Page 34 of The Reluctant Wife

"Ryot, Princess, are you okay?" A gruff voice—Brian’s, I think—asks from somewhere over us.

“Go after him, don’t let him get away,” Ryot barks without taking his gaze off my features.

"Cole is already in pursuit. I just wanted to check on you first." Brian pivots and darts off.

Ryot pushes up on his arms and scans my face. His jaw is hard, and his green eyes have turned almost grey as he staresinto my face. He looks pissed off and afraid. Very afraid. "Are you okay?" he growls.

I want to nod but, perhaps, I’m still in shock. Or perhaps, I’m too aware of the evidence of his arousal throbbing between my legs. Either way, I’m unable to say or do anything. His forehead draws down.

His gaze grows fierce. "Aura, are you okay?" He cups my cheek. "Talk to me. Are you hurt?"

He called me by my nickname, and oh god, it feels so good. So right. A tear squeezes out from the corner of my eye. His eyes turn stormy. Sparks flare deep inside. Gold and silver, and I can almost see lightning flash in them. Almost on cue, thunder rumbles somewhere in the distance, then the pattering of raindrops against the balcony outside reaches me.

"Nod if you’re fine," he orders. His voice is harsh and bossy, and so insistent. It cuts through the noise in my head. I manage to jerk my chin.

His shoulders relax. "Jesus, you had me worried." He lowers his head and presses a quick kiss to my forehead. “Follow my lead.”

He begins to crawl toward the open doorway, sweeping aside the glass shards in his way. I follow him. Once we're through the door and to the hallway, where we’re no longer in plain view of the window, he rises to his feet. He holds out his arm. I take it, and he hauls me up to my feet.

When I stumble, he simply scoops me up in his arms. I should protest and tell him I’m okay. I’m the princess who swore to never become a helpless, sweet, defenseless woman who needs a knight in shining armor to save her but— The truth is, my legs feel too weak to support me, and my head is still spinning from what I know was an attempt on my life.Oh god, the note. They weren't bluffing. Did they follow us? What do they want?

If Ryot hadn't been here, I'd be dead right now. He saved my life. Another shudder grips me. I can’t seem to stop myself from shaking.

"Ryot, I… I’m scared." My voice trembles. I’m ashamed that I feel so vulnerable. But right now, it feels like he’s the only unshakeable, strong, secure thing in this world.

"I am not going to let anything happen to you." He looks into my face with his intense gaze. "You hear me, Aura? I’ll take a bullet for you."

"You almost did." My mouth feels like it’s filled with sawdust. My stomach heaves. My features crumple, and I push my face into his chest as the tears flow down my cheeks.Don’t break down. I have no business going to pieces like this.But oh god, as the shock settles into my bones, I feel like I’m going to fall apart. He holds me close and wraps his arms about me, tucking my head under his chin. He lets me hold onto him and weep in big sobbing gulps.

"There, there, darlin’. You’re safe. I'm not going anywhere." He kisses my forehead, then my eyelids. His touch is comforting. It also inflames my senses and turns my nerve-endings into little balls of fire.Damn. I almost died. He almost died defending me. And I can’t stop myself from wanting him in the most carnal of ways.

"You’re in shock." He pulls me closer, then turns to face the man standing in front of us.

"We need a?—"

"My car’s waiting at the back entrance." James’ voice.

I glimpse his shuttered features, then he slips a key fob into Ryot’s pants pocket and hands over our jackets and my purse. Ryot nods his appreciation, his features grim. “Thank you.”

Before the words are out of my mouth Ryot starts leading me down the hallway through the kitchen to what I assume is the fire escape.

I feel discombobulated, like I’m somewhere far above, watching this scene unfold. I cling to Ryot as he descends a set of stairs. Then we’re at ground level. He walks swiftly down the alley. A car beeps, and he stops in front of a Mercedes AMG. He sets me down on my feet, but I cling to him.

"We need to get you into the car and away from this, baby."

His voice is gravelly, and the endearment is…unexpected. And the way he threw himself between me and whoever was firing to protect me—while making sure to cradle my head so I wouldn’t hit the floor—was such a tender gesture.He wouldn’t do that unless he cares for me, right?A fresh trembling crashes over me. He pulls me in even tighter, until my nose is, once again, buried in his chest. And the hardness of his sculpted torso is imprinted into my skin. His heat surrounds me and pins me in place.

"We can’t delay further. I have to make sure you’re away from here. The shooter, whoever is they are, might be lurking around."

I shudder, then draw in a deep breath, filling myself with great gulps of Ryot-scented air. Then I nod. "Okay," I say, the sound muffled against his chest.

"Okay." He kisses the top of my head, then steps back and pinches my chin. He surveys my features, which must be tear-stained, and my swollen eyes, and his features soften. "It’s going to be fine."

I nod.

He lowers his chin, and as if unable to stop himself, he presses a hard kiss to my mouth. Before I can respond, he pulls open the door to the car and ushers me inside. Then, he leans over and straps my seat belt, before shutting the door and walking around. He slides into the driver’s seat, turns the ignition, and eases the car forward. He turns onto the main road and guns the engine. Several more turns, as if he's trying toconfuse anyone following us, and then he joins the traffic on the highway.

"Where are we going?" I relax into the seat, the tension oozing out of my shoulders and leaving me exhausted. I yawn, nestling my cheek into the soft leather seat.

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