Malia’s POV
“Don’t tell me you’re going to choose sulking and wallowing in heartbreak or fear, whichever one it is, over my company?”
I scoffed. “I told you this afternoon that you’re not the only man in this pack. There’s Ronan, Derek, Scott… and many others.”
He rolled his eyes. “Why does it have to be the guys? You could spend time with the ladies too.”
“Like your mistress, Lila? Yeah. We could try being best buddies.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, she’s not the only female in this pack,” he said.
“I’ll figure out how to befriend some other women later, but for now I need to get out of this dress into something more comfortable.”
“So what’s stopping you?” He asked with a straight face.
“Really?”
He shrugged. “I could help you out of those clothes if you need me to. I’m quite good at it,” he said, wiggling his brows.
“And you’ll find some of my mom’s clothing to be really comfortable,” he added when I scowled at him.
I shook my head at the thought of wearing a dead woman’s clothing.
“I’d rather change in my room into my own clothes, thank you.”
“Fine. If that’s what you want. You may leave,” he said.
I walked to the door and rested my forehead on its surface thinking about how I was going to get to my room without getting lost.
“What is it, Malia? Having second thoughts?” He asked.
I turned to face him. “You sent the guard away. There’s no way I’m going to find my way back to my room without getting lost.” I complained.
He heaved a deep sigh and got up. “What am I going to get in return for helping you?” He asked, opening the door and leading me down the hallway.
“I’ll think about it once I’m in my room,” I replied.
He turned to give me a look. “You don’t think I’m going to lead you somewhere you don’t want to go, do you?”
I shrugged.
My legs were already starting to go weak and I found it difficult to keep up with his long strides.
I watched in fascination as his long legs ate up the distance. I jogged a little to keep up.
He suddenly stopped and I rammed into him.
He turned to me and without saying a word, swept my feet off the floor and carried me bridal style. I gasped in shock. It took me a couple of seconds to comprehend the situation and when I finally did…
Put me down, I protested as he resumed walking.
“You don’t mean that, right?”
I fell silent and he chuckled. “I thought as much.”
I wound my hands tighter around his neck and tried to ignore the heat of his body.
I must have been really tired because, to my dismay, I fell asleep in his arms.
I woke up as soon as my back touched the soft mattress. He chuckled as soon as my eyes fluttered open.
“You must have really enjoyed the ride. But don’t get used to it,” he said.
I ignored him and started drifting back off to sleep.
I vaguely registered his deep chuckle before I suddenly felt his hands on my shins.
My shoes were taken off and I sighed in satisfaction at the freedom of my feet.
Then his hands gently kneaded my feet and a moan escaped from my lips.
“What are you doing?” I murmured groggily.
“Be quiet,” he said softly. “Go back to sleep”
“You had better not do anything silly,” I warned, my voice tired and sleep filled.
“Consider me warned,” he said, I could hear the smile in his voice.
His thumb grazed my ankles and I let out a low gasp.
I thought I heard him growl but I wasn’t sure.
Slowly but surely his fingers travelled from my feet and went past my knees to rest on my inner thighs. My belly tightened in desire and I could feel the moisture between my legs.
“Ryder,” I gasped.
“Do you want me to stop?” He asked in a hoarse voice and I knew he could smell my arousal.
A large part of me screamed no but the reasonable part of me knew how quickly things could escalate and I didn’t think I was ready for any of it.
“Yes. You should stop,” I replied weakly. Even I could hear the lack of conviction in my voice.
“Are you… really sure?” He asked, his fingers moving even higher.
My back arched a little as another moan slipped from my lips.
“Your body says no, Malia,”
“Our bodies can be treacherous, often leading us to places we do not want to go,” I replied.
I took in a deep breath and with a willpower I didn’t know I possessed, rolled off the bed and landed with a thud on the ground. Thankfully I didn’t hit my head too hard on the floor.
I heard him chuckle. “Coward,” he murmured.
I got up from the floor and glared at him. I was wide awake at that moment.
“What? I wasn’t the one who pushed you,” he said.
“You caused it,” I snapped.
This only caused his smile to grow.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You look breathtaking when you’re pissed.”
I took a deep breath. “You should leave now, I want to strip and have my bath.”
“And miss the show? Hell no,” he refused.
I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or just teasing me and I couldn’t care less. I needed to put as much distance as I could between us.
I rose to my full height, pulling my shoulders back. “Ryder Hawkins, leave my room this instant,” I said in a firm voice.
I saw the flash of red in his eyes. “My wolf doesn’t like to be ordered,” he said with a calmness as deadly as death itself.
His tone should have warned me but something in me wanted to provoke him even more.
“I do not give a damn about your wolf, Ryder. Get the hell out of my room,” I ordered.