<b>Chapter </b><b>483 </b>


    Ryan’s clear, pleasant voice made me freeze for a second. His smiling eyes had already seen through my little act,


    I protested guiltily, “No, I wasn’t thinking about anything like that.”


    Ryan just gave a soft, almost mocking snoit. “Is it so hard for you to tell the truth? Do I really have to call you out before you’ll admit it?


    I could feel my cheeks burning with embarassment. I really shouldn’t have underestimated him


    “Ahem…” I took a sip of water and ended up choking on it, making myself look even more suspicious.


    A flicker of disappointment crossed Ryan’s face. He twirled his ss between his fingers, his voice tinged with hurt. “Vic, I don’t want to pressure you, but I thought we were actually dating seriously now.”


    “I don’t want to take advantage of you,” I said stubbornly. “Some lines, once


    crossed, you can’t go t


    back.”


    He stared at me, stunned. “That’s not a reason I’ll ept.”


    be


    I met his gaze, dead serious. “What if I’m just messing with you? Would


    fine with that?”


    Ryan clearly hadn’t expected me to be so blunt. His handsome face went from red to pale and back again, and finally, he bit his lip. “I’m not afraid of a little game myself.”


    I burst outughing. “Are you sure you even know how to y these grown<b>–</b>up games?”


    Without a word, Ryan downed his cocktail in one gulp, then stood up and stalked over to me with the sleek, dangerous grace of a predator<b>. </b>


    “Vic, don’t underestimate me,” Ryan said, suddenly reaching out to tilt my chin up with a teasing edge. “Honestly, I think the one who might not be able to handle it is you.”


    I sucked in a breath. That wicked, irresistible look on Ryan’s face was almost too much for me to handle.


    His fingers traced lightly over my soft skin. “Rx. However you want to y, I’ll y along. But once we start, there’s no backing out halfway.”


    I felt myself getting all flustered, totally caught up in his teasing. I knew he was just talking about a game, but I couldn’t help letting my mind wander to something a lot less innocent.


    I gently brushed his fingers away. “Quit messing around. Let’s eat.”


    Seeing me get all serious, Ryan looked a bit helpless. “So, have you really ended things with Hallman?”


    I was honest with him. “We talked it out. He’s okay with it.”


    Ryan’s lips curled into a happy grin. “Is that so? So you’re single now? Looks like we’re both single. What a coincidence.”


    I gave him a helpless look, seeing right through his sly little tricks.


    Ryan settled back into his seat, and maybe it was the sensitive topic, but his whole aura shifted.


    He’d gone from a well–behaved puppy to a young alpha wolf, and the way he looked at me now was full of dominance.


    My breath quickened. This side of Ryan–maic and seductive–was something I’d ne


    seen before.


    “Alright, let’s eat,” he said, giving me a meaningful look and a smile that hinted at so much more.


    With Ryan’s eyes burning into me, my appetite vanished. I just poked at my food and kept reaching for my water, suddenly feeling parched.


    08:07 Mon, 1 Sept ri


    Just as we were finishing up, Ryan’s phone rang.


    He nced down at the screen. “It’s Uncle Ryan.”


    My heart sank. I thought he’d step outside to take the call, but to my surprise, Ryan just answered it right there at the table


    “I’m noting home tonight,” he said.


    “Uncle Ryan, I’m not a kid anymore. You really think I can’t find a ce to sleep?” Ryan said, sounding confident.


    “Rx, someone already promised to take me in,” he added, a yful note in his voice.


    “What? You’re sick? What happened?” Ryan said, suddenly jumping up from his chair.


    My hand froze on my water ss as I stared at his phone.


    Ryan’s tone softened with concern. “Alright, I’lle over.”


    He hung up, his face shadowed with worry. “Uncle Ryan’s caught a cold. Come with me, let’s go see him together.”


    “I… I think I’ll pass,” I mumbled, nervously ncing away as I sipped my water.


    I just wanted to keep as much distance from Edward as possible.


    “Vic, we’re basically family now. We’re bound to run into each other sooner orter. You can’t keep dodging him,” Ryan said, circling behind me and


    okay?” resting his hand lightly around my <i>neck</i>. He leaned in, his voice gentle right by my ear. “Come with me,


    With him asking so softly, it would’ve felt rude to turn him down.


    “Fine,” I sighed, giving in.


    I drove us to Edward’s vi.


    The master bedroom on the second floor was brightly lit. Edward was sitting up in bed, wearing gray pajamas.


    He had an IV in his left arm<i>, </i>and a doctor and nurse were standing nearby.