Page 22 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Pilot
The certainty in her voice shook me.Humans didn’t understand inevitability the way my kind did.They couldn’t comprehend the ancient pull that sometimes existed between souls, transcending rational thought and careful planning.Yet here she was, a human woman, recognizing what I’d been fighting since the moment she’d challenged me in that plane.
“We’re stranded in the wilderness,” I said, attempting one last grasp at reason.“Survival situations create false intimacy.When we get back to civilization—”
“Stop,” she interrupted, pressing her fingertips against my lips.The simple touch sent electricity racing through my veins.“Don’t diminish this by blaming it on circumstances.I may have a concussion, but I know what I want.Who I want.”
Her bravery humbled me.While I hid behind excuses and careful distance, she faced what was developing between us with characteristic straightforwardness.My wolf recognized her courage, appreciating it on a level my human side couldn’t fully articulate.
“There are things about me you don’t know,” I said against her fingers, the confession slipping out before I could contain it.“Things that would change how you see me.”
Felicity studied me for a long moment, her gaze searching mine as if she could extract my secrets through sheer determination.Then, with deliberate slowness, she replaced her fingertips with her lips, kissing me with gentle insistence that destroyed my remaining defenses.
“Then let me know you,” she whispered against my mouth.“The real you, not the mask you wear for the world, or whatever else you’re hiding behind.”
The temptation to confess everything, to bare my soul and let the chips fall where they may was overwhelming.But years of secrecy and self-preservation held my tongue.Instead, I pulled her closer, pouring into the kiss everything I couldn’t say aloud.
She melted against me, her body fitting perfectly against mine as if I were a puzzle and she was my missing piece.My arms banded around her, one hand splayed across her lower back while the other cradled her head, my fingers tangling in her hair.The kiss deepened, became something animal and desperate that had her moaning softly against my mouth.
The sound ignited a possessive drive within me.Mine, my wolf insisted.
When we separated again, both of us breathing heavily, a new understanding seemed to hang in the air between us.It was something that terrified and exhilarated me in equal measure.
“We should rest,” I said, my voice rougher than usual.“Tomorrow will be another long day.”
Felicity nodded, but made no move to extract herself from my embrace.Instead, she settled more comfortably against my chest, her head tucking beneath my chin naturally.
“Just so we’re clear,” she murmured as her eyes drifted closed.“When we get back to civilization, don’t expect me to pretend this never happened.”
A rumble of laughter escaped me, surprising us both.“I wouldn’t dare expect that from you, Felicity Foster.”
Chapter 8
FELICITY
I woke wrapped in Tanner’s arms, his body heat soaked through me like he was a living furnace.The steady rise and fall of his chest against my back created a rhythm that had become strangely familiar after only a few days.Outside, the wind howled with renewed fury, driving snow against our shelter’s entrance, but here, snuggled against his body, I felt safe.
The sensation terrified me.
I’d built my career, my entire life, on being self-reliant, on never needing anyone.Now, I was stranded in the wilderness with a man who I’d been determined to keep away.Instead, I found myself craving his touch, his protection, his kiss.Last night had changed something fundamental between us, crossing a line I hadn’t even realized existed until we’d stumbled over it together.
His arm tightened around my waist, and I knew he was awake without seeing his face.
“Morning,” he murmured, his voice a deep rumble I felt more than heard.“Sleep well?”
I nodded, not quite ready to face him after last night’s revelations.“Better than I should have, considering we’re still stranded in the middle of nowhere.”
His chuckle vibrated against my back.“Always looking at the bright side.”
I reluctantly disentangled myself from his embrace, immediately missing his warmth as the cool air of the cave nipped at my face.We moved in practiced synchronicity now, Tanner checking the perimeter while I tended the fire and added wood to coax the embers back to life.The domesticity of it struck me as absurd, given our circumstances.
When he returned, his hair was dusted with fresh snow.I had the fire blazing and water boiling in our single steel camping mug for our morning coffee, if you could call the watered-down brew of our rationed instant coffee powder by that name.
“Storm’s picking up,” he reported, brushing snowflakes from his shoulders.“We’ve got a narrow window before it gets worse.”
I handed him the steaming cup.“For your efforts, Mr.Weather Forecaster.”
“We need to improve our signal markers.The snow’s covered most of what we did yesterday.”He took a sip and handed the coffee back to me.
I drank a mouthful of the bland but bitter liquid, grimacing at the taste.“You think anyone’s actually looking for us?”
