Chapter Eighteen

Overcoming the Scars

Learning a New Trick

Athair watched Sgrios leave. Now came the challenge of getting Hope over her fear.

Ella stood up. "I am going to study the records."

Dàn looked longingly toward Ella's side of the house.

She shook her head at him. "No, I'll continue to look for you. You go with Hope and learn to drive with Rath and Athair."

"No better time than the present," Athair said, trying to encourage Hope. He gently dragged her from her seat. "So, where is this wagon?"

"We actually call it a car, not a wagon." Hope answered quietly.

"Steve drives a station wagon, does he not?" Athair asked.

"Yes. That's the kind of car," Hope said. "Sometimes cars are called automobiles. Or autos, for short. But usually not a wagon, unless it is one."

"But you said you have a volks wagon. Is that the kind?"

"Yes, sort of. That is who makes my kind of car. Mine is a Volkswagen Beetle. A Bug."

"A bug? We are to learn how to drive an insect?" asked Rath. "Your language is very strange. See Athair, we should have kept using Gaelic."

By now, they had reached the garage at the side of the house. Hope led them inside to see the Bug rather than try to explain.

Athair looked at the vehicle inside the garage. It was like the bright yellow one he'd seen in Lakeside. This car was small and pale blue in color. Surely it wouldn't hold all four of them.

"I forgot the keys," Hope mumbled. She turned and ran through a door into the house, but in only a moment she was back and began to explain the basics.

"These are the keys to use to open and start the car. Each set is different and will only work for one particular car. These are the door locks." She opened the doors and stepped back to let them look over the inside, while she explained how to adjust the seats and what the other parts did. Rath wanted to know what made the car move. She showed him the engine under the rear hood.

When she couldn't answer all of his questions, she gave him the manual. He and Dàn went over the car together, checking the book for definitions and explanations.

Athair took Hope's hand and pulled her away from the car.

How are you managing? he asked silently, but he really already knew. She was tense, scared, and worried about disappointing him. He was proud of her for trying despite her fears.

All right, she answered. Hope was trying so hard. He soothed her in the only way he knew how, empathically sending her wave after wave of positive emotions. His gratitude for her doing this, his pride in her attempt to overcome her fears, his belief in her strength, and his love for her, no matter what.

You are much better than all right. You are amazing. He pulled her into his arms, planning to show her just how deeply he cared for her. What began as a gentle kiss quickly burst into a long, heated moment.

Whatever his original intentions had been, he found this method of distraction to be very pleasant and would have continued if Rath hadn't interrupted them.

"Hey! You two had better stop that before the lights start blinking again," he said, just before he started the car up with a rev of the engine. "Hope, how do we get the Bug out of here?" he shouted over the motor.

Laughing, she pulled up the garage door and gave Athair another short, but very hot kiss. "Do you think it's safe to let them try to drive after only reading the manual?" she asked, reclaiming his hand and weaving their fingers together.

"Both are sensible, and Rath is very good at figuring things out." He squeezed her hand and led her outside to give the boys more room to back out. "We can watch them from the porch, if they can use the field to practice."

Hope looked very glad to put off having to get into the car. She said, "Great idea! You tell them where to take the car and I'll get us more coffee." She took off into the house.

* * *

Steve decided, after only five minutes on the highway, that Route 80 was absolutely the most boring stretch of road that had ever existed. He was beginning to wonder why he'd volunteered to chauffeur his new wolf friends across the state. The boredom alone would be bad enough, but even worse was his edginess and uncertainty about where he stood with them.

Reultan provided the best distraction and entertainment when he started asking about the various buttons on the dashboard. Steve focused on his role as teacher and explained and demonstrated each switch. Who would've thought werewolves would love rock music? Both Reultan and Díon seemed to enjoy Van Halen and Queen. Reultan especially liked Kiss' Almost Human. Díon favored the Doors, but also got into AC/DC's Highway to Hell. Many miles and more than an hour flew by as Steve shared all he knew about each of the songs and bands.

Reultan offered to drive, and Steve hesitated before relenting. He wanted nothing more than to have someone else drive for a while. Although he couldn't say that letting them behind the wheel was a bad idea, it certainly livened up the drive. Reultan had a lead foot and loved to pass other cars and trucks. He couldn't seem to tolerate anyone in front of him, saying he considered it a challenge. So, within a few minutes of taking over driving, they were flying along at over seventy miles an hour, and often much higher than that.

His high speeds led to a long discussion about law enforcement, speed traps, and the cost of tickets for the numerous laws they were currently breaking.

Despite the many risks, Steve had a good time. They listened to music and talked about what was happening in the world. He was revered as an expert on current events. Reultan was fun and easy going about everything new, and Steve had the feeling Reultan would enjoy getting to know the world. The young wolf thrived on each new experience, while Díon quietly observed all that flashed by. He asked serious questions but made few comments about what Steve and Reultan chose to discuss.

After about an hour, Díon took over driving. He was considerably more cautious than his brother, which was good because he was not nearly as smooth at steering and braking. Twenty minutes later, Steve took the wheel again. Especially since they were leaving Route 80 and traveling on smaller highways.

* * *

Hope sighed as Athair caught her gently in his arms.

He pressed a kiss to her cheek, then dropped his head lower to nuzzle against her throat, feathering kisses over her tingling skin. "Now it's my turn," he said.

"What do you mean?" The car. He wanted to drive. How would he ever understand what kept her from the normal act of driving? To him, it was only something new to learn.

"You know what I mean. My turn to drive."

"Yes, I know." She thought back to Steve's wonderful list of steps. Would they help her get through this?

"I need you to help me. The young pups will never let it go if one of them teaches me."

