Page 31 of A Wolf's Treasure
Ryanne watched the wolf from the corner of her eye as they cruised east down the highway away from Seattle. She expected to see more of a reaction from him, but although he was quiet, he otherwise appeared perfectly at ease. There was no indication he felt the least bit uncomfortable after the intimate moment they’d just shared together.
Or rather, his strange reaction to it.
His hands didn’t grip the steering wheel too tightly. His jaw was no longer clenched. He didn’t appear sad, or uneasy. And, although he still wouldn’t look at her, he was humming under his breath. She recognized it as the song they had danced to.
She didn’t understand. He was attracted to her, as much or more so than she was him. When she’d kissed him, his hunger for more had been a palpable thing, rolling off his body like a wave of flames to stoke her own desire. Yet, he’d refused to touch her. Refused to hold her. Only devoured her with his lips and tongue as she had him until he’d abruptly pulled away.
So, why had he stopped?
Her curiosity was peaked. Rejection was not something Ryanne was used to, and it was not something she was about to accept from a male who clearly wanted her. However, it was becoming clear he had more than a few demons inside of him. And, strangely enough, Ryanne was moved by his inner battle with them. Perhaps she could help this shifter who’d been nothing but kind to her.
But, for now, maybe a change in subject would be good. She had questions that needed answers, and as he was the only one she knew who could answer them, avoiding him was no longer the best strategy. As a matter of fact, spending more time with him would be necessary.
Ryanne ignored the flutter in her stomach at the thought. “Duncan?”
He stopped humming. Glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She thought she saw a flicker of unease, and he gave her a wary, “Aye?”
Deciding that being blunt about what she needed to know would be the fastest way to get answers, she asked, “Why is the self-appointed prince of Faeries hanging around with a pack of werewolves? And how long has this been going on?”
At her question, his big body relaxed. He shifted into a more comfortable position. “Tae be honest, I dinna ken th’ why o’ it. No’ exactly. Except he says we need tae band together tae stop th’ ones who were trapped in Faerie land during th’ last war. Th’ portal is no’ holding. And th’ soul suckers will be set free soon tae wreak havoc upon humans, Fae and shifters alike.”
That was strange. Her father should be the last one who would want to prevent that from happening.
“Why do ye want tae kill yer father?” he asked in a low voice. “Kill yer blood?”
Because he deserved it. And she, as his daughter, was the only one who would be able to do it. “Doesn’t he want to do the same to me?”
“Aye. But he’s thousands o’ years old and completely off his head. No’ that that’s an excuse,” he was quick to add. “I dinna ken how he could want tae harm ye, either, but I can almost understand how he would think it. But ye…yer no’ daft. Ye appear tae be perfectly right in th’ head, so ye must have some pretty big reasons tae risk yerself this way tae come after him. Ye must have yer reasons tae want tae kill th’ male who sired ye. Ye must…” His jaw snapped shut with an audible click. He sighed, his lips pressed together. “I apologize, lass. I dinna ken why I tend tae ramble on around ye.”
Ryanne touched him on the arm and felt the muscles tense beneath her fingers. “My father isn’t as crazy as he likes you to believe, wolf. He’s actually very intelligent. And very powerful. He needs to be stopped, before it’s too late. And I’m the only one who can do it.”
“Why is that?”
“Because he thinks I won’t. Or can’t. And because Iamhis blood.” Ryanne thought about what he’d said. Perhaps she needed to meet with his pack. She could warn them, tell them what she believed was really going on.
They drove another mile or two in silence. “Where are ye stayin’, lass? Where can I drop ye?”
“The same spot as before will be fine. My…rental is near there.”
Eyes wide, he stared at her. “In th’ woods? I ken ye dinna want anyone tae ken where yer are, but there’s nothing around there for miles.”
“You’d better watch the road. You’re going to miss the turn.” She pointed just ahead, where the hidden turnoff was rapidly approaching. “Besides, I like to walk in the woods at night. It’s peaceful.”
After a quick look in the rearview mirror, Duncan slowed down and crossed the grassy median, then floored it, taking them in between the trees and onto the rocky path. Ryanne held on as they bumped and jumped up the mountain, a grin on her face. Truly, he could’ve taken her a few more miles down the highway so she’d be closer to the cabin, but this was so much more fun. She’d never been off-roading before, and she was kind of disappointed when he pulled to a stop in the same small clearing as before.
Duncan turned off the engine. It was suddenly quiet, except for the sound of their breathing. “I wish ye would allow me tae take ye somewhere where I would ken ye are safe.” Hands still on the steering wheel, he stared intensely out the windshield at something and wouldn’t look at her. “Although I ken why ye dinna want tae tell me.”
Again, his protectiveness touched her. She’d never had anyone show so much concern whether she made it home or not. Ryanne studied his profile. Such a handsome male. And kind. Shifter or not, she would be lucky to call him hers. And Ryanne had never had anyone to call her own. It was by her own choice, mostly. Relying on others had never played out well for her.
But this one…something told her that despite unwillingly giving her presence away, this one she could trust.
Making a decision, Ryanne took off her seatbelt. Perhaps she was being rash, but something drew her to this wolf. And she could not stand to see him sitting over there, looking so lost and alone and angry at himself.
Hiking her dress up to her thighs, she climbed over to his side. Duncan dropped his arms and pressed back against his seat as she straddled him. When he realized what she was doing, his jaw clenched tight, but he didn’t try to move her away.
The steering wheel pressed into the soft flesh of her ass and her bare leg was squeezed between the seat and the door on the one side, but she knew he would never come to her. So, she would go to him.
“What are ye doin’, Ryanne?”
