Thank you all for the nice replies on the previous chapter. Here we have the continuation. Again many thanks go towards AsylumSeeker for editing Ch2. I promise I am working on the rest of the stories.
Feedback, positive or negative, is more then welcome, all I ask is to keep it polite.
Enjoy the read.
Saint Ives Whelan Chronicles: Dominic Saint Ives - Whelan
Chapter Two: A Nice Ride Home
Getting up they said their goodbyes to the other girls. Holding her hand Nick weaved his fingers together with hers, leading her out of the club. Once outside he brought up his arm, holding her close to him while he led her to the side of the building. Reaching for the car keys in his jeans he stopped next to a midnight blue Jaguar XK. Pressing the button he unlocked the car, opening the passenger door for her.
She looked puzzled towards him. "You drive that?" She pointed at the car again, her excitement growing by the minute. She didn't get in, but moved around the door, slowly walking round the car, one finger slipping over the side and hood of the car.
Now it was his turn to be puzzled, her tiredness seemed to be gone from one minute to the next. "Yeah, at least tonight, I got a few cars." he admitted.
"A few?"
He chuckled. "Yeah a few, perks that come with the job. I own my own company, as I said, I'm only here as a favor to the family. I don't really work here."
"So this one," she continued, "basic or custom model? I like the color, nice to see one not in bright yellow like most others."
"Well it's pretty basic, just had the engine pumped a bit. Oh and the car seat adjusted," he said, scratching his head, "else I wouldn't fit."
Going around the rest of the car she smiled up at him. "She a smooth ride?"
"Want to find out?" came his reply. To his own amusement he found himself stretching out his arm, the keys dangling on his finger.
"How much I'd love to but I won't, I only live nearby, that wouldn't do it justice," she replied, a bit surprised. He would let her drive this beauty, no questions asked? However she knew the short drive would only be a tease, so better pass.
Coming over to her he grabbed her hand, put the keys in it and said, "Then take us for a longer drive, we're not that far from the city edge, there are some long easy roads." She had better say yes now before he changed his mind, he normally never let anyone else drive any of his cars. He had a few, but for all he cared she could take whichever one she wanted, it was all fine.
It did come as a bit of a surprise that she seemed to love and appreciate nice cars, and he'd bet if they talked cars in more detail she'd understand what they would be talking about.
"You sure?" she asked again.
Moving to the driver's side he opened the door, pointing inward. "Get in before I change my mind," he said with a wink, "I'm sure you know a few roads around."
Unable to keep the excitement at bay she walked up to him, hugged him tightly, and planted a chaste kiss on his cheek before sliding in the driver's seat. He just stood there, frozen, reveling in the imprint her body made against his, remembering each curve. Getting his act together he closed the door, hurried around the car and got in the passenger seat himself, for the first time ever in one of his own cars.
"Thank you again, Nick," she said while starting up the car. Steering the car towards the passing traffic, she quickly accelerated and placed the car amongst the rest, driving towards the edge of town.
The short drive was spent in easy silence, she enjoying the ride, Nick just looking at her, drinking in each bit of her he could see.
The more he found out about her, the more he wanted her, not just as his mate, but as a friend, companion and certainly as a lover. His mind wandering a bit he did worry about how he was going to explain to her that werewolves and the like were no myth or fairytale, but actual living creatures. They had their own problems and hierarchy, and he had advanced as high as one could in the werewolf community, the king amongst kings and queens.
"Mind if I take up the speed a bit? The road seems deserted enough here and I'd love to hear the engine work a bit," she asked. Fran still couldn't really believe he'd let her drive his car, it was a secret passion of hers that none of her friends knew about. She loved fast cars, but sadly she was in no position to afford one like this on her own, so driving one was even rarer. She felt like a child let loose in a candy store.
Looking to the surroundings for a few seconds he then turned towards her. "Sure, crank it up a notch, should be fine out here."
Once back to watching her, he could see the excitement on her face when she started to drive faster, hands gripping the steering wheel. Still amazed by the fact he'd let her drive his car, he could see she was having the time of her life. Keeping her eyes glued to the road, she took the curves with ease, as if it was all she had to do all day long.
Taking note as to where exactly they were driving he pointed out a small road to her. "Take a turn there, follow it, we can sit there for a bit if you like, then head back home."
