22. Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
ANGIE
Wyatt rolled us so we were both lying on our sides facing each other. He popped up on an elbow, rubbing his hand up and down my arm.
“I messed up, baby.”
I swallowed. Please tell me he wasn’t regretting what we’d just done. I couldn’t handle that.
He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I don’t regret it, so get that thought out of your head. It was the best feeling I’ve ever experienced. But we should probably talk about it.”
“Talk about it?” We had amazing sex. He wanted more than only sex, right? I wasn’t sure what we needed to talk about. But the concern in his voice had me on edge.
“Yeah.” He pulled back and looked down at me. “I forgot to grab a condom.”
My body sagged with relief. Surprisingly, that hadn’t crossed my mind either. “I’m on birth control.”
He nodded. “I would never do anything to hurt you. I’ve been tested recently, and I’m good. But you’re also the only person I’ve ever not used a condom with.”
I raised up on one arm. “Really?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “I never forget. But with you, I was so engrossed in how amazing it felt, I didn’t even think about it.”
He traced my nipple with one finger and a shiver raced through me.
His gaze darkened as he followed his finger over my breast and down my stomach. “God, I can’t wait to do that again.”
My mouth fell open as I glanced down between us, locking on to his already hard cock. “Now?”
He smirked as he rolled me to my back. “Unless you need a minute.” His hand cupped my breast and he claimed my mouth, swallowing my moans as his thumb flicked back and forth.
I was already panting and moaning by the time he climbed on top of me and was pressing against my entrance. He was more deliberate this time. Lying flush on top of me and moving in and out of me slowly, sensually. My nails dug into his back and our tongues tangled.
Sex had always been just sex. Nothing special. Until now. This felt so different. I understood the term making love now. The way he touched me. Kissed me. It was so much different from how anyone had ever been with me.
“Baby,” he whispered against my neck as he continued to move, lifting up to look down at me. “You’re mine now, you know that, right?”
I smirked. “Hmm. Yours?” I moaned and arched up as he hit that sensitive spot deep inside.
“Mine, Angie.” He stared at me, his gaze piercing with an intensity that I felt in my soul. “Tell me. Tell me this is real. That you’re my forever.”
I swallowed at the meaning behind his words. I wanted that. So much it hurt. But was I able to trust it? To trust this feeling?
He brushed the hair off my forehead as he searched my face. “Need to know you feel this too. This insane connection between us. Tell me I’m not crazy.”
I smiled. That I could do. “You’re not crazy. I feel it too. And I want nothing more than to be yours.”
I left off the forever, afraid to trust in that and have it ripped away from me. But deep inside, I hoped for it.
I gripped him , my core tightening as he began to thrust harder and faster, bringing us both back to the edge again before we tumbled over together. Blissfully.
Waking up in his arms made me just as happy as falling asleep in them had. Not quite as happy as when he woke me up in the middle of the night, though. Slipping back into me and making love to me again. I snuggled into his side, throwing one leg over his.
“Ready for round four?”
I gasped and looked up at him. “You’re joking?”
His smirk said he might be, but he shrugged. “How about I go make us coffee and breakfast while you get a shower, and then we’ll see. I might be tempted to let you ride my face again.”
Heat crawled up my neck and into my cheeks. “I liked that.”
“I know you did.” His hand trailed down my back and he squeezed my ass. “Go get your shower before I change my mind and have my way with you again.”
I giggled and climbed up so I was straddling him, his hard cock nestled against me. I slid over it, already wet for him again. He sat up suddenly, tangling his hand in my hair and bringing my mouth down to his.
I jolted when his hand landed harshly on my ass.
“Shower. Before I keep you in this bed all day and let the hotel run itself.”
I sighed and climbed off him before heading to the en suite. When I came out to the kitchen, he was standing at the stove, his phone tucked into the crook of his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know,” he said and then glanced over at me. “I’ll talk to her.” He sighed. “I understand. I’m not a complete idiot, but I appreciate the heads-up.”
