MARY'S POV
I stood frozen on the cold concrete steps, my lips still throbbing and my breathing erratic. While Henry had trampled all over my pride until I felt like cheap goods, the arrogant man in front of me had done the exact opposite.
His large hands brushed the dust off my coat, draping it back over my shoulders with a tenderness that completely contrasted with the infuriating attitude I had known so far. The feral lust in his dark eyes was gone, replaced only by a fiercely protective gaze that made my chest tighten. Ryder didn't take advantage of me when I was at my absolute lowest. Instead, he picked up my shattered dignity and handed it back to me perfectly intact.
Damn it. I realized with terrifying clarity that I could very easily fall in love with this man.
Without another w