"All right." She felt Athair's determination and knew he wouldn't give up this argument.

They walked to the car, where Rath and Dàn stood examining the motor again. Rath seemed fascinated by the machine's inner workings.

Rath looked up and caught Athair's gaze. Athair must have said something telepathically, because Rath closed the hatch and started for the back porch. "Good luck. It's really not that hard. There was nothing to hit in the field." He chuckled, "Not even any runaway mongrels from the Bear Clan. They really do seem to have backed off some."

"You can trust your safety to Athair," Dàn murmured to Hope.

"Dàn knows me well. I could never put you at risk. To lose you would be like losing my heart. Already, it beats only for you,"Athair said as he touched her arm lightly.

The intensity of Athair's mind touch sizzled through her. "I know you won't hurt me. It's the car I don't trust."

"Then we can simply sit and talk for a while." He led her to the passenger side, opened the door, and handed her inside.

Hope hunched down in her seat as the car closed in around her, still warm and filled with a light musky scent that reminded her of the woods at night. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine Athair walking with her beneath a canopy of trees surrounded by chirping birds and leaves carried past on a soft breeze.

The quiet snap of the driver's side door and the car's dip told her Athair now sat beside her. But she stubbornly refused to open her eyes and give up her peaceful walk in the forest.

"Tell me where you are."

"On a path in the forest. Somewhere safe."

"Am I with you?"

"Of course."His fingers tangled with hers, and she squeezed his hand. How could she be safe without him? His presence brought contentment to her walk in the woods. "I feel the breeze and wonder if you are controlling it."

"If you like, I will call it to cool your cheeks and brush through your hair."

"I like that you are in control, that you have the power to shape the wind."

"Aye, control is something I do possess."In their woodland daydream, he turned her in his firm grip and drew his lips to within a breath of hers. But you also have choices to make. His words blew gently across her cheek as his fingers combed through her hair.

Hope moved the short distance from her lips to his. Her hands clutched at his back. Her body was cradled and engulfed by his.

Her car door suddenly opened, ripping her from their moment together. All at once, Athair tugged her out of the vehicle and into his embrace. "I had to have more than a daydream," he muttered before crushing her between his passion and the side of the Beetle.

How had he gotten from the car? Why?

That stick thing. The gearshift. He explored her mouth, dancing with her tongue. This was not the gentle man from last night. This Athair was driven by need. He didn't ask, he demanded.

And she met his demands. His seeking hands found her willing flesh, each touch setting her ablaze. The tingle of electricity between them only sharpened her raging desire.

Athair's hand slid beneath her loose blouse to cup her breast and brush his thumb over its sensitive tip, which tightened and warmed with his energy. His other hand slipped to her hip, burning Hope through the thin denim of her jeans, igniting her in flames.

She wanted to be a part of him. Even his body pushing against hers wasn't enough. Her arms wrapped around his neck, clutching him as if he might dare take even a breath without sharing it with her.

His hand gripped her behind, lifting, grinding her belly against his hardness. Her right leg stole around his, rising higher as her hips shifted to allow them to move closer. With his free arm supporting her, she tightened both legs around his waist.

He ground hard against her center, while his lips still dominated her. His hand abandoned her breast and cradled the nape of her neck.

She tore her mouth free to gasp in air, and then kissed him back to match his fervor.

"What is it between us?"she asked.

"I have never felt this before."She felt his joy and something else that was so powerful that it tightened her throat and brought tears to her eyes. "But we must have bonded, as my heart races each time we touch. I can't imagine being anywhere but your arms." His lips roamed from hers, and he placed tiny, feather-light kisses across her cheek, below her ear, and down her neck. Although her scarring was gone, she still wore a turtleneck blouse from habit. He bit into the thin fabric and tore it, baring her throat and one shoulder.

She pulled back at the barbaric, lustful ripping sound, so possessive and dominant that her heart pounded at the very thought of his power being released in violence. Would he be dangerous? He met her gaze. No, he would not hurt her. He might be a danger to her wardrobe, but not to her. Never her.

"Bonding is nice. I like bonding." Hope's head fell back as her body arched into Athair's.

"As do I."His head dipped to her exposed neck, nuzzling and kissing her skin.

"What if someone is watching?"Hope said, suddenly realizing that only the car separated them from the open field.

"No one can see us here behind the Bug. And besides, you feel too good for me to stop,"Athair said.

"I wish I was wearing a skirt."

His chest rumbled against her with a low growl. She saw a glint in his eye.

"Don't you dare rip my jeans," she said.

"Then get them off. I need to be inside you."

She slid her feet back to the ground and unfastened her zipper. He helped push her pants down her hips. She kicked off her sandals and stepped from the circle of denim.

No sooner was she free of her jeans than Athair pushed her back against the car, holding her there with his roaming hands and body weight. She wrapped her legs around him before remembering her panties.

They proved to be no problem. Athair reached to one side and tore them free of her hips. Hope moved slightly, allowing the small peach scrap to fall to the ground.

As she tightened her legs, she realized he had done some undressing as well and was pressed hard against her, ready to plunge deep where they both wanted him to be. She shifted her weight, grinding her hips, drawing his tip into her waiting wet heat. He held still as she moved over his shaft. Deeper and deeper. Slowly easing over him, then pulling back, teasing both herself and Athair.

His stillness shattered as she withdrew. He pushed Hope against the warm metal, plunging deep and fast into her with relentless, driving, long, hard strokes that burned and begged. She was aching and needy, clutching at him and rocking into his thrusts. Both were panting and ready.

His hands gripped, his entries quickened, as he pounded into her. She tightened around him, crying out with her orgasm as he joined her, stiffening in his completion.