“Fair enough,” he replied before he lowered the volume. He went to move the truck into park when he noticed my hair ties around the gear shift. He glanced my way again. “And these?” I shrugged my shoulders.
“It could have been worse.” He just shook his head and chuckled before pulling out of the parking lot and making his way back to Leering.
“Any other little touches I should be aware of?” He asked once we were speeding down the highway.
“No, but I did find something pretty interesting that I’d like to ask you about.” He raised a brow, but didn’t actually speak. I flipped his visor down and motioned to the picture that was held in place there. It was the two of us the night of prom. A picture that I had never actually seen before.
“What about it?” West asked.
“How long has it been there?” He seemed to think it over.
“I’d say approximately a week after it was taken. Give or take a day or two.” When I didn’t respond, he looked over at me. “What?”
“You’ve had that since prom night?”
“Yeah. Is there something wrong with that?” I couldn’t speak. Just when I thought he couldn’t be any more perfect, he would admit to having a picture of the two of us from before I even knew he had feelings for me. I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I felt him smile beneath my lips.
“You’re kind of amazing, you know that?”
“I’ve always assumed, but it’s nice to hear it regardless.” I laughed before I nudged him playfully in the arm. Then I settled back into the seat, but I didn’t bother moving back to my side of the truck. Instead, I stayed as close to him as I could possibly be. He didn’t seem to mind though. He kept his hand draped over my thigh while he took an exit. I looked around.
“This isn’t our exit,” I said. “Leering is still like thirty minutes from here.”
“We’re not going to Leering.” I stared at him curiously.
“We’re not?” He didn’t answer me as he kept an eye on the cars that surrounded us. I looked around for something familiar that might give me some kind of insight as to what he was doing, and that’s when I saw the sign for the turn off to Lake Greenwood or Lake Crysnthia as the Blake’s liked to call it. “We’re going to the cabin?” West just smiled in response.
Before we drove all the way to the cabin, West pulled into a little mom and pop store for some groceries first. We held hands as we went down each and every aisle grabbing what we figured we might need for a weekend alone together. West had already assured me that once we stepped foot inside, we wouldn’t be leaving until Monday morning at the earliest. That meant we were going to have three whole days completely alone without having to worry about any interruptions.
I couldn’t help but laugh as we unloaded our basket onto the counter. My essentials consisted of food, all the necessary bathroom products, and a couple of changes of clothes. West’s ‘essentials’ were movies, a giant box of popcorn, more junk food than two people could ever hope to consume, and a pack of gum.
We didn’t stop smiling the entire time and the woman checking us out even commented what an adorable couple we were. West and I beamed at her compliment before thanking her and grabbing our random items.
The whole rest of the ride to the cabin, I was like a giddy little kid. It had been a couple of years since the last time I’d been out there, and I was ecstatic that it would just be the two of us this time around.
As soon as West parked, I jumped out and started to grab the bags. Then I made my way up the steps with West following right behind me. He shifted the bags to one hand while he reached up on the top of the door frame and pulled down a little silver key.
He unlocked the door and then motioned for me to go in first. I did, making sure to turn on all the lights as I did. This place seemed somehow bigger than it had the last time I was here, maybe because this go around we were the only two people in it.
West led the way into the kitchen and set the bags down on the counter. I started to help him unload, but he shooed me away. “You go relax. I’ve got this under control.” I smirked as I looked back at him and he did his best impression of an intimidating look. He failed, but it was cute watching him try.
I went into the living area and took a seat on the massive leather sectional that took up almost the entire space. I found the remote sitting on the little stand next to me and I grabbed it. I flipped through the channels aimlessly, not really paying much attention to what was on.
It took West forever before he joined me, but when he did I made a space for him next to me. He grinned before coming over and plopping down. He flashed me that dimpled grin and while I was nice and distracted, he snatched the remote right out of my hand.
He flipped through a few different channels before finally landing on a movie I vaguely recognized. I didn’t really care what he picked though. I was too busy staring at him and thinking how badly I wanted to kiss him right then. He smiled as he stared at the screen and then slowly turned his head toward me.
Then without saying anything, he leaned in and let his lips press against mine softly. His hand came up to cup my face and I leaned into him, allowing our kiss to deepen. His tongue swiped against my bottom lip, causing me to smile. As I opened my mouth and his tongue slipped against my own, we shifted closer toward each other on the couch.
His free hand fisted my dress and I slid one leg over his lap so that I was effectively straddling him. His hand wrapped around to the back of my neck and he pulled my lips down harder against his. The heat began coursing through my body and I never wanted it to stop.
I ground against his lap and felt his erection through his jeans. It brought a drawn out moan from my lips and I repeated the movement, eliciting a groan from him as well. I pulled back slightly and he tried to bring my mouth back to his.
“West, we need to stop,” I said breathlessly. He shifted, causing us to rub against each other again. I closed my eyes at the sensation.
