the road, as my heart beat wildly with expectation .
My growing eagerness was interrupted by the shrill sound of a ringing phone. Derek sat up and fumbled for the cellphone that was tucked into a compartment between the seats.
Derek answered the phone. "Jesus, Scott. You have shitty timing."
Laughing at Derek's comment, I listened intently to the one-sided conversation.
"No, I didn't see you following . I'm not driving." Derek leaned back in his seat.
C heck ing the rear-view mirror , I spotted the headlights trailing behind. I hadn't been paying attention to anything with Derek's hand creeping up my thigh.
I heard Scott's voice slightly through the phone, but couldn't make out the words. Derek replied to him, "Julia - it's a long story."
Silence followed while Scott spoke again.
Derek cursed. "Damn. They drugged me with something, so I don't really have a clear head. Hold on, I'll find out."
My eyes widened with shock. Derek was drugged ? No wonder he was acting so strange.
Derek turned to me and asked, "Julia, is your car at the manor? And, did you leave anything personal at the house, like a purse or anything that could I.D. you?"
My car! "Oh no! I left my car there. And my wallet is inside my glove compartment. We have to go back!"
Derek shook his head. "No. Scott will get it. You didn't leave anything inside the house, did you?"
I thought for a moment. "Just my clothes in the little room. But they're pretty generic. I don't need them."
Derek handed me the phone. "Okay, good. Give your car make and model to Scott and your license plate number if you know it."
I gave the information to Scott and handed the phone back to Derek. Derek spoke, "Scott, there's nothing at the manor except the car. Could you pick it up now and return it to Julia's house? She'll be spending the night with me."
My toes curled with delight at Derek's declaration. I felt I should challenge his assumption , but I wanted to be with Derek more than anything.
I listened as Derek answered Scott. "Ye ah . I am officially initiated into The Club. Frankly, it was a bunch of ritual mumbo-jumbo and oaths. I barely remember any of it; I was completely out of it. The Equinox party is during the next solstice - whenever the hell that is. I might have to smooth some ruffled feathers before then to get in . We'll talk later when my mind is clearer."
Scott spoke some more before the men hung up.
Derek leaned against the headrest and closed his eyes. "Scott is heading back to get your car. He's satisfied that no one is following us. Just let me know if you see someone behind us. Do you remember how to get to my house?"
"Yeah, I remember. Derek, what kind of drugs did they give you?" I thought he might have been tipsy at The Club, but drugs had never entered my mind.
Derek looked sleepy. "According to Ethan, it was Ecstasy. It may have been mixed with something else though. It tends to loosen your inhibitions, if you hadn't noticed. I think I'm starting to come down now."
I wasn't sure it was the appropriate time to mention that I had seen him having sex with multiple women. But the drug definitely explained some of his odd behavior earlier.
I drove while Derek nodded off. When we reached his townh ouse, I gently shook him awake.
Derek slowly opened his eyes. "I wasn't sleeping. Just resting."
Derek punched in the security code as we entered his townhouse. He looked just as ridiculous as I felt in the cape. "I hope your neighbors didn't see us coming in with these weird capes."
Laughing, Derek pulled me into his arms. "Yeah, that would be kind of awkward."
I looked around his home, suddenly shy. Maybe now that the drugs were wearing off, he'd regret bringing me here tonight . "I should probably let you get some sleep. I can make my way home if you don't mind if I borrowed your car."
"No way I'm letting you go. I still want to know what you were doing at The Club, but not until after we cuddle first." Derek scooped me up off my feet and
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