Blood Bond Bonus Scene 3
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.”
“Okay. Yellow polka dot.”
“Got it. And shoes?”
“Why are we talking about Steppe cross-dressing?”
“Just answer the question.”
“I don’t know. High heels.”
“Stilettos. Got it.”
He gave her a look that said how crazy he thought she was in that moment.
“I’m not insane. Two things,” she said. “One, I thought about compelling Steppe to cross-dress. Not that it would make it even for what he said about Bailey but it’s a start. And two—”
“You can compel?”
“Yes.”
“You know if Steppe ever found out you did that to him, he’d—”
“I didn’t say I would actually do it. But it’s fun to imagine. Which brings me to reason two.” She gestured to him. “You’re not shaking anymore.” He looked down at his arms. Solid. He looked back at Cambria’s smug expression. “You’re welcome.”
He tried to ignore the way her eyes intrigued him.
Something about her made him want to bait her, just to see her get riled up.
He wondered how she’d look angry. Fierce.
Dangerous … He shook the thought away and replaced it with an image of Steppe in a dress.
He smiled. “Thanks for distracting me. I feel … better. I take it you don’t like Steppe? ”
She raised a brow at him. “Should I?”
“I don’t know. He’s your leader.”
“You say that like I’m a follower.”
“I have no doubt you’re not that.”
“Really? What am I then?”
She peered up at him through heavy lids and his pulse sped. What the hell was wrong with him? She was messing with him. Harmless flirting. They were talking politics for crying out loud, and he was acting like a sixth grader with a crush.
“Difficult,” he said finally, hoping his expression had, for once, not belied his thoughts.