The girl in the bar, the one whose swaying hips called to him from across the dance floor, that girl may have worn perfume. She’d had a short skirt, long legs and a beautiful face under too much make up. This girl though, the one that hid under all of that nonsense was the girl that he’d been after. She still had great legs and a beautiful face but what he couldn’t see in the bar was the beautiful soul that he’d found under all of that. This female was meant for him. He knew that with his entire being. She was everything he’d ever longed for in a mate. There was a quiet reserved strength, compassion, and heart. He’d already fallen in love with her, but truth be told that happened when she ate the pretzel after he said not to. That spark of defiance in the face of an Alpha of his stature, for some reason, tickled him. She’d stared right into his eyes and stuffed the pretzel into her mouth. He smiled now thinking of it. Where most wolves would have cowered she did not. When most she-wolves would have let him dominate her, Harper did not. She was different and she was exactly what he needed.
Chapter 13
Harper heard birds tweeting outside and listened to the quiet around her except for their chatter. Morning was her favorite time of the day. The quiet stillness before the world got up and started its dizzy dance of frenzy. She’d waited as long as her tired body would allow last night, for him. He must’ve come in much later when she was already in the depths of heavy slumber. Damn it. She breathed in his scent. He was so close. He was wrapped around her, his arms like a vice and his nose buried in her hair.
She’d decided last night that she was ready to move on. Her wolf already adored him and she was mostly what Harper had feared. If the wolf didn’t like him, it would be a struggle like it was with Bronson. Her wolf hated him but Harper had been too young to trust its instincts. She knew better now. Bronson and his wolf hadn’t liked her wolf and the three of them caused Harper nothing but stress and pain.
Ryder moved, the warm skin of his bare thigh slid up hers then back down but he was still asleep. His breathing was deep and even. She chanced a look up into his face. His lips, those beautiful sculptured lips parted just slightly. Her eyes burned a trail down over his stubbly jaw and chin, her fingers aching to touch it. Past his strong neck and throat, oh she needed to kiss the bulge of his Adam’s apple. It looked delicious.
His chest was tanned and strong with large pectorals. Her tongue moved about inside her mouth when her gaze traveled over the small perfect nipples. She’d never paid much attention to men’s nipples but for some reason she wanted to lick these. Harper wanted to kiss the sweet skin to just taste it and she didn’t think he would mind. Her lips puckered and found the softness they sought. He stirred around her again, his leg skimmed up hers until it wrapped around her hip. This powerful Alpha wanted her, even in his sleep, he wanted her, his strong leg pulled her closer. His erection pushed against her thigh. It felt large. She glanced back up at his face. His eyes were still closed but his breathing was lighter now and she wasn’t sure if he was awake or not.
He was so good looking; magazine cover good looking and she knew when he opened those glorious dark brown eyes that they would glitter with amusement at her. He was so sure of himself but not in an arrogant way just self-assured. It was sexy as hell. The pack respected him too. They wanted to please him and she admired that. Bronson’s pack never acted as if they wanted to please Max.
They probably didn’t follow because he didn’t really act as if he wanted to lead. Harper traced a finger lightly over the valley between his abdominals. He was so strong and fit, so nicely built. He had the sexiest belly she’d ever seen. The ropes of muscle formed hills and valleys almost as if a baker lined up rolls except she knew rolls weren’t this hard. Even relaxed, warm velvety skin covered hard steel. Her finger dipped into the next valley while her mind wandered.
What would it be like for this to cover her? When he mounted and claimed her, when he marked her, would he be gentle or would he slam into her like Bronson had? Would this wolf bother with her feelings? He seemed like he cared. If he didn’t, he deserved the Oscar for best actor in an action film. She smiled at that, an image of this man who ran around in jeans and shirtless half of the time, in a tuxedo. A black tuxedo with the sleek white shirt and the bow tie, he would wear a crimson rose in his lapel. Sexy. Very James Bond. Her smile broadened. His finger came up under her chin and lifted it until her gaze met his. He was grinning at her and she was still smiling stupidly at the tuxedo image. This look was definitely sexy too. Mussed up hair and glittering brown eyes, he could melt any female looking like that, tuxedo or not.