Page 37 of Been There Dragon That
“I’m a predator,” he chuckled, his voice deep and velvety. “I have to be able to sneak up on my prey.”
“Are you hunting me?” She met his gaze and straightened her shoulders, squaring off. She hadn’t missed his double entendre right there.
“Only if you run.” The corners of his mouth curved up in a smile that made her insides warm and gooey. The way he said it. He made it sound fun. He made her want to try running just to enjoy the chase.
She’d be lying to herself if she tried to say she didn’t like it when he caught her.
“How were you able to get the vehicle around the tree so fast? It’s been less than ten minutes.”
Disappointment flashed over his face for a brief moment, but then he nodded to answer her question. “I moved the tree. Good to go. SUV is warmed up and waiting outside the door. We’ll swing by your place first.”
I moved the tree.Like it was nothing. Why hadn’t he moved it last night?
Before she could contemplate longer than a few seconds, she was back in his arms, and he was carrying her outside.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking.”
“I never thought you weren’t. I like carrying you.”
“I have boots from Naomi. I—”
“Shuarra, I like carrying you. Which means, I will carry you.”
“I—” She started to argue again but stopped herself. As strange as it felt to be carried around like she was helpless, there was this tiny part of her that really liked it. The part of her that believed him. That he really did enjoy it. That he wasn’t doing it to make her feel weak or less.
The roads had been snow plowed already, and the ride to her parents’ home took about fifteen minutes. Wrath parked in her driveway, and she stared at the enormous tree lying on the side of the house, half outside and half inside the house.
“Shit.”
He made an agreeing noise and got out of the vehicle. “I’m going to turn off the gas line. Stay here.” He held her gaze and waited.
Rylee nodded. “I’ll wait.”
Wrath closed the vehicle door and then walked toward the side of the house that hadn’t been crushed by a giant tree.
She needed to call her parents and tell them what happened. The insurance company needed to be notified. She’d have to find another place to stay. She didn’t want to do anything except let Wrath cuddle her in his arms.
Was that so wrong?
A black Tahoe cruised down the road, passing the driveway slowly. She couldn’t see anyone through very dark tinted windows, but she couldn’t blame them for rubbernecking to stare at the poor house that’d been gouged by a tree.
She followed the SUV’s progress in Wrath’s rearview mirror until it turned off the street and disappeared around the corner.
When she looked back at the house, Wrath was walking toward her door and he looked worried. He opened it, unbuckled her, and plucked her out of the chair. “We’re not staying long. Tell me what you need, and I’ll help you gather it up.”
“Did you get the gas off? What’s wrong.” His body was stiff against hers. Tense. She could feel alarm rolling off of him like a fog.
“Aarav and I have been hunting a ring of thieves the past couple weeks. They must’ve taken advantage of the storm and hit your house. It’s trashed. I’m sorry, Rylee.”
Fear hit the bottom of her stomach like a shot of rotgut whiskey. Nausea bloomed, and her head swam a little. She clung to Wrath’s arm, even after he pushed open the front door and set her on her feet.
He hadn’t been kidding. The couch cushions had been shredded. Chairs were upside down. Papers and books were all over the floors, and the bookshelves were empty. Muddy boot tracks were all over the hardwood floors.
She raised her gaze to the kitchen. It hadn’t fared any better. Cabinet doors hung from their hinges. Dishes were strewn around. Some broken. Some not.
“What were they looking for?”
“This is the first house I’ve seen where they trashed it like this. They’re escalating. I’m glad you weren’t here. They shot at the owner in the last house they hit.”
