Chapter Twenty-seven

Scarlet

The way he says my name makes my heart skip a beat, but not in a good way. I tense and sit up, suddenly cold now that I’m away from his body heat. He swallows hard, doesn’t look me in the eye, and pushes himself up on the mattress. Moving his pillow behind him, he leans against the headboard.

“You regret sleeping with me?” I blurt.

“Fuck no.” He shakes his head and reaches for me. I tense, heart hammering away and feeling like I might throw up. I open my heart to a man for all of half a night and he’s already dropping the we need to talk line.

What is wrong with me? Why did I think things would be different with Wes? I’ve been burned by love so many times in the past, starting with my own mother. Love isn’t real, and I need to pull away now before I die in a sea of flames.

“Scarlet,” he says again and takes a hold of my waist. He’s stronger than me and he knows it, but I’ll be damned before I let him get the best of me.

“I can just go if you want me to.” I pull away and start to get out of bed.

“What?” he rushes up, moving toward me. “No. I don’t want you to leave. Please.”

I stop, turning around and looking at the man before me. He’s so big, so muscular and strong. And yet he looks so vulnerable right now. Letting out a shaky breath, I inch closer. “I’m no good at this, Wes,” I admit. “I usually avoid my feelings and try not to let myself get attached to anyone or anything. It’s hard for me to trust people, and you’re freaking me out.”

“I know,” he says, snaking his arms around me again. I should protest, but dammit, it feels so good to have his body against mine. I cave and let him pull me close, and I snuggle up with my head on his chest. “That’s why I need to tell you something.”

“Okay.” I run my hand up his side, bracing myself.

“Maybe I should have told you before I slept with you.”

I sit up, eyes wide. “You’re not helping your case.”

He nods and closes his eyes in a long blink. “I’m still married,” he says and waits, expecting the bomb to go off.

“Oh. That’s it?”

His eyebrows go up. “You’re not mad?”

I shake my head. “I already knew that.”

“You did?”

“Quinn told me at the bar tonight.”

His brow furrows. “Oh, well that’s good I guess.”

I smile. “So does that solve our issue?”

He doesn’t look at me. “It feels unfair to you to start something when I haven’t ended things with Daisy.”

“Do you want to end things?” I ask carefully, afraid of his answer. My heart is on the line here, and one word can change everything. I inhale and brace myself for the worst. That he doesn’t want to end things. Daisy is Jackson’s mother, after all.

“I wanted to end things before she left,” Weston admits, and his words throw me.

“Really?”

He nods and looks away. “We were together for a long time. Being with her was easy because it was familiar. But that didn’t mean we were meant for each other, and we kept waiting for things to get better. Obviously, you know how that turned out. So, yeah…I want to end things.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“I didn’t see the point. If I dated again at all, it wouldn’t be for a long time. I can’t do that to Jackson…bring someone into our lives and risk them leaving.”

“But didn’t you want to date?”

“Of course I did. And I do. But Jackson comes first.” He flicks his eyes to me, and my heart skips a beat. I look at this beautiful man before me, realizing now more than ever that he’s everything I never knew I wanted. I used to think my dream man had to be a rich alpha asshole, but now I know how wrong I was.

My dream man is kind and caring, fiercely protecting those he loves. He’s willing to put his own happiness on hold for the sake of another. He’s brave and stands up for the right thing. My dream man values his family, doesn’t get caught up in petty drama and…and is sitting right next to me.

“How long has she been gone?”

“She left when Jackson was almost two months old.”

“Oh, wow. I mean, I’m sorry. Can I call her an idiot? Because she is to leave both Jackson and you.”

Wes smiles, and the tension leaves his face. “Yeah, you can call her an idiot.”

“I’m not sure how the laws work in Indiana, but I know some places have abandonment of marriage rules or whatever they’re called so you can get a divorce without her signature.”

“I know. I’ve thought about it but never saw the point. But now…”

My heart flutters, and he takes me in his arms again. “Now?”

“Now I want to.” He holds me tight against his chest and brings one hand up, combing his fingers through my hair. “I didn’t think I’d find someone who’d fit.”

