Read Online Warriors of Ryon: Bayden by S.K. Yule - Free Book Online Page B

rooms.
    Ryon Blue was a potent alcohol, and Thad’s favorite. Thad hadn’t coped well with his wife’s death, and Bayden knew the man was only half joking about the alcohol killing him. While he didn’t condone self-destruction, he understood it.
    When he made it to the entertainment room, the lights were out, but one of the big screens flickered with some type of sappy, love-shit story. He walked to the couch intent on finding a remote and turning the movie off but stopped when he saw Ellie curled up, sound asleep. She was on her side, and her hand was propped under her cheek. She looked like an angel. He sucked in a breath when she moaned, and his cock twitched which caused him to curse under his breath.
    He sat at her feet, and her lids slowly opened to reveal sleep-glazed eyes. She stretched, smiled, and sat up. “Hi.”
    “Hi.”
    “I must’ve fallen asleep. I’m sorry. Did you want to watch something?”
    He shook his head. “We need to talk.”
    ELLIE’S SLEEP-FOGGED brain cleared instantly. “Yeah. I think we do.” She started to sit up, but Bayden put one hand on her shoulder, staying her.
    “First of all, I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you were all right earlier.” He watched her from under half-closed lids.
    Damn the man for being so gorgeous . “It was kind of obvious that I was.” She cleared her throat. Maybe he was here to tell her that he was going to carry her to his bed and have his wicked way with her. Don’t I wish.
    “Doesn’t matter. I should’ve asked. I was simply too angry over the situation. I was an ass.”
    She tried not to grin because he was serious as hell, and she didn’t want him to think she was belittling his apology. “You were definitely an ass, but not asking if I was okay when it was clear that I was isn’t what you should be sorry for. Thank you for realizing you should’ve asked, but I think the apology should focus on you being an ass and treating me like a child.”
    She couldn’t fight the grin any longer and was relieved when his lips twitched up at the corners as well.
    “I don’t believe you’re a child, but I can’t apologize for being upset over the danger you were exposed to, no matter how unintentional it was. You’ll be waiting a long time for me to apologize over anything that involves your safety. I’m sorry if that upsets you, but I won’t budge on this one. Your and Molly’s safety is my number-one priority. And while the not-being-a-child part is true, you’re naive about the dangers here.”
    “Okay.” She sighed. “I’ll concede your point, but it’s possible to convey that information without treating me like a child.”
    Bayden groaned and rubbed his nape before drawing in a long breath. “This isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    “Fair enough. Let’s agree to treat each other as adults from now on and leave it at that. Moving on. What did you want to talk to me about?”
    “I know there’s an attraction between us.”
    “Yes.” She barely kept her mouth from falling open. He’s actually admitting that there’s something between us? Her heart thumped faster.
    He brushed a clump of stray hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear. The warmth of his fingers brushing against her skin sent shivers of need down her spine.
    “You tempt me like no woman ever has, but as I told you before, nothing can come of it.”
    “That’s what you wanted to say? To tell me again how even though we’re attracted to one another, we can’t do anything about it because you have this macho, screwed-up notion about you not being good enough for me?”
    His eyes widened. “It’s not a notion. It’s the truth.”
    She stood. “Just shut up, Bayden. If that’s all you came to tell me, you can leave.” She had had enough. She wanted him. He wanted her, but he was being a stubborn, bullheaded pig. Well, she wasn’t going to beg him.
    “I can’t give you what you need.”
    “And what exactly is it that you can give