Free Wolf’s Heart by Ruelle Channing, Cam Cassidy

to rage when he looked at her and saw the bruises that covered her face. Her eyes were swollen and barely open. Whoever had hurt her was a walking dead man.
    “Ryden?” She gasped. “Where did you come...never mind, just get me out of here!”
    “That’s precisely why I’m here. You’ve got someone after you, I take it? We’ll figure this out later.” He hesitated, not even sure where to touch her, causing her more pain was the last thing he wanted to do. He leaned over and cupped her knees under his arm and lifted her gently. She hissed in pain and his gut twisted. “Easy, babe, I’ve got you. This won’t be easy and I’ll try to be careful on the landing.”
    “Um, landing? Shit, just go.”
    “That’s my girl. Ready?” She nodded and he eased across the railing with her in his arms. The jump was short, and he landed on both feet, trying to keep the impact from jarring her, but she cried out in pain anyway. “Sorry, sweets, not much further.” Ryden carried her gently to his car and helped her inside all while she still clutched her pillow from the hotel room. He moved back around the car and got inside, then drove off quickly, hoping her assailants weren’t aware he’d gotten her out.
    Carlee appeared shocked at seeing Ryden. All he could think of was she had no reason to trust him but hoped she realized he was one of the good guys. She slumped against him as she tried to get comfortable in the car.
    “You really do have a habit of showing up when needed, then leaving when you’re not, don’t ya?” she said. “You sure had no problem becoming scarce three years ago. How did you find me?”
    Ryden didn’t bother to answer her questions. Hell, he wasn’t exactly sure what he’d tell her anyway. After they were back on the road, he reached over and pulled her pillow away trying to see how bad her injuries were.
    “Hey, easy, Ry. This isn’t show and tell and that hurts.” She gasped out in pain as he took away her security and checked her over as best he could while driving.
    “What happened, Carlee?”
    “Bad choice of boyfriends. Turns out he’s got an aversion to geeky brunettes. Almost getting killed by my present lover, only to have you show up again is giving me serious doubts about my ability to pick men.”
    She pulled the pillow back up against her stomach and huddled down in her seat. He saw her eyes as she tried to focus on him, watched them as they filled with pain while he drove them to safety. The look of mistrust in the green eyes that had haunted his dreams for years was like a kick in the balls. His knuckles were white as they gripped the steering wheel, teeth clenched with steely determination as he struggled to maintain control.
    The car was nice and warm, and he hoped it kept her comfortable even while he sweated in the driver seat. He didn’t care, only that she was comfortable. It wasn’t until they got on the interstate headed south that he pried his fingers off the wheel and reached over, his hand resting softly on her leg.
    “Did you have a place in mind or are you just running aimlessly?” he asked. For some odd reason, he sensed that his touch seemed to calm Carlee. He could feel the tension leave her muscles even as he caressed her thigh.Her tongue slid across her dry and cracked lips.
    “I was thinking Jamaica, mon. You know, Bob Marley? But he’s dead now, so finding him may be difficult. Of course, the way I feel I may….” Her words were cut off as his hand squeezed her thigh.
    “Don’t say the words, Buttercup. You’re not going anywhere.”
    He gently cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a silent tear. Carlee was a lot of things, but a wimpy crybaby was not one of them. She closed her eyes at his touch and groaned as she spoke, obviously trying to hide her pain and the fear he could smell permeating the interior of the car.
    “So many men, so little time. What’s a good girl to do?”
    Ryden chuckled softly, brushed back her hair and tucked