He nodded, still hesitating. I wiggled my ass at him and he cursed under his breath, digging his fingers deeper into my skin.
“You sure about this?” He hesitated some more, a war waging behind his eyes.
“Wes,” I groaned, losing my patience.
Using one hand to fist himself, he lined it up with my entrance. His nostrils flared as he slid inside me, his whole body going rigid. Officially desperate, I pushed back until I felt the fullness of him rooted inside me.
The relief was temporary. He slid out slowly and I whimpered at the loss, but was immediately consoled by the full length of him slamming back inside. He continued to pound into me, his arm curling around my waist as he folded over my back, dotting soft kisses across my skin. I felt the build and release once again, until we were both collapsing onto the mattress in a sated heap.
18
WES
Holding Devin in my arms, I kissed along the back of her bare shoulders. I loved the feel of her warm, damp skin pressed against mine as I remained deep inside her. Giving her one final peck, I slowly pulled out of her wet heat, rolling onto my back to stare at the ceiling.
My mind reeled at what I’d just allowed to happen. I’d never gone raw with any woman. I’d always made sure to wrap it up. If I didn’t have a condom, I went without sex. I never felt the need to take such a big risk before. I was breaking all the damn rules for this woman.
Still on her stomach, she twisted to look at me with those big brown-eyes, looking gorgeous with her mussed hair. Her beautiful smile faded as she took me in. “You okay?”
Fuck.
I needed to get control before I hurt her. Rolling to my side, I lifted to an elbow, kissing her forehead. “I’m good, babe. Just need a shower.”
I climbed out of the bed and left the room. As much as I wanted her to join me in the shower, I needed some space to figure out this weird feeling in my chest.
I switched on the water and stepped into the hot spray, letting it pour over the back of my head as I braced myself with both palms flat on the tile wall. The water did nothing to ease the tension in my muscles.
There was a soft knock at the bathroom door. Devin cracked it open, but stayed hidden behind it. “I was going to make some coffee. Is that okay?”
I hated the doubt I heard in her voice. Doubt I’d put there. “Of course, Doc. You don’t have to ask.”
The door clicked closed without another word from her, and I moved to switch off the water and chase after her. Then I thought better of it. Maybe we both needed a moment.
* * *
The smell of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the steam-filled air as I opened the bathroom door with a towel wrapped at my waist. Walking into the hall, Devin’s completely clothed body caught my eye.
Her brown eyes darkened as she took me in with just one slow blink. With her looking at me that way, the apprehension I’d been feeling earlier was gone. I’d had plenty of women look at me with hungry eyes before, but none of them made me feel as high as she did.
My mouth twitched with a lopsided grin as I prowled toward her, determined to finally take her up against the wall. Her cheeks went pink and she adamantly shook her head. Her eyes were big, round saucers as she backed away from me with a silent warning. She could run all she wanted. I wasn’t letting her get away. First, I’d apologize for being a dick earlier, then I’d let her get reacquainted with my di—
“Hey, Uncle Wes.” Lily stepped between us, her smile huge. “I brought you cinnamon rolls!” She held up a box from Ida’s.
My eyes flicked down to my niece, then back to Devin. “Cinnamon rolls?”
“Yep! Aunt Lottie took me to get them this morning. She said I should bring them to you first thing, so you and Devin didn’t starve.”
“She did, did she?” I raised a knowing eyebrow. I’d be having a word with Lottie later about using our niece as an informant.
“Uh-huh. You want one?” She shoved the box higher in the air.
I tightened my grip on the towel at my waist.
“Of course, I do. Why don’t you take them to the kitchen, and we’ll be there in a second.”
“Okay. Can I have some milk?”
I nodded. “Just be careful pouring it. Two hands!” I hollered after her as she took off toward the kitchen.
Devin’s mouth pursed as she tried to hold back a laugh.
“You think that’s funny, do you?” I tugged her into my arms, tickling her side. She burst out laughing, squirming to free herself from my hold.
“Kinda,” she squealed, unashamed as she began to break free. She nipped at my nipple with her teeth and I jumped back away from her, losing my hold. She cackled some more as she backed toward the kitchen, holding her hands up as a shield. “Behave.”
“Me?” I mocked offense. “You’re the one doing the nipple biting. You’re gonna pay for that, brown eyes.”
I lunged for her, nearly losing my towel as she darted out of my reach, barely escaping. I caught the towel just before it fell to the floor and she laughed again.
“Go put some clothes on, before you cause your niece to be put through years of therapy,” she teased over her shoulder, then disappeared into the kitchen.
* * *
After pulling on some jeans and a shirt, I walked back into the kitchen, where Devin and Lily were knee-deep in conversation already. I pulled a mug from the cabinet, making myself a cup of coffee. Leaning against the counter across from the island where they sat, I crossed my ankles and listened as Lily told Devin about a boy at school who had been picking on her lately.
The more she talked, the more I wanted to know who the little shit was, so I could teach him some manners.
“You know, Lily, sometimes boys just don’t know how to express their feelings,” Devin gently informed her.
“What do you mean?”
