Ryan's Treasure by Becca Dale Read Free Book Online Page A

the south bedroom where she slept. Laying her gently on the bed, he pulled a light cover over her naked body and brushed her curls from her forehead. She whimpered when he stood up, but he stroked her temple until she relaxed once more. His brother started to speak, but Ryan motioned him from the room and followed.
    Once in the kitchen, Jake turned on him, displaying more spunk than he’d ever seen from the kid. “What happened?”
    Ryan grabbed a beer from the fridge and handed another to his brother before dropping into a chair. “We took a run to the river, talked a bit, and she passed out.”
    “You didn’t touch her?”
    With a snort, he downed his drink and set the empty bottle on the table. “That, little brother, is none of your damned business.”
    “Meaning something happened. Do I need to kick your ass?”
    “You could try.” Irritation and understanding battled. He’d be just as protective if he were in Jake’s shoes…had felt much the same when Ja came into Kya’s life. “I’ll tell you what. I promise to never hurt her if you agree to stay the hell out of it. Deal?”
    “Even if she can never be with you—or any man?”
    An ache he didn’t want to deal with burned in his chest. He headed for the door. If he hurried, he could get in a long run and then take over the second part of his shift at the Sanctuary. He’d left Grant shorthanded too many nights lately. Once on the porch where the cool breeze could clear his thoughts, he turned back. “If she decides she doesn’t want a mate, I’ll defend her right to choose to the bitter end. However….” Words eluded him for a moment, but the questions in Jake’s stiff posture and rigid jawline demanded answers. “Once Nadi chooses, if I’m not what she wants, I’ll back off. Until then, I’ll do everything in my power to persuade her to see things my way.”

Chapter Six
     
     
    Ryan waited until Jake had left for his early shift at the Sanctuary before he knocked softly and slipped into Nadi’s room. He expected her to be asleep. Instead, she walked from the small attached bathroom, wearing nothing except a towel over her head and face as she rubbed water from her short hair. Moisture dotted her beautiful skin, trickling down to bead at the end of one nipple, hesitating before it fell away. He bit his tongue to suppress the need to lap up the remaining droplets. A hint of her approaching heat danced on the air, feminine and alluring, rousing his wolf.
    He would have left, but she dropped the towel before he could tear his gaze from her naked body. She dove for the covering, her squeak of protest alerting him to the deep shit he had floundered into.
    “I knocked.” Smooth, Jones . He lifted his hands in surrender to the shock rolling off her. “I wanted to show you something.”
    With a huff, she wrapped the towel around herself. “Looks more like you came to see something.”
    Answering her glare with a helpless smile, he put his hands behind his back and tipped his head to minimize any threat she might perceive from him. Her spirit had not deserted her despite the trauma she’d faced most of her life, and the combination of strength and vulnerability drew him. He strolled across the room to where she stood trembling with indignation. Her emotions ran high with rising hormones. In full heat, she would offer a spectacular challenge, one he couldn’t wait to meet.
    Not until she’s stronger .
    His human side lectured his wolf, but it snarled and strained to claim his female. Careful not to startle her further, he touched her short wet hair. “I like it this way.”
    “You like when I look like a drowned rat?”
    “No.” He chuckled low in his throat. Everything about her, even when she acted hissy as a wet cat, appealed to him. The scent of her fertility enhanced her attraction but did not account for it. No female had ever affected his inner animal in the way Nadi did. “Your hair looks good curling by your face. It emphasizes