He raised a dark eyebrow and grew thoughtful. “Sometimes I thought I’d go mad. And in the darkest night, when I grew so lonely I couldn’t stand it, I’d think of a soft bed and you naked upon it. I’d unzip my trousers, take myself in hand and imagine me on top of you, fucking you hard and fast until you screamed your pleasure.”
Heat suffused her body at his crude words. Kara’s eyes widened as he guided her hand down to his bulging crotch. “Does that shock you, Kara? We are a sensual people. We live and breathe sex and when males are denied the touch of our true mates, we do what we must or go mad.”
Like my father had. Dim pity filled her for Alastair. It did not forgive his actions, but made them a little more understandable.
Beneath the rough denim of his jeans, his cock jumped as she stroked the rigid length. “It doesn’t shock me,” she admitted. “It turns me on.”
“Sweeting, I have many more ways of turning you on.”
An intent look replaced his crooked smile. Ryder captured her chin with one strong hand, lifting it up to his impervious gaze. He focused on her lips. They parted in surprise as he dipped his head lower, until his mouth was a mere breath from hers. Kara’s heart thudded faster.
When he brushed his mouth against hers, the exquisite sensitivity of the kiss lowered all her defenses. His mouth upon hers felt warm and soft. Then Ryder deepened the kiss. A tantalizing taste of peppermint and coffee invaded her mouth as he gently thrust his tongue past the seam of her lips. Remembering what happened last time he’d kissed her, Kara trembled. He seemed to understand her fears and drew away slightly.
“Come on, sweeting,” he softly urged. “Open for me. This time, no one’s going to hurt you.”
For too long, she’d denied herself pleasure. Surrendering to his persistence, she opened her mouth as he kissed her again. Then his tongue was in her mouth, his hands cupping the back of her head as he stole away her breath and reason. Passion exploded in her veins, the ancient call to mate and breed flaring hot and heavy in her loins.
Kara slid her arms around his neck. His kiss was hot, his tongue wet, rough silk as he teased and nibbled. Ryder wrapped his arms around her waist and his strong grip felt secure and comforting, as if he’d never let her slip and fall. Fire jumped through her veins as his tongue lazily stroked hers.
Ryder broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “Damn, Kara. I want you so badly.”
Licking her swollen lips, she could not summon a single clear thought.
Lifting his head, he locked his blazing blue gaze to hers. She saw the flash of amber, signaling the rise of his wolf.
“I want to throw you on the bed, now.” Ryder’s expression hardened. “But you deserve much better. Not a quick fuck like you’re a one-night stand.”
“Would you settle for a cup of coffee, a quick fuck and then releasing me as if I were a one-night stand?”
A rough laugh rumbled deep in his throat. He caressed her cheek, his touch making her yearn all over again. “You could never be a one-night stand. You’re a one-century stand, sweeting.”
Wonder filled her at his declaration. As punishment for kissing her before, he’d suffered such intolerable cruelty at Alastair’s hands and yet he still cared for her. Kara felt her confidence rise.
Ryder dropped a kiss on her nose. “Relax, get reacquainted with the house. The pack is trying to repair the barn. You have the lodge all to yourself. They won’t return until six. Dinner is at seven. I’ll come for you then.”
“I imagine you’ll come for me several times after we’re mated,” she quipped.
He threw back his head and laughed, such a delighted, full-bodied sound it filled her with a fiery joy.
“Several times, yes. Until you’re pregnant with my heir.”
The joy crumbled into ash at his reminder of what this mating would comprise. He wanted her badly in bed to serve his purpose.
“And Kara? I know you want to hide from the pack, and remain in your room, but I cannot allow that. You have to face them, sweeting. You’ll be my mate in every way.” His gaze grew hotly intent. “In my bed, at the table, and at my side in everything. You will not hide from them. You did nothing wrong.”
As the door closed behind him, Kara collapsed on the bed. Dry-eyed she thought about the lodge and the secret tunnel. She thought about this pack, whom she’d deserted and left to the cruel whims of her father. She thought the safe haven of her bedroom at Aiden’s ranch, where she felt free from the stares and the looks of revulsion.
Time to go exploring, and get the hell out of here.