Protector of the Pride (Lions of Pride Island Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

can’t regret something we both choose,” she said, touching his face.
    She could see his big body giving in to her, leaning a little closer with each touch.
    Just a little longer, and this big lion would be hers. She told her lioness not to purr prematurely.
    “And you aren’t going to regret this in the morning? You aren’t going to say I went about it all backward and not want to keep going with dating?”
    She shook her head. “On the contrary. I’ll be looking forward to it even more,” she said. “Even after just the one you gave me, I keep thinking about you. Filling me.”
    He swallowed, the large Adam’s apple in his throat moving nervously. “Still seems backward.”
    “Backward, forward, I want you,” she said, putting her hand over his member again.
    He groaned. “Lucy…” Then he stood, pushing her out of his lap. Before she could protest, he scooped her up in his arms. He held her against his chest in a tight hug, and she could feel his heart beating. “Not tonight,” he said. “We should wait.”
    “You should have thought of that before you gave me an orgasm,” she muttered as he walked her to the bed and set her down on it, looking down at her with something like tenderness as he watched her in the dark. She turned away from him. “Fine. Go, then.”
    He walked around her side of the bed, looking at her curiously. “And now you’re pissed at me. I’m trying to be a gentleman.”
    She sighed and looked up at him in resignation. He was probably right, no matter how much her body wanted to scream at him. “It’s fine,” she said. “I’m sure you won’t be able to resist for long.”
    He snorted as he walked to the door. He paused for a second after opening it and then walked back to her on the bed. A chill went up her spine in anticipation, and then he leaned forward, hands on either side of her, and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
    Damn her body for waking up again.
    “What was that?” she asked as he stepped back and walked to the door again.
    “Just getting a head start on the wooing,” he said. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Let me know if you need anything.”
    She just gaped after him as he shut the door. She listened to his smooth footsteps echoing down the hall.
    How could he just walk away like that? Was he completely unaffected?
    She growled and flopped on the bed, pulling her pillow over her head. She’d meant to tease him, and it had totally backfired. Yet she still couldn’t wait to see him in the morning.

4
    T he next morning , things were oddly like usual as they worked together in the office. They’d eaten a quiet breakfast, with only a few furtive glances, and then Axel had headed to the office to work, and she’d followed after a quick perusal on her phone of some of her favorite internet sites.
    She was a little bit worried about spending the day in the same room with him, but she bucked up and got herself in there.
    And now they were working like nothing had happened. Trust Axel to let work take priority over everything.
    Right now, he was arguing irritably on the phone with one of the dragon regions.
    “I don’t have backup,” he said. “We’re spread thin. … No, I wasn’t aware of any ice plan. … The what?” He shook his head. “If I hear from the oracle, I’ll let you know. Meanwhile, are there any tigers you can borrow?” He rubbed his head. “Fine. Do that. And I’ll get in touch with the local tribunal and see what they say.” He slammed the phone down and ran a hand through his hair.
    “Mainland trouble?” she asked.
    He nodded, letting out a long sigh. “Sometimes I wouldn’t mind handing all of this over to someone else. If there was someone trustworthy.”
    She nodded slowly. “There’s a huge burden there.”
    He exhaled slowly, relaxing in his chair and then picking up the phone to dial. “I gotta call one of the tribunals and let them know about a rogue wolf problem. I hate they’re always causing us