“Why?” He asked, his own voice gruff with desire. Then he leaned forward and began kissing the small spot just under my ear. My flesh erupted in goose bumps. I rested my hands on his chest to push him back gently, but that’s not what I did. Instead, I let him continue to plant kiss after sweet kiss on my skin. I was quickly losing the will to stop him.
“Because…” I said before he pulled my earlobe into his mouth and sucked. I loved it when he did that. I moaned before grinding against him again. His hand tightened on my dress, letting me know that he was getting very into what we were doing. “West,” I tried again. “We should go upstairs.”
He didn’t stop what he was doing. “This is the family room,” I said, but even I could hear the carelessness in my tone. West nipped my ear and I pulled back. Then I took his face in my hands and kissed him passionately. I was done saying no. We were about to have sex on his family’s couch, and I couldn’t have cared less.
There was nipping, and sucking, and tasting. Finally, my words seemed to sink in to West’s mind and he stopped me. With a strength I didn’t know he had, he lifted me up and stood from the couch. Then he carried up the stairs to the second floor and into one of the bedrooms.
He kicked the door closed behind him before sitting me down in front of him. He framed my face with his hands before his mouth slanted over mine. We were walking backwards and I felt the edge of the bed hit the back of my knees. He let me go, and I crawled backwards to the middle of the bed, causing my dress to hike up. His gaze flicked down to my exposed flesh and I didn’t miss the way his tongue swiped over his bottom lip before he bit it. He was so incredibly sexy.
With quick hands, he reached up behind his neck and pulled his shirt over his head exposing that glorious body of his. I let my eyes drop as I took him in. He didn’t seem to mind. He reached for the button of his jeans and I slid forward. In the times we had been together previously, I’d never really been the aggressor, but I wanted to be that night.
“Let me,” I said and he dropped his hands
away to appease me. I swallowed before reaching forward for his jeans. I looked up toward West’s face, only to find that his eyes were closed tightly.
I kept my eyes on his face as I gripped the edge of his boxers and jeans and started to lower them down his legs. He swallowed hard and that helped ease my nerves. It was comforting to know that he seemed to be nervous about what was coming just like I was. I pushed his clothes down all the way to his feet so he could step out of them, and then he kicked them to the side.
I let my hands slide up his thighs and his body shook slightly. I was still watching him when I reached out to grip him in my hand. He jerked, but his eyes remained closed. I explored him with my hands for a few seconds before a new urge took over. So, I leaned forward and flicked my tongue over his tip and his eyes shot open. He gazed down at me as I tasted the little bit of precum that was there. It wasn’t as unpleasant as I was expecting.
I gripped him with one hand as I slid my tongue down the length of him, eliciting a groan of what I hoped was pleasure. I moved closer so that I was sitting on the edge of the bed as I trailed my tongue back up. Then I pulled him into my mouth. I took him as deep as I could before I felt him press against the back of my throat. His hands tangled in my hair and a strangled groan escaped him. I wondered if he was close because I wasn’t sure if I could keep going, but then he gently eased me off of him.
Before I could say anything, he lifted me up and slanted his mouth over mine. I wrapped my arms around him as he kissed me, and relished in the thought that he enjoyed what I did for him…but he didn’t finish. I pulled back and looked up at him.
“You didn’t finish,” I said simply. He smiled down at me. “Was that okay?” His smile slipped and a look of concern washed over him.
“It was better than okay,” he assured me. “It was incredible.” I was confused.
“Then why…?”
“Because I want to feel you come with me.” Well, I guess I couldn’t really argue with that. I smiled before pulling his lips back to mine. Then, we fell onto the bed together.
We scooted back up the bed as his hand slid up my side. He nestled himself between my thighs and brushed the hair from my face. I was smiling back at him, and he just looked so serious.
“I love you so much Lennon,” he said, and my heart flipped.
“I love you, West.” Then I kissed him again as he slowly slid inside me. My head fell back as he made love to me in only the way he could.
Afterward, we lay there, holding each other. A small smile spread across West’s face as he stared back at me. He brushed a few strands of hair from my face and then stroked my cheek with his thumb.
“I love you Lennon,” he whispered. I grinned back at him.
“I love you too.”
“I’ve never felt for anyone the way I feel about you.”
“Me neither.”
“I can’t imagine not having you close to me.” I leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against his velvety soft lips.
“You don’t have to,” I whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.” Even in the darkness of our room, I saw him swallow hard at my words.
“I’m moving to California. At least for a while. I just can’t afford to live here and travel up there as often as I’ll need to.” I had expected that ever since he first told me he had signed. I knew it’s what made the most sense.
“What does that mean for us?” A part of me was terrified that he might actually be trying to say goodbye. So, before he could answer, I voiced my fears aloud. “Are you ending this?” He pulled back and looked me straight in the eye.
“I’m not ending anything,” he said and I sniffled. “I was just letting you know that I’m going to California. I’m not going to be able to see you as often as I’d like, but in no way am I ending us.”