“Fit?”

“Into our family,” he says quietly. “Someone who I want to be with and someone who’s good with Jackson.”

I blink rapidly, keeping tears at bay. I’m not a crier. Damn you, Weston.

“You think I fit?” I ask, each word coming out a little stronger than the last.

“Yes,” he says.

I close my eyes and lose my battle with the tears. One slips out, cascading down my cheek and landing on Weston’s chest.

“Scarlet?” He tips my head up to him. “Did I say something wrong?”

“The opposite of wrong.”

He hugs me tight and presses his lips to mine. Another tear falls, and he wipes it away with his thumb as he cups my face. I inhale deep, trying to calm myself down. This is everything I wanted and now that it’s happening, I’m already panicking about it coming crashing down around me.

“If it’s too much pressure to date someone with a kid, I understand,” Wes starts.

I stop fighting my tears and kiss him. To anyone else, maybe this isn’t a big deal. It’s not like a marriage proposal or anything, but to me, this means so much.

He looks at me and sees something more than the girl from the ghetto.

“So,” he goes on, kissing me once more. “I’m going to talk to a lawyer. Tomorrow.”

I can’t stop smiling. “I think that’s a good thing.”

He rolls over, pinning me between his large body and the mattress. Heat rushes through me and my pussy contracts. I can still feel him in between my legs, as I’m sure I will in the morning. I curl my legs up around him. His cock jumps and knowing I’m turning him on just from my slight touch makes me horny all over again.

I buck my hips, rubbing myself against him. The tip of his semi-hard cock rubs my clit, and I let out a moan. I do it again, feeling his cock get hard as I use him like a sex toy. Wes takes hold of his cock and rubs it against me, not stopping until I’m squirming against him, mouth falling open as I come.

I’m still riding high, unable to form a coherent thought or even lift my head off the mattress. Wes doesn’t wait, doesn’t give me time to come down from the high. He moves to the edge of the bed, grabs my ankles, and pulls me toward him in one swift movement.

He stands before me, eyes full of hunger as he looks me over. I’m still panting, breasts rising and falling rapidly. Wes leans forward, precum pooling on the tip of his cock, and slips his arms around me. I think he’s going to pull me to him and kiss me, but instead, he flips me over and grabs my ass, bringing his cock to it.

Breathing hard, I push myself up, looking behind me at this beast of a man. He has one hand on his cock, face set, and slips his free hand down between my thighs, spreading my wetness along my opening. His finger sweeps over my clit, sending another jolt through me.

Guiding his cock to me, he slowly pushes into my pussy. Taking a hold of my hips, he thrusts in hard, pulling back until only the tip remains. He pauses, leaving me waiting with bated breath to feel him fill me, every single inch of me, again. Pushing in slow, he teases me, and it hurts so good.

And then he lets loose, fucking me hard and fast. My eyes flutter shut, moaning loudly as I’m overcome with pleasure. Wes’s breathing quickens, and I know he’s close to coming. His fingers press into the flesh on my hips and he pitches forward, hitting me at a new angle. He slides one hand down my hip, going between my legs. He moves his fingers in circles over my sensitive clit, and my god that man is good with his hands. He’s balls deep inside of me, moments away from coming, and he’s reacting to me as if he can read my mind and knows exactly how to touch me.

My muscles tense, and I feel the orgasm building inside me. My mouth falls open, but no sound comes out. My breath hitches, and the orgasm rolls over me, coming in waves. The first feels amazing. The second knocks me senseless. I collapse down onto the mattress, pussy spasming tightly around Wes’s cock, wetness spilling onto the sheets beneath us.

Wes pulls out, hand going to his cock, pumping his dick as I fall back onto the mattress. He dives on top of me, falling between my legs, and kisses me as he enters me again. I can hardly kiss him back, and I’m not even going to attempt lifting my arms to wrap around his neck. I know I can’t.

Stars dot my vision, and my ears ring. Wes buries his head against my neck, pumping in and out of me faster and faster until he lets out a guttural growl as he comes. He lowers himself to the mattress, panting.

