He removed his arm from Chris’s shoulder, a fresh well of strength infusing him. She needed him even more than he needed blood right now. Opening his arms to her, she hesitated for a moment as fear and worry flashed across her beautiful face. When he made no move to pull away from her, no move to turn her away, she ran forward. Throwing her arms around his waist, she buried her face in his chest. He held her tight as her shoulders began to shake and heart wrenching sobs escaped her.
Burying his face in her hair, he tried to focus on the sweet scent of fruit and spices she emitted, and not the luring scent of her powerful blood. Her fear, and her need for him, was a great motivator for this. Careful of the wounds along her side, he lifted her gently. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her tear stained face into his neck.
They used the back doors as they made their way outside while Chris retrieved the coats. Devon adjusted Cassie, flinging open the passenger side door as Melissa scurried inside. He placed her gently into the passenger seat, kneeling beside her to stroke her hair back from her face. Turning her hands over, he noted the jagged gashes on her delicate palms. Anger flared through him as he pulled a piece of glass free and tossed it aside.
“Are you going to be ok?” he asked softly.
She managed a small nod, closing her eyes briefly. Picking her arm up, he surveyed the gashes on her side, fighting back the hunger that crashed through him in rising waves. She winced, jerking away from him slightly. “Sorry love,” he whispered, his eyebrows drawing tightly together as he realized that the wounds were already beginning to heal.
The blood had stopped flowing; the gashes were already becoming smaller. The rate in which she was mending was stunning. He recalled the hospital when she said she healed fast, but this fast? She was not healing at his rate, for he could already feel the muscle reattaching itself to his bone; feel his skin rejoining once more. No, she did not heal at his rate, but it was at a rate that far exceeded anything she should be capable of. Even as a Hunter.
Doubts blazed forth in his mind, little pieces of a puzzle suddenly scattered across a table before him. They were pieces that he didn’t understand, and couldn’t quite put together, but they worried him nonetheless. He could not make sense of what he was looking at, could not understand the mystery that was her, and he realized that it would take far more than him to make sense of this. He just didn’t know who to turn to for help with this puzzle.
“Don’t worry about it, I heal fast remember,” she said softly.
“I can see that,” he muttered, unable to tear his attention away from the now shallow wounds.
Her finger was gentle under his chin as she lifted his face. “You need to feed.”
His frown intensified in confusion. Then, ever so gently, her thumb brushed over his extended fangs, sending desire and want blasting through him. He trembled at her touch, fighting the urge for so much more. He hadn’t even known that his fangs had extended, he had been too caught up in his amazement of her to realize that his intense need was so very obvious. At her touch, hunger sprang forth in a burning wave that seared his veins.
Recoiling from her touch, he moved out of her reach, knowing that he could not tempt himself anymore. He was rapidly spiraling out of control. Her hand fell away, but there was no hurt in her gaze, only deep worry. Chris jogged up to the car, their coats draped over his arm. “Go,” Cassie urged softly. “I’ll be fine, I’ve suffered through worse.”
Her gentle reassurances, and the growing anguish in his body, made up his mind for him. He could not stay with her; if he did, he ran the risk of hurting her. She would be in good hands, and once she was home, she would be safe. Digging into his pocket, Devon pulled out his keys and tossed them to Chris. Fumbling with the coats, Chris managed to keep hold of them as he caught the keys.
“Drive slow, I’ll follow you home.”
Chris gaped at him, his mouth dropping as he looked at the keys, and then the car. “You ok?” he stammered.
“Yes, just make sure that you take care of her.” They both knew that he was not talking about the car. He turned his attention back to Cassie. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
She managed a nod, but he saw the fear and anxiety in her gaze. Feeling like the worst kind of ass he gently shut the door, he didn’t trust himself to get close to her again. “I’m sorry about almost attacking you earlier.”
Chris managed a wan smile. “I understand where you’re coming from, just don’t let it happen again.”
Chris was trying to sound light but his voice was tight. Devon nodded, closing his eyes as another tremor of hunger ripped through him. Shaking, desperately thirsty, he took a step back. He watched as Chris pulled out of the parking lot with the only person that could completely satisfy the arid torture blazing through his veins.
Turning, he fled into the woods, keeping pace with the car as it made its way down the side streets.
CHAPTER 17
“What happened?”
Cassie dropped her coat tiredly on the banister. Dani had come barreling down the stairs; freezing three steps from the foyer as her mouth dropped and her eyes damn near bulged out of her head. “Where’s my grandma?” Cassie asked quietly.
Dani blinked in surprise, her gaze darting rapidly between Cassie and the ruined dress she wore. “Her friend Martha called, they went to Bingo. She thought she would be home before you, but…” Dani’s eyes darted to the grandfather clock in the living room. “You’re far earlier than expected.”
“Party kinda got crashed,” Chris mumbled.
“I can see that,” Dani said softly, one eyebrow cocked questioningly.
“Glad she’s not home.” The last thing Cassie wanted was for her grandma to see her like this. The retelling was going to be bad enough, but to actually see it would have made matters much worse.
“What the hell happened?”
“You got it, hell happened.” Chris shut and locked the door behind him.
Dani’s gaze darted wildly over them, fear radiated from her. Cassie rolled her eyes at Chris, shaking her head slightly. There was no need to frighten Dani even more. Chris tried a sheepish, apologetic smile, but it failed miserably as his face did not seem to want to cooperate with his intentions.
“Where’s Melissa?” she demanded sharply, her voice tight with panic.
“Dropped her off already,” Cassie answered. Dani slumped, her relief palpable. “I need some ice cream, but first I need out of this dress. Chris, why don’t you make us some sundaes?”