"Any idea where you want to go?" The scent of his watermelon lollipop floated over.
She shrugged. She wanted to go to Pepperdine, but didn't have the money.
"Maybe a state school if I can get in."
"How are your grades?"
"A's with a B in math. I've never been good at mixing numbers and letters."
"I've always been good at those. Let me know if you need help."
"If you're sure it's not too much trouble. I have a test coming up in a week or so. I could definitely use some help."
"I'm around. So you have good grades and you're a transfer student, you should be able to get in wherever you want."
They crossed the quad to the parking structure. She studied his gait. He limped ever so slightly but if she hadn't known better she'd probably have thought he had a knee injury. Or maybe he was doing a John Wayne impression. They hit the stairs to the second floor and she opened her mouth to ask if he preferred to take the elevator but then closed it. Noah would be utterly offended if she asked something like that.
"It's more lack of money than grades at this point," she said.
He slowed and took the stairs in solid even steps. Had she not seen his prosthetic, she never would have been able to tell he wore one.
"You could get a loan." He looked over at her.
"True but I'm not sure I want to be in debt forever."
"Maybe there's some financial aid you could apply for."
"I don't know anything about any of that."
They stopped at the top of the stairs and he sucked in a huge breath, and rubbed his leg.
She glanced over her shoulder and scanned the area. Even in Noah's company she couldn't fully relax.
"I have a buddy who might be able to help. If you're interested," he said.
Her gaze met his. "Oh, you don't have to do that."
He popped the lollipop from his mouth and swallowed. "In case you haven't noticed I'm not exactly over burdened with things to do at the moment."
She nodded. "Thank you."
He gave her his genuine, dimple-revealing smile and the butterflies in her stomach fanned out, causing goosebumps all over her skin.
He pointed to the large white truck in the first row. "That's me."
No handicapped sticker or spot for him.
"So what are your plans for the future?" she asked. "Now that you aren't in the military anymore."
"I've been considering a Wounded Warrior internship in LA."
"What's that?"
Noah unlocked the truck and before she could open her door, he opened it for her. She turned and his body was so close the heat of his skin burned onto hers.
"Ma'am."
That one word, and the rumbling baritone of his voice, had her almost throwing herself at him.
His deep brown eyes softened and he swished his lollipop from one side to the other. The urge to pull the lollipop from his mouth and replace it with her lips made her tingle.
"Thank you." Cara hopped into the cab and Noah closed her door. She used the time it took him to cross to the driver's side to pluck her shirt and fan herself. What was wrong with her? She'd dated before. Had sex before. Been in the same room with hot guys before. What the hell was it about this well-mannered, kind, sexy, yet semi-broken guy that had her so riled up? She needed to remember why he was in town. He'd been bitten and was trying to transition into this new world. She swallowed hard. She was the last girl he needed. Not after what she'd done.
He hopped in his side and put on his seat belt. "The Wounded Warrior internship is with the FBI. They help injured vets figure out what they want to do and see if there might be a place for them in the Bureau."
"So you could become an FBI agent?"
"Possibly. A desk job most likely. But I'm not sure that's what I want to do with my life. Living behind a desk, pushing papers."
"Catching bad guys?"
He backed out of the parking spot and headed for the road. "That's not so bad, but I've been a Marine for six years. I didn't just do it to piss off my dad, though that was a great perk. I did it to serve, protect, and hell, because I get to use big guns, and blow crap up."
She chuckled. "So… maybe you could go to Hollywood and be a Pyrotechnical Engineer for movies."
He glanced over at her, his eyebrows smashed together.
"You know… that's not such a bad idea. I'd never thought about it before but I have the skills. I've been doing it for years. I just wonder how the heck I'd get into it."
"Well Clint's dad is pack leader of this area and he's in the movie business. He might have some connections."
"Yeah… I don't know about that. I'd probably be better figuring it out on my own."
"Because Clint's dad is the pack leader?"
"Because he's a werewolf."
****
Noah ground his jaw together at the thought. Doing what he loved, blowing things up, would be amazing, but he wanted as little as possible to do with werewolves.
"You know I'm a werewolf right?" Cara asked in a small voice.
He glanced sideways at her and the pained expression on her face had him mentally kicking his own sorry ass.
"I didn't mean to upset you."
She looked out her window. "I can't begin to imagine how hard all of this is for you. I just hope you realize that not all werewolves are bad people. Just like with every group or race or denomination or whatever."
Noah crunched down on his lollipop as Cara's words sucker punched him in the gut. Everyone he'd spoken to had told him there was no cure for the bite but he still held out hope. Maybe that was just his way of ignoring the truth. Cara was great. Tate and Donovan were great. Natasha was nice and Liam was… trying. From what he'd seen, they were all normal, like anyone else -- except for the changing into a wolf once a month thing. Maybe, if he found a group that wasn't too bad, he could actually live with this new affliction.
Cara pointed out the pizza place and he pulled into a spot across the street. People streamed in and out and his heart began to race. He was suddenly hit with a flashback. He and his platoon, drinking beer. The sounds of their laughter as Miller told a dirty joke. Pour Some Sugar On Me, blaring.
