Page 31 of The Bounty

CHAPTER 10

DYLAN

There’sa small part of me that’s grateful for the bounty.

It means she has to stay here with us.

However, that part disintegrates when tears fill her eyes.

Watching this strong woman crumple in my arms is enough to make my chest ache, even though I’m relieved I won’t have to take her away from here.

Honestly, I was seconds away from agreeing to whatever she wanted.

Of course, I would take her back to her family.

Of course, I would stay by her side and protect her.

I almost scooped her into my arms and carried her all the way downstairs and into my convertible, ready to leave this all behind and just be withher.

But I couldn’t do that to Killian.

Or Brock, even if he would never admit the soft spot he has for her.

She belongs withus.

I rub her back gently as she curls into me, and my chest rumbles.

Without hesitation, I purr, allowing my pheromones to calm her.

Her scent envelops me, her sweetness shooting straight to my cock, and I fight back a groan as she shifts in my lap. She stiffens in my arms, her delicate fingers clutching at my shirt.

For a moment, I worry I’ve gone too far, that maybe my scent and rumbling have scared her away.

But she nuzzles into me, letting out a small sigh of relief as I stroke her hair.

“You’re so beautiful,” I murmur to her. “I’ll give you everything, if only you just let me.”

I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, according to Brock and Killian. They’ve teased me many times about it, but I’ve never felt likethis.

My inner Alpha yearns for her, even though she’s already in my lap.

I wantmore.

I want to taste her. I want to lick the delicate skin of her gland, and look in her eyes as I…

But she’s scrambling off my lap, scooting herself over to the far side of the mattress, and glaring at me, her mouth agape.

The spell is broken.

“You don’t even know me,” she whispers, half astonished, half horrified. “This is…I can’t do this.” She wrings her hands, and I curse myself inwardly for being so stupid.

I clear my throat as my face burns.

Idiot.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble.

Because what else can I say?