“Scoot over.” Harper did as he said while her heart started to quicken. “You’re cold.” She nodded. He climbed in and pulled the covers up around them. “Come here." Ryder wrapped his arms around her and held her close. His hand smoothed a trail from between her shoulders down to her tailbone, soothing her. She fell asleep almost instantly.
***
Ryder released a long breath. This she-wolf was amazing. When she’d walked across the nearly deserted dance floor in the ridiculous high-heeled shoes with her hips pumping like she was fucking the world, he’d nearly cum in his pants. The look of her made him feel like a pup, an out of control, hormonal pup. So beautiful.
He’d only wanted a roll in the hay when he’d crossed the floor to get to her, it had been his mission tonight, but when he got there he found more than he’d expected. He knew right then that she was it. The one. His mate. It had slammed into him with the force of a train. His mate and she was eating crap snacks from a dirty bowl. It made him angry that no one was taking care of her. Where was her damned Alpha?
She was hungry, he heard her stomach growl and that was unacceptable. She was alone and hungry. His temper had nearly gone nuclear especially since there were other wolves in that bar that were obviously in her pack. She’d waved at them when she came in and they’d acknowledged her but didn’t bother to see to her needs. Unacceptable! The she-wolf she was with was picking up Curtis. That one was a piece of work. Sexy as sin but not his style. She was too brazen, too bold, and too obvious. Curtis seemed to like her though. If he wanted to mate her, he would have his Alpha’s permission. Mated wolves were better pack members and made for a stronger pack. If he had his way, all of Ryder’s wolves would be mated. He hoped that the bold she-wolves had many friends.
Then one of his mate’s pack members tried to interfere, scolded her in public after he hadn’t bothered to take care of her. It was bullshit and Ryder wasn’t having it but then she’d jumped off her stool and got right in his face. Ryder liked her before but when she did that, she got his respect. She’d confronted a full grown male, one nearly twice her size and read him the riot act. Ryder had nearly laughed out loud until the piece of shit grabbed her hand and jerked her around. His wolf pushed to make an appearance and Ryder had to act or let him loose. The perfect opportunity presented when the son of a bitch called her a whore. Ryder couldn’t have stopped his fist if he’d put all of his will into it. It sought Jake’s stupid mouth with a will and force of its own.
When she offered him a bite of her burger a few minutes later, he’d nearly climaxed again. Did she know they were mates? He didn’t get the feeling that she did, she had too much on her mind and wasn’t open to the feelings that her wolf was probably sending her. She was hungry and being scorned by her pack so it wouldn’t be as obvious to her as it was to him.
Holding her on the dance floor was magical. His whole being came alive, more alive than he’d felt in his entire existence. Every part of him wanted to claim her right then and he didn’t care who saw them. He would claim her, sooner rather than later. She sighed and wiggled closer to him. He’d been hard most of the night and now he was granite. Even it knew she was the one. He couldn’t wait to slide into her heat and sink his teeth into her neck. He wanted to mark her as his but he’d wait for her consent. He wanted a mate not a victim.
The little piece of shit that tried to throw her out of her house actually did him a favor. He was the catalyst that brought her here with him but he would still tear that little monster limb from limb without a second thought. To think for a second that he would have this beauty for himself in a year if she ‘behaved.’
Where had they gotten that stupid rule? That was not law, not where he was raised it wasn’t. A she-wolf was a prize to be cherished. If she was recently widowed and needed to work out that grief with another, why not? It was up to her. Only she knew how she felt. It wasn’t uncommon for a mate to die shortly after the death of a mate. If seeking another prevented that, well the world was a better place with happy she-wolves. Ryder wrapped his arms around her pulling her flush against him. He rested his chin on her head tucking her face safely against his chest. He let his eyes close and rested.
Chapter 4
Someone knocked at the door. That’s ballsy, Ryder thought. He’d claimed this female publicly last night and they thought that knocking on his bedroom door at dawn was a good idea.
He gazed down into her peaceful face. God, she was beautiful. She had the prettiest skin, so fair with the perfect flush to her cheeks. The flush on her cheeks only deepened to a lovelier pink if he turned his gaze on her when dominance was on his mind. A million sooty lashes fanned out over high cheekbones and her lips stayed the deeper blush that sometimes highlighted her cheeks. Her skin was smooth and flawless. When she’d turned to dress last night, he’d watched over his shoulder. It wasn’t as if he would see anything inappropriate with her back turned but her skin was flawless everywhere.