Free What a Werewolf Wants (San Francisco Wolf Pack) by Kristin Miller Page B

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Chapter Eight
    “You’re going to tell me everything,” Carrie gritted between clenched teeth. “Who made the first move, when it started, how it started— everything .”
    Sighing, Josie followed her sister to the bathroom, away from prying eyes. After she’d dismounted—God, had she really said that aloud?—she dressed in a rush and waited for Ryder to pull up his pants. Since his shirt was soiled, he couldn’t exactly wear it the rest of the night. The winery had a strict “no shirt, no service” policy; thankfully Mitch had taken Ryder aside to put on something dry. And clean.
    “There’s not much to tell,” Josie said, checking her reflection in the mirror. Her lips were pale from kissing, her cheeks flushed.
    It was amazing what kind of effect Ryder had on her.
    From the moment he’d walked into the winery tonight, she’d felt strangely connected to him. Attraction had always been there, but this was something different, and much more intense.
    It was… primal.
    As if he called to her on a base, sexual level that had the hairs of the back of her neck standing on end. She could feel his eyes on her when she wasn’t looking. Could almost feel his gentle caress on her skin, even before he touched her.
    Their connection was far more than physical, though. She’d be foolish to think it ended there. When she wasn’t around him, all she could think about was returning to his side. Standing face-to-face, gazing up into those gorgeous blue eyes, it took all of her willpower not to leap into his arms.
    As strange as the thought was, sometimes it felt as if she belonged to him. As if they belonged together. Now that he’d made her come undone, she needed him more than her next breath of air.
    “I don’t know who made the first move,” Josie said, finally, “but it only started today. This morning, in his office.”
    “Ten minutes, everyone.” The hostess’s voice echoed through the winery and into the bathroom. “You should be just about finished with your paintings.”
    “Did you get to complete yours?” Josie stared at her sister through the mirror. “You could go back and we could talk later.”
    “Oh no, nuh-uh. We’re not dropping this now. And what were you doing painting him? He had splatters everywhere.”
    “Not everywhere.” A warm blush crept into Josie’s cheeks. “It was an accident. I had some on my hands.”
    “Totally gross. I don’t want to hear any more. What happens in the closet stays in the closet.” Shuddering, Carrie paled the way she always did when she was stressed to the max. “What were you doing in Ryder’s office this morning?”
    How could she explain what she was looking for without putting a bunch of doubts in her head? If she questioned Mitch for no reason, why worry Carrie when she already had to deal with so much?
    No, she’d still have to figure out a way to pull the truth from Ryder, or get him to shut the hell up about it and let them be.
    “I wanted to talk to him about a few wedding details,” Josie lied. “Bachelor and bachelorette party stuff for tomorrow night. I thought the guys and girls could meet up at some point.”
    She really had thought about making plans, but hadn’t gotten around to fleshing out the details with Ryder.
    “And then you kissed?” Carrie said, going palms down on the marble sink. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but you’re not using your head. Ryder’s the last thing you need in your life right now.”
    Josie’s defenses shot up. “I wouldn’t say that.”
    “I would.” Carrie splashed water on her face. “Mitch says he’s a serial dater. Won’t stay with a woman longer than a few dates. He says Ryder’s a playboy. Takes what he wants and leaves.”
    But oh, what would it feel like to have those hands gripping her hips, taking what he wanted…
    She heated through merely thinking about it.
    “You should see the look on your face right now.” Carrie glanced up, catching Josie’s gaze