Scouting in the direction he had pointed out, she noticed the small road, turning onto and following it. It led them through a dense forest which then opened up to a small lake. Stopping not far away from some large rocks she shut down the car and simply took in the beautiful sight in front of her.
"It's beautiful, so calm. I never knew we had a lake so close to town," she said.
"It's beautiful indeed," he said while gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, letting his hand rest on her shoulder for a few seconds, noticing the shivers it gave her. "Come, let's get out and go for a small walk, it's still quite warm."
Both walked silently to the lake. Once there she handed over the car keys again.
"Thanks again, you have no idea how that made my day," she said again
"You can stop with the thank-you's now, I'll get embarrassed soon," he told her while giving her a small nudge with his shoulder. "It was nothing really. Just hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did."
"Don't get me started. The girls don't know about it but it's been a secret hobby since I was able to walk. My daddy was a mechanic and whenever I could I followed him like a shadow. As I got older and was able to help out it didn't take long to get me interested even more," she told him, gazing into the distance.
Grabbing her hand again, he weaved his fingers through hers and gave a gentle tug. "Let's walk for a bit and you keep telling, I'll listen."
Exhaling softly she continued. "I was an only child so daddy spoiled me, only a little. When I got to my teens I was able to take apart a complete engine and put it back together. When I was old enough to get my driver's license daddy bought me a cheap car wreck." She laughed at the memories.
"I'm still surprised it didn't fall apart when we arrived with it at the garage. But it was mine, took me the better part of two years to completely do it up and make it road worthy."
Sadness covered her face but she continued. "Once it was finished and having checked everything twice over I was so proud of what I'd accomplished, so was daddy. Excited to give the car a test drive I took my daddy along." She stopped walking and turned around, watching the lake, sighing a little then dropping her head.
Standing behind her Nick put his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You don't have to go on if you don't want to." Having a gut feeling that whatever came next wasn't going to be something he'd like hearing, simply because it made her sad, he didn't want her to be sad, not if he could help it.
"It's ok," she said, reassuring herself a little. She knew she didn't talk about what happened much and even though she only knew Nick a few hours it felt like she knew him a lot longer. Also, having his arms around her made her feel safe, protected, a feeling she never experienced many times before.
"We didn't get far, maybe two to three miles from the garage. I was crossing the street, we had a green light. A truck ran right into our side. I escaped with a few minor bruises and a broken arm but daddy..." she hesitated a little. "Daddy got quite severe injuries. Most of them healed but he broke his back as well, paralyzing him from the waist down. If you would have seen the car after the accident you'd be surprised he even made it out alive. His side was completely mashed together; they had to cut it open just to get him out." She held back a small sob but couldn't stop a few silent tears from trickling down her cheek.
"Shh, it's ok." Nick comforted her, slowly turning her around in his arms. Noticing the tears he lowered his head and kissed them away, repeating the action in silence until there wasn't a single one left. "I'm assuming he's in a wheelchair now?" he asked.
"Yes, he is. I know he doesn't blame me for it, it's a freak accident, but still I can't shake this feeling of, of..." She sighed again, resting her forehead against his chest. "I don't know, it just doesn't feel right. He had to give up being a mechanic, the third thing he loved most besides my mom and myself. He tried after he got better, but being bound to the wheelchair was too restricting for him. He tried running the more business side of the garage, but that didn't work out, he missed the grease too much, working on the actual cars. So after a year he sold his half of the garage to his partner and retired."
"How is he doing now?" He had a feeling she didn't talk about this much so he gently tried to pry a bit further, hoping that if she told him more she'd feel better later on.
"Right now he's doing fine, he went through hell at first though, getting chair bound, then selling his part of the business. Strange but true he's dealing cars now. A friend asked if he was able to find him an old sports car and the search got him hooked. One thing led to another and he's now one of the few in the country dealing in rare and hard to find cars," she ended.
"So if I want to find an old Ferrari from the sixties your old man is the one to talk to then?"
Giving him a mock blow on his shoulder she said, "Never call him an old man, he'd chase you halfway around the country to rectify that!" Fran was barely able to hold back her laughter.
"So even though things didn't start so well he ended up happy now?"
