Protected by the HERO (57 page)

A shout from not too far to our right penetrates through the fog of lust I was getting caught up in. Tarik quickly let me go, almost as if a switch had been flipped inside him. I blinked in confusion as everything happened in fast forward.

Tarik kissed me on the cheek and smiled at me in eager excitement. “I will find you again sweet Christina. Close your eyes.” I followed his command, and closed my eyes. Then I heard the strangest sound; it was almost as if a large dog were shaking out its fur next to me. I even felt the wind sweep up as if that was the case. I opened my eyes just in time to see Tarik’s face elongating into the face of a wolf. His body was morphing, changing into the body of a large white wolf. I watched as his hands turned to paws and his spine changed, forcing him to fall on all fours. He shook out his coat again and the transformation was complete.

I simply stared, wide-eyed and speechless. He’d just morphed into a wolf right in front of me! His intelligent silver eyes looked steadily into mine and he huffed before turning on his heel and tearing off deep into the woods.

Bile rose into my throat and I stumbled to the nearest tree, holding on for support as I bent over letting up all the contents of my stomach. Once the heaving subsided I looked up and found myself truly alone in the forest. Did Tarik really just turn into a wolf and leave me alone in the woods?

No, it was impossible! My mind refused to believe it. Maybe there was a huge wolf that popped out of the trees and Tarik simply ran it off…my eyebrows furrow as I try to make sense of what I just thought I saw.

“Chris! Christina!” I heard Jess’s voice and stumbled in the direction she called me from. I bumped into her and she held onto my shoulders, holding me steady. “Girl you are wasted. My sexy group of men just up and left me. So much for
that
I guess,” she grumbled.

We walked back towards the bar, arm in arm as she helped keep me upright. A headache was making its way across the right side of my brain and I just wanted to rinse my mouth out, drink a gallon of water and go to sleep. I could already foresee the hangover I’d have the next day.

“So what happened to your guy?” Jess asked me and I wanted to tell her that I thought he was just eaten by a wolf. Or turned into one.

“He left too…let’s go home I drank too much,” I mumbled to Jess and as we stepped into the lit parking lot of the bar she saw that I didn’t look too well.

“You’re such a lightweight. You’re gonna have a killer headache tomorrow.” I simply groaned as she packed me into the passenger seat of her car, and then got into the driver’s seat to drive us to my place. Before I passed out all I could see were moonlight-colored eyes, and that giant white wolf.

*****

Waking up was immensely difficult, mostly because my entire skull felt like it had been jackhammered. My eyes could not open because facing the light would be ridiculously painful. I rolled over onto my stomach and buried my face into the pillows.
I’ll just stay in bed today
, I thought. It was a Saturday after all and I didn’t have to work until Monday.

Memories of the night before flashed through my mind and I sat straight up in bed. Tarik…in the woods—and the wolf…? Had it all really happened? I rubbed my throbbing temples and laughed at myself. What was I thinking? Of course Tarik hadn’t really turned into a giant white wolf and ran off into the woods. That was ludicrous and anyway, I had been drunk. I could’ve seen anything.

I forced my eyes to open and squinted against the afternoon light pouring into my bedroom. I wondered where Jess had gone, if she was still here or had driven back to her house. I pulled back the sheets and scooted to the edge of the bed to stand up and stretch. Jess waltzed into the room then, holding a bag from our favorite diner in Keene Valley.

“I think the drive was worth the hangover food. You can thank me later,” Jess said with a wink as she walked over to the window bench that we often sat at to talk and eat. Smelling the delicious greasy goodness coming from that take-out bag I could have just kissed Jess.

“You’re perfect, I love you,” I said, and she laughed while beckoning me over.

“Come on, before it get’s cold.” I glanced towards my bathroom door and winced while I imagined what a mess I looked like.

