Whatever.
It wasn’t a fashion show.
When I opened the bathroom door, I let out a gasp when I saw Wes sitting on the edge of the bed.
Next to him there was a bag.
My bag.
He put a hand to it. “Shot Kailey a text. She grabbed some clothes for you. Can’t imagine you want to wear the same thing from last night.”
“I was going to steal one of your shirts.”
“Fine by me. Hope you don’t mind I checked out your panties. Kailey’s got good taste.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, Wes.”
He grabbed the bag off the bed and tossed it toward me. “There you go. Get changed.”
“Right here?” I asked.
Wes leaned back on the bed. “My room.”
His shirt pulled up enough to show the top of his jeans. Temptation soared through my body. My feet shuffled across the floor as I approached him.
We were both silent. We both knew what we wanted. We both knew what we needed.
My legs gently touched Wes’s legs.
He quickly sat back up.
I was taller than him.
His hands touched the sides of my body over the towel. He inched to the edge of the bed and slowly stood up. His lips touched my upper chest. My arms grabbed for his hair.
“Wes,” I whispered. “I need you.”
“I know, darling.”
His words and breath hit my chest and I shivered.
His hands moved along the towel, to the top, and he opened it.
I let out a long sigh as the towel hit the floor and he stood all the way up.
Now he towered over me again, like normal.
His hands moved back down and he slowly cupped my breasts. They were warm and soft, tender to his rough touch, but it was exactly what I needed.
My hands grabbed the bottom of his shirt and I lifted.
Wes took his hands from me to take his own shirt off.
Then in a wild and fast move, he grabbed the back of my legs and lifted me up into his arms. I let out a cry as I wrapped my arms around him. He turned and put me down on his bed. Without pausing for a breath, he began to kiss me. Our lips touching, tongues a second later, bringing back a million memories of the way he tasted and the way he knew how to kiss me.
My toes curled tight as I was so ready for more.
Wes slipped his right hand between us and I felt him opening his jeans.
I groaned into his mouth as he refused to stop kissing me.
Which was good because I wasn’t going to let him stop kissing me either.
With his jeans opened and pushed down, he pressed his fingers between my legs. My hands dug into the muscles of his back. Those strong muscles that I had been staring at through his t-shirt just a little while ago.
He broke our perfect kiss and his tongue touched my neck.
I put my head back and let out a sighing breath as his fingers dipped inside me.
He was strong and forceful, my body accepting him, while greedily wanting more.
He drove deep and gently eased away from me.
Wes growled and put his lips to my ear. “I fucking love you, Aira. Never forget that.”
I wanted to say something back but before I could speak, I heard Wes reaching for the nightstand drawer. I sucked in a breath and held it the entire time he opened the wrapper and readied himself for me.
Then came the intense swelling and pressure against my body as he entered me.
I crunched forward, mouth open, still unable to speak or breathe.
When the need to exhale finally took control, I did so with a whimper as I hugged Wes tight.
He slipped his arms around my body and held me as he offered himself again and again to me.
His strong and warm body against my body.
His lips kissing from my neck to my shoulder then moving back to my mouth.
Seeking me. Needing me.
The explosion of pleasure that soon followed made me shut my eyes.
That’s when I realized there were two constant things in this town.
The waves… the ocean… that was one thing.
The second constant thing…
The way Wes made me feel when he touched me.
* * *
I sat on the edge of the bed as I took deep breaths. My body was achy and kept shivering. Between stepping out of the hot shower… then having a hot moment with Wes… my hair wet… the central air running… my body was warm inside and my skin was tight and cold.
The bed moved a little and I felt Wes’s lips on the back of my neck.
I held my damp hair up and wrestled with a hair tie to put it up in a sloppy bun.
Wes’s hands touched my sides and moved around to my chest.
I looked down and watched him play with my breasts.
I smiled. I blushed.
“God, you are so perfect,” he whispered.
“That’s enough from you,” I said.
I wiggled away from Wes and stood up.
I was in my panties and nothing else.
Wes wore jeans and nothing else.
I looked over my shoulder and watched as he put his t-shirt back on. I watched the way his muscles flexed. The sides of his abs rippled down to his jeans. He was so perfect. And I was so in love with him.
But I had no idea what we had just done or why.
Well, I knew what we had done. And I knew why.
But I didn’t know what it meant.
If that implied we were back together.
Or if we were just exes who fucked.
“I’ll be downstairs, darling,” he said. “I’ll take you home. Or wherever you want to go.”
I nodded. “I’ll be right down.” When he got to the door, I said his name.
He stopped but didn’t look back.
Then there was silence again.
Lots of silence.
So much silence.
I licked my lips.
I had no idea what to say.
It felt like Wes stood there for an hour but it was maybe ten seconds.
He left the bedroom, leaving the door open behind him.