“But…how will we work with you so far away?”
“The same way you and I have always worked. We fight for it. A little distance is not enough to keep me away from you Lennon Cooper. You are the love of my life, and I’m gonna marry you one of these days.” I just blinked back at him. That slow dimpled grin of his made an appearance just before he kissed me slowly.
I wasn’t sure what would happen to us with him being all the way in California and me staying behind in Texas, but I believed him when he said we could do it. He had faith in us, and I had faith in him.
Forty-Four
When I came down the stairs the following morning, West was already up. He had his back to me while he stood at the stove. On the island behind him were several dishes covered with any kind of breakfast food I could have imagined. I smiled as I slipped onto one of the stools and watched him. He was humming a tune as he moved around the space.
When he turned to add another pancake to the plate, his eyes landed on mine. He smiled that dazzling smile before he walked over and gave me a heart stopping kiss.
“Good morning beautiful,” he said sweetly as he pulled back. “God, I love seeing your gorgeous face in the morning.” I blushed at his compliment.
“This is a lot of food, did you really expect us to eat all of it?” I asked with a warm smile. A flash of something crossed over West’s face, but he turned before I could tell what it was. “West?”
He ignored me while he went back to cooking. I furrowed my brow as I looked back at him. He was up to something. I just knew it. I didn’t have time to ask him about it before there was a knock at the door. I turned toward the sound and then back toward West.
He looked back at me, and the one word I’d use to describe the expression on his face in that moment was guilty.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I may have invited some people to join us.” He gave me a sheepish grin and my forehead crinkled as I looked back at him.
“Who?”
“Promise you won’t be mad?” He asked with a wince.
“Who’s here, West?”
“I figured it was time that we tell them, Len.” It took a second for his words to register. When they did, my eyes widened with surprise.
“You invited our parents? Were you even going to tell me?”
“I just did.” He grinned at me then like that would somehow make the whole situation better. “Come on, Len. Don’t you think it’s time we told them about us?” I didn’t respond and he walked over to me. He cupped my face in his hands as another knock came. “I want them to know that I’m with the love of my life. The woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.” I smiled as he said the words. I couldn’t help it. I also couldn’t stay mad at him. He was right. It was time we told the people closest to us that we were happy and in love. I could only imagine what they were all going to say.
“How do you think they’ll take it?” I asked him. He stared back at me with the most serious expression I’d ever seen him use.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, Len. They’ll probably forbid it. We’ll have to run away together and elope so they know we’re serious about each other. They may never come around to the idea, but we’ll have each other so it will all be okay.” I looked back at him blankly and a slow sexy grin spread across his face.
“Funny,” I said.
“I thought so.” He looked back toward the door that our families were still congregating outside of. “You ready for this?” I shook my head.
“Not really.” He looked down at me.
“It will be fine, Len. I love you.” I smiled widely back at him.
“I love you too.” He leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss on my lips. Then he took my hand in his and together, we walked toward the back door. I let out a shaky breath as the door opened. Mrs. Blake was the first one to step inside. She immediately pulled West into a warm and inviting hug. Then she turned to me. She didn’t bat an eye as she pulled me into the same loving embrace. Next were my parents with Jameson. Last, but not least, Katie stepped into the hallway.
She took in West, then me before her eyes dropped down to our still connected hands. Her gaz
e lifted back up and she quirked one brow up in curiosity. She didn’t say a word though and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Uh, everyone,” West’s voice boomed above the chatter in the hallway. “If you could all go into the living room.” West and I followed behind the group as we made our way into the large family room. My face heated as our families all took a seat on the leather sectional that West almost had his way with me on less than twenty-four hours ago.
West and I took a seat on the edge so that we could face everyone. Their eyes were locked onto the both of us, but none of them seemed to be expecting the shock they were about to receive. They all seemed completely oblivious.
“I brought you all here this morning because there are some things that I wanted to tell you. For starters, I have officially signed on with the Chargers, and the coach seems hopeful that at the beginning of the season, I’ll be starting.”
A round of congrats could be heard from everyone. Even Jameson joined in by clapping his hands loudly.
“Uh, that brings me to my next bit of news. I’ll be moving to California in a few weeks. I don’t know how permanent the situation will be, but I expect to be there for some time.” I looked toward Mrs. Blake, and I could see the hurt on her face. I knew she hated the idea of West being so far away just as much as I did, more so actually. Despite the fact that he was about to be twenty-three years old, he would always be her baby boy. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Another round of congratulations came, but it was obvious it wasn’t nearly as positive as the first. West took my hand in his and I immediately squeezed back.
“Also, Lennon and I are dating,” he said so nonchalantly.
“West,” I reprimanded. That was definitely not how I would have broke the news to everyone.
“Come again?” Dad asked.
“Oh Harold, like you didn’t already know?” Mom said as she turned to face him. My forehead crinkled as I looked back at her.
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