Page 30 of Bless My Heart

“What? I don’t blame you. I’d let that man come inside me too.”

“ANNA!” I whisper yell, looking at her like she’s lost her damn mind. “Don’t let Blake hear you say stuff like that. You know Blake, right? Your husband.”

“Oh, please. He doesn’t care, and he can’t even hear me. He’s already out back setting up the TV for a day of college football.” She rolls her eyes and walks off towards the living room with everyone else. I give my grandparents a hug and grab Chance for a millisecond to give him a quick kiss on the head. That boy is always moving.

“Mrs. Greenwood, you have a lovely home,” Wes tells my mom.

“Oh, thank you, honey. And please, call me Karla.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Wes is the perfect gentleman. I’m a little surprised since he acts so chill, like he’s been at the beach all day, but he knows how to turn it on. He knows how to turn me on, too. Without even trying.

“Well, come on upstairs, and I’ll show you where to put your things,” My mom says. It always surprises me when she sounds so polite around guests instead of the condescending tone I always get from her.

Wes grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. I look up at him, and he winks. Even though I grew up here and could walk up these stairs with my eyes closed, I let him lead the way.

We follow Mom upstairs, and she opens the door to my old bedroom.

“Y’all will stay here tonight, so drop your bags and come on back downstairs. Lunch is almost ready.” The blood drains from my face as I look at the queen-size bed from my childhood staring back at me.

“Mom, you want Wes to sleep in the same room as me?” I ask her. She never would have allowed this before. I guess I just assumed she’d offer Wes a guest room. Jordan always stayed in the guest room when I brought him home.

Wes gently elbows me and gives me a look that says, what the hell are you doing?

“Well, yes. Is that a problem? I mean, it’s quite obvious y’all have already slept in the same bed together.”

“This is perfect, Karla. I don’t like being away from Hazel for very long, anyway.” He wraps his arms around me and plants an exaggerated kiss on my head. My mom smiles and rubs his shoulder before heading back downstairs.

Wes ushers me into the room and shuts the door. “What was that about, Hazel? You’ve gotta be chill.”

“I…I don’t know. I didn’t think we were going to have to share a bed. This isn’t normal behavior from my mom.”

Wes chuckles. “Are you scared to share a bed with me, baby? I promise I don’t bite. Unless you want me to.” His words send shivers down my spine. I would think he was joking, but I see his eyes darken.

How am I supposed to sleep next to this gorgeous man and not ride him till the sun comes up?What have I gotten myself into?

Wes walks up and stops right in front of me. “Hazel, I promised you I wouldn’t try anything if you really didn’t want it. Don’t worry, ok? Fucking you in your parents’ house wouldn’t be my ideal location, anyway.” The word fucking from his lips sends my belly into a whirlwind.

That’s what sex is with Wes. It’s fucking. Not making love or sleeping together, but fucking. And my body is craving it. Craving him.

He leans toward my ear and whispers, “I want to unwrap you like the goddamn gift that you are. I want you to unravel at my touch.” I close my eyes, imagining him touching me. He moves his hand to the nape of my neck and holds my head close to him. “I want to make you come all over my fingers, my tongue, my cock. I want you completely spent by the time I’m done with you.” Now I’m panting. Actually freaking panting. Just from him saying words. He isn’t even touching me, and I know I’m wet. Embarrassingly wet.

His gently presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. I barely feel it except for the spark it sends through my body.

This man is going to kill me.

I’m going to be a puddle at his feet in no time. His thumb rubs over my lips, and my eyelids flutter, fighting to stay open.

He pulls away from me, and the loss of heat from his body is a shock to my system. “Come on, baby. We’ve got to go impress the fam.” He turns my body and interlaces our fingers again. How am I supposed to go down and face my family right now?

“I…I just need a minute.”

“I don’t think so, baby. I want you all wound up all day just thinking about it. Thinking about me and what I want to do to your beautiful body.”

I swallow. He pulls my arm and makes me follow him downstairs. My mom brings me into the kitchen to help with food prep. My dad waves Wes out to the screened-in porch to watch whatever football game is on right now. This is good. We need some space so my body can calm down.

I help Mom finish the deviled eggs and potato salad. I occasionally glance over my shoulder and see Wes’s face all lit up. He is so animated talking about football. He’s overly excited, and it’s infectious. Even my Dad and Blake are laughing. They all seem to be getting along.

That should make me feel relieved, but it doesn’t. This isn’t a real thing between Wes and me. It can’t be. I could lose my job if anyone at the University found out. My parents probably wouldn’t like him so much anymore. They probably wouldn’t like me anymore, either.