Page 14 of Wolfish Desire (Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain #2)

SIERRA

It was a huge relief when Dad left shortly after breakfast. It was an even huger one that he barely grilled me at all about Kingston.

Dad knows all about the Wolfe family and respects the brothers. He was obviously surprised to see Kingston and I together in our various states of undress, but he wasn’t angry. If anything, he was amused. Maybe even slightly embarrassed.

Good. Maybe that’ll teach him to call before dropping in on someone.

As soon as Dad leaves, I take a long hot bath to clear my head—not to mention soothe all the muscles I used for the first time last night. Apparently, I was using my inner thighs to latch onto Kingston. My hips feel a bit strange, too.

Totally worth it, of course.

While I soak in the tub, staring out at the gently waving treetops, I’m overcome by a wave of gratitude.

I’ve been terrified that people will see me as just another girl who came from money who didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life.

Yet here I am, free to do whatever I want and to be my own person without anyone breathing down my neck.

I’m not shiftless anymore.

Dad likes my nature arrangements, and Kingston thinks they’ll sell well around here. Chloe even sent me a text that she’s “reimagining” her friend Bella’s condo and needs three large vertical arrangements for the corner of the dining room.

When I finally get out and wrap up in a big fluffy robe, I’m grinning at myself in the mirror, eager to see Kingston.

I get ready, taking some time to find a cute, flirty, pale green sundress and adding a bit of eyeliner. Then I check my phone, reading Kingston’s texts over several times. Somehow, he knew exactly what to say and what I needed to hear. Maybe because he already knows me.

So what if this has been so fast? It’s right. I know it in my bones.

I send him a text.

On my way to your house. Are you there?

He answers in seconds, as if he’s been waiting for my response.

Kingston: Yep. Is everything OK?

Very okay :)

I drive carefully on the winding road to his house, pleased that my car now steers well enough to avoid the worst of the potholes.

When I pull up in front of Kingston’s place, he comes running out front to open the car door after I park. The second I step out, his strong arms enfold me, pulling me tight to his chest, murmuring into my hair. “Baby, I’m so sorry.”

“For…?”

“For your dad catching us like that.” He leans back just enough to look into my eyes. “Please tell me it wasn’t super awkward and bad.”

“It wasn’t, once he got over the initial shock. Dad likes you, and knows your family, so we kind of…glossed over him finding you and me together like that.”

“Wow. Thank goodness.”

I take his hand and lead him inside to sit at the dining room table.

He frowns. “This already feels like a serious conversation.”

“Semi-serious.” I take a slow breath. “Dad kind of assumed that we were serious, actually.”

Kingston takes my hand, kissing the back of it. “I am serious.” He smiles. “In a lighthearted way. But if you mean about a future with you, yes. Definitely.”

I resist the urge to bite my bottom lip. “You know, I always swore to myself that I would get away from the whole rich family thing.”

His thumb gently brushes my skin, sending tingles all the way up my arm. “And now you’re inadvertently stumbling into another one, right?”

“Well…yeah. Kind of.”

“Even if we’re kind of average guys on the mountain out here?”

“Average?” My fingers squeeze his. “Dude, sorry, but I’ve seen the way you dress compared to the other men in town. And the vehicles you drive. And this house. Plus your family owns half the flipping mountain—”

“Okay, fair.” He gazes out the window for a few seconds before meeting my eyes again. “But now that you know me, and we have this incredible connection, you can see past my family and just be with me, right? I mean, that’s what I’m hoping.”

I’m overcome by the earnest look in his eyes. It’s clear Kingston would do anything for me, and always make sure that I’m comfortable with however things turn out.

Knowing that, it’s easy to ask a small favor. “News travels fast in this town, especially when it’s about you and your brothers. Would it be okay if you didn’t tell anyone my last name, at least for a few months?”

His tense mouth breaks into a chuckle, and he nods. “Sure. Anything you like.”

“Then we’re all good. Let’s see where this goes.”

“Oh, I think we already know where it goes, baby.” He leans in to brush a light, dreamy kiss across my lips. “Okay, if this is officially serious discussion time, can I share something too?”

“Sure.”

“I don’t want you to extend your rental contract with Riggs.

I want you to move in with me. I want you to keep finding yourself, keep exploring.

I want you to take your time discovering who you are and what you want to create.

And I hope that you’ll go on that journey of discovery right here with me. ”

Kingston leans in for another swift kiss that sends pickles of heat zipping through my stomach. Then he locks his gaze with mine.

“Sierra, I love you.”

I’m so lost in his magical eyes that for a moment I almost don’t register what he just said.

It’s too fast to think such things, even if they’re true. Too crazy to trust the depths of these cravings, yet…I do.