Ryan's Treasure by Becca Dale

misunderstand my offer?”
    “No, but it’s the heat, not you. I scare you.”
    “You do, but so does every other male on the planet. I witnessed too much violence during breeding to be comfortable.”
    He came to her, his touch feather light against her cheek. “Give it time. I’ll help you get past your fears. But not like this.”
    Closing her eyes, she leaned against his hand. “I hurt.”
    “I know, gorgeous. Please, go back to bed. Things will be better in the morning.”
    Rejection sparked a different kind of fire. Just as her father and brother had done, he’d promised to take care of her yet had no problem shoving her away when she needed him. She pushed from his arms and headed for the door without a word.
    “Nadi…are you okay?”
    Hand on the doorknob, she longed to scream. “I will be about five minutes after I walk outside Ja’s security gate.”
    “What?”
    She didn’t look back to see if he followed her no matter how much she hoped he would. Pushing him was a bitchy thing to do, but with her hormones and emotions on high alert, she couldn’t play nice. He grabbed her arm and spun her against his chest before she could unlock the front door.
    “Don’t be stupid, Nadi. The shifters out there will be more than happy to slake your need, but they won’t be gentle about it.”
    Twisting to escape did no good. His arms locked around her like a vise. Giving in, she laid her head against his solid strength. A shiver of undiluted lust ripped through her. “That’s the point. You’re not interested, but someone else will be.”
    He snarled. “Knock it off. I want you, and you know it.”
    “Then help me, Ryan.”
    “I can’t promise to control myself. I refuse to hurt you.”
    His hands rubbed up and down her back in long, soothing strokes, and she wrapped her arms around him, keeping him close. “You’ll hurt me more if you leave me to find comfort from strangers.”
    “That’s not going to happen. Not ever.”
     
     
    Ryan swept Nadi into his arms and strode up the stairs with her cradled against him. Desire roared, and his wolf howled. Touching her, holding her so close, ripped his promises to shreds, but he gathered them around him like armor, reminding himself of Drake’s words and Nadi’s frightened face. He elbowed the door to her room closed behind them and tossed her on the bed, following her down to crouch above her. “You’re mine. You may not know that yet, or even want it yet, but it will happen.”
    Desperate to erase her fears, he bent and kissed his woman with every ounce of tenderness he could muster. When he eased back to allow her to breathe, he swept her bangs from her forehead, struggling to slow down for her sake. “For now, we’ll focus on your comfort.”
    She squirmed beneath him, arching high and thrusting her pelvis against him. “I burn, Ryan. Please.”
    “Shh, baby, I know. Close your eyes and feel.” He shifted to rest beside her, drawing small circles over her stomach and lower, pausing above the juncture of her thighs before gliding upward once more. The satin fabric covering her skin did little to cool the heat of her body. He caught the bodice in both hands, eager to rip it from her, but her eyes flew open, and she grabbed his wrists.
    “It’s your sister’s. Are you going to explain how it was destroyed?”
    No need to explain. Kya would smell him all over his lovely mate, but he didn’t want to embarrass Nadi if he could help it. Easing the nightgown up her long, sexy legs, he nibbled the tempting bend of her throat. “Take it off.”
    He hadn’t meant to sound harsh, but it didn’t seem to faze her. She sat up and pulled the offending material over her head then tossed it aside. Fear still hovered in her gaze, but the primal need to accept a male’s seed overrode it. Blood flooded through her, turning her pale skin pink and hot.
    “You are far more beautiful than I remembered. Fine porcelain and wild roses.”
    “Hurry,