Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Delilah
I wake up with the dumbest smile on my face.
After I got dressed and Wilder took a quick shower, we cuddled in bed and talked some more. We agreed to keep this between us for now, without the pressure from everyone else, and see where it goes before announcing it.
Well, besides Noah who noticed the hickey he gave me last month.
I'm still in disbelief that this is happening. For years, I've compartmentalized my feelings about him. The Wilder I met from the crisis hotline and the Wilder I knew in person. I didn't want to give away that I was aware of our history and that it had affected me. Not only did it feel wrong because he was my ex's twin brother but Wilder didn't date. He had flings and one-night-stands, and I wasn't stupid enough to think I'd be any different if we drunkenly hooked up.
So I kept my distance as much as I could until Waylon asked me to watch him.
That's when my walls started to crumble, and I knew my feelings weren't just about the person he was nine years ago, but rather, how I felt being around him.
It's a risk, giving into these feelings, but if I've learned anything from what I've gone through, life's too short not to take it. And even though a part of me is cautioning I guard my heart, I'm following my gut that tells me to give it a chance.
"Mornin', sweetheart. How'd you sleep?" Mom asks when she exits the bathroom, dressed and ready to go down for brunch.
"Great!" I say a bit too eager, sitting at the desk and working on my makeup.
But it's true. After the most mind-blowing orgasms I've ever experienced, I slept like a baby.
When I woke up, I could still feel his tongue between my legs, and immediately wished I could climb back into his bed.
"How about you?" I ask.
"Pretty good. I was so exhausted, I nearly slept through my alarm."
"Six am was a bit early, Mama," I tease, but considering I didn't get into bed until two, hearing her alarm go off startled me awake. Luckily I was able to fall back asleep for a few more hours.
"That's what I'm used to. Any later and my whole day feels off."
I chuckle, then finish getting ready.
When my phone vibrates on the nightstand, Mom asks if I want it.
"Sure."
Before handing it over, she peeks at the screen and then raises her brows.
"What?" I ask, confused, and then I read what she saw.
Wilder
Morning, beautiful. I loved falling asleep with the taste of you on my tongue. Might need a refresher later before it wears off completely.
"Oh my God." Squeezing my eyes closed, I smack my phone against my forehead. "That's...not what it sounds like."
"Mm-hmm," she sing-songs. "Then why're you blushin'?"
"Mama!" I squeal, meeting her eyes in the mirror in front of me. "Fine. But you're the one who told me to give him a chance."
"Glad to see you listened to me for once."
"We're not announcin’ it yet. So?—"
She zips her lips. "Don't worry. I'm not the gossip in the family."
We both laugh, knowing it's Harlow.
Delilah
My mom saw your message! So thanks for that...
Wilder
Oops. Good thing she already loves me.
Delilah
Mm-hmm.
Wilder
Are you going down for brunch?
Delilah
Yeah, we're about to leave now.
Wilder
Okay, I'll go with you. Meet me in the hallway.
Delilah
Be right there.
"Mom, we gotta go."
I slide on my purple cowboy boots that go with my outfit—a teal vintage boho long sleeve V neck with a purple belt around the waist. Magnolia said I had to fit in at the NFR and picked it out for me at Rodeo Belle, the store Harlow works at, and even made me pick out a new cowboy hat.
"Oh, sweetie. You look adorable."
I sigh, standing in front of the mirror. "Just what every woman in her thirties wants to hear."
Grabbing my bag, we walk to the door. When I open it, Wilder's leaning against the wall across from me with his arms crossed—looking all kinds of sexy in his tight Wranglers and boots.
He pushes off and drops his arms, lowering his gaze down my body. Licking his lips, he smirks when he meets my eyes.
"You..." He notices my mom next to me. "Both of you…look gorgeous."
"You're very handsome, Wilder," my mom says, then glances at me. "As always."
I roll my eyes at her being so obvious.
"Ready?" Wilder grins, holding out his arm for her, clearly enjoying her approval.
"Suck up," I mutter behind him.
We take the elevator down and find Tripp, Magnolia, Harlow, and Waylon already at the restaurant waiting for us. Moments later, Noah and Fisher join us.
"Landen and Ellie leave already?" I ask after we return from the buffet with full plates.