I finished getting dressed and packed up my old clothes in my bag and looked at the bed one more time before leaving.
My heart ached for things to be normal again between us.
Normal.
I didn’t even know what that was.
Outside, the sun smacked my head once again but I was able to shake it away. The hangover would linger, but would eventually go away.
Wes was standing outside next to his SUV. The driver’s door open. The look in his eyes… like he had just been talking to Ryland.
“Wes?” I called out.
He showed me his right hand.
There was a piece of a paper in it.
“Under my fucking wiper,” he said.
He handed me the letter and slowly started to look around.
I unfolded the letter and quickly realized it was meant for me.
cunt.
gettin cut for good.
soon.
nothing will save you.
My hand started to shake.
Wes put his hand over mine.
“I’m going to make this stop, darling,” he said.
I looked up at him. “How?”
“Trust me. I will make this stop.”
I didn’t believe Wes.
He wrapped an arm around me.
I needed him more than ever.
Chapter 13
Wes
I walked Aira into her bedroom.
There was no way I was just leaving her without knowing she was completely safe and sound.
Julia was home and gave me a wave as I walked Aira through the kitchen. As though I owned the house.
“You realize I’m here,” Julia said as she followed us into the bedroom.
“Nothing funny happening,” I said.
“You sure?” Julia asked.
Air
a walked to her window. “I’m going down to the ocean. I’m going to surf.”
“Surf?” I asked.
“Like with a board?” Julia asked.
“Nova’s down there. She has an extra surfboard. She was showing me before.”
“Wait a second,” I said. “Isn’t that when West…”
Aira looked back and nodded.
“West did what?” Julia asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “I can handle it. He’s just being West.”
“Oh, no, no, no,” Julia said. “I do not want that guy around here. Or near Aira.”
“You and me both,” I said. “I’m handling it.”
“You're handling it?” Julia asked.
“I need to get changed,” Aira said.
“We’re not done talking about this,” Julia said. She moved to the door and then swatted at my hair. “Hey. You’re coming with me. You’re not watching her get changed.”
I lifted my eyebrow.
Oh, if you knew what I had seen and done…
“I’ll be right there,” I said.
“Door’s open,” Julia said. “Clothes stay on until Wes is gone.”
“Is that your new song?” Aira asked.
I started to laugh.
I touched the door and Julia slapped my hand.
She pointed at me.
I showed my hands.
When she was out of the room and gone, I broke the rules and put my hands to Aira’s hips.
“I want you to stay here while I figure this out,” I said.
“What does that mean? I’m captive in my own room?”
“I don’t like this shit. Someone touched my vehicle. I’m going to break their fucking hand.”
“What if it’s Mika?”
I didn’t respond, making my answer very clear.
Aira’s cheeks turned red. “Wes…”
“No. Not after all you’ve been through. Someone leaving these notes and trying to scare you? Not going to happen on my watch. Whoever did this followed me to Jett’s house.”
“I know that.”
“So someone touched your car. Your locker. Left you a note here. Left you a note on my windshield. I’m officially dragged into this now. And I’m going to take care of it.”
“What are you going to do? Threaten everyone you know?”
“Exactly,” I said.
I gently kissed her lips and pulled away.
She lingered for more… and damn I wanted to give it to her.
But I didn’t want to confuse her. Or cross lines.
Even though you just slept with her, Wes. What kind of message is that?
I stroked my thumb across her chin. “Surfing?”
“It’s something to do. And Nova is pretty cool. She doesn’t seem like everyone else.”
“Trust me, she is,” I said.
“What does that mean? I shouldn’t hang out with her?”
“Be careful in the water,” I said.
I thought about Azel.
Shit, that hurt.
I kissed Aira one more time then left the bedroom.
As I walked through toward the front door, Julia was in the kitchen, cutting up some celery.
“She didn’t come home last night,” she said. “And she looks hungover.”
“And here you thought she was sweet and innocent, huh?”
“I knew she wasn’t the second she looked at you.”
“Nothing to worry about,” I said.
I thought about Jacob. What he had done to Aira. What I had done to him. And everything that followed.
“Yeah, I have plenty to worry about,” Julia said. “I’d have less though if you would just stay away from her.”
“I know,” I said.
There was nothing else to say.
Aira was better off without me. Forgetting about me. Moving on.
But with the taste of her lips and her body left lingering on me, that just wasn’t going to happen.
She was always going to be mine.
* * *
I had everyone looking for everyone.
That was the simple way to put it.
Walker and Ryker were my eyes up at Tech. Looking for anything that was off. That meant if Nick and Dean were going to do something to get back at me for torching their rides. Or if there was any chatter about the damn stolen motorcycle parts that was still hanging around us and the shop. But that was mostly quiet for now. I told them someone was fucking with Aira and I needed to know who.
I had the same conversation with Leo and Flynn.
