She walks around to the driver's side, but I say, "I'll drive, angel."
She turns and purses her lips into a smirk. "You're the kinda guy who always has to be in control, aren't you?"
I shrug. "Yeah." I figure honesty's the best option here. "And I like to take care of you. But if you really want to drive, I'll back down."
She shakes her head and walks around to the passenger side. "I don't, really." When her smile wobbles, my heart clutches.
"Oh baby." I walk swiftly to her side of the car and fold her into my arms, trying not to crush her against my chest. It feels so right, so necessary to hold her. Different from what I've felt with other females. Have I ever needed to comfort another female? "Have you driven since the accident? Are you nervous?"
She accepts my embrace. "A-a little. Not nervous, really. Just-I don't know," she murmurs into my chest. "It scared the crap out of me, hitting you."
I feel like an ass for not thinking she'd be traumatized and then bullying her into letting me drive. She needed to get right back on the horse, and I stole that opportunity from her.
I pull away and hold her arms, stroking her bare upper arms with my thumbs. "You drive, angel. I want you to feel comfortable." I lead her around to the driver's side and hold the door open. "Go on. It will be fine. I'll be right beside you."
I doubt having me right beside her will alleviate any anxiety, but I have to say it-the need to soothe her is so strong. My wolf, tense since the talk with Garrett, relaxes somewhat.
She climbs in and turns the key. A determined expression is on her face and I recognize that inner steel I've always known was inside her. The powerful drive in a human who appears so soft and flexible on the outside. This is the Angelina who conceived and executed the crazy idea of go-go dancers at Eclipse and wouldn't take no for an answer until Garrett agreed.
Garrett-the toughest, no-nonsense alpha around.
The only sign of nerves I detect is the long inhale she takes before she pulls away from the curb, and then she seems to settle into driving.
"It's fine, right? Just like getting back on the horse?"
Her smile holds relief and the way she slides her eyes over to me gets me hard. "Yes. Thanks. Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"No apologies. I'm sorry I didn't think of it."
"You're really quite a gentleman, Jared."
The laugh that issues from my throat has a dry scrape to it. "Does that surprise you?" As soon as I ask, I wish I hadn't, because I know the answer. It's the same reason my gut twisted when she said it.
Of course she didn't see a gentleman in me. All she sees is the tattooed meathead that my parents always said would amount to nothing. The kid who never got his temper under control. Who's not good at anything but using his fists.
And obeying his alpha.
I'm the alpha's enforcer. The muscle that backs up Garrett's law. Above that, I'm absolutely nothing.
She gives one of those adorable blushes that gets me hard. "No. It's just, um, really coming into focus. Nevermind. I didn't mean to say that." She flaps her hand and blushes harder.
Damn. The fact I have her flustered thrills the dominant part of me and soothes the part that's banging against the container because I don't get to have her. I'm under her skin-at least for the moment-and I'll take it.
"Where am I taking you?" She pulls the plump flesh of her lower lip between her teeth and I have to adjust my cock in my pants.
"Downtown, to the club. But we need to make a quick stop on the way. Also on Congress Street." It's hard to ignore the sticky sensation of dread in my own veins as I contemplate the errand.
She nods and drives downtown and I direct her to No Return, another nightclub up the street from Eclipse. I called ahead to arrange a meetup with a leech there. He's a nice enough guy. I wouldn't say I trust him, but I don't distrust him either. Wolves don't trust anyone who's not pack, though.
She parks and looks at me expectantly.
"Come in with me for just a second. I want you to meet my friend Fox."
She blinks for a moment.
Fuck.
Either she's picking up my vibe or I'm a shitty liar. "It'll be quick."
But she grabs her purse. "Um, okay."
I'm sure she's wondering why I couldn't just walk from here. It's just a couple blocks to Eclipse-a guy like me shouldn't need a chauffeur.
I walk around the side and catch her hand. She looks up in surprise and I shrug. "I know it's inappropriate, but I'm feeling protective at the moment. Humor me, okay?"
Her laugh is full of surprise and it does something crazy to my body. A flush of warmth floods my limbs.
The club is closed, but I knock at the back door and it opens after a few moments. Fox-ever youthful, never changing-stands there. He's got spiky blond hair and a faint British accent, even though he's lived in the U. S. for over a hundred years.
He extends a cool palm and I shake it, even though my skin crawls. "Jared."
"Fox." I clear my throat. "This is my… friend Angelina." Dammit, if I don't want to say she's my girl, not my friend. Friend sounds all wrong in a way that makes me want to punch a wall or throw a table.
"Hi." Angelina's still picking up the weird vibe, I'm sure, because her look is attentive. Not quite wary-that would kill me-but watchful. She's trying to figure out what's off here.
Fox extends his hand to take Angelina's and when she meets his gaze, her focus goes soft, her expression blank.
Son of a bitch.