Page 3 of His to Defend

CHAPTER TWO

Nina had forgotten just how gorgeous it was in the mountains. And quiet. The silence washed over her and wrapped her up tight as she stepped out of the busy lodge and out onto the deck. She’d had a few glasses of wine while Harper introduced her to the other ladies, and although Nina took a liking to them almost at once, the wine was starting to make her a little fuzzy-headed, so she’d excused herself to the porch.

A huge wrap-around covered porch was the perfect place to relax and unwind, but if she wanted to see the blanket of stars she knew would be overhead, she was going to have to venture out a little farther into the yard.

Nina glanced behind her where, through the open windows, the sounds of laughter and friendship spilled out and smiled to herself. She missed Harper so much back in the city, but it made her heart happy to know she was surrounded by such good friends and people who loved her up at the ridge. She couldn’t help the pang of jealousy that poked at her, though. Or was it envy?

It had been a long time since Nina had felt that same kind of belonging and love with a group of people.

She shrugged it off, unwilling to let her mood be dampened by pesky emotions that were better off pushed down, and made her way down the huge log stairs. Instantly, the world above her was transformed into a glittering wonderland of stars and constellations. Nina tipped her head back and took it all in. She’d always loved the night sky and the possibilities it held.

What was out there? Who else was looking up at the very same stars?

She could get lost in their depths.

She walked far enough away that the lights of the Den wouldn’t affect her view and the trees were clear enough to afford her an open space and she laid down. Stargazing was a guilty pleasure she tried to reward herself with whenever she could. Which, sadly, wasn’t often enough. With her busy travel schedule, there wasn’t usually time to sneak away from the city lights to lay on the ground and stare at the sky. Even if she did have a minute without a deadline looming over her.

Nina sighed and closed her eyes for a moment before once again looking overhead.

There were no deadlines now.

Not since she’d lost her temper at her editor and said things she shouldn’t have. Or maybe she should have. After all, it needed to be said that Amy Armstrong was an unreasonable, demanding psycho who worked her writers too hard and was never happy with the work they turned in, no matter how great it was. And Nina wasn’t the only one who thought so, either. All of the writers thought the same thing, only they never spoke up; they simply found a new job. And maybe Nina should have done that, too. But she had what she now knew to be a ridiculous loyalty to Lifestyle. They’d given her her first break, helped build her career, and given her the opportunity to travel the world and lead an amazing life. It had all been perfect. Until Amy Armstrong was promoted to her senior editor.

Nina groaned out loud.

None of that mattered now. The only thing that really mattered was that she was out of a job and her savings account would only last her a few months. She was going to need to think of something and soon.

She shook her head in an effort to clear the negativity. “All of that shit will be waiting for you when you get home.” She didn’t make a habit of talking to herself, but desperate times and all that. “Just enjoy your vacation.”

Yes.

That’s exactly what she was going to do. She was way overdue for a little fun and why not? She was on vacation. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she was completely unencumbered. Besides, cutting loose a little would be the perfect reset before she dove into whatever new life was waiting for her on the other side.

Satisfied with her resolve, Nina finally let herself relax fully into the view overhead and let her mind wander into exactly what type of fun she was ready to have while she was visiting the ridge.

It might have been the wine, or the fantasies that she allowed herself to get lost in, or a combination of both, but whatever it was, Nina was so consumed with herself that she didn’t hear the man approaching until he cleared his throat.

She shot to her feet. “What the—”

He probably shouldn’t have snuck up on her, but Ryker couldn’t help himself. The moment he’d set foot out of his truck, he’d scented her. Ignoring the fact that Axel had suggested that he meet him at the main doors of the Den because they’d driven separately, Ryker left the truck and tracked the scent.

Human. Definitely human. But one that smelled of honey and apples and…just the slightest hint of a crisp wine.

It hadn’t taken him long to find the source of the delicious scent that had even in a short time wound its way through his veins. She was just as delicious as her scent and his body reacted immediately.

Dark and with curves in all the right places wearing jeans and a tight top that strained to contain her full breasts, the woman who laid on the forest floor before him was the most beautiful creature Ryker had ever seen and his bear roared within him.

Instantly, he was annoyed with first himself, and then the woman for being in the woods in the middle of the night alone, and…drunk? Either way, it wasn’t safe.

For either of them, judging by the reaction in his groin.

From where he stood, he could see the smile twitch on her lips and the ever so slight wiggle of her hips, and then the air filled with the unmistakable scent of arousal. He should have turned around then, run as far as he could just to get away from her and the feelings she was erupting inside him, but Ryker couldn’t move. Inside, his bear clawed and roared for release. Never before, even when he was a hormonal teenager, did Ryker ever have trouble controlling his bear. Once more he roared within him; this time, the sound escaped his throat.

Thinking quickly, Ryker covered it by clearing his throat deeply, a sound that startled the light-haired goddess to her feet.

“What the—”

The woman’s words cut off and a hand flew to her mouth.