“Well sometimes they act one way because they’re trying to hide how they truly feel. Most of the time they’re just scared or embarrassed for anyone to find out the truth.”
I scoffed and they both turned to me.
“What do you think, Uncle Wes?”
“I think the kid needs to watch his back,” I grumbled and then closed my mouth when Devin glared at me over Lily’s head.
Ignoring my comment, Lily spun back around to look at Devin. “So why does he tease me? What’s he hiding?”
“I don’t know for sure…has he always teased you?”
“No.” She shrugged. “One time, when nobody was looking, he helped me up after I fell on the playground.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. Devin might be right, but I still wanted to know who this kid was. I planned to keep an even closer eye on him now.
“Maybe he likes you then, but is afraid to tell you.”
“Yuck.” She scrunched her face.
That’s my girl.
Devin laughed as Lily picked up her cinnamon roll and took a bite.
“Yeah, boys can be yuck…but someday you might change your mind about them. And if you do, just remember, even if they might be mean or tease you because they like you, don’t allow them to treat you that way. You deserve to be treated with respect, and make sure they know that before you give them the time of day.” Devin’s eyes locked with mine as she delivered her last bit of advice.
I swallowed hard, then shoved a hand deep into my pocket as I took a sip, hiding behind my coffee mug. I’d fucked up earlier and I knew that. She’d given me a part of her that I hoped to hell she’d never given anyone else. But instead of cherishing her afterward, I pushed her away because of my own fears.
“Are you a midnight romp?” Lily asked out of nowhere as she took another bite, her legs swinging innocently on the bar stool.
I choked on my coffee, coughing, and covering my mouth with my arm before I sprayed it all over the floor.
Devin’s eyes widened as she stumbled for a response. “Oh, uh…I think that’s a great question for your Uncle Wes.” She patted Lily’s hand, and stood fro
m her seat. Lily spun around once again and I froze. Her little expectant eyes were glued to me as I watched Devin retreat out of the kitchen.
Shit.
* * *
Once I’d effectively distracted Lily from her question and she finally left, I searched my house for Devin. The panic started to build when I couldn’t find her. Then I remembered, she didn’t have a car to get home. She couldn’t have gotten far on foot.
I pulled on my boots and snatched my keys and phone off the entry table as I charged out the front door. I was already dialing Tucker, in case she decided to walk to their place, when I saw her dark hair whipping in the breeze from the corner of my eye. I skidded to a stop.
She was standing in the middle of the field with her arms crossed over her body as she tried to warm herself. She looked angelic in the morning sun as she watched a few of our horses in the distance. My shoulders relaxed as I hit end and slid the phone and keys into my pocket.
Stopping behind her, I wrapped her in my arms. She didn’t lean into me like I’d hoped. She didn’t pull away either. I prayed that was a good sign.
“I’m sorry,” I spoke low and quiet into her neck, dropping a kiss on it.
She let out a heavy exhale and then spun in my arms to face me. Her breasts lifted with her arms as she hugged herself tighter, revealing the slightest bit of cleavage. When my cock pulsed alive, I fought the urge to press into her with my hips. This wasn’t the time.
“What are we doing here, Wes?” she whispered at my chest.
I tucked my hand under her chin, lifting her gaze to mine. I studied her for a moment before answering. There was a sharp shooting pain in my chest when I saw the hurt, the barricade she was quickly putting up. She was taking a step back, withdrawing from whatever this was.
“I don’t know,” I confessed. “All I know is I like spending time with you. And I’m not ready for it to end.”
“Yet,” she snapped. “You’re not ready for it to end, yet.”
“I don’t know what you want from me, Devin. I’m trying to be honest with you here. If this isn’t what you want, then you need to tell me.”
“I don’t know what I want!” She shoved off me, stomping away a few feet before whipping back around. “I like you Wes!” Her arms flailed at her sides in frustration. “I’m not good at this casual stuff. I’m trying to be, because I like being with you, but it’s hard for me.”
I rubbed my hand down my face and over the back of my neck as I looked at the ground. This shit was too much. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but I couldn’t seem to let her go.
“Do we have to put a label on it? Is that what you need?” I asked.
“No. It’s fine. Just forget I even said anything. Can you take me home?”
“Devin—”
“It’s fine, slick. We’re good. I’m exhausted and just need to go home.” She turned to walk away from me once again.
I wasn’t having it. There was no way in hell I was leaving things unsettled between us. I latched on to her wrist, pulling her to a stop and back into my arms.
“We aren’t done here, brown eyes.” I cupped her face, forcing her to look at me. “I know I screwed up earlier. I’m sorry. What happened between us this morning was new for me. Everything that’s happening between us is new to me, so I’m gonna need you to cut me some slack. I’m trying here, Doc.” I tucked her hair behind her ear, dropping my eyes to the lips I wanted to kiss so damn bad. “Give me a chance.”
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath through her nose.
My stomach dropped. Rejection wasn’t something I was used to. I wasn’t sure I could handle it, especially from her.
“Okay,” she breathed, her eyes flicking open. “But I’m only agreeing because I’m not ready to be alone in that house again with the scorpion.”
There was fire in her eyes as she teased me, and I felt a heavy weight lift from my chest.