"Ellie had to be at the convention center by nine-thirty," Noah tells me. "By the time she gets home from the rodeo and back up to get ready for the day, she barely sleeps."
"She loves it though," Magnolia adds. "She's a champion."
I smile. "Can't wait to watch her tonight."
As we continue eating and talking, Wilder lowers his hand on my leg underneath the table and squeezes my knee. I try covering my face with my hand so no one notices the smile and blush consuming my face.
When everyone's distracted by their own conversations, he leans into my ear. "Excuse yourself to the bathroom in thirty seconds and meet me over there."
Before I can tell him no, he pushes his seat back and stands. "Nature calls. Be right back."
Noah watches him leave, and I know she's going to be suspicious if I follow.
Instead, I wait five minutes before excusing myself.
It's loud and chaotic, people are everywhere, and it's not even noon. I've not experienced anything like this before but it's somewhat comforting that so many are here for the NFR. I can tell because they're all dressed like me.
Wilder didn't bother telling me which bathroom to go into, so I don't know where I'm going.
Before I have to make a decision, I'm being pulled into a family single stall room.
"Wilder!" I whisper-hiss, recognizing his cologne.
He presses my back against his chest and quickly covers my mouth with his palm.
"I said thirty seconds," he murmurs in my ear, then drops his hand.
"That would've been too suspicious. Even now, they're going to wonder what's takin' you so long."
"I'll just tell them the food didn't agree with me."
I snort. "Gross."
He spins me around and crashes our mouths together before I have a moment to breathe.
"I couldn't wait to kiss you again," he says in between sliding his tongue against mine. "Especially after I saw you in this dress that displays your tits like a piece of art."
"As sweet as that is...we're in a bathroom ," I remind him. "Not sure this is the place we should be makin' out."
"I'll take what I can get." He walks me back into the door and then sucks on my neck. "Fuck, I want to mark you so all the horny men 'round here don't get any ideas."
"Horny men like you?" I quip, clinging to his biceps so I don't fall.
"Exactly. The worst kind..." He slides his tongue over my exposed collarbone, causing me to shiver at how turned on I am.
"We should get back before they notice," I tell him. "And before you give me another hickey!"
Pushing him away, I lower my gaze to his groin where his tight Wranglers are doing him no justice at hiding his erection.
"Don't come in your jeans again or you'll have to change," I tease, but it turns me on even more thinking about how aroused he got eating me out last night.
His palms flatten on the door beside my head, caging me in with his arms. Then he tips up my chin until our eyes meet. "You're the one who's gonna need new panties by the time I'm done with you..."
"Wha—"
He slides his hand underneath my dress and slips his fingers beneath my lace underwear. "And we're not leavin' here until you make a mess."
"We're gonna get caught," I whisper, but when he slides a digit inside, I lose the willpower to fight him.
"Then you better hurry up and come." He adds another, then curls them in deeper.
"Wilder," I breathe out, squeezing my eyes as I enjoy the intrusion.
"That's it, Delly. Fuck my fingers."
My hips rock against him, nails digging deeper into his arms as I ride his hand.
"You're so wet..." He presses his lips to my ear. "Come for me, baby. I want to suck your juices off my fingers and taste you again."
Warmth builds down my spine when he rubs the pad of his thumb over my clit and soon I'm losing myself in the pleasure. Not wanting to make a lot of noise, I clamp my hand over my mouth and moan through my release.
" Fuuuck ," he groans in my neck.
I swallow hard, then try to catch my breath. There's no way his family won't know we were hooking up after being gone this long.
"We have to go back," I tell him, opening my eyes to meet his.
Wilder thrusts his fingers between his lips and slowly licks them clean, his piercing making an appearance as he does it. The way he moans, as if he can't get enough of the taste, has my pussy clenching all over again.
"You've turned me into an addict. One taste is all it took to get hooked. Now I'll be cravin' a fix every day." He winks, then flicks his tongue between the two digits and slides around them in a provocative way that isn't helping my need for him. "Just wait until I eat you from behind and taste all of you..."
"You have a dirty mouth," I whisper, still worried people are going to hear me.
He crashes his mouth to mine for a quick kiss. "You have no idea the dirty things I wanna do to you. Next time my face is between your thighs, I want them wrapped around my head while you're wearin' those boots—and only those boots."
His gaze falls to them and a devious smirk spreads over his handsome face.
