Chapter 8
EIGHT
Pearl
Today is my day off, but I half-expect Wells to show up to drive me to work again this morning.
He looked so distraught, so sincere when he came here last night.
Having him hold me, no pressure, just closeness, went a long way to repairing my trust in him.
Despite everything that happened earlier in the day, I felt connected to him in a way I’ve never experienced with anyone else.
As if my thoughts have summoned him, my phone pings with a text message.
Wells: Good morning, Angel. How did my girl sleep last night?
I bite my lip and grin as I text him back.
Pearl: Morning! I slept great. How about you?
I crawl out of bed, but I don’t even make it two steps before my phone buzzes with a new text.
Wells: I would have slept better with you in my arms.
Wells: I can’t wait until tonight. I miss you.
Pearl: You saw me twelve hours ago!
Wells: I know, it’s been too long.
I know I’m blushing. I bite my bottom lip as I go into the bathroom and go through my morning routine. After brushing my teeth, I strip and take a quick shower. When I pad into the kitchen, Coco is rushing around, about to leave for work.
“Morning! How are you feeling?” she asks, eyeing me nervously.
“I’m good. Thanks for letting Wells in last night.”
She relaxes at my words. “Oh, thank God you’re not mad. Listen, if he hadn’t come to grovel and beg, I never would have let him in, I swear. That man is head over heels for you, though, Pearl.”
“I know. He told me he’d moved here for me. He’s so sure we’re supposed to be together.”
“And?” Coco asks, snatching her keys off the counter.
“I want to believe him,” I admit quietly.
“So, believe him!” she urges.
“I like him. A lot. I know that yesterday was just a culmination of him rushing things and my self-esteem issues. I still just… can’t quite believe he’s into me. I mean, he’s really into me.”
“I know!” Coco grins. “It’s freaking awesome!”
“I think I should take this one day at a time. We work together, and it seems like we’ll be spending every day with each other. I should just see where this goes, right?”
“You should follow your heart,” Coco says softly. “And also jump that man’s bones.”
“Oh my gosh, Coco!” I laugh.
She grins, wiggling her eyebrows. “All right, I’m headed out. I’ll see you later?”
“I have a date with Wells tonight.”
“Well, I’ll see you after then. Call if you need anything!”
“I will,” I promise. “Have a good day!”
She waves and heads out. I walk over to the couch and plop down. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I grin as I pull it out and see Wells’ name on the screen.
Wells: It’s a slow day. What would you say to me picking you up for our date a little early?
Pearl: When?
Wells: Two hours?
I glance at the clock and see that it’s only 10 AM.
Pearl: Lunch date?
Wells: Lunch and dinner date. I’m trying to make up for lost time and for my fuck-up yesterday.
I smile at his text and chew on my bottom lip.
Pearl: All right, sounds good. I’ll see you in a few hours.
Wells: I can’t wait, Pearl.
I push up off the couch and go to my bedroom to get ready for my date.
I wonder where we’re going as I search through my closet for something to wear.
It’s a beautiful day, so I grab a dark green t-shirt and black yoga pants.
Brushing my hair until it shines, I step back to study myself in the mirror on the back of my door.
The shirt is a little low-cut, showing off the soft swells of my breasts. It clings to me, and I turn to the side, looking over myself with a critical eye. At first, all I can see are my flaws—the extra weight around my middle and the way my thighs press together.
Then I think about what Wells sees when he looks at me. He thinks I’m hot, beautiful, desirable. He wants me, just as I am.
I smile as I turn, staring at my butt. Will Wells like the way the yoga pants stretch over my curves? Will they drive him wild?
I want to drive him wild. I want Wells to be overcome with his need for me. I want him to take me out to lunch or dinner or whatever, then take me home and worship my body. I want him to fuck me, to take my virginity.
I fan my face and dig around in my closet until I find my sandals, the pretty ones I haven’t worn in months. I slip them onto my feet as my phone buzzes on the bed.
Wells: Headed your way.
Pearl: Can’t wait!
I check my reflection one last time, then go to the living room. Wells knocks on the door a few minutes later, and I take a deep breath as I open it and greet him.
“Hey, how was—”
Wells cuts me off by grabbing me and dragging me against him.
I stare up at him, watching his eyes darken so fast that it steals my breath. His big hand slides up, curling gently but possessively around my neck, and his thumb tilts my chin higher.
“Angel.” His voice is rough enough to make my knees weak. “You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to forget every single plan I had for today.”
“Maybe I want you to,” I whisper.
That’s all it takes.
