Page 22 of Kidnapped By the Wolf

“Can I think about it?” I ask.

I’ve already made up my mind, but there’s no point in pissing off my captor now.

Adrian nods, though there’s a strain in his eyes that wasn’t there before. “Take your time. We can talk more over dinner tonight.”

My stomach does a little tumble at those words.

Dinner? With Adrian?

He glances toward the back windows, inhaling deeply as he scents the air. “I have to go into town today, but Remy will be here if you need anything.”

“Remy?” I repeat. “Who’s Remy?”

As if in answer, I hear the patter of paws on the deck. I turn in my seat and give a start when I see a pair of bright amber eyes staring back at me.

A beautiful red wolf is standing on the other side of the sliding glass door. My heart skitters at the unexpected intrusion, but then the wolf’s breath makes a little cloud of condensation on the glass, and she wags her tail in greeting.

I stare. I’ve never seen a wolf this close before. Wolf shifters are a lot bigger than mundane wolves, and I feel grateful I’ve never crossed paths with one alone in the woods.

I turn back to Adrian. “You mean she’ll be here to guard me.”

He gives me a flat look, though he doesn’t deny it. “She has explicit orders to remain outside unless you need her. Make yourself at home.”

I open my mouth, but Adrian rises to his feet, sweeping up the dishes to take them to the sink. I watch in stunned silence as he moves around the kitchen, his powerful muscles rippling as he stacks the plates and washes them with soapy water.

I don’t know why, but I can’t seem to take my eyes off him.

Get a grip, I chide myself. I cannot be attracted to the psycho alpha holding me hostage. Stockholm syndrome isnota vibe.

Once the dishes are drying in the dish rack, Adrian slips into the bathroom, and I hear the shower running. I get up and walk over to the sliding glass door, watching as Remy bounds down the deck steps and scampers into the ravine.

At first, I’m not sure what made her run off, but then I catch a glimpse of a wily black squirrel. He’s taken refuge in one of the tall pines, and Remy has caught his scent.

Rising up onto her hind legs, she places her paws on the trunk of the tree, tail wagging and tongue lolling out as she watches her quarry.

In this moment, she looks less like an apex predator than a happy Labrador.

I glance back toward the bathroom. If Adrian really plans to leave me alone all day, that meansIcould take a shower.

My whole body quivers at the thought.

I haven’t had a hot shower in weeks, and my body is in desperate need. I’d been driving to the Y to use the locker room showers, but I had to let my membership lapse at the end of last month, and I’ve been washing in the creek ever since.

When the alpha finally emerges, a hot flush surges through my whole body. He’s wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, which leaves very little to the imagination. Water droplets glide over sun-kissed skin, racing down his broad chest and into the divots of his chiseled abs.

My gaze drops lower, and I know I’m not imagining the hard bar of his erection straining against the towel.

I hurriedly tear my eyes away, but not before I catch the barest flicker of a smirk.

I keep my gaze trained on Adrian’s feet as he stalks toward the dresser and pulls out some clothes before disappearing into the bathroom again. My cheeks are still blazing when he emerges a second time and heads out the front door.

CHAPTER NINE

ADRIAN

My cock is stillrock-hard when I slide into the front seat of my 4Runner. The expression on Cassie’s face as she looked me up and down was enough to send all my blood rushing south.

Despite her clear disdain for wolves, I know Cassie is attracted to me. The body doesn’t lie, and the arousal I scented tells me there’s a part of her that wants me no matter how much she might hate me.

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