Seduced by a Lycan - Chapter Eight

Derrick parked the car and grabbed her by the left arm. “What are you saying?”

Von’s gazed traveled from his hold to his face. In a low, quiet voice she said, “You’re hurting me.”

He shook her roughly. “Answer me,” he demanded before finally releasing her.

Rubbing her throbbing bicep, Von scooted over and hugged her door, watching him warily. He’d never touched her in anger before. “I mean just what I said. You can’t demand obedience of me because we’re not married. Even if we were, I’m a woman with thoughts and feelings. A human being deserving of respect, not a dog waiting to obey your every command,” she spat out in rarely shown resentment.

His eyes rounding in shock, Derrick held out a hand. Von flinched and shrank away. Noting her reaction, he paused and then sighed deeply. Leaning on his door to give her more space, he ran his fingers through his hair in a gesture of frustration. In a much calmer voice, he asked, “Where is all this coming from? You’ve never had a problem following my lead before.”

Von turned her head and gazed at Chili’s through the windshield. Was Sean inside waiting? After a few moments of tense silence, “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking—about me, about us—and I don’t like what I see.” She twisted around and pinned him with a look. “Do you really know me, Derrick? The real me? Or do you see the person you and your father seem to want me to be? Sometimes I wonder.”

Derrick’s opened his mouth and moved his lips, but no sound emerged. Finally he closed his eyes and visibly composed himself. When they re-opened, he stared at her with an intent gaze that always made her feel like he could see straight through her, and slowly smiled. He raised his hand, and hers went to the door handle, ready to flee the car. He shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt you. I promise. Earlier was a mistake.”

She watched with wary eyes as he cupped her face gently and stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Of course I see the real you. Sometimes I think I see you more clearly than you see yourself. You’re sweet, gentle, kind and compassionate. You value peace, dislike arguments, and love helping people. You’re good with children, respectful to the elderly, and kind to animals. Everyone loves you.”

He stroked her bottom lip and his gaze became slumberous with desire. “I love you, too. I know it seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but we will be married. And when we do, you won’t just be a pastor’s wife. You’ll be my wife. The woman I love and desire above all others.”

Derrick closed the distance between them and kissed her. It started out gentle but as she gradually responded, ended in an intoxicating tangle of tongues and teeth which left both of them breathing hard. Withdrawing only far enough that their breath still mingled, Derrick said in a husky voice, “We’d better go inside before Sean thinks I stood him up.”

He placed another light kiss on her lips and exited the car. As usual, Derrick knew the right thing to say to calm her troubled thoughts. Von waited while he came around to open her door. As she rose beside him, he pulled her into his arms and gave her another deep, lingering kiss.

“Derrick! Public displays of affection are not appropriate for ministers,” she scolded, shocked but pleased.

He laughed and placed a hand on her lower back to escort her inside. Leaning close to her ear, he murmured, “You’re my woman, and I don’t care who knows it.”

Derrick opened the door and held it for her to enter. As she did, he pinched her butt and chuckled when she jumped and slapped at his hand. Von felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she was grinning as the hostess approached. This was the playful man she’d fallen in love with. Since seminary, he’d been much too serious.

“We’re meeting a friend. A Sean Jacobson.”

“Yes, sir,” she told him. “Your party’s already arrived. Follow me.”

They followed the hostess to where Sean sat near the window, nursing a beer, his dark head bent gazing at the open menu.

“Cougar,” Derrick called out as they approached.

Sean looked up and a huge grin crossed his face. “Hooch!”

Hooch? Derrick had been holding out on her. She’d have to remember to ask Sean about the name later.

Sean rose from the seat and the two exchanged back pounding hugs. Lagging behind, Von felt a smile cross her face at their display.

“Your waitress will be with you in a moment,” the hostess told Von before excusing herself.

The two men were talking a mile a minute and since Derrick was distracted, Von was able to take a good look at Sean, up close and personal. He was tanned, toned, and extremely handsome in his snug army green t-shirt and fatigues. His pictures didn’t do him justice.

After a while, when she was sure Derrick had completely forgotten her presence, she cleared her throat—twice. The second time he heard her.

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry.” He reached out and pulled her closer, placing an arm around her shoulder. “Cougar, this lovely lady is my fiancé, Von. Von, this wild man here is my buddy, Sergeant Sean “Cougar” Jacobson, the guy you took pity on and sent letters to while I was enlisted.”

Von’s eyes widened and she bit her lower lip at the reminder Derrick had no idea their letters to each other continued.

“Master Sergeant, now,” Sean corrected as he held out a hand. As she shook it, he told Derrick, “She’s as beautiful as you always claimed. I never thanked you for your generosity in taking time to write a poor, lonely soldier like me with no family.” His eyes twinkled at her, smiling at their shared secret.

She breathed a silent sigh of relief that Sean wasn’t going to ‘out’ her. “It was my pleasure.”

He continued holding her hand within both of his, and Von gently tugged. “Oh, sorry,” he said, releasing her.

Derrick herded her to one side of the booth and she scooted in, placing her purse on the seat in the corner as he slid in beside her.

Sean resumed his seat across from them. “They have their two-for-twenty special going if one of you wants to share.” Though his words were directed toward Derrick, his gaze was on her.

At that moment, the waitress arrived at the table bearing two more menus. “My name is Mindy, and I’ll be your server today. Can I take your drink order?”

“We’ll have two sweet teas,” Derrick told her.

“Make mine a strawberry lemonade,” Von corrected.

“That has too much sugar. You’ll be up all night.” Turning back to the waitress, Derrick said, “Two sweet teas, please, and make one of them half sweet and half unsweet.”

Mindy looked to her for confirmation. Von’s gaze slid to Sean, who made a show of studying his menu. Von reluctantly nodded her agreement with the order, then turned her head to look out the window.

“Sir, would you like another beer?”

“No, this is good.”

“I’ll be back with your drinks and take your order.” The server walked off.

“So, Sean, tell me what you’ve been up to since Iraq. Emails and infrequent status updates on Facebook don’t tell it all.” Derrick casually reached out and took Von’s hand in his, holding it on the table in full view while he played with her fingers. Von sat stiffly, watching their reflection in the window, only looking away from it when the waitress returned with their drinks.

“Everyone ready to order?”

“Yes,” Derrick answered, after a brief glance at Sean for his agreement. Without consulting her, he told the waitress, “I’ll have the fried shrimp and my fiancé will have your Chicken Caesar Salad. Put the dressing on the side, please.”

“Mindy, change that, please. I’m having the half rack of baby back ribs and loaded mash potatoes instead of fries.”

Derrick frowned and looked at her. “Pork isn’t good for you, even the bible says so.”

“That’s why I eat it sparingly,” she said in a firm, ‘don’t mess with me’ tone of voice.

“You’ll feel better if you have the salad. It’s much lighter,” Derrick said.

“I don’t want a salad,” she told him fiercely.

He scowled but subsided when he took note of her angry expression.

“Would you like the two-for-twenty? Both of your entries are on the selection items,” Mindy stated helpfully, her gaze bouncing back and forth between the two of them before settling on Von.

“Yes,” Von said.

“No, no appetizers,” Derrick said, speaking over her.

Inwardly, Von fumed but since Derrick was the one paying the bill, she accepted his decision.

“Well, I’d like the two-for-twenty, and you can add their meals to my tab. I’d also like the half rack, with fries, please, and…” Pausing, Sean glanced at her. “Since Derrick doesn’t want it, what appetizer would you like, Von? We can share.”

Startled, Von said, “Oh. The onion and jalapenos?”

He grinned. “A woman after my own heart. Bring us that, and I’ll have another beer now.”