Chapter 4

Wes leaned his forehead against mine. His voice was low and rough. “You’re driving me crazy, Alex. Do you know that?”

We stared at each other for what seemed like forever, daring each other to go through with what we both wanted. I tightened my grip around his neck, which made him pull me closer. This was so wrong but felt so good. If I kissed him, he would be the second guy from my brothers’ friends I kissed.

~Knox was the first guy I ever kissed, but it was a dare, so relax. Get him out of your head, Alex!~ I mentally shook my head to clear it. ~Wes is right in front of you... Hello?!?!~

“I want to kiss you so bad it hurts,” Wes said, “but I’d still get beaten to a pulp by Kyle in particular, and I do like my face.”

“I like your face too,” I said.

He slid his hands from my waist up towards the top of my back and pulled me closer. “Alex, we shouldn’t—” he breathed out onto my lips.

“Wes, just kiss me,” I whispered back. Our noses were touching, and we stared at each other. I could see the hesitation in his eyes until a flash of resolve crossed his face.

His lips were on mine. The kiss was soft at first and so unexpected, but I silently screamed on the inside. His hand gripped the back of my neck, pulling me closer. Tilting my head to the side, his tongue met my lower lip, requesting entrance. After a split second of hesitation, I opened my mouth for his tongue to explore.

Our tongues danced together, fighting for dominance. He let out a throaty moan, which turned me on even more. I pushed myself up against him, his hand wandering down to cup my butt. I let out a gasp, while his other hand remained on my neck, gripping it passionately.

We pulled back for a few seconds, looking at each other. His fingers caressed the back of my neck. Now I understood why all the girls he’d ever dated or kissed were so smitten with him. I couldn’t help but wonder, ~What is he like in bed?~

Wes looked up and around before lifting me up slightly and pushing me up against the wall. His lips met mine once again, and we continued our passionate make-out session. It was hot and heavy, and it was turning me on so much, especially when he let out those deep moans.

I don’t know how long we were kissing for, but our moment was interrupted by a voice. “Alex?” My arms were still wrapped around his neck, while his hands were tangled in my hair and cupping my ass. We both turned to the side to see who had interrupted us.

Oh. My. God.

“Drew?” My eyes widened in the dim light, taking in his familiar face. His nose was swollen and tinged with a light purple hue, a testament to the punch I’d landed on him, thanks to my brothers’ years of training.

I felt Wes tense beside me, and I knew then and there, things were about to get ugly. “What the hell are you doing here, Drew?” Wes’s voice was a low growl as he stepped protectively in front of me.

“What are you doing with my girlfriend, Wes?”

“Ex-girlfriend, Drew. EX. I dumped you, remember, after you CHEATED ON ME, remember?” Drew took a step closer, but Wes stood tall, his arm outstretched in a protective gesture.

“Babe, please, let’s talk about this alone,” Drew said. “Let me explain everything to you. We can work i—”

Wes cut him off. “Didn’t you hear? She doesn’t want to talk to you. You lost the right to call her your girlfriend when your dick was inside another girl, asshole.” His words visibly struck a nerve in Drew.

Drew lunged at Wes, their foreheads nearly touching, their chests heaving with anger. “What the fuck did you say to me?” Drew growled. Oh god, I felt sick.

Drew broke eye contact with Wes and met my gaze. He tried to maneuver around Wes and Andy, but Wes blocked him. “Don’t go near her, don’t touch her, don’t even look at her,” Wes warned.

Drew’s eyes were still locked on mine. He mouthed “I’m sorry” at me, and I felt tears prick at my eyes. He turned and walked away. I was stunned that he’d walked away instead of fighting Wes. I knew Wes would fight for me. He always had, from the first day I met him.

I tilted my head back, trying to keep the tears at bay, and rushed out of the room. Wes followed and caught me in a hug outside. He cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. “Don’t cry, sweetheart. I’ll take you home.” I nodded, unable to form any words.

We made it back to my apartment, Wes’s hands on my hips guiding me. As soon as we reached my room, he kissed my shoulder. I turned to him and gave a shy smile, which he returned. “You mind staying over? I don’t want to be alone.”

“Of course.”

I reached for the jersey that Delilah Carter had sent me, the one I slept in every night, Knox’s. I heard Wes chuckle behind me. When I turned around, he was shirtless, his abs more defined than I remembered. I blushed at the thought of him sleeping next to me. Shit!

“Did Knox send you that?” His voice snapped me out of my daze. I looked down at the shirt in my hand and back up at him.

“Uhm, no, Delilah sent me this.” My response made him laugh out loud, his hand brushing against his abs, my eyes following the movement.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest in a failed attempt to look mad.

Still laughing, he replied, “Nothing, never mind.” I was too tired to press him further. “I’m going to change in here,” I said, gesturing to the bathroom. He nodded, and I slipped inside, kicked off my heels, scrubbed off my makeup, and threw on the jersey. Remembering my foot cream was still on the nightstand, I stepped out, grabbed it, and sat on the bed to apply it—only to hear a quiet sigh from my right.

Wes was only wearing his boxers. ~Lord, give me strength.~ I glanced at him and found him staring at my legs. “You know, you have a serious obsession with my legs, Wes. They’re not even that great.”