Wells groans like I’ve pushed him past the edge. Then his mouth is on mine. His lips move slowly, thoroughly, as if he’s learning me all over again. Like he wants to memorize every sigh, every shiver, every little sound I make.
And apparently, I make a lot of sounds.
I moan into his mouth almost instantly, my hands fisting in the front of his shirt as his free hand slides down to my waist and pulls me flush against him.
“God,” he mutters against my lips. “You have no idea what that does to me.”
I’m pretty sure I do because I can feel exactly what I do to him. Every hard inch of him.
Heat rushes through me, and I gasp when his tongue sweeps against my bottom lip before slipping inside.
Oh.
Oh wow.
My fingers fly up into his hair, and I tug without thinking. Wells makes this deep, wrecked sound that vibrates right through me.
“Again,” he demands softly, his lips brushing mine.
I blink up at him, dazed. “What?”
“That sound,” he growls. “The one you just made when I kissed you. I need to hear it again.”
I should probably be embarrassed. Instead, I feel… bold.
So, I rise up on my toes, press myself tighter against him, and kiss him first.
Wells freezes for half a second. Then he absolutely loses his mind.
His hand leaves my neck and slides down, gripping my hip hard enough to make me gasp as he backs me up.
One step.
Two.
Until my back hits the wall beside my front door.
“Pearl,” he breathes, staring down at me like I’m his favorite fantasy come to life. “You cannot kiss me like that and expect me to behave.”
“Who said I wanted you to behave?” I ask before I can chicken out.
His eyes practically flash. “Jesus Christ. How are you so fucking perfect?”
Then he kisses me again, harder this time, hungrier.
His body presses fully into mine, pinning me between him and the wall, and I swear every thought in my brain evaporates. All I can feel is Wells: his chest, his hands, his mouth.
One of his thighs nudges between mine, and I suck in a sharp breath as my body reacts instantly.
“There,” he says roughly, his lips dragging along my jaw. “That.”
“What?” I gasp.
“That needy little sound.” He kisses the sensitive spot beneath my ear, and I shiver. “You act like you don’t know how much power you have over me, but I think you’re starting to figure it out.”
Maybe I am because I love this. Love the way this grumpy, gorgeous man completely unravels for me.
My hands slide down his chest, and I feel every hard line of muscle beneath his shirt.
“Wells,” I whisper.
His mouth trails down my neck, kissing, nipping, worshiping. “Yeah, Pearl?”
“I really like it when you kiss me.”
He stills long enough to look up at me, and the raw heat in his eyes nearly sets me on fire.
“Like it?” he repeats, sounding almost offended. “Pearl, I’m trying very hard not to drag you to your bedroom right now.”
I laugh breathlessly, but it turns into another gasp when his teeth graze my pulse point. “Oh my gosh.”
“Exactly,” he mutters.
His hands slide lower, tracing the curve of my waist, my hips, like he’s committing every inch of me to memory. “You wore these pants to torture me, didn’t you?”
“Maybe,” I admit.
He groans, dropping his forehead to mine. “You’re dangerous.”
“You love it,” I whisper, staring up at him.
His smile is pure sin. “Baby, I would walk into hell for you.”
The words hit me right in the chest. Before I can even process them, Wells kisses me again, slower and softer this time, but somehow even more devastating. It feels like a promise, as if this man, this grumpy, possessive, ridiculously sweet man, is not going anywhere.
By the time he finally pulls back, we’re both breathing hard.
My lips feel swollen, my hair is a mess, and Wells… he looks just as wrecked. His hair is tousled from my fingers, his lips are red, his pupils are blown.
“Fuck,” he mutters, brushing his thumb over my bottom lip. “I was trying to be a gentleman.”
I grin, still breathless.
“Yes. For you, I’d try to be anything.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as he takes my hand and leads me to his fancy car.
“Are you hungry for anything in particular?” he asks, opening the passenger door for me.
“No, not really.”
“Well, my plan was to take you home and cook for you, but if you want to go somewhere, I can find a place.”
“No, your place is great. I’d like to see your house.”
“Good.”
He braces one hand on the roof of the car and the other on the door as he leans down and kisses me once more.
Then the door closes, and I’m left catching my breath as Wells slips behind the wheel and starts the car.
“Where do you live?” I ask as we pull onto the road.
“Just north of the clinic. It’s about a ten-minute drive.”
“That’s convenient.”
He smiles. “Yeah, but I mainly bought it because it was private, with a great view. I could see myself settling down and raising a family there.”
My eyes cut to him.
“Going too fast again?” he asks sheepishly.
“A bit. I mean… I’ve never even had sex before.”