What did he need to talk to me about now? I braced for bad news.
“Seems like the trolls are at it again,” he said as he turned toward me and set the phone down on the counter. With his arms crossed and jaw locked, he studied me. “Paul has me paranoid that this could be a deal breaker for you if it keeps up. I want to say I’m willing to give you that out if it’s what you want. But the truth is I would rather burn my social media to the ground than let you walk away. So please tell me this isn’t going to be an issue. I wish I could prevent it, but I can’t.”
“Trolls?” I tilted my head. “I might need more context.”
His brows furrowed. “You haven’t checked your Instagram yet?”
My body shook as I laughed at his statement. “Um, no. That will never be my thing. I rarely use it and only check it when someone tells me to. I upload a picture every now and then.”
“Oh.” He shifted. “Well, don’t.”
“Another picture of us?”
He nodded. “Yes. Coming out of Starlight Pi last night. Comments are cruel. Don’t read them.”
“Attacking your playboy status still?”
He looked away, not willing to meet my eyes. “My dating history is in there, yes.”
“What are you not saying?”
His whole body screamed uncomfortable, and now I couldn’t stamp down my curiosity.
“I can go read them if you don’t want to tell me.” Not that I really wanted to, but I would if he couldn’t tell me.
“Mean comments that have absolutely no truth to them and that I refuse to even repeat.”
“About me?”
“Yes,” he gritted out.
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I don’t really know why.”
I looked down at my hands as I fiddled with the hem of my sleep shorts. “Do they have to do with my weight? The fact that I’m bigger than the girls you usually date?”
I gasped as he closed the distance and stopped directly in front of me. His hands threaded through my hair and he cupped my face with his palms.
“Nothing they said was true. Do you hear me?” His thumbs caressed my cheeks. “I love your body. I think your curves are sexy and you are beautiful. Anything else is a lie.”
A tear slipped from my eye and he brushed it away with his thumb.
“Baby, please. Don’t cry. I wish I could stop it.” His arms wrapped around me and he brought me flush against his body. “But anything I say or do could make it worse. The best thing to do is ignore it. Eventually they’ll get bored and move on.”
I nodded against his chest. I understood what he was saying, but it didn’t make me feel good. Everyone would always look at us and wonder why he was with me when he could have any beautiful woman he wanted.
Through breakfast, I tried to put it at the back of my mind. But I didn’t do a very good job, and Wyatt could sense it too. Although he wrapped me in his arms and kissed me until I was breathless, he didn’t try anything more. I was a bit relieved, sure I wouldn’t be able to be fully present for that.
Once we were downstairs and I got busy handling things it was easier to forget about. At least until my sister started texting rapid-fire.
Izzy: Fucking trolls. Ugly ass women. Inside and out based on my top-notch stalking skills.
Izzy: Some of them need to eat a whole pizza, maybe three, they look that unhealthy.
Izzy: Why do women do this? Why tear down other women?
Izzy: Like, do we not have enough to deal with? Unjust attacks from other women shouldn’t be one of them.
Izzy: I mean, do they really believe you were planning to finish off three pizzas and whatever else was in the bags by yourself?
Izzy: The answer to that is no. They don’t. They’re bitches. Ugh. I’m sorry. I love you.
Izzy: Also, you’re gorgeous. And the way Wyatt is looking at you. Wow. Just wow.
Until that moment I’d refused to pull up my Insta. But after that last text… I couldn’t help myself.
The moment the picture filled my screen, I could see immediately what she was talking about. Desire, and something much deeper, was etched in his features as he looked at me. I refused to let anyone ruin that, so I took a screenshot, cropped it, and put it as my background. I was proud of myself for not reading the comments.
Me: Thank you.
Me: Are you all moved in?
Izzy: Yes. Although the guys are even more convinced the apartment is cursed now.
Me: What do you mean?