“Just admit it, Doc. You made that shit up so you could see the ‘scorpion’ in my pants.”
She smacked my chest playfully. I tucked her closer to me, pressing my mouth against hers, prodding at the seam of her lips until she let me in. She squealed and grinned against my mouth when I lifted her into my arms. As I walked us back inside the house, I swore I’d never hurt her like that again. It was a risky promise to make. But when it came to her, I was never in my right mind.
* * *
“You’re smiling a lot lately.”
“I’ve always smiled a lot.” I kissed Grams’ cheek while she sat in her recliner, holding Colton, then took a seat on the couch with Remy plastered against my chest.
“Yeah. But this is a different smile. It’s lighter.”
“Grams,” I warned, lightly rubbing Remy’s back as she began to doze off.
“All right. I’m just pointing out you seem much happier these days.”
I was. I was so fucking ecstatic every day that I couldn’t help the dopey smile on my face. Today was the first day I hadn’t seen Devin in weeks. I invited her to have Thanksgiving with us, but she said she needed to be with her family at their lake house. She hadn’t seen her parents or Jenna since leaving Austin a few months ago.
It sucked being away from her, but was probably for the best. With things going so well between us, I didn’t want anything or anyone messing it up.
Lily ran into the living room with Tucker, Aaron, and Billy behind her. She stopped in front of me, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “You wanna come play with us?”
I looked over at the guys for more information. “We’re gonna toss the ball around until dinner’s ready.” Tucker held up the football in his hand.
My eyes went to Remy, who was now fast asleep. I’d volunteered to hold her while Hannah attempted to help Lottie and Leighton prepare Thanksgiving dinner. They’d taken over Grams’ kitchen and pushed her out. She wasn’t all too happy about it, but she’d given up arguing. I wasn’t sure if she was more upset about everyone still coddling her after the heart attack, or the fact that she had to pass over some of her favorite recipes so they could make them.
“I got her. Hand her over,” my dad ordered as he walked into the room. I wasn’t surprised by his demand. The old man seemed to be going soft these days.
He took her from me, then took my seat on the couch as I vacated it. Lily had already squealed and ran out the door, her ponytail swishing behind her.
We split up into teams for a game of tag football: Billy and Aaron against Lily and me. Tucker was the designated quarterback for both teams. We played for about an hour before Lottie came out onto the porch, hollering for us to come in and wash up.
“I half expected Devin to be joining us today.” Tucker walked beside me as the other two raced Lily to the porch.
I shrugged, tossing the ball up in the air and catching it. “She has her own family.”
“Yeah. But you two have been spending a lot of time together. Plus, she’s been here every Sunday dinner. You getting serious about this one?”
“Do I ever?”
He clapped my back. “I get it, man. I didn’t like it when you tried to give me advice either. But I’m not too proud to admit I’m glad you pushed me when you did. Things might have turned out a whole lot different if you hadn’t.” His eyes went to Lottie, who was laughing and joking with the others on the front porch. “Letting go of the past and showing up at her house that night was the best decision I ever made.”
“You’re welcome.” I puffed out my chest with a smug grin, tossing the ball up one more time.
He intercepted it, drawing my attention to him. “You can’t change the past, man, but you can change your future. I’ve never had to ask you why you choose not to get close to anyone, because I get it. Trust me, man. I get it. We went through the same losses. And I was on the same page as you for years until Lottie showed back up in my life. You hear what I’m saying?”
I pushed my hands in my pockets, looking away from him and across the field at the set
ting sun. I hated that he was fucking right. “I hear you.”
“Good.” He squeezed my shoulder, then jogged a few steps forward before turning and throwing the football up in the air.
I caught it. He winked at me, and I realized how annoying that was. He took the steps two at a time, pulling Lottie into his arms, and dipping her for a kiss. She squealed and giggled as she clung to his neck, kissing him back.
My heart clenched. I rubbed at it when I realized how badly I wanted that to be Devin and me, right now.
* * *
Pulling the door open, I strolled into Ida’s with one thing on my mind.
Devin.
She’d become addicted to cinnamon rolls. I’d become addicted to tasting them on her lips. After four days of being apart over the holidays, I couldn’t wait to see her. I’d come into town to run a few errands and decided I’d pop in and see my woman before heading back to the farm.
My woman.
I’d never claimed any girl as mine before. We still hadn’t officially labeled what was happening between us, but I was finally ready to. I’d spent the last few nights alone in my bed with nothing to do but think. I wanted more than friends with benefits. I wanted everything with Devin. And I planned to tell her that today.
“Keep the change.” I smiled and winked out of habit at the young cashier, passing her my money.
She blushed, sliding the box of cinnamon rolls and coffee across the counter. “Thanks, Mr. Monroe.”
I picked them up, not wasting another minute. I loved making women smile, but right now, there was only one woman’s smile I wanted to see.
19
DEVIN
“We’ll see you soon, Otis.” I bent at the waist, giving the black lab a good scratch behind his ear. I waved bye to his human family as they walked out the door, dropping his file on the counter by Tina.
Taming Wes: BOOK THREE|BILLINGSLEY SERIES Page 16