Page 39 of Howling Night

“Fine,” I said, pressing my lips together. “Who knows if I’ll even still be around by next weekend? My car will be fixed, and I should really just go home.”

“Maybe that would be for the best,” Ryder said, his mouth dropping as if I’d slapped him across the face. “At least then I’ll know you’re safe.”

I stood up abruptly, my temper flaring. “Great. Perfect. Then I’ll be gone in a few days, and you’ll never have to see me again or worry about me getting destroyed by a rogue werewolf.”

Ryder got to his feet in one fluid motion, closing the distance between us so quickly I almost stepped back.

“That’s not what I want,” he said, his voice rough. “I don’t want to never see you again.”

My hands balled into tight fists, trying to ignore how having him so close made my pulse quicken. “Really? Because it sounded like you’d be relieved if I weren’t here.”

“What? No,” Ryder said, shaking his head. His eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I haven’t been able to get you out of my fucking head since I first saw you in the woods that night.”

My hands relaxed, and my mouth went dry as I stared at him. I couldn’t think of a single thing to say in response.

“Everything about you,” he said, his voice dropping lower, “filled this emptiness inside of me.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I wanted to fight it. I’m trying to fight it because I know better. I know what I am.”

“I don’t care what you are,” I said, my breath catching. “I care who you are.”

“I shouldn’t let myself feel this way… not about someone like you,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine. “Someone I could hurt. Someone who shouldn’t know about any of this.”

I reached out, my fingers brushing against Ryder’s arm. Even through the fabric of his shirt, that smallest touch sent shivers racing across my skin and up my spine.

“I already know about it,” I said, my voice soft. “There’s no going back now.”

Ryder looked down at where my hand rested on his arm, his eyes darkening to something primal and hungry. The air between us seemed to crackle with electricity.

“I didn’t realize how weak I was until now,” he murmured, his voice rough with need.

“If you’re weak, then what the hell am I?” I breathed.

He moved fast, lifting me at the hips. I gasped as my feet left the ground, my hands automatically going to his shoulders. For a heartbeat, our eyes locked, and I saw something wild and desperate filling his gaze.

His lips crushed against mine with an urgency that made my head spin. I responded instantly, my fingers digging into his shoulders, my body arching against his as he held me effortlessly in his strong arms.

The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding against mine as a small moan escaped from the back of my throat. Everything outside of this moment — wolves, danger, my plans to leave — all of it disappeared in the heat of his touch, replaced by a need so intense it almost frightened me.

But for once in my life, I wasn’t going to run from what scared me. Not tonight.

ChapterEighteen

Ryder’s strong hands gripped my waist as he slowly lowered me back to the floor, my body sliding against his on the way down. The friction between us sent waves of electricity through me as my shirt bunched up slightly against his chest. His eyes never left mine, holding me captive with their intensity.

My breath came in short gasps as my feet touched the ground again, but I didn’t want to break contact. Without thinking, I grabbed the front of his shirt, twisting the fabric in my fist.

“Would you like to see my room?” I asked, my voice filled with raw desire.

“Yes, please,” he said, following as I walked backward into my room, never letting go of his shirt.

The moonlight spilled through the crack in the curtains, giving the room a gentle glow. My calves bumped against the edge of my bed, and I ran my hand down his solid chest.

“Nice room,” Ryder said, his voice rough.

“Do you like the bed?” I asked, popping the next button on his shirt.

He glanced over my shoulder. “A little small.”

A bubbly laugh escaped me, but quickly faded. There was so much heat in his glowing blue eyes as he watched me undo the rest of the buttons on his shirt.

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