For a moment, her expression grew soft. Then she assumed a cool demeanor as if he’d talked about selling cattle.
“Let’s be pragmatic, Ryder. There is no love in this arrangement. I doubt I’ll ever find love.” Her voice caught and wobbled. “This is business, pure and simple. You need a mate. I need my big brother settled and for both of you to avoid tearing each other’s throats out. As for appearances before the pack, you introduce me tonight. Give me my own separate room where I can stay by myself.”
Ryder gave her a calm, steady look. “As my mate, you know that’s impossible. I plan to keep you in my bed for a very long time.”
A pink blush colored her face. “When you want me in your bed, I’ll come to you willingly. But I need my space.”
Whoa, this was all wrong. He needed to shatter the protective walls she’d erected and bridge the gulf yawning between them as wide as a river canyon.
“Your space? Is that what Aiden allowed? He let you hide in your room so you didn’t have to face anyone else?”
The dull flush on her face confirmed that suspicion. Kara’s mouth tightened. “He didn’t want to pressure me. I seldom saw anyone except Aiden and Darius.”
“Darius?” Jealousy whipped through him. “What is he to you?”
“He’s Aiden’s beta and like a brother to me. Darius has a mate, but she’s still at his father’s pack. He’s planning on bringing her to the ranch soon.”
Ryder relaxed, concentrating on how to break down her barriers. Once they’d shared friendship, and then a kiss had shattered friendship, turning it into blazing passion promising erotic bliss.
If he showed her exactly what pleasures awaited her in his arms…perhaps he could convince her to change her mind. Lupines were a sensual people, and he planned to use every weapon in his arsenal to wear down her defenses.
She’s too wounded to welcome the pack, hell, welcome me back into her heart. I must try, he thought in a haze of anguish.
“You can have your space.” He gave her an intent look. “But not now. For now, I’m not giving you any space, sweeting. Because I plan to get close. Very close.”
As she studied him, her expression no longer lacking emotion, he felt his Lupine instincts urge him onward. Kara blinked.
“How close?”
“Close as I can get.” Ryder began circling her, like a wolf did to a deer before bringing it down. “Skin to skin. Naked inside your body, yes. And even deeper, Kara. As deep as I can go.”
***
He was too close. And he’ll get a lot close, as he claims your body. But will you let him claim your heart?
I can't!
Ryder was a big man, strong and tough as he towered over, his body muscled and very male. Crisp pine and fresh rainwater flooded her senses, along with a delicious spice.
He was staking his mating claim on her, Kara realized, marking through scent.
Suddenly her skin grew too tight, and she felt too hot. The clothing on her body was far too restrictive. Kara unfastened the first two buttons on her shirt.
A gleam lit his eyes. “Warm? Allow me.”
Ryder unfastened her buttons and drew the shirt off her shoulders. His scarred knuckles brushed against the bare skin at her collarbone, the touch sending rivers of delicious anticipation rushing down her spine.
He thumbed the bare skin above her bra, his fingers covered with rough calluses born of hard labor. When he stroked a spot across her tender skin, she flinched. Not from pain, but pure need.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “I know my hands aren’t smooth and soft.”
Ryder Carrington had worked hard on the ranch, and now that he was alpha, worked even harder. He had the muscled body and strength of a good leader.
“Smooth, soft hands are for Skins who work in offices. Not for Lupine ranchers and certainly not alphas.”
He gave a crooked smile and continued caressing the tops of her breasts, the action making her loins full and aching.#p#分页标题#e#
“You’re exquisite, Kara.” His deep voice dropped to a husky whisper. “I’ve dreamed of doing this, all those dark nights in the cell when Alastair punished me.”
The intimacy grew too much. “And here I thought you’d amused yourself by dreaming of ways to break my father’s neck.”
“No.” He drew in a deep breath, his fingers quivering slightly as he rested them on her breasts. “If I had given into those thoughts, I’d have lost control soon as he’d released me. So I thought of you. Your smile. Your sweetness. And this…”
Ryder gently cupped her breasts and squeezed. “I dreamed of being this close.”
“I’m glad I was with you in that cell, but I wish you’d never been there at all. I tried to get you out once, but nearly got caught,” she confessed.