"Noah?"
His head whipped around. Cara stared at him, concern etched into her beautiful face.
"Are you all right?"
A trickle of sweat skated down his neck. He stared at her, searching her face, trying to find something to ground him in the present. Her eyes. Big, brown, round, soulful, beautiful.
His muscles relaxed. "Yeah." He cleared his throat. "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You don't have to go in if you don't want. I can find a ride home."
He rubbed the sweat from the back of his neck. He needed to get out. To see people and do normal things.
"We're quite a pair aren't we?" He chuckled. "Me asking you if you want to go. You asking me if I want to go." He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Let's just have some fun." He jumped from the truck before he could change his mind and crossed to Cara's side, to open her door.
She reached down with her foot but couldn't quite touch the ground from the height of the cab. He wrapped his hands around her slender waist and helped her out. She set her hands on his shoulders and their bodies bumped together as her feet hit the pavement. Her hipbones came in contact with his and his arousal stirred again. He stepped away quickly and shoved a hand through his hair.
The last thing a beautiful girl like Cara needed was a crazy guy hitting on her. Especially after the scare she'd had in the coffee shop.
"Sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to invade your personal space."
He looked back at her. "It's fine."
She chewed her bottom lip and he closed her door. The sweet smells of southern California filled his nostrils. Moist air. Water. Flowers ever blooming.
"Come on." He grabbed her by the hand and they jogged across the street to the pizza place. She looked over her shoulder and scan the area, like s
he'd done when they were in the parking garage. As if at any moment, she expected someone to jump out at them.
He let go of her hand as soon as she was safely across the street, then led her down the steps of the restaurant. The scent of tomatoes and grease had his stomach growling.
"Man, in my entire life, I've never been as hungry as I have these last six months," he yelled over the din. "I feel like I eat every freakin' hour."
She squeezed his bicep, sending a shockwave of desire straight through him.
"That's because you're a growing boy," she whispered in his ear.
Her breasts brushed his arm and he thought he'd lose control right there and grab her. The musky, floral scent of her perfume had him completely unable to think straight.
"There they are." She pulled him toward an enormous table in the back. The press of so many bodies had him squeezing her hand tighter than he wanted.
"Cara!" Natasha waved. "Hey Noah."
He nodded and glanced around the group. The scent of each person at the table assaulted him.
"You gonna introduce your friend?" asked a brunette siren wearing a tube top that barely covered her ample breasts.
"This is Noah. He's new in town and staying with me till he gets situated. Noah, this is Clint, Rock, Buck, Minx, Jasmine, and Cindy. You already know Liam and Natasha." Everyone waved in turn but it was Cindy's lingering stare that made Noah swallow hard.
"You look great, Cara." Clint smiled and pulled a chair out beside him.
Cara looked at Noah, then at Clint, conflicted.
A sudden possessive instinct dug its hooks into his spine; he wanted to shove Clint to the floor and pummel his face for even looking at Cara.
"It's okay," said Noah. "Go ahead."
"Noah, why don't you come sit with us?" asked Liam.
He nodded and headed to the opposite end of the table.
CHAPTER SIX
Cara fidgeted under the table but tried to stay as cordial as possible. Clint had never shown any interest in her in the past, but his newfound friendship with Natasha and Liam had apparently rubbed off to include her. Most of the pack, Clint, Rock, and Buck, along with Minx, the girl flirting with Buck, acted like she'd been a part of them her whole life.
She tried to follow their conversation about school and sports, chiming in whenever possible but it was hard with Noah looking uncomfortable next to Liam. She found herself gazing at him more and more frequently as the minutes dragged on.
Cindy seemed determined to get Noah's attention. But to Cara's joy, Noah showed no interest in her, or her breasts.
When the pizza finally arrived so did several pitchers of beer. The guys all poured themselves a round but Noah stuck with water. The group grew increasingly louder and more riotous and the more they did, the tenser his body became.
He stuck a lollipop in his mouth. He glanced in her direction and gave a tight smile that didn't meet his eyes. A bead of sweat ran down his temple and he stood so fast his chair tipped, but Liam caught it before it hit the floor. Cara pushed to her feet on high alert.
"Noah, I think I forgot something in the car, can you help me get it?"
His eyes connected with hers and he gave her a curt nod.
Everyone at the table looked between them. She grabbed her purse and smiled.
"We'll be back." She crossed to Noah, grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the exit. They'd just made it outside when he backed into the wall and sucked in several deep breaths. Bending at the waist, putting his head between his knees.
Several people passed and she gave a small wave and nod to keep them moving onward. She glanced around, then kept her eyes trained on the pizza shop door, in case anyone decided to follow them. No one did. Finally, he straightened and looked at her. His eyes clouded with anxiety.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
He laid his shoulders against the brick wall and rubbed his hands over his face. His arms shook like tree branches in the wind. "Do you mind if we get out of here?"
The fact that he'd said, 'we' warmed her all over.
"Not at all."
Noah gripped her hand tight and pulled her between the parked cars.
"Cara!" The sound of Liam's voice stopped her. He jogged up to join them. "Where ya headed?"
"It's too noisy in there so I figured we'd bug out," she said.
