Page 15 of Fated to the Wolf Billionaire

I felt silly for overreacting. Reed had truly not done anything to make me question his motives or intentions.

Unlike the four shifters who chased me through the woods.

“It’s still pretty early. Why don’t you lie down and try to catch a few hours of rest? I’ll wake you when it’s dinnertime, if you want.”

“I can’t. My flight leaves at two.”

He checked his watch and winced. “It’s nearly one, now. I’m afraid you’ve missed that flight.”

“Shit. Change fees cost a fortune, especially for an international flight.” I ran my hands through my hair, wincing when they caught on multiple snags caused by my early morning hike.

“I’ll make you a deal. Give me a week, stay, get to know me. Let me tell you the ins and outs of fated mate bonds. If you still want to fly back home at the end of the week, I’ll buy you a first-class ticket.”

My jaw dropped. A first-class ticket from Europe to Philly wasn’t cheap, and we barely knew each other. Hadn’t he done enough for me?

“That’s a lot of money, Reed. I don’t know if I could accept that kind of gift in good conscience. You’ve already done so much, I…”

He reached up and traced his thumb along my jawline, and the whisper-soft touch made me want to lean into him, drink it all up. “A plane ticket isnothingcompared to the gift of getting to spend a week getting to know my mate. I promise the money isn’t an issue. If you’d feel more comfortable, I’ll buy the ticket now, so you have it ready.”

I bit my bottom lip, trying to think clearly, even though his touch was incredibly distracting. “Sure, let’s book the ticket. One week. Why the hell not?” My rational mind could think of several reasons why not, but she wasn’t the one in control right now.

Reckless Fiona had the reins, and she wanted to live in the moment, revel in the unknown.

He smiled then, slow and sure andbreathtaking. Reed was the kind of man who could swallow you up whole, and you wouldn’t even complain as you vanished.

I didn’t want to disappear, but I did want to exist in his orbit for a little while. Feel what it was like to date a man like him. He exuded confidence, and power, and… that extrasomethingI couldn’t quantify.

Is that the influence of his wolf?

It was impossible to separate the two. He was just Reed.

“Excellent. I’ll book it right now.”

I mourned the loss of his fingertips on my skin the second he dropped his hand to grab his phone, but to my surprise, as soon as he had it, he took me by the hand and led me to the bed. He kicked off his shoes and climbed up, tugging me gently along with him.

He sat up against the headboard and patted the empty space next to him in invitation. I settled into the space a little awkwardly at first. But then the tantalizing scent of him enveloped me, all sweet rum and spicy sandalwood, and the tension melted out of me. Our arms brushed as he tapped away on the phone in a comfortable quiet, worn in like your favorite pair of blue jeans. A couple of minutes later, he showed me his screen.

First class to Philadelphia, leaving one week from today with my full legal name on the ticket.

“What’s your email? I’ll send it to you.”

I rattled it off with a yawn, and a second later, my own phone dinged as the email came through.

“Thank you,” I murmured, drowsiness and warmth tugging at me.

“No, thank you for agreeing to stay.”

Reed’s quiet words were the last thing I heard before my eyes drifted shut, cheek on his shoulder and a deep sense of peace in my heart.

SEVEN

Reed

With Fiona’s flight booked and her sleeping peacefully on my shoulder, there wasn’t much I could do but sit and enjoy the improbable perfection of the moment.

I stared unabashedly at her face, the soft curve of her cheek, the dark spray of her eyelashes over pale skin. Blonde waves in a tangle against her jaw.

She was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen, bar none. My chest was so tight with emotion, I could barely breathe, and all she was doing was lying there. There was a deep, primal urge inside me to protect her, this peace and safety she felt, at all costs.

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