Page 10 of Wolfish Heart
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 youthought 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 wouldstayjumpy 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 wordlove. 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’dprefer, 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 whateveryouwant, baby.”
“I want…” My thighs tense as I realize where Ireallywant 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.
