Warriors of Ryon: Bayden by S.K. Yule Read Free Book Online

have to go. I’m sure you can find your way back to your room.”
    Before she could respond that she wasn’t as confident about that fact as he appeared to be, he was gone. He was uncannily quick for such a large man. She touched her fingers to her lips where they still tingled from his kiss. Why had he reacted as though she’d offended him in some way? He was the one who had kissed her.
    Her stomach tightened, and she wished he was still kissing her at this very moment. Anger shot through her. How dare he act as if she’d done something wrong? She huffed and headed for the door. She was going to find him, and he’d give her some answers if she had to beat them out of him.

Chapter Six
    Son of a bitch . He pounded the full-body punching bag with everything he had. It swung on the cables and creaked with each blow. Why the fuck had he kissed her?
    When Ellie ran her fingers through his hair, he’d been lost. He’d wanted to do way more than kiss her. Still did but still couldn’t. It wasn’t right. She was too gentle for him. She’d never understand the things he did in his line of work. If she ever found out he’d killed, still killed when necessary, hatred and hurt would burn in her eyes when she looked at him. That would be the death of him.
    He continued pummeling the bag, his knuckles split and bleeding through the white tape he’d wrapped around them. He didn’t feel the pain. He thought he’d ceased to feel much of anything long ago. Obviously, that wasn’t entirely true. He felt a lot where Ellie was concerned.
    He spun and kicked the bag with a roundhouse, heard a gasp, and then stopped. He found Ellie watching him from the doorway. “What are you doing here?” he asked, before pummeling the bag again.
    She walked toward him. “Why did you kiss me if I appall you so much?”
    He froze midpunch. “What?” She thought she appalled him? He looked at her and nearly groaned at the hurt reflected in her eyes.
    “I saw the way you looked at me afterward as if you can’t stand the sight of me.”
    His frustration grew. He took several steps toward her, backing her against the wall. “So you think you know how I feel, do you?”
    “I saw it in your eyes,” she whispered. “You didn’t enjoy kissing me.”
    He reached for her. After taking a thick strand of black hair between his fingers, he twirled the silky locks, letting the softness glide over his skin. “You’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Tell me.”
    He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes. “What do you want from me? Do you want me to tell you how the sight of you, the scent of you, and the mere thought of you get me hard? Do you want me to tell you how many cold showers I’ve had to take since you’ve been here? Because none of it matters. This thing I feel for you can’t happen.”
    “Why?”
    He turned away. “You deserve someone better.”
    He held his breath, waiting to hear her retreating steps, and yet at the same time, hoping she’d stay. When she placed her hand against his back, he closed his eyes. Her fingertips glided over his muscles. Damn it . He bit back a groan. How am I supposed to resist her when a mere caress makes me crazy with wanting her?
    “I’m not sure what your definition of ‘someone better’ is, but there aren’t many who would’ve done what you’ve done for me and Molly,” she said.
    Her caress awoke a raw, primal need inside him that yawned and came to life. It stretched, raking claws along his gut that ignited like matches. He shook, trying to keep the hungry beast from emerging. He longed to sink his cock into her. His instincts told him that she was the one with the power to save his dark soul. Yeah. And if I act on those feelings, I’ll probably scare the hell out of her . Her fingers trailed another blaze of fire over his back, and he couldn’t take any more. Frustration and need fought to shatter his control.
    He spun around, and she backed away, almost