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“Christian Norton.” I smiled, enjoying the mental picture of him in those jeans.
“Who is Christian Norton?”
“He’s a senior. Long legs. Tight jeans. Mmmm.”
“You’re half drunk.”
“So?”
“So I am not letting you run off with some guy you barely know. What if something happens?”
“Um, that’s the idea, genius.” I met her eyes and felt the compulsion rise to the surface. It would be so easy to just do it … to convince Tara to let me go be stupid. Stupid sounded fun. And hot. I felt my power begin to exert itself, watcher her expression begin to relax. Then, at the last minute, she shook her head and the power waned. “Are you compelling me?” she demanded. Her eyes were almost bugging out of her head.
“No! … Not anymore.”
“Cambria.”
My shoulders sagged. “Sorry. It gets a little out of control when I drink.”
“Point proven. You’re not meeting Christian like this. We’re going to bed.”
I knew I was pouting by the look I gave her. The alcohol didn’t care. “You’re no fun tonight. Did something happen with Alex?”
She sighed. “Absolutely nothing happened with Alex, nor will it. Let’s go.” She took my hand and led me out. I almost pulled away—hand-holding wasn’t exactly my style, unless you were Christian Norton—but something about the gesture tugged at me. Whatever had happened between her and Alex, Tara needed me. So I let it be and let her pull me into the night.
Blood Bond
Derek and Cambria in the woods
Derek
Derek kept his pace slow, letting Cambria catch up as they walked into the woods. As much as Derek worried about his friend, he knew if anyone could calm Wes down, it would be Tara. Or heat him up, depending on the circumstances. Either one was better than Wes going after Steppe again. So, he’d excused himself and brought Tara’s friend, Cambria, with him. The fresh air would do him good, and all the better if he wasn’t alone. He needed to walk off his own frustration at Steppe’s arrogance.
As he walked, he tried not to admit that he didn’t mind being alone with Cambria, but there it was.
He was fascinated by her. The way she held her chin, slightly jutting as if always prepared to argue with you. The way her eyes held his and the sly look she wore behind every expression made him think of a panther, quiet and cunning and full of twisted amusement. He’d never met anyone like her, of that he was positive. He couldn’t quite figure her out. He told himself that was the reason behind his fascination. He just needed to understand what made her tick. Then he could walk away.
Relationships had no place in his world—not just as a member of The Cause but someone damaged like him. It was too much baggage to put on someone else. He could barely carry it himself some days.
She stepped up beside him and her scent hit him full force, just as it had the day at the lake. Even then, dripping wet and splashing around, he’d been overwhelmed by it. Honeysuckle and something tangy, like that orange punch Fee used to give him in the summer. She smelled like innocence and sunlight but the way she looked at him was anything but.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
He looked up abruptly and realized he was frowning, wearing his thoughts on his face. He was bad about that. “Um, yeah.”
“You’re not going to shift, are you?” She was staring at his shoulders, his arms.
He looked down and realized the edges of his frame looked fuzzy. He was more worked up than he thought. He muttered a curse. Cambria didn’t bat a lash.
“If you could pick any color dress for Steppe to wear, what would it be?”
He blinked at her, completely dumbfounded by the unexpected question. “What?”
“I said—”
“I heard you. It’s a ridiculous question.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Then give me a ridiculous answer.”
