Page 44 of The Untamed

I lean against the wall of Ronan’s cabin between his and Ryder’s. It’s impossible to see here and I’m one hundred percent fine with that. I allow myself to feel sorry for myself, sniffling softly. A sob catches in my throat, but I swallow it down until it becomes a tiny, nearly silent mewl.

Crack.

The sound of a twig breaking has me stiffening. It could be CJ come to find me, eager for a kiss. But CJ doesn’t have that uncanny ability to make my blood boil like Ryder does. I can sense his presence without even seeing him.

He prowls toward me, too quiet for his own good, until I feel the warmth of his body inches from mine. I don’t speak and hope he didn’t hear me nearly break down in a fit of tears.

His hand finds my face, curling around my jaw. I want to snarl something cruel to him and wrench away from his firm hold. Instead, I lift my chin, staring into the darkness of where I think his face might be.

Why is he even here?

Why is he even touching me?

I wait for him to get on with it. To taunt me and terrorize me. To shove it into my face that he gets to go because he has a stupid fucking penis and I have to stay here with my useless good-for-nothing-except-making-babies vagina.

He doesn’t.

His nose touches mine. A small brush of skin against skin that has me pausing. All angry thoughts dissipate as an unwanted thrill tickles through me.

He runs his thumb along my cheek. When he feels the proof of a tear gone rogue, he rests his forehead to mine. The move is such a comforting one, I close my eyes. Ronan is my comfort, my savior, my best friend. Ryder is just Ryder. A brat. My nemesis.

But I know that’s not completely true.

Ryder is my equal whether Dad wants to believe it or not. Ryder understands my desire to be free in the wilderness, enjoying the hunt and the freedom to run wild. We get each other on a level me and Ronan don’t.

Is this why Ryder is here? Because he knows it’s unfair and that I’m crushed by being left behind?

“I wanted to go,” I croak out, hating how shaking my voice is. “I wanted to help.”

He rubs his thumb back and forth over my wet cheek as though he can’t stop himself from the soothing action. It dizzies me and distracts me as well.

“I know,” he rasps out, warm breath tickling over my face. “I’m sorry.”

His genuine, pained response has me relaxing. Maybe Ryder isn’t always out to get me or be better than me. Maybe he actually wants me to be by his side.

I grab onto his shirt, not entirely sure what I plan to do. I could push him away from me. If he’d uttered anything cruel, it’d have been so easy to do just that. But since he’s being comforting, I find myself tugging instead.

Would he be hard again if he pressed into me?

The thought is exhilarating and makes my heart stumble. I tug harder, the curiosity overwhelming me. He grunts, losing his footing in the dark, and crashes rather painfully into me. His mouth, open and panting heavily, is pressed against my cheek.

Neither of us speaks a word. He sucks in a sharp breath the second his penis goes hard between us. Triumph surges through me and I have no idea why. I like that I can make this happen to him. It makes me struggle to find my own breath to fill my lungs.

He shifts, his hips slightly moving, making his penis dig into me. It’s so wonderfully hard. Like a thick stick made of river rock. I have the urge to put my hand around him and rub on it.

Now we’re both struggling to breathe.

“Y-Your cock is hard,” I whisper, unable to keep silent any longer.

He groans, nuzzling his nose against mine. “My cock is out of control.”

“Need me to help you get it under control?” I ask, a tremor of anticipation running through me, though I have no idea what that would entail.

He groans and his lips peck at my cheek. Heat floods through me at the simple kiss. There was no tongue involved and yet I find myself replaying it over and over and over again inside my mind.

“I have to go, Rae. I just needed to make sure you were okay first.”

My heart squeezes in my chest. It’s probably the nicest thing Ryder has ever said to me. Everything about him feels nice right now. His body, his words, his mouth,his cock.

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