Heart of the Wolf by D. B. Reynolds Read Free Book Online Page B

were the only people he’d met in this fucking city who evidenced any loyalty to anyone.
    “Tommy,” he said, with a quick nod. “She around?”
    “She’s sleeping.”
    Ren inhaled, drawing in the essence of Kathryn. She was there, and she was awake. “Not anymore.”
    The bodyguard’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly, but he still didn’t move.
    “I can’t help her if she won’t talk to me, Tommy.”
    Tommy gave a resigned sigh. “She’s in the bedroom suite. Her personal suite,” he clarified. “It’s—”
    “I know.” Ren circled past the bodyguard and followed the clear scent down the hall and around the corner to a set of dark red lacquered doors.
    Why red? He wondered. Was it something she’d chosen for herself? Was any of this really hers?
    He could hear her inside, could smell her awareness of him. He suppressed a groan of mingled desire and frustration, feeling himself harden almost instantly. She was young and female and it was nearly the full moon, a time of hunting and of mating. Ren could feel his wolf revving itself up for battle, heart thumping, blood rushing to muscles and nerves, adrenaline pouring into his system to make him ready to fight, to kill if necessary to claim his mate.
    Except she isn’t yours, pal, he reminded himself silently.
    The hell she isn’t!
    He smiled grimly. Arguing with himself was never a good sign.
    He rested his forehead against the door and closed his eyes, fighting for control before knocking softly.

Chapter Ten

    Kathryn stared at him over the back of a low sofa on the far side of the room, her eyes wide and pale. She was wrapped in a fringed shawl, and her fingers clutched it in front of her like some sort of shield against him. Her nerves did nothing to calm his, and he realized his situation was doing nothing to ease her stress.
    He stepped inside and closed the door, raising his hand, palm forward. “Give me a minute,” he said in a rough voice.
    “I can shower,” she said quickly and scrambled to get up. “It might—”
    The image of her naked body with warm water streaming all over it kicked the testosterone into an even higher gear, and he groaned out loud. “Gods, no,” he pleaded. “Just give me a minute,” he repeated.
    Get it together, Roesner. You’re better than this.
    He was usually. But this was Kathryn.
    “You should be at Clanhome,” he said in a low voice.
    She stiffened, her eyes sparking silver with defiance. “So my father could dangle me as a prize for his wolves? No, thank you. I’ll take my chances.”
    Ren stared at her through half-lidded eyes and felt his lips draw back. “I’m a wolf, too,” he reminded her.
    “Well, but you’re…” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away.
    “I’m what, Kathryn?” he growled. It came out as a low rumble of sound, and he heard her heart begin to race, saw a sheen of sweat pop out over her succulent upper lip, her mouth open as her breath shallowed out and she began to pant.
    Ren felt his own gut tighten, his cock pressing hard and heavy against the stiff fabric of his jeans. He started toward her, a slow predatory glide, dropping his leather jacket behind him with a shrug.
    Kathryn stood there watching him come, seeming frozen beneath his heated gaze. She licked her lips nervously, and he followed the path of her tongue, seeing it in slow motion as it painted first her full upper lip and then the lower, leaving a wet gleam behind.
    Ren circled the couch and reached out for her, tugging the shawl away from her clutching fingers and tossing it to the side, sliding his hand over the curve of one hip and drawing her closer.
    “Ren,” she whispered.
    “Kathryn,” he drawled and buried his face in her neck, inhaling the scent of her, her arousal, her youth, her fertility. He growled and tightened his hold.
    “Ren!” Kathryn gasped. She shoved a hand between them, pushing against his chest. She didn’t have the strength to stop him, if he didn’t want to be stopped.