Page 6 of Wolfish Heart (Billionaires of Wolfe Mountain #1)

ZOE

I ’ve never relished the thought of being stared at.

All afternoon, I felt prickly and strange as I did my camera tests and rehearsals for the videos.

I had to keep telling myself that the only people watching would be those who paid for Mom’s content and were focused on design for restaurants.

They didn’t care about me, they simply wanted to learn and grow.

That was just run-of-the-mill stage fright, and it was bad enough.

But now, as I look around the lovely patio at Jim’s Pizza, every pair of eyes subtly darts away as soon as I’m about to catch them staring.

This is not idle curiosity. Well, maybe it is.

I’m sure they want to get their gossip straight tomorrow.

Kaden, however, enjoys his last few bites of pizza without a care in the world. He knows that everyone is looking at him with admiration. Maybe a bit of awe. And now, probably a drop of curiosity as well. And he doesn’t mind .

Why is a gorgeous mountain man who looks like a movie star or action hero sitting here eating pizza with me, anyway?

I’m just an average girl. Okay, gray eyes are kind of interesting, but people can’t see that at a distance.

And yes, in the right clothing I do have a rather noticeable rack.

Yet nobody has dared to check out my boobs since the first time Kaden hugged me.

“Was I right about the pizza here or what?” he asks with one of those gorgeous smiles that makes me flutter.

“You were very right. It’s terrific. And that’s pretty convenient, since it’s the only pizza place for…how many miles?”

His easy laugh is relaxing. So is the breeze drifting across the charming patio, and the murmur of several other couples a few tables away.

We got here a bit early, and as everyone else arrived, I noticed they stayed away from our corner, leaving a ring of empty tables between them and us. Kaden didn’t even seem to notice, simply greeting each person by name with a friendly wave as they walked in.

Our server, Bianca, comes over. “Can I get you some dessert? Or coffee?”

Kaden looks at me, and I shake my head. “One more bite and I’ll fall into a coma. But it was all amazing. Thanks.”

Kaden nods. “Yeah, we’re good. Thank you.” Bianca hurries off to another table.

Clouds are gathering fast, and the air is growing heavy, so he catches Bianca’s eye again, then makes a check sign in the air, followed by a subtle hand gesture for the number four flashed twice.

She grins as she comes back to the table, giving him a thumbs up.

“Thank you so much. Hope to see you both again soon.” A faint rumble makes everyone look to the west. “Get home before the rain starts.”

Kaden pulls out the chair for me as we leave, then we walk toward his truck.

Before he takes my hand to boost me in, he meets my eyes.

“I should explain that most of my family runs tabs at all the restaurants and businesses in town. That way we can just settle up once a month. Easier for everyone. In case you thought we were doing a dine and dash and the waitress was strangely okay with it.”

My fingers close around his. “And you told her to give herself a forty-four percent tip?”

“Smart girl. You catch on fast.”

It’s only a short drive to Henry’s house, but by the time we get there, the rain has turned from a sprinkle to a heavy pounding. My fingers fumble the keys as a huge peal of thunder makes me startle.

We step into the cramped foyer, and Kaden frowns as he looks around while I snap on several lights. “Henry’s not here tonight?”

“No. He won’t be back for another few weeks.” Another huge crack of thunder makes me jump slightly, though I try to hide it.

Kaden’s arm is already wrapping around me. “Do you get scared during thunderstorms, baby? They can be really loud here on the mountain.”

I snuggle into the wall of solid muscle wrapped in a snug black t-shirt.

He feels so good against me as I inhale the subtle scent of his masculine warmth.

“I only jump the first few times.” Looking up, our eyes lock.

“But… If I told a tiny lie and said that I would stay jumpy for the whole thing, would you stick around a little longer?”

“Zoe, baby, I’ll stay forever if you want me to.” His hand slides gently down my spine, hesitates, then keeps going, grabbing a handful of my ass and squeezing lightly. “Unbelievably sexy,” he murmurs. “I would love to tuck you into bed, gorgeous.”

I’m already nodding as I take his hand, leading him up the narrow stairs. Kaden doesn’t seem uncomfortable in this small house, even though it’s cluttered with art and knickknacks. We reach my attic bedroom, and he ducks his head carefully to avoid the angled roof.

“Not the gigantic boardrooms you’re used to?” I laugh. “Can’t handle a house made for normal-sized people?”

“I love when you tease me.” The sincerity in his voice makes me stop, staring up at him as my purse bumps into the dresser behind me.

His huge frame takes up most of the small room. With his shoulders hunched against the ceiling, and my butt nearly on the dresser, there’s nowhere for us to go but the bed.

It feels so natural to drift over to it with him, then sit down on my bright floral comforter.

This time our kisses don’t start off gentle – there’s a spark and a heat to them from the very beginning.

