Chapter 13
Thirteen
ANYA
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as I stare at the closed door where Keith just disappeared. My skin crawls with the memory of his calculating gaze, the way he looked at me like I was an object instead of a person.
John was so right, oh my god.
I should never have come to this island. Something dangerous is happening here, and I don’t want any part of it. Not anymore.
“Anya, take a deep breath,” starts Ryker.
“Don’t tell me to take a breath!” I snap, my hands shaking at my sides. “I’m not here to be sold off to anyone! Who the fuck does he think he is?”
The room suddenly feels too small, too hot. I’m trapped again, just like at the marina, with nowhere to run.
“Nothing bad is going to happen to you,” Ryker says, his voice hard as he stands from his spot by the fireplace. “I swear it.”
His eyes won’t meet mine. Instead, they keep flickering to my chest, where my nipples are visible through the thin fabric of my tank top. The realization that he’s checking me out while I’m panicking makes my anger flare even hotter.
I turn to the rest of the alphas, who’ve been silently watching our exchange. Lorenzo and Marcus are perched on the leather sofa, while Rex and Alaric stand near the bar. All five of them look tense, their eyes dark with what I now recognize as arousal despite the seriousness of the situation.
I suddenly realize that my grape smell is thickening and rising from my body. Wow, I can’t even last two seconds out of the shower before my wolfy scent starts to attract them again.
“Did you know?” I demand. “Did all of you know that one day Ryker was going to send me off to that creep?”
“There’s no deal,” Ryker insists, running a hand through his dark hair. “You’re blowing this way out of proportion. We just need to talk about this calmly.”
My eyes narrow as I catch him staring at my breasts again, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
“You want me to calm down?” I snarl, taking a step toward him. “Then stop looking at my tits and explain what’s happening!”
A flash of amusement crosses his face. “Can you blame me? You’re not wearing a bra, and your nipples are showing.” He makes no effort to avert his gaze, his eyes raking over my body with naked hunger. “How am I supposed to think clearly when you’re dressed like that?”
Oh my god. If I don’t set him straight right now, we might end up fucking on the floor again.
Heat floods my face from how horny he was making me under his gaze, my pussy clenching with an arousal that makes no sense given the circumstances.
“My eyes are up here,” I say, pointing to my face, but my voice comes out breathier than I intended. “And I want to leave this island. Right now. And you’re going to help me.”
“That’s not possible,” he says, his voice dropping to that low, rumbling tone that makes my thighs clench while staring at my boobs.
“And why not? Unless you’re saying I’m permanently kidnapped by you?”
“Because you’re almost in heat,” he says simply.
I roll my eyes, but even as I do, I feel a fresh pulse of wetness between my legs. My pussy has been throbbing throughout this entire argument, my body responding to Ryker’s dark gaze even though it’s a terrible idea to get horny right now.
“Whatever, I don’t believe you,” I say. “Who is this Keith person anyway, and why would you make any kind of deal with him?”
Ryker sighs, finally dragging his eyes up to meet mine. “Keith used to own this island. The resort, the land, everything. I’ve made a deal with him, and that’s that.”
“What kind of deal?”
“Keith made me an offer. He’d let me develop and manage the resort if I’d introduce eligible women to him.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “What?!”
“He’s just a playboy,” Ryker says quickly. “He likes beautiful women. I thought it was a win-win situation. He gets dates, I get a shot at building something of my own. He always seemed like a nice guy. It was a great deal... until the day I finally met my soulmate.”
“Soulmate?”
“You,” he says, looking at me with such intensity that I take an involuntary step back.
I let out a huff of disbelief. “I’m not your soulmate, and I never will be.”
“Then what’s that smell?” he asks, taking a step toward me. The movement brings him close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body.
“What smell?” I ask, though I know exactly what he means. My aroused grape smell is growing stronger by the minute.
“You know exactly what scent I’m talking about,” he growls, inhaling deeply.
I cross my arms over my chest, suddenly self-conscious. “You made a really stupid deal. Are you really willing to lose everything over me?”
“There are always loopholes,” Ryker says, closing the distance between us. His hand cups my pussy through my shorts, the pressure making me gasp. “And I’m willing to lose a lot for you, little omega.”
His touch sends electricity racing through my body. I’m so turned on I can smell myself, the musky smell of grapes filling the room.
My pussy clenches at his touch even though there’s fabric in between.
I look around and see that all the men have visible erections now, watching us with hungry eyes. Even Alaric, usually so reserved, is palming himself through his pants, his eyes locked on Ryker’s hand between my legs.
“Perhaps we should check her temperature,” Alaric suggests, his voice strained. “To be safe.”
I push Ryker’s hand away, trying to ignore how much I miss the contact.
“I’m not going into heat,” I say vehemently, even as my nipples harden further and my pussy pulses with need. “And even if I was, I wouldn’t choose you as my man.”
Ryker chuckles, reaching out to place his hand on my forehead.
“You’re abnormally warm,” he says, his voice soft with concern despite the lust darkening his eyes. “Your cheeks are flushed, and your scent...” He inhales again, his pupils dilating until his eyes are almost black. “Your scent is driving us all crazy.”
“I’m just angry,” I insist, but even to my own ears, the protest sounds weak. My body feels too hot, too sensitive, every brush of fabric against my skin sending sparks of pleasure racing along my nerves.
“It’s starting,” Lorenzo says from the couch, his voice thick with desire. “Her first heat. I can smell it.”