Page 23 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Gods, that scent.
Ryder lifted his face and stared at me with intensity I felt all the way down to my toes.
He stared at me like I held the world in my gaze.
His hands traveled to my waist and gripped me. Impossibly, he pulled me closer. Every soft curve of my body touched the hard planes of his. His face dipped lower, and I raised mine to meet him. As we drew closer and closer, his lips captured every facet of my attention.
The door yawned open, and the moment was broken.
I jumped in surprise, but Ryder rested his forehead against mine and grumbled something under his breath. The handful of werewolves—all of them young and male—whistled and hollered. My face heated.
Ryder released my waist but took my hand in his and snarled at the young wolves. They quickly quieted and made themselves busy with the weight machines.
As we left the gym and traveled up the simple stairway that led back to the glamorous halls of the estate, I tried and failed to calm my pounding heart. We hadn’t even kissed, yet that was easily the most sexual experience of my life.
It’s just because you have no experience to speak of,I reminded myself.
My childhood hadn't been like the ones in the coming-of-age novels I had devoured. I hadn't flirted with a boy in class or kissed someone after a first date.
I had never even gone on a date.
As I tried to reason with myself, my skin tingled from the memory of Ryder's touch.
It's not just inexperience,I reasoned.He's your godsdamned mate.
Stupid wolf magic was the reason for my pounding heartand weakened knees. Ryder’s cocky smile or his impossibly strong, toned body had nothing to do with it. His personality wasdefinitelynot what drew me to him.
We couldn’t stand each other.
As Ryder opened the door that led into one of the estate’s many opulent, white halls, his expression was impossible to read but his touch on the small of my back was tender. Despite his gruffness and unnatural strength, he never touched me with anything but gentleness.
He caught my stare but quickly averted his gaze. As I realized I possibly was the only one so greatly affected by our encounter, awkwardness stretched between us. My thoughts raced, and my face heated with embarrassment.
Look at him,I thought,he’s probably hooked up with hundreds of women. An almost-kiss isnota big deal.
Luckily, laughter bounced off the walls, and Kieran rounded the corner alongside a few other teenage wolves. Relieved to have company other than my childish thoughts and stoic, silent Ryder, I smiled at the werewolves. All of them were muscular, but they maintained the lankiness of youth. When he noticed us, Kieran’s smile faltered.
The pink-haired girl at his side, with huge blue eyes and petite, pretty features, glowered at Ryder. Her pouty lips set in a thin line. A broad-shouldered man with short black hair and intense, angular eyes stood on Kieran’s other side. His jet-black hair glimmered under the light.
“Good morning, Elle,” Kieran greeted.
“Good morning,” I replied.
The pink-haired girl snorted. “Are we really exchanging pleasantries with your asshole half-brother and his so-called mate?”
Though I’d just called Ryder the same thing, her insult irritated me, as did her distinction ofhalf-brother. Ryder’s grip on my hand tightened.
“Melanie,” Ryder said, “I see you’re still clinging to the Heir’s coattails.”
I was constantly startled by the fact that Ryder knew these people. I had spent little time with them and Ryder’s pack, yet the two groups were like entirely different species. I wondered how much time Ryder had spent here or with his mother once she found her mate.
I wondered how badly that time together and apart had hurt him.
Melanie bared her teeth and took a menacing step forward, but the man to Kieran’s right reached for her, and she stopped. Ryder didn’t balk.
“He’s not worth it,” the dark-haired man told her in a soft, deep voice.
“And we’re making a bad impression in front of Elle,” Kieran chided. “She’s already stuck with Grumpy. She’s punished enough.”
