Hunting Wolf: Black Mesa Wolves #3 by J.K. Harper Read Free Book Online Page B

righteous indignation, that is. Straightening in her seat and unfolding her fingers from around the deliciously cold glass, Rielle cocked her head at that big bully of a wolf sitting across from her.
    “You did not just say I read too much.” She let outrage lace her every word. “Did you?”
    Caleb shifted in his seat and leaned back from her a little, although his still regarded her with that funny challenge in his expression. “Um...”
    “Because if you did, that's the same thing as saying I should just shut my pretty mouth and listen to you, instead.” Her dander was good and up now. Who'd thought this was a good idea? Why had she said yes? Caleb Bardou was nothing but an uncultured oaf, a guy who just wanted to be strong and old-fashioned, who wanted—
    “Yes, you should,” he said.
    The short, sharp words busted right into her swirling thoughts and stopped them cold. She stared at him.
    “You should listen to me, because when it comes to rogues, I do know what I'm talking about. But I have to say, I really don't want you to shut your pretty little mouth. I like hearing what you think. And your mouth definitely is pretty. So keep talking. It's interesting.”
    Wha...? This time there was no mistaking her reaction. Rielle's wolf pushed up into her mind, alert and entirely focused on the big male wolf seated across from her. Her blood suddenly felt heated, which of course was ridiculous. Her pulse skittered in her neck.
    Caleb lounged back against his seat. A grin pulled at his lips, and she could only describe it as wolfish. He was playing with her. Flirting, maybe?
    Even more strange, she was enjoying it.
     
    ~
     
    Caleb forced his body to relax, despite every instinct telling him to leap over the table and do – something. Something stupid, like claim the little wolf sitting there bristling at him with a combo of pure irritation and clear interest. Pretty Rielle was attracted to him. His wolf knew that for sure. But man, was he messing with her right now.
    As she'd launched into her points about rogues, an idea had fallen into his head with that light bulb thing happening. He knew she thought he was just a bulldozer of a guy. Maybe he could play with that, goad her into speaking without guarding her words.
    The thing that had bugged him finally fell into place: Rielle was careful not to let her guard down. Just like a fighter, except she fought with her head rather than her fists. Every time she did lower those shields she seemed to have up around her, though, something really fascinating started to happen: Her wolf edged out. Caleb's wolf kept hinting that Rielle's wolf was missing. He thought he might have it figured out. Rielle was pushing her wolf down, for some crazy reason. She didn't seem to realize how alive and passionate she got when her wolf came closer to the surface. Caleb sure liked it, though. A lot.
    “Well?” he said casually. “Aren't you going to tell me more?”
    Rielle sat there, all soft skin and dark hair and slightly suspicious eyes. She smelled sweet, a bit spicy, and crazy interesting. If she didn't open that pretty mouth again, he might jump out of his hide with impatience. He liked seeing how her lips formed words.
    She sat silent for another long moment. He could tell she was puzzling out the situation in her head. Sure, he seemed to have a habit of saying exactly the wrong thing around her. Even so, he knew enough about how to play the ladies. Not that he was playing Rielle, no way—something about her deserved way more respect—but he wasn't above putting those skills to work, as long as they kept her talking and sitting with him. If she stomped away from him one more time, it would be a pretty epic fail on the male/female wolf relations front. He was an expert in that area, after all.
    Caleb settled back into his chair even more and thumped one foot up to rest on his opposite knee. The picture of being casually relaxed. No pressure, no insisting she keep going after he'd