Izzy: When the first picture circulated of you and Wyatt earlier this week, they told Jay it proves it.
Me: They’re ridiculous. Curses aren’t real. And living in an apartment isn’t the reason Owen, Jay, or I have found someone.
I rolled my eyes. The apartment I took over from my brother Jay had been his friend Owen’s before that. They’d each moved out after finding the loves of their lives and moving in with their girlfriends. I didn’t believe the apartment had a love curse. Or maybe it didn’t scare me like it did all the single guys my brother worked with who hadn’t wanted to take over the lease and jeopardize their bachelor status. Now, however, I was starting to wonder. But just a little.
Me: I’m guessing they think you’re next?
Izzy: Yup.
Izzy: Logan was kind of a jerk about it. Said something about me being too young. Like too young for what?
Izzy: He’s so broody every time I’m around. Apparently he’s not like that at the firehouse or with the guys.
Izzy: Pretty sure he finds me annoying.
I smiled as my fingers flew across the screen.
Me: Or he finds you hot and he knows Jay will kill him so he tries to be a jerk when you’re around.
Izzy: He doesn’t give any of those vibes. Like not even an inkling.
Me: He might be really good at masking it.
I glanced at the time and then shot off one last text.
Me: Have a meeting in a few.I’ll call you later.
By the time I’d finished my meeting with a potential client looking to book their family reunion, helped at the front desk, and then dealt with a housekeeping issue, it was already late afternoon. I’d seen Wyatt in passing a few times, but only when other people were around. I was worried people might treat me differently when I came down this morning, but so far no one has said anything or acted weird.
I pushed through the door that led out to the pool area and the beach access. It was March and the pool was still closed for the season, so it was pretty much deserted. I needed a moment to catch my breath, and the sand between my toes sounded good.
I kicked off my heels and carried them with me down the path that led to the water. Standing barefoot in the sand, letting the wind whip around me, I sensed someone behind me and I smiled, hoping it was Wyatt. I relaxed into his chest when his strong arms wrapped around me.
“Next Saturday I have a Gala to attend in Boston.” He buried his nose in my hair, his lips close to my ear. The warmth of his breath against my skin sent a shiver down my spine. “I want you there with me.”
I spun in his arms, looking up at him. “I don’t have a dress with me.”
“Not a problem. I’ll give you my credit card and you can go get one.”
“I should have one at home. And I need to go get my car and my stuff anyway.” It would be the perfect reason and opportunity for me to finish my move from my old apartment to my new one.
A sound almost like a growl vibrated through his body. “I want you to go get something new. Pick out something you love. Let me do this. Let me spoil you.”
I hesitated, but ultimately, I very well might need something new. I couldn’t remember the last time I wore one of my formal dresses. Did they still fit?
“Okay.” I nodded. “Will you go with me?” In my experience men didn’t like shopping, but I wanted his opinion.
The smile he sent me had mischief written all over it. “Definitely.”
I arched a brow.
“But I make no promises that I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
I rolled my eyes. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love that he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off me.
His fingers trailed up the back of my shirt and I shivered when the cold air hit my skin. Warmth replaced the sensation when his mouth claimed mine.It was all-consuming, but at the same time, not enough, and I couldn’t wait until we were back upstairs in his bed again.
He broke the kiss, his eyes so dark I could barely make out the green in them. He turned and pulled me along the sand back toward the hotel, utter desperation in his movements.
I couldn’t stop the giggle that slipped through my lips as I hoped he had the same idea when he stopped in front of the elevators.
“I’m suddenly starving,” he said as he jabbed the button.
The doors opened and he pulled me inside. Once the doors closed, he backed me against the wall and claimed my mouth again.
We were both breathless when the elevator stopped. “Can’t wait to taste you on my tongue.”
The giddy feeling I’d experienced last night was back as we made our way down the hall to his suite. And there was no more denying that I had fallen in love with this man.