Their eyes were on HCH.
And my eyes were on Ryland.
I walked up a small set of concrete steps and saw him sitting at an outdoor table with Mika.
Of all the fucking people, right?
Mika was poking a plastic spoon into a messy bowl of melted ice cream.
Ryland had an arm around her, massaging her shoulder.
They were having a tender moment.
Almost romantic.
And I didn’t give a fuck about it.
I walked up to the table and kicked the bench that was attached to it.
The table jumped and screeched on the concrete.
Ryland looked at me and ripped his aviator sunglasses off his face.
“You look like shit,” I said to him.
“The fuck is your problem?” he asked.
Ryland really looked rough. He was beyond hungover. He looked like he had seen a ghost or something.
I put my foot up on the bench and leaned forward. “Where’d you end up last night?”
“That’s not your business,” Ryland said.
“He came over to my house,” Mika said.
My eyes moved to her. “And how are you feeling?”
“Fuck you, Wes.”
“I’m not here for games.”
“What are you here for then?” Ryland asked. “Your poor girl still rejecting you? Knew it was going to happen. All those secrets…”
“Secrets, huh?” I asked. I looked at Mika again. “Got anything you want to say?”
“I just did. Fuck you.”
“Sorry, babe, I don’t know what’s been there,” I said. “I mean… you know I did hear something about you…”
Ryland slammed his hands to the table.
Mika’s ice cream bowl tipped over.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Ryland growled.
I walked around the table. “You call her a cunt again and I’ll cut your tongue off.”
“Who’s a cunt?” Ryland asked.
“Don’t fuck with me. I’m not Aira. And… you know what? You keep pushing her, she’s going to snap for good.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Wes.”
Ryland turned and reached for Mika.
I grabbed Ryland’s arm and pulled him toward me. He put his right arm to my chest and shoved me back. I had fists ready to go.
So did Ryland.
Mika threw her legs over the metal bench and stood up between us.
“Are you kidding me?” I asked her.
“What is your problem, Wes?” she asked. “Ryland came over to my place dead drunk. I had to sneak him inside. He ended up puking the entire night.”
“I slept in the bathroom,” Ryland said.
I moved my eyes between them.
Back and forth.
Over and over.
“If I find out you’re fucking with Aira…”
“Give it up,” Ryland said. “Is her pussy made of whiskey or what?”
I moved toward Ryland.
Mika’s hand touched my chest and I stepped back.
“You’re defending him?” I asked her.
“He didn’t do anything.”
“Then you did it,” I said. “Sneaking around, right? You’re not at HCH anymore. Recovering, right? What happened, Mika? You get knocked up again?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I fucking hate you. I hope you die.”
�
�Yeah? Is that how you feel about Aira? Huh?”
“I never want to see her again,” Mika said.
“You know, she had that secret about you and never wanted to tell anyone,” I said. “Ryland found out about it.”
“I’ll fucking kill you, Wes,” Ryland said.
He dove at me and I was ready for him.
I landed one good punch to his jaw and that sent him toppling to his ass.
Mika covered her mouth, crying.
“You do what you need to do, Mika,” I said. “You won’t believe anyone. You can buy into Ryland’s bullshit.”
“She knows everything already,” Ryland said as he wiped his bottom lip. “She knows I found the note with the secret. But it was still Aira who did it.”
I shook my head. “You two are made for each other.”
“If you’re talking about that nasty message on Aira’s locker, I had nothing to do with it,” Ryland said. “You don’t have to believe me. But if I think someone’s a cunt, I’ll tell it to their face.”
“I’ll make this clear then,” I said. “If I find out it was you, Ryland, I am going to kill you.” I turned my eyes to Mika. “And you. Maybe you should close your legs and open your eyes a little more. And if it’s you…”
“I didn’t do anything to her,” Mika said, sniffling.
“I’ll finish my fucking sentence now,” I said. “If I find out it’s you, Mika. Every secret… every nightmare… everything you fear… I will bring to life. I will die watching you suffer just so I know Aira won’t ever again. If you think I’m afraid of the police or afraid of jail… I’m not. So keep crying… and remember what this feels like.”
Ryland got to his feet and lifted his shirt.
I watched his hand pull a knife from his jeans.
The tip of the blade was curved and it was dead set on me.
“Walk away, Wes,” Ryland said.
“Weapons now?” I asked.
“Walk the fuck away.”
Ryland side stepped and put an arm around Mika. She cried into his chest as he held the blade at me.
This took a fucking serious turn.
I had never seen Ryland with a weapon before.
And the look in his eyes told me he wasn’t just showing it to me for fun or for a threat.
“Remember what I said,” I said as I walked back. “I’m not lying either.”
I walked to my SUV and drove away.
I wasn’t done with my day yet.
HIDDEN CREEK DARKNESS: a hidden creek high novel Page 12
