Under the Alpha's Protection Read Online Free

you're stuck here with me for the foreseeable future."
    "I don't want to impose on you, if—"
    "Don't be an idiot." He cut off her protest with a wave of his large hand. "If you think for one minute that I would let you walk out of here, after what almost happened to you tonight, then you're insane. You're staying right here with me. You can take the bed, and I'll sleep on the couch."
    "You can't sleep on the couch." The thought of his six foot five frame sandwiched on this couch was ridiculous. "You're far too big. I'll take the couch. I can't turf you out of your own bed."
    "And you can't sleep on the couch. Your back needs tender care. It's not up for discussion. You're on my bed."
    He crossed his arms and clenched his jaw, but Nikita was in no mood to back down from this. She could be just as stubborn if she had to be.
    "Fine, then you'll sleep in there with me. I'm sure a man with your reputation has a nice big bed, and I won't take up much room at all." Her voice wavered slightly as his face grew murderous, but she plowed on regardless. "So that's sorted then."
    "This is far from sorted." Raoul was growling again, and Nikita thanked the universe she was still seated, as she very much doubted her legs would have been able to carry her right now. He bent, putting his hands either side of her on the back of the couch, until she had to lean backwards to escape him.
    "What reputation, squirt?"
     

Chapter Three
     
    Raoul ground his teeth and reined his wolf back with some effort. This close to her, her scent drove his beast wild. Fear and arousal mixed in with the faint smell of roses that was uniquely hers, and meant he could not go past a rose bush without thinking about her. It clung to her skin, and it called him home. Her eyes widened, her breathing grew labored, and her heart beat a frantic thud in his ears.
    "Answer me, girl. " He dropped his voice further and pinned her with the gaze that had any submissive he'd ever played with blanch. Raoul expected her to bolt, to push against him, but instead, she dropped her gaze further and bowed her head in an unconscious act of submission that had his dick trying to punch a hole through the denim of his jeans.
    Her scent increased , and he didn't miss her thigh muscles flex as though to increase the pressure she must be feeling.
    Fuck!              
    "What reputation?" he asked again.
    She flinched, and his hands itched to put her over his knee to get the answers he needed, but this was Nikita, his friend, damn it, and the last woman he'd have ever thought would submit to anyone. Yet here, right now, there was no misreading the signals she was giving out, and his dominant side rose to the forefront.
    Acting on them was out of the question, however. It had to have been the stress of almost being attacked that made Nikita act so out character. Yes , that was it—a natural reaction to being scared—to seek out the strongest male around to protect her. It was an instinct as old as time, and come morning and with a bit of perspective she would be back to her normal self.
    Raoul hooked one finger under her chin to make her look at him , and the vulnerability in her gaze made him want to wrap up and protect her. From the world at large, and especially from his baser instincts.
    He smiled at her , and she relaxed slightly.
    "Well, you know…"
    The most delightful blush stained her cheeks.
    "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking, now, would I, squirt?"
    She worried her plump bottom lip with her teeth, and Raoul bit back a frustrated groan. He wasn't entirely successful, however, if the shudder that went through her little frame was anything to go by.
    "Fine, have it your way. They say you like to tie your women up, that you need to be in charge in the bedroom."
    That blush had deepened to a bright scarlet now, and every pore of her body quivered in seeming embarrassment, and God help him, arousal. She also tried her utmost to not look at him, but at a spot far over his