I pumped some cream onto my hands and massaged my legs. He groaned out loud. “Why do you like torturing me? You’re really not helping my little friends downstairs,” he said.

I started to get up. “I’ll put some pants on then if you’re uncomf—” I was cut off as he wrapped an arm around my torso, pulling me back down to the bed.

“Don’t you dare, Al,” he said, his smile evident in his voice. I giggled at his reply.

He lay with his face in my neck, and I lay on my back, staring up at the ceiling. ~We really shouldn’t be doing this,~ I thought to myself. He rested his arm across my stomach and pulled me closer to him.

“Do you regret it?” he asked, knowing exactly what he meant.

I took a deep breath before responding, “No, I don’t. Do you?”

“Kissing you was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, Alex. But it has to stay between us. Kyle would literally kill me,” he said seriously. I nodded in agreement.

He reached over me to turn off the bedside lamp. His face hovered over mine. “Can I have a goodnight kiss?” His deep, husky voice sent a tingle through my lips.

I should have said no. It wasn’t a good idea. But I nodded anyway. With my permission, his lips barely brushed against mine.

“I’m glad I’m here tonight with you, Alex. I miss this,” he said softly, pressing his lips onto mine. It was an intimate, innocent kiss. It started with pecks, then the kisses became longer, leaving me wanting more.

His tongue teased my bottom lip, asking for permission. I opened my mouth to allow him in. Our tongues met, and the kisses became more passionate.

Before we knew it, we were making out heavily, just like at the party. His hand traced down my side until it reached the hem of my shirt. He rubbed it between his fingers, as if debating whether to go further.

My free hand cupped the back of his neck, my fingers running through his short black hair. His fingers trailed up the outside of my leg until they reached my panties, hooking his thumb in them.

He stopped himself from pulling them down and slid his hand down the back of my leg, slightly squeezing my butt.

“Fuck,” he groaned, pulling back to stop things from going further. “We should sleep, Alex,” he said breathlessly, reaching across me once again to turn off the light.

He kissed me once more and turned off the light. We settled into our positions until we were comfortable.

My back to his chest, I could feel his breath on the back of my neck and his heavy arm draped across my waist for protection. It was comforting to know he was there for me.

“Goodnight, beautiful. See you in the morning,” he said, kissing the back of my head.

~Who knew Wes would be the romantic type? No, no, no, Alex! You can’t let this happen. Calm yourself down and sleep for tonight.~

I let my eyes fall, and I slept like a baby that night, thanks to Wes’s comforting presence.

***

In the morning, Wes rolled out of bed and stretched with a sleepy groan, the blanket slipping down to reveal his impressive back and shoulder muscles. I propped myself up on one elbow, watching him pad across the room in nothing but his boxers. His hair was messy, and his eyes were still heavy with sleep, but somehow, he looked hotter than ever. When he turned to glance at me before disappearing into the bathroom, he flashed a lopsided grin and winked. That damn wink.

I was still smiling to myself when my phone started vibrating on the nightstand.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and answered. “Hello?”

“Baby doll! Oh, how I’ve missed that sexy voice of yours.”

“What do you want, Knox?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Damn, I’ve missed you saying my name, baby doll. Wanted to offer you tickets to my game again.”

It’s strange how he was pretending the other night hadn’t happened. Like he hadn’t driven across the city to see me. Like he hadn’t almost kissed me. I cleared my throat. “Why don’t you just invite your pop star girlfriend instead?”

He chuckled darkly and said, “Which one?”

I rolled my eyes and muttered, “You’re such a cocky dick, Knox.” Then, softer but more curious, I asked, “Why do you even want me at your game so badly, anyway?”

“I miss seeing my baby doll. Speaking of which, are you going to Savannah for Thanksgiving?”

“Ugh, you’re so infuriating. Quit calling me baby doll! And yes, I’ll be in Savannah for Thanksgiving. I’m guessing you won’t be there because you’ve got practice or some shit?” I crossed my fingers, hoping against hope that I was right.

“You’re in luck, baby girl, I’ll be in Savannah this year. So, I’ll let you sit next to me at dinner.”

I could practically see his smug grin through the phone. “Ew, please. Can’t you stay where you are and convince one of your one-night stands to cook you a Thanksgiving meal? I think that would be better for everyone, don’t you think?” His laughter only grew louder.

“It’s alright, you can admit you miss me. You know how I hate liars. Why would I stay here when both our mothers cook the most delicious food for Thanksgiving? Hmm?”

“Because you’re a man-whore who humps and dumps, fucks and ducks, nails and bails—however you like to call it—and wouldn’t miss a chance to carry out the deed! You can manipulate them into cooking for you, it’s what you’re good at.” I smirked, knowing this would get under his skin.

Wes walked out of the bathroom, rubbing a towel through his hair. “Who are you talking to?” he asked, already suspicious.

I hesitated, suddenly hyper-aware of who I was talking to and how it would sound to Wes.

After a long beat, I said, “Knox.”

Without another word, Wes strode over and snatched the phone out of my hand, his grip tighter than it needed to be. His jaw was clenched, eyes dark with something sharp and unmistakable—jealousy. The easygoing version of him from minutes ago was gone, replaced by something possessive and simmering just beneath the surface.