Page 12 of A Wolf’s Wound

Hannah

It’s the end of the day, and I’m talking to Lori at the reception desk when the door opens and Ryder comes in.

Gavin’s with him, too, but Ryder’s the one my eyes lock on. I blink, annoyed at myself. And still annoyed at him for his mysterious disappearing act. But mainly annoyed at myself for even caring.

Ryder’s looking at me too. His mouth is set in a grim line, and he doesn’t look happy. I swallow, suddenly nervous. What if more animals have been injured? Or if something worse has happened?

“Dr. Kelly,” Gavin says. He nods in greeting to his mom.

“Mr. Stone,” I reply.

“I wanted to check in on you,” Gavin explains. “I know the past few days have been particularly stressful for you and the staff at the clinic. You’ve all done an admirable job taking care of the animals brought in from the forest.”

“Thank you,” I say, touched by his thoughtfulness.

“No need to thank me,” Gavin says, his voice tight. “Your stepfather insisted I stop by. Apparently, you haven’t been returning his phone calls,” he adds.

Now it’s my turn to blush. Of course, Dad engineered this. Of course, he’d overreact to me taking more than twenty-four hours to return a call!

“Well, you can tell him you did your duty and that I’m just fine,” I say in a voice just as terse as Gavin’s. “Thanks.”

Gavin nods, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He turns to Lori but I don’t hear their conversation, because suddenly Ryder’s by my side.

“I’m sorry I’ve been out of touch,” he says quietly.

“It’s fine,” I say, aware that I still sound brusque.

“No, really,” he insists. “I feel bad about it. But—well, you saw those animals.”

“I’ve been busy too,” I remind him.

“There’s just so much going on,” he adds and then stops and glances at Gavin.

Gavin’s broken off his conversation and is looking at the two of us. “I should get going,” he says. “Ryder, I’ll see you later?”

“Of course.”

“Walk me out?” he asks his mom, who pops up from her chair.

I turn my attention to Ryder and feel my resolve start to weaken a little. His hair, tousled and dark, looks like he’s been running his hands through it all day. And the look in his eyes, like he’s been wandering around lost and just found his way home.

I feel heat radiate out from my core but I can’t look away. I feel a dull pulse between my legs, intense and insistent. Craving his touch and no one else’s.

“Hannah,” Ryder begins, stepping closer to me.

“Ryder,” I start, moving toward him at the same time.

His lips are firm and a little rough, but not in a bad way. They taste like the outdoors, like freshly cut wood and campfire. He parts my lips with his tongue and plunges it into my mouth. I moan and instinctively touch his tongue with mine.

I wrap my arms around Ryder’s neck. His hair is softer than I would have guessed and thick between my fingers. One of his legs nudges between mine and I move closer, my hands sliding down his broad, muscled back.

“Hannah!” I jerk away from Ryder as if I’ve been bitten. Behind him I see April and Shadow. They’re both staring at us—Shadow in amusement, April in disgust and betrayal.

“What are you doing?” my friend cries.

“I’m sorry,” I gasp, pushing Ryder away. “April, I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

“You didn’t?” Ryder asks, sounding hurt.

“No! I don’t even like you!” I cry.

“Stop lying to yourself,” Ryder says in a low voice. I don’t think April heard him, but his words cut me to the core. He turns and leaves, slamming the door behind him.

“April, I’m so sorry,” I apologize again. “He just—I don’t know what happened.”

“Um, you were fucking making out with him !” she yells. “It’s not that difficult to figure out, Hannah!”

“I know, but I didn’t mean to! I didn’t even want to!”

“Really,” she says, her voice thick with sarcasm and tears. “Funny, because I didn’t see anyone holding a gun to your head. What is it with you and this guy?”

“I don’t know,” I admit miserably.

“Stonehaven actually does have more single guys in it than just Ryder Stone! Couldn’t you go and kiss one of those guys?”

“I will,” I say earnestly, ready to promise anything so she’ll stop yelling at me.

But April continues like she hasn’t heard a word I’ve said.

“It’s like every time I turn around you guys are mooning at each other or swapping spit!

For heaven’s sake, Hannah, you know what a jerk he was to me.

You’re supposed to be one of my closest friends! ”

“I am,” I whisper. “Please, April, I’m so sorry,” I say, my own tears rolling down my face now. “Please… please believe me. I never want to hurt you.”

“Yeah, well, you did,” she says angrily. “Figure out your shit, Hannah.” She turns and stomps out.

I look at Shadow, who gazes back sympathetically. “I really didn’t mean for that to happen,” I tell him.

I see the understanding and patience in his dark eyes.

But that just makes me cry harder, and I turn and run into my office before Lori comes back in.

The rest of the clinic is empty but I close my door anyway.

After a few minutes, I’m able to stop crying.

I wipe my face with my sleeve, not caring that it’s now covered in snot and tears.

I lean back in my chair and close my eyes, trying to make sense of the last twenty minutes.

I meant what I said to April. I don’t like Ryder, not in a romantic sense.

I grant that he’s not a bad guy. I can even see how he and April would have just not hit it off on their date.

And I’d be willing to bet that if April hadn’t walked in when she did—if she’d just seen him when we were out at a bar—she’d make one or two snide comments but otherwise be over the whole bad date thing.

Still, walking in on us making out must have hurt. I can’t blame her for being angry. My cheeks flame at the memory of that kiss. Of how he felt against me…

“No!” I say out loud. “Get those thoughts out of your mind. He’s off limits for all the reasons. Okay?” Even as I say those words, I hear how hollow they sound. I don’t want Ryder to be off limits for any reason. I want to kiss him again. I want to feel him again. All of him.

I groan in frustration and drop my head into my hands.

Why does all of my resolve melt away like an ice cube in the summer heat whenever I see him?

Why can’t I just interact with Ryder as a person, like I do with everyone else?

What about him causes me to lose control even though the stakes are so high?

I think about what April said and feel sick.

I want to promise myself right now that I’ll stay away from Ryder. That my lips will never meet his again. That I’ll stop thinking about how good his chest felt pressed against mine.

But I’d be lying.

And it makes me wonder.

What is it with me and this guy? Because whatever is between us doesn’t feel normal.