“I need to freshen up a bit, I feel like Frankenstein’s wife,” I said before hurrying into the bathroom, which was a bad idea as my head took a moment to catch up with my body. When it did, it pounded at me to move slowly from then on. I quickly freshened up and changed out of last night’s clothes that I was still in. I wore something comfortable; sweat pants and a tank top. I wasn’t leaving the house that day, so no need to look
too
presentable.

“You look better already, what do you have in there, magic toothpaste?” Jess asked and I laughed, but then cringed, as my head didn’t appreciate the loud sound at all.

“No, but my head is killing me,” I groaned and walked around the bed to join Jess on the long window seat. There were pancakes, hash browns, eggs, and bacon spread out. It all smelled delicious. I grabbed a fork and dug in, Jess and I ate in comfortable silence for a few moments.

*****

“So, do you remember much about last night?” Jess asked me, I looked up at her and saw it in her eyes that she was laughing at me.

“So I haven’t had a drink in a while, whatever, I remember everything fine.” I stuck my tongue out at her and she laughed out loud.

“So what happened with your guy then? I thought you went with him for a walk?” Jess asked curiously, her expression eager for details.

“I…um, we walked,” I answered vaguely. I really wanted to move on from this line of conversation because I didn’t really remember what had happened with Tarik all too well. Jess sighed, rolling her eyes at me.

“
And
…?” she pressed. I chose that moment to eat a forkful of eggs, Jess looked like she wanted to throttle me and I couldn’t help but giggle at her attempt at a threatening expression. “You’re not getting out of this, so I don’t know why you’re laughing. Fess up, what happened?” Jess’s eyes widened and she gasped, as if she’s figured it all out already. “You slept with him didn’t you? You had sex in the woods. I knew you needed to get laid, but at
least
let him take you on a date first…although I could imagine doing it against a tree would be really hot.” Jess rambled on and I rolled my eyes, sighing at her dramatic conclusions.

“
No
Jess, we kissed, that was it. Then he had to go…I think he said he’d find me again, but he didn’t take my number so…I don’t know, whatever.” I said dismissively and Jess deflated a little bit.

“Aw, well that sucks, he was cute! That and he really seemed to be interested in you.” Jess pouted for my benefit. I shrugged, trying to seem aloof about the whole thing rather than reveal how confused I was over what happened in those woods last night.

“So what happened to your pack of guys? They seemed to be enjoying your company.” I changed the subject easily and Jess perked up, an excited gleam in her eyes.

“They were a fun group of guys, I exchanged numbers with one and he called me this morning when I was on the way to the diner. He wanted to hang out with me today so I’m seeing him in a few hours!” Jess said excitedly. She always got this excited when she met a new guy; she’s an incurable romantic and believed that each new guy was the one. I listened to Jess go on about her new beau and couldn’t help but fell a twinge of jealousy.

Here I was, alone and suffering from the worst hangover ever and there she was, all perfectly happy and going on dates. Maybe I should go out more like Jess was always urging me to do, then I could find a guy to at least buy me dinner every once in a while.

“Oh! Crap, I lost track of time, he’s going to pick me up from my place in like an hour. I’ve gotta go.” Jess hopped up from her seat by the window, and quickly helped me clean up. “I’ll call you after and let you know how it went!” Jess said excitedly and she was out the door and hurrying to her car. I waved and then shut the front door; well I guess I could catch up on some chores around the house since I had nothing better to do.

Sighing, I dragged my feet into the kitchen and started cleaning up. On the bright side, at least my headache was subsiding. I took the trash outside and just as I was about to step off my front porch, I saw a shiny black pickup truck cruise up the street and pull into my driveway. Confused, I tried to peer through the tinted windows, but couldn’t tell who it was. Then the driver got out of the truck and I had to focus on keeping my jaw from dropping.

I was sure he was one of the big guys from Tarik’s group of friends—or brothers—that were playing pool at the bar! He was tall and built just like them. He had dark-colored hair that was almost artfully disheveled and hung into his impossibly dark brown eyes. He had certain ruggedness and a mystery about him that was difficult to pinpoint. Maybe it was in the way he walked, or the smokiness of his gaze. He had perfectly angular features and plump pink lips that would drive any girl insane. He was wearing a black t-shirt that showed off his muscles well, and jeans that fit perfectly on him. I couldn’t help but stare at the gorgeous package walking silently up the steps of my porch and stopping directly in front of me.