He looked down to their interlocked fingers.
"Noah, can I have a moment with Cara please?" Liam asked.
Damn. She thought for once she'd escaped Liam's protectiveness.
"No problem. I'm just gonna take off." He backed up.
"No." Cara's voice came out more firm than she'd anticipated. "Just wait for me."
Noah glanced at Liam, then nodded before heading across the street.
"Cara, what are you doing?" Liam crossed his arms over his chest making his leather coat creak.
"What do you mean?"
He gave her a questioning look. "Have you told him?"
She swallowed hard. "Told him what?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Her insides twisted, like she'd eaten a live octopus.
"You don't want to do this Cara. He's not stable. If he gets attached, then finds out–"
"Finds out what? That I bit someone?" The words came out more venomous than she'd meant them too. But the pent up guilt, growing within her the last couple of days, was tearing her apart already.
Liam closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes. That. When he finds that out I don't know what he'll do. You need to be careful."
"I get it. You're afraid for him. I'm afraid for him too."
Liam stepped forward and laid his hands on her shoulders. "No. I'm not afraid for him. I'm afraid for you. I'm afraid of what it will do to you when he can't handle it and you get hurt."
"I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me. But thank you for caring."
Liam stared at her for a long moment. "It's your decision. I just don't want to see you hurt anymore than you already have been."
Her shoulders drooped. In the past four years since relocating to Malibu, she'd only and Liam for family. "I know."
"Promise me that you'll tell him before whatever is going on between you two goes any farther."
"There's nothing going on between us. I'm just trying to help him. So you don't need to worry."
Liam nodded. "Even you aren't that naïve. He's a good guy and surprisingly, I’m not adverse to the idea of you two together. You seem good for each other, but–"
"Hey, whatcha guys talkin' about?" Natasha slid up next to Liam.
Cara smiled. "Noah and I are gonna take off."
Natasha frowned. "Already? You guys haven't even eaten yet."
"That's okay. We'll grab something on the way back to the condo."
Natasha's brows furrowed. "We're still on for studying tomorrow, right?"
"Absolutely. I'll see you at noon." Cara waved, then headed across the street to where Noah waited. She hopped into the cab. "You want to go somewhere quiet?"
His eyes held relief as he looked over at her. "That would be nice. Do you mind driving?"
"Uh…"
"Have you ever driven a truck?"
"I've never driven."
He looked at her quizzically. "Never?
"I don't have a license. My mama always drove us around and then, when I came out here, I couldn't afford a car so I haven't gotten one yet. But where we're going isn't too far."
"Okay." He faced forward and put the truck in gear. "Where we going?"
****
Noah drove down the highway with the windows open, letting the salty sea air whip over his skin and calm his nerves. He'd almost lost it in the pizza place, embarrassing himself as well as Cara. Guilt wracked him, knowing she seemed to feel responsible for him. He didn't want her to feel like she had to mother him. He was pretty sure Liam had told her the same thing. Liam was no fool. He saw Noah for what he was.
Though Liam had been fri
endly at the restaurant, Noah was damaged goods and it didn't take werewolf sight to see that.
"Turn off here." Cara pointed to the right.
Noah twisted the wheel and coasted into a parking lot overlooking the ocean. He pulled into a spot and turned off the engine.
Cara opened her door and got out. Noah took a deep breath, grabbed a duffle bag from the back and followed suit. She walked toward the stairs leading to the beach and took off her shoes. She started down and Noah trailed behind, watching the slight sway of her slender hips as she walked. Her tight leggings hugged every single curve. Noah ran his tongue over the roof of his mouth imagining what it would feel like licking his way up her long, toned legs. When she reached the sand she stopped and waited for him.
Damn. He needed to keep his crap together. It wasn't fair to her and it wouldn't do him a bit of good imagining she could be his. Besides, she was a werewolf. He couldn't afford to get involved with a werewolf. Heaven forbid they should actually have kids one day and pass on the madness. No. He needed to keep his pants zipped and his tongue to himself.
"Do you need some help?"
"Uh… maybe." Nervousness made his muscles twitch. He'd not let anyone see him take off his leg before. Showing Cara his greatest weakness, and shame, was like a splash of ice water to the testicles.
"What can I do?" She set her shoes on the sand and waited.
Noah walked down the steps, trying to work up the nerve to tell her what he needed. Finally he sat and dropped the duffle beside him.
"Will it bother you if I watch you take it off?"
Goosebumps raised the hairs on his arms. Yes. He shook his head no.
She sat in front of him and gave him a sweet smile.
He licked his lips, opened his duffle bag, and then rolled up his pant leg. She stared at his prosthetic and his heart galloped. He located the button at the ankle and depressed it. The leg unlocked from the umbrella pin and he set the leg in his bag.
"Wow. So there's a pin. Does it go into your leg?" Her eyes held genuine interest.
"No." He cleared his throat. "It uh… is attached to this liner." He unrolled the flesh-toned liner from his thigh and showed it to her.
"Oh, that's cool. And probably way more comfortable than having it sticking out of the bottom of your knee."
Cursed by the Moon (Shifter Rising Book 2) Page 5