Page 49 of The Wolf and the Chimera
Frustrated with our circumstances and myself for lashing out at him, I followed Ryder out of the alcove. Once we crossed the threshold back into the rest of the library, the wall slid into place. I glared at the portrait of Lyall’s ancestor andwished for more time.
Ryder took my hand and squeezed. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. You deserve to know the history of your kind, Ellie, and no matter how ugly it is, I’d like to know the real history of mine.”
With one touch and a short assurance, Ryder smoothed over the sharpest edges of my fear, but as a different worry rose up, I pulled my hand from his. His jaw clenched in frustration.
“Stop doing that,” he grumbled.
“Why?” I asked and headed toward the double doors of the library. He weaved around the sitting area behind me. “There’s no one watching.”
“So, we’re back to pretending we hate each other when no one else is around?” he challenged.
I swallowed. “I wasn’t aware that had ever changed.”
“Yeah, well, it did,” he said, “somewhere between you calling me an ass and helping me resolve things with Kieran, things stopped feeling so pretend.”
My heart clamored, but I walked resolutely down the white hall toward the bonfire without meeting Ryder’s gaze.
“You honestly still hate me?” he asked quietly. “Because if this is you genuinely trying to turn me down, I’ll back off.”
“I don’t hate you,” I whispered.I don’t think I ever did.
Ryder took my hand and gently tugged me to a stop.
“Then why can’t this be real?” he asked.
As he gazed down at me, his amber eyes bored into mine and a lock of hair fell over his forehead. I fought the urge to smooth it back.
“Because it’s not real,” I said. The words tasted like a lie. “It’s just wolf magic and your honorable need to protect me pushing us together.”
“Ellie.” Ryder’s forehead dipped until it rested against mine. His hands circled my waist, and my breath caught. “My thoughts about you are not as honorable as you think.”
A delicious, terrifying buzz lit me from within, and it had nothing to do with magic. His hands trailed up my sides tocaress my face.
“And yeah, we’re mates,” he continued, “but that’s not why I need this to be real. That’s not why I want to kiss you right now.”
My heart thundered so loudly, I wondered if the partygoers outside could hear it over the music.
“You didn’t seem very happy about what happened between us earlier,” I argued quietly.
“Because kissing you shouldn’t be for show.” His thumb brushed over my lower lip. “It should be like this.”
He dipped his head closer and closer to mine, giving me plenty of time to pull away or protest. I did neither. Instead, I reached on the tips of my toes, until our breath mingled in the small space between us.
Ryder pressed his lips to mine, and thoughts of anything—my fears and worries and concerns—were eclipsed by the heat of his touch. Without hesitation, I kissed him back. His lips, so soft compared to all his hard edges, moved in tandem with mine.
When his tongue drove into my mouth, I gasped and pulled him even closer by the collar of his shirt. His gentle grip on my face never strayed, though part of me wished it would. Eventually, when both of us panted for breath, and I was certain my heart was going to beat out of my chest, we broke apart.
Ryder stared at me with such reverence, his gaze was almost headier than his kiss.
Almost.
“There you are!” Kalli called.
I jumped, but Ryder steadied me with a hand on my waist. As we faced his mother, who stood by the doors that led to the party, he tucked me under his arm. Kalli studied our swollen lips and Ryder’s especially messy hair and smirked.
“Oh, to be young and mated,” she teased. For a heartbeat, her smile saddened, but she quickly replaced it with a grin. “Come on! It’s time to share the legends of the pack. I promiseyou won’t want to miss it.”
As we strolled back to the party, I couldn’t help but share a smug grin with Ryder. Our excuse for sneaking off had proved to be exceedingly effective.