“That was incredible,” I breathe, blinking open my eyes.

“I am incredible.” He smirks and rolls over, getting out of bed to grab a towel from the bathroom. I clean myself up and snuggle up with him. “Not to ruin the mood,” he starts. “But we didn’t use protection.”

“I don’t have anything,” I tell him. “And I’m assuming you don’t, either.”

“Right. But I don’t want you to get pregnant.”

“It’s a fat chance. But we should probably use protection or pull out just to be safe.”

“I can do that.”

I could easily fall asleep right now, but I don’t want to miss a minute with Wes.

*

I wake up to the smell of coffee and bacon wafting up the stairs. I’m still naked in Weston’s bed. My heart is still soaring as I get up, use the bathroom, and put on a robe. I brush my teeth, twist my hair into a messy bun, and go downstairs.

Wes is standing at the oven, flipping pancakes. He’s wearing just a pair of boxers, and seeing that muscular man making breakfast does me in and I’m ready for round three.

“Good morning,” I say, smiling as I step into the kitchen.

Wes looks away from the stove. “Morning. Are you hungry?”

“Starving. You wore me out last night.”

He smirks. “I plan to wear you out again if you’re up for it.”

I drop my eye to his crotch. “I’m sure you’ll be.”

“Don’t tease me. The bacon might burn.”

Laughing, I cross the kitchen and go to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. Wes turns down the burner and twists in my arms, taking a hold of me. He picks me up and sets me on the counter.

I rake my fingers through his messy hair, pressing my forehead to his. He steps in, fingers inching down my spine.

“Bacon,” I whisper, knowing if we start kissing, we won’t be able to stop. “Is breakfast almost ready?”

“Yeah.” He doesn’t step away, and the bacon on the cast iron skillet starts to sizzle and pop. It takes a joint effort to separate from each other. Wes goes back to the stove, and I get out plates and fill two glasses with orange juice, sitting at the table and admiring him cooking.

He serves the food on the plates and brings them over to the table. We eat a few bites in silence, just enjoying each other’s company.

“So,” I start, picking up my glass of orange juice. “Now what?”

“We keep eating?” Wes says, cocking an eyebrow.

“I plan to, but I meant with us.” I look down at my plate, suddenly feeling a little shy.

“Last night wasn’t a one-time thing for me,” he says with no hesitation. “I meant what I said. You fit with us, and I really like you, Scarlet. I want more.”

“Me too.” I look up and smile, resisting the urge to reach across the table and take his hand. I refuse to be one of those couples. “This means we get to change our F******k statuses, right?”

He laughs. “I don’t have a F******k account. Shocking, right?”

“I got rid of mine.” I wrinkle my nose. “My life isn’t that interesting.” That part is true, but another reason I took myself off social media was because I didn’t want to be easily found. Being unrecognized comes in handy when you’re conning people.

“But I do like the idea of being able to show off my hot new girlfriend.” Wes wiggles his eyebrows. “We’ll have to get T-shirts instead.”

“Ohhh, I do like obnoxious couples’ T-shirts. I’m going to get you at least a dozen T-shirts that say Property of Scarlet Cooper.”

He chuckles. “If being your property means we get to do what we did last night again, then I’m okay with it.”

“I can be a very selfish lover,” I warn. “I expect you to pleasure me at least once a day and always be enthusiastic about it.”

“I don’t think I’ll have a problem with that. In fact,” he says and stands, chair scooting out fast behind him. “I’ll pleasure you right now.”

“Here?” I ask, trying to keep the school-girl-in-love smile off my face. “At the table?”

He grabs my chair and turns me around. Tingles make their way through my body. Wes leans forward, eyes full of lust and hunger. “Yes, Scarlet,” he growls. “I’m going to fuck you right here on the table.”

And, Lord have mercy, he does.

*

“Hey, Mom.” Wes sits up, pulling the blankets down with him. After breakfast, sex, and a shower, we got back into bed and passed out. “Yeah, I just woke up.” He pauses. “No, I’m not sick again. Just tired from working night shifts all week.”