“You are Christina correct?” he asked, his voice deep and lightly accented, exactly like I remembered Tarik’s was.

“Yes…who are you?” I said, the question coming out a bit sharper than intended. Though he
was
a stranger who just showed up at my house uninvited.

“I’m Roland, Tarik’s friend. It’s nice to meet you.” Roland grinned politely and then gestured down to the bag of trash I was taking out. “Let me help you.” He took the bag from me and disposed of it in my trashcan at the side of the house before walking over to me again.

“You’re…Tarik’s friend? How did you know where I live?” I asked him, still wondering as to why he’s here.

“Think of it as a sixth sense. Can I come in?” Roland asked and, too confused to do much else, I let him in. “I promise I’m not an assailant,” Roland said, as if trying to reassure me.

“That’s just great…why don’t you have a seat?” I gestured him into the living room area. Roland sat down on the couch and gestured me to come and sit next to him. I hesitated, but decided, hell he was in my house for a reason I might as well hear what he had to tell me.

“Why don’t you have a seat? Relax, I’m not going to hurt you,” Roland said in all seriousness. I sat at the edge of the sectional, and Roland chuckled. “I told you, I’m not here to hurt you.” I simply nodded and he took a deep breath. “I’m actually here to take you to Tarik’s. He told you last night that he would find you again, right?”

I nodded. Boy was Tarik resourceful, but I wondered why he didn’t come himself. I asked Roland.

“He was called away at the last minute, but you’ll see him when we get to his house. So how about you change, and we can get going?”

*****

Roland was telling me to change? I glanced down at my tank top and sweats and my cheeks heated up in embarrassment. I didn’t have a bra on and my nipples were
clearly
visible through the thin material. “It is kind of cool outside.” Roland said, a chuckle in his voice. I looked up at him and glared.

“Whatever, you’re the one who just came over unannounced!” Roland was obviously holding in his laughter and I stood up.

“If it helps…you have really nice breasts,” Roland commented, exactly like a guy would, and I picked up a sofa cushion to throw at him, which he dodged easily. “I apologize, that was inappropriate.” Roland said, his expression sobering just a little.

“Whatever, I’ll be back,” I grumbled, and went into my room to change into something more presentable. As I brushed my hair back into a ponytail I wondered if I was really going to get into the car with this strange man and let him take me to who knew where.
I’ll take my pepper spray just in case,
I thought.
And I have my cell. If anything I’ll just call the cops.

I took an easy breath once I had my game plan. Boy did Tarik have an odd way of going about things. He was lucky I liked him. I went back to Roland.

“Now that’s much better, Tarik can never refuse a girl in a sweater dress and knee high boots,” he said. Roland’s deep voice scared me into dropping the pepper spray I was packing into my purse. “Though I have to say, the little tank top was nice too.” Roland smiled at me wolfishly as he posed against the doorframe to my bedroom. His eyes traveled down my body and stopped at the small can on the floor.

Roland chuckled and walked into the room, where he picked up the can and put it in my purse for me. “You won’t need this, but if it makes you feel better then fine…” He paused and I looked up into his nearly black eyes. “You’re safe with me, with us. We wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. We just want to talk really.”

Roland sounded assuring, and I suddenly believed him. As weird as it was, I actually felt safe in his presence.

“So you’ll be with Tarik and me too?” I asked Roland and his dark gaze searched my face before nodding.

“Yeah, we’ll all just be hanging out pretty much. It’s nothing you should be worried about Christina.”

Roland’s gaze was intense and I couldn’t help but feel attracted to him. Something was off about this, but now I wanted to find out what was up. And see Tarik again. And if I was being honest, I wanted to be with Roland, too.