Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
“Then why bother bugging me?”
“Because I don’t like that wall you have up, Riley. It’s in the way of what I want.”
Her heart slammed against her ribs. “I don’t understand why you’re pushing this. As you persistently point out, I drive you insane.”
“You deliberately rile me to hold me at a distance,” he corrected. She challenged him. Argued with him. Snorted at him. Poked at him. And yet Tao wanted her more than breath. She got his blood running in a way that no one else ever had. “No more, Riley.”
Tao knew he was going about this all wrong. A guy needed to approach Riley the same way he would a full-blooded raven. Carefully. Slowly. Not making any sudden movements. Trying to appear as nonthreatening as possible, as if he had no real intention of trying to catch it. Otherwise the bird would take flight and he’d miss his chance. But he just didn’t possess the patience or subtlety for such a careful approach.
Besides, giving Riley the time and space to make her way to him wouldn’t work. She’d spend that time reinforcing the wall between them by pissing him off at every given opportunity. That wasn’t something he’d allow.
They both stiffened at the sound of a cell phone chiming. Tracking the sound, he squatted and pulled her phone out from under the bed. He saw the name flashing on the screen. “Lucy,” he drawled. Riley held out her hand, jaw set, and he handed her the cell. “Wanna tell me why someone from your old flock is calling?”
“I wouldn’t need a phone if I knew stuff like—hey, wait a minute, how the hell do you know that Lucy’s from the flock?”
He pulled on his shirt and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Baby, do you really think I’d let a perfect stranger into my pack without knowing about their background?” Finding out where she came from and the details of her flock hadn’t been easy. He’d had to dig deep and use a lot of his contacts. It had taken months and he still didn’t have all the facts.
Riley tensed, wary. “Just how much did you find out about my past?”
He gave her an enigmatic smile. “Enough.”
What did “enough” mean? Riley didn’t exactly have deep, dark secrets, but she had as much dirty laundry as the next person. Knowing Tao could be fully aware just how dirty that laundry was . . . it made her feel vulnerable. Exposed.
“I wasn’t prying, Riley, and I didn’t do it to hurt you. I was making sure my pack mates were safe—that includes you. Of course, I would never have had to go to such measures if you hadn’t kept your past one great big secret.” He settled his hands on her shoulders. “I didn’t uncover anything you’d consider personal, just basic facts about the flock. I don’t want to find out about your life from other people. I want to hear it from you. Okay?”
No, it wasn’t okay, because she wasn’t sure she completely understood what he was asking for—a bed-buddy? A fling? A relationship? Riley swallowed. “What exactly do you want from me?”
Tao traced the delicate line of her jaw. “I’m not asking for anything serious, baby. Relationships don’t work for me, they never have.” His past relationships had been stressful and complicated—mostly because he was an asshole with no idea how to make another person happy. “But we both know we’d be kidding ourselves if we thought this could end here, so I say we just let it play out. And I want you to let me in a little, because I’m not interested in anything cold and impersonal.” He watched her carefully as she stared back at him, eyeing him warily and deliberating on what he’d said. No doubt she’d fight him on it, but—
“All right.”
He blinked, unsure he’d heard her correctly. “All right?”
She shrugged. “I like sex, and, from what little I remember of last night, you’re pretty good at it.”
He’d been expecting a fight if for no other reason than that she could be a pain in his ass when she chose to be. Her reactions didn’t always make sense to him, and it really did make him wonder what went on in her pretty little head.
Satisfied by her response, his wolf relaxed. Tao, however, felt a little wounded by her assessment. “I’m better than ‘pretty good.’”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Next time I have you under me, I’ll prove it to you and—”
The bedroom door flew open and two small children scurried inside. They both froze, eyes dancing from Riley to Tao.
She forced a breezy smile for them. “Morning, guys.” Bending, she gave both kids a peck on the cheek. “You’re all washed and dressed, I see. Good.”
Savannah’s brows met. “You smell funny. And you have black stuff on your face.”