I’m half asleep and don’t want to move, but I’m cold. I wiggle closer to Wes, and he lays back down, wrapping his arm around me.

“I’ll get dressed and come get him. Is that Quinn in the background I hear? Tell her we’ll be over.” He looks at me with a smile. “And that I’m considering letting Jackson take one of the kittens.”

I sit up, eyes flying open, and nod encouragingly. The only pet I had growing up was the raccoon who lived under our stoop for a few weeks. I named him Ringo—original, I know—and fed him scraps. He started waiting for me at dusk, and it still makes me sad to think back to the evening I went outside to feed him and he never came.

“Yeah, you too,” Wes says and ends the call. He puts his phone on the nightstand and pulls me on top of him. We’re both naked, and his cock starts getting hard against my stomach.

“Again?” I ask, raising my eyebrows. “I’m gonna go back on my multiple-times thing and add in spacing it out.”

Wes laughs and kisses my neck.

“Well, maybe I can make an exception.”

“Should I be sorry?” His hands wander over my body. “You’re beautiful…and it’s been a long time since I’ve been with anyone.”

I push up so I can look him in the eyes. “You haven’t slept with anyone since your wife left?”

He shakes his head. “I’m still married…technically, I mean. But it felt wrong. Like I was cheating.”

I push his hair back. “You’re a good man, Weston Dawson. And she’s been gone for four years. It’s not cheating at this point.”

“It doesn’t feel like it. I don’t feel like I’m married,” he tells me. “But legally we still are.”

“Is she still on your insurance and everything?”

“No. I took her off the first time she left me. She did take a car that was in both our names.”

“What about the house?” I ask, not sure if I’m overstepping. He’s my boyfriend now, I suppose I should know some of this stuff.

“It’s in my name. I bought it before we were married.”

“That’s good.” I brush his hair back. “Do we have to go get Jackson?”

“Yeah, we should. It’s ten-thirty. I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“Ten-thirty is late?”

He laughs. “For me it is. We should—dammit.”

“What?”

He rolls off and grabs his phone. “I want to talk to Mr. Williams. He’s in his office sometimes on Saturday.”

“Is he the lawyer?”

“Yeah.”

“You go. I’ll get Jackson. You said Quinn was there? I wouldn’t mind hanging out with her a bit.”

Wes smiles, blue eyes sparkling. “I like that you two are friends.”

“Me too.”

It takes us a few minutes to untangle, and the moment we do, I miss him. “So…I’m guessing I shouldn’t give Quinn the gritty details of my night.”

Wes laughs. “I don’t think she’d appreciate it. And now I kinda get why Dean acts like such a baby about Quinn and Archer.” He shakes his head and gets out of bed. I admire his muscular ass for a moment before reaching over the bed for Wes’s T-shirt I’d been wearing. “But if you’re asking if I want to keep our relationship secret or anything…no.”

“What about Jackson?” I ask quietly, getting back into bed. I’m cold already. “Do we tell him?”

Wes shakes his head. “Honestly, I’m not sure how to go about that. There are guidelines and rules, but most of them have already been met since you already live here, and I know you get along.” He shakes his head.

“Do kids his age understand dating? He knows what it means to be married, well, kind of.”

“If I told him you were my girlfriend, he’d know it was important. He doesn’t really seem to get that Quinn and Archer aren’t married yet since they live together.” Wes shakes his head. “Sorry I don’t have a better answer.”

“Don’t be sorry. It makes me feel a little better for being clueless. In the movies, they always do things slow. Date for a while, make sure things are getting serious before the kid even meets whoever is dating their mom or dad. But like you said, Jackson already knows me.”

Wes pulls on boxers, and I’m disappointed to see that gorgeous ass covered up. “As much as I like to have a plan and know what I’m doing, I think we should wing it.” He turns, smile on his face. “We kind of already function like a couple.”

“Yeah, we do.” I smile right back.

Wes dives back onto the bed, snaking his arms around me, tickling me and making me laugh. He presses his lips to mine. “But now I get to do this whenever I want.”