Lucy, he saw the wonderment dancing within her eyes, and truly wished he saw what she did. “You can see the power that binds them together?”
She nodded.
He looked at Lucy, wishing he knew what she was thinking. Reaching out, he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers, touching her. He couldn’t stop. For so long he’d been watching her from afar, always wondering what it would be like to be close to her. Now he knew, and there was no turning back.
“Are you having fun?” he asked.
“I’m a little bored, but Bianca’s having a good time.”
He wasn’t about to have Guy win this. Leaning close to her, he captured her lips, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She moaned, putting her hand on his chest, and pulling away. “What are you doing?”