Our lips meet, our breath mingling as our hands explore each other’s hair, neck, shoulders.

Then his mouth dips as his finger drags my shirt away from my collarbone while he kisses along my skin.

His palm skims up and down the outside of my thigh, then squeezes my hip, his fingers trailing along the waistband of my skirt.

My fingers dance over the back of his ear, and I swear Kaden’s huge frame shivers. “I love the way you touch me, baby.”

I can’t help noticing how he sort of hovers on the word love . Could Kaden be developing real feelings for me? It’s hard to believe. He’s…everything he is. I’m the kind of person that people don’t usually notice.

I never like to get my hopes up, because the disappointment of having the rug pulled out from under me always makes me feel totally lost for a very long time. It happened after my dad took off. Every time I had to leave a job. When I missed out on being valedictorian by a hair.

I can’t let myself miss out on this. Every single moment with Kaden feels so good that I don’t even care if there is the potential for a real future with this amazing prince of the town.

I mean, it’s what I’d prefer , but if this is only an amazing experience for a few weeks this summer, I’m going to enjoy every single moment.

My right hand drops, sliding under the back of his t-shirt and caressing his lower back. The signal clearly works: he does the same to me, his hands skimming across my skin as my breath becomes shallow.

The air around us turns steamy as I run my other hand through his tousled hair, pulling him in for another kiss.

Suddenly Kaden stops, his piercing eyes meeting mine.

“I…” His voice is rough. “I’m not going to sleep with you tonight, baby.

It’s way too soon.” His eyebrow lifts as his eyes light up with that saucy twinkle.

“But I need to make you come so I know you’re nice and relaxed, and you’ll sleep through the storm. ”

I smile. “Whatever you want.”

There’s a hum that’s almost a growl or maybe a purr in the back of his throat. “It’s whatever you want, baby.”

“I want…” My thighs tense as I realize where I really want him. But also… “I want you to kiss me. Don’t stop.”

I can’t stifle the gasping moan that bubbles out of me as Kaden stretches across my bed, pulling me into his arms. Just as his lips meet mine, his right hand glides under my shirt, squeezing my breast and fluttering his thumb across the nipple.

I love that he touches me so gently, carefully testing to see what I like.

I hope the way my fingers spear into his hair will tell him I love what he’s doing. Heat gathers between my thighs, my belly fluttering from the hungry way he is ravaging my mouth. Then his head dips, pulling one of my nipples between his lips as I fall back with another breathless moan.

This time when his mouth returns to mine, his hand slips into the waistband of my skirt and straight into my panties as my legs fall open.

Kaden groans deeply when he parts my flesh and finds me wet. The tip of his middle finger drags slowly, gathering moisture, exploring my heat.

If his mouth weren’t against mine, pulling and searching, I would be biting my lower lip to stop from screaming at the way he gently parts my delicate flesh with his fingertips, caressing me with a tenderness that makes my belly quiver.

When his thick, blunt finger drags slowly across my clit, I jump, a twitch zipping up my spine.

Kaden chuckles. “Think I found something better than thunder to make you jump.”

The storm outside is long forgotten as he grabs hold of my pussy almost possessively. His finger dips slightly inside me, his thumb finding my button and circling in a slow, teasing motion.

“You’re like silk,” Kaden growls, finally breaking the kiss to stare at me. “Next time, I’m throwing your legs over my shoulders and diving in to feast on this hot pussy.”

He grins at my blink of surprise. “Yeah, there’s something about you, gorgeous. I feel a lot less like a tech dweeb in a suit and a lot more like a mountain man.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Sorry, I’m not making any sense. Maybe that’s because you drive me crazy.”

I can’t think of anything to say at all, not when his thumb begins spinning faster against my most sensitive spot, sending a deep pulse of raw pleasure through my entire body.

“Someday, when I slide my cock right here …” His finger slips inside me a bit.

“I’m going to watch your eyes. Learn if you like it fast, or slow, or…

” His finger dips slightly deeper, pumping inside me as his thumb digs in, circling with an urgency that mirrors the tension overtaking my hips. “Intense. Is that what you want, baby?”

“Yes,” I sputter, breathless as I hover right at the very edge.

“Come for me, beautiful. Let me feel this luscious, juicy pussy come all over my hand.”

The explosion starts at my clit, firing a powerful energy toward my toes, and all the way up my chest to my throat. Like my entire body is flexing and shaking as the vibrations of his passionate touch trigger the biggest climax I’ve ever had in my life.

He’s already kissing me again, his mouth possessing mine in a way that makes me feel… everything .

Kaden wants me. This incredible man wants me, Zoe .

From the gentle way he sucks his finger clean, then tucks me into bed for the night, I can’t help it. I get my hopes up. Wayyyy up.

I want him to want me forever.