And if I don't get out of here, I'll let him do all of those things to me right now.
"I'm leavin'," I whisper, shoving him. "Wait a minute and then come back to the table."
I take a quick look in the mirror and frown when I see how red my neck and chest are from his facial hair scratching the shit out of me. I comb my fingers through the ends of my hair, adjust my dress, and then unlock the door.
"Don't wait too long," I tell him, then peek out. Luckily, no one's waiting to use this room.
My heart pounds when I pull out my chair and rejoin the group.
Harlow meets my gaze and mouths, "You okay?"
"Yeah, long lines," I reply, waving her off.
Mom smiles at me, but it's one of those secret knowing smiles that only a mother can do. Like she knows exactly what took me so long.
Fucking great.
When I see Wilder out of my peripheral vision, I grab my glass and take a sip to hide the blush covering my cheeks. After what we just did, it's hard not to be hot and bothered at the sight of him.
Which is honestly ridiculous at my age, but I can't help it.
"I thought you got lost or died in the bathroom," Noah blurts when Wilder takes his seat next to me.
"Nah, just my IBS actin' up." He pats his stomach, and I choke on my water, spewing some down my chin.
"You okay?" Wilder asks, handing me a napkin.
"Mm-hmm, thanks." I take it from him and clean my face.
"If everyone's done, let's go!" Magnolia claps, overly eager for the festival.
It's only a mile away, so we decide to walk, and the closer we get, the larger the crowd gets. Wilder stays next to me, our fingers brushing while we make our way there—a constant reminder of where he was less than twenty minutes ago.
The convention center is massive with people coming and going in every direction. It's quite overwhelming, even for someone like me who travels to rodeos all summer long, but I've never been to something like this.
Which means the events tonight will be even more overstimulating.
"Wanna go find Ellie first?" Magnolia asks everyone. "She should be signin' autographs and takin' pictures."
Since she won the championship last year, she's at the barrel racing booth with other rodeo stars.
"Yes! I wanna get a picture with Tommy Graham," Harlow says, and the stars in her eyes make me laugh.
"Since when do you know about famous bull riders?" Waylon crosses his arms.
"Since it's all Antonio talks about. I told him I'd get an autograph for him," she explains, but by Waylon's expression, he's not convinced.
It takes over an hour to get to Ellie's booth since we stop at random vendors, lots of western clothing, cowboy boots, hats, buckles, and more. By the time we get through her line, it's another thirty minutes.
"Oh my God, hi!" Ellie squeals when she sees all of us.
She makes the rounds of giving everyone hugs and then has Landen take pictures.
"Y'all havin' fun so far?" he asks, nudging Wilder. "Surprised you're here."
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asks, sounding offended.
"No reason. Just doesn't seem like your thing."
"Hot fresh meat is definitely Wilder's thing," Waylon chimes in, apparently clueless to Wilder not leaving my side since we've arrived.
"Not really," Wilder snaps with no amusement on his face. I feel bad that his brothers will always see him as that person instead of the man he's become this past year. He's been working hard in therapy and getting his head on straight, despite the trouble he got in with Wesley.
"Well, not anymore..." Tripp adds, smacking his shoulder.
Landen shrugs. "Oh, alright."
"Where's Tommy?" Harlow asks, breaking the tension.
"You wanna meet him?" Ellie asks, her eyes widening with mischief. "He's even cuter in person."
"Excuse me?" Landen quickly asks.
"What? He is." Ellie gives no fucks, which is why I find her so hilarious. She spent four years hating Landen before they started dating, and even after getting married, still doesn't take his shit.
Landen pouts when Ellie grabs Harlow's hand and leads her over to another booth.
"Looks like you two lost your women," Wilder muses. "To a bull rider."
"Well...can you blame them?" Noah snickers, patting Fisher's chest who stands like a statue next to her. "Bull riders are pretty sexy."
Her husband’s a retired bull rider, so of course she'd think that.
"And cocky motherfuckers." Fisher smirks, and I think that's the most I've heard him speak since we got here.
"Great," Landen and Waylon both mutter, then follow their girls.
Wilder takes the opportunity to lean into my ear since no one's paying attention. "After the rodeo and whatever else they drag us to, you're mine tonight. Got it?"
I fight the urge to smile. "We'll see about that, cowboy. Until then, behave yourself."