Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Delilah
M y legs feel like jelly, and not because of the two earth-shattering orgasms Wilder gave me earlier, but because I've never walked this much in cowboy boots before. My thighs are burning, nearly begging me to sit this one out, but I don't want to.
I want as much time with Wilder as I can get before we go back to the real world and things get messy again.
Between Jonah and Wesley’s conflict with Raven in the middle and Molly’s articles causing trouble, there's no telling what'll happen once we're home. Jonah texted a couple times, and as far as I know, nothing out of the ordinary has happened. Raven's still safe in the women's shelter and Wesley continues to be on mandatory leave.
Wilder and I ended up at some strip club, not the fun Magic Mike kind, but one that's crowded with half-naked gorgeous women and lots of alcohol. It's hard to see them flirting with him and even though he doesn't flirt back, it reminds me of the years he would without a second thought. He has a lot more sexual experience than I do, and I know it was all before we became more than friends, but it's hard not to compare myself to them.
I've been called pretty all my life. When guys hit on me at the bar, it’s always you’re so beautiful as they stare at my tits. And yeah sometimes that’s a nice ego boost, but I’d rather be known as smart, talented, or hardworking. I'm more than my body and even more than my brains. It’s a breath of fresh air when someone recognizes that and knows you better than you realize—something I’ve noticed Wilder does at the most unexpected times.
I'm also loyal to a fault. I give second, third, and sometimes fourth chances. I apologize even when I'm not in the wrong because keeping the peace is safer than starting a war.
I should probably talk to my therapist about that one.
But more than any of that, I'll always help someone in need, even when that person is a stranger throwing up on my shoes.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry..." a girl I met in the bathroom line five minutes ago says. I could tell she wasn't going to make it much longer, so I grabbed her hand and cut in front of everyone else just in time for her to vomit in the trash can.
"It's okay. They're washable." I grab a few paper towels and get them wet before handing them to her.
"I don't usually drink this much, but my fiancé left me at the altar last weekend, so I took my bridesmaids on our honeymoon." She wipes her mouth and chin.
"Oh my God. I'm sorry to hear that. Sounds like you dodged a bullet if he couldn't even tell you before the ceremony." I grab more paper towels to clean off my ankle boots.
"That's what everyone keeps sayin’ but he was the love of my life—or so I thought. I gave him seven years of my youth!"
My eyes widen as the plot thickens. "Seven years, huh? How long did it take for him to propose?"
"Five! But then we needed to save money and time to plan everything. Bastard had two years to tell me he changed his mind!" She washes her hands and then gargles her mouth with water. "That's what angers me the most. He wasted so much of my time and all the money we invested was mine ! Pretty sure he was having an affair with his stepsister."
"His what ?" Ain't no way this isn't the plot of some Lifetime movie. I’m trying to keep up with the storyline and then she hits me with that ? "What makes you think that?"
She follows me out of the bathroom, and I apologize to everyone for cutting. I walk to the end of the line since I still need to pee, but I didn't want to butt in front of anyone.
"My little sister swears she saw them hugging a little too closely, if ya know what I mean..." She crosses her arms, waiting with me. "And they kiss on the mouth when they say goodbye. That's weird, right?"
I shrug, not sure what to think. "I'm from the South, so being overly friendly is normal where I'm from. But I'd never kiss my adult stepbrother on the mouth, especially if they were engaged."
"That's what I'm saying! It's suspicious at the very least. Anyway...my sister suggested we go on a girl's trip to Vegas, and well, here I am. Drinking my sorrows and apparently throwing up on complete strangers."
"I'm here with my sister, too. Well, she’s not here but she’s datin’ my ex-boyfriend. So that’s been…interestin’.”
Her mouth falls open, and I laugh at her reaction. “Nah, it’s not as weird as it sounds. We broke up years ago. But anyway, I came with a bunch of other people for the NFR. We decided to go out and explore since we're only here a few nights. My, uh...friend, came with me here while the rest went to the after parties."
"You mean that sexy-looking cowboy who couldn't keep his hands and eyes off you? I saw you two earlier. You're telling me he's a friend ?" She pins me with a disbelief stare.
I chuckle and step closer toward the stalls. "Okay yeah, we're datin'. But it's new and we haven't told anyone."
After all this time, calling it dating feels weird.
"Well, good luck. I hope it works out better than mine did."
"You're gonna find someone who'll treat you so well, you're gonna be grateful your engagement ended. Even if it's not right away or it ends up being the last person you expected, I have a really good feelin' about you."
"I think that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me." She smiles appreciatively, and I notice the color coming back in her cheeks.
Even though the bathroom is loud and chaotic, it was nice meeting a stranger who I could make feel better, even if temporary.
Once I finish in the bathroom and wash my hands, I make my way back to the table where Wilder's sitting. He has another Long Island Iced Tea waiting for me and two shot glasses.
"What're these?" I ask, deciding to sit on his lap.
He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to his chest. "Tequila...thought we could play a little drinkin' game."
"You tryin' to get us wasted?" I grab my iced tea and take a sip, already well on my way there. If you told me these didn’t have alcohol in them, I’d believe you, but considering I feel light as a feather, I know there has to be. “What’s the game?”
"We take a shot everytime someone comes over and asks if my wife would like another. I've already been asked twice."
"Why would they assume I'm your wife?"
"Beats me, but two separate cocktail waitresses have asked while you were in the bathroom."
I snort, inhaling more of my sweet beverage. "Are you sure they weren't sayin' that so they could find out if you’re single or not? They say wife and then wait for you to correct them so they know if you're available."
He brings his mouth to my ear. "Is it bad that I didn't wanna correct them?"
The vibration of his words against my earlobe make me shiver. "I think you've had too much to drink."
"Nah, I liked them assumin' I was your husband. Made me feel worthy of you."
“You already are,” I reassure him, bringing my other hand up to his cheek. “Never thought otherwise.”
He turns and kisses my palm. “Maybe one day I’ll feel that way.”
I grab one of the shots and shoot it down.
"You take the other one..." I hold it up for him, but instead of grabbing it, he opens his mouth and tilts his head back slightly.
Wilder holds my gaze intently while I pour it between his lips and then watch him swallow.
"Thanks, wifey."
I shoot him with a death glare. "Stop that."
"Why? It sounds good on you. Get you knocked up and then you’ll be the sexiest MILF I’ve ever laid eyes on."
Laughing, I shake my head. “Now I know you’re a goner.”
“For you.”
I roll my eyes at his corny one-liner. "I just met a girl in the bathroom who got dumped by her fiancé—of seven years—at the altar, so if that wasn't a sign, I dunno what is."
"A sign for what?"
"That marriage is a bad idea."
"No, he's just a coward, especially for makin' her wait so long. It took me seven seconds to realize I was into you."
I snort because he cannot be serious. "That's unrealistic."
"Nope. The moment I saw you and heard your voice, not only did I recognize you from the crisis hotline, but meetin' you also validated my feelings. You were the first person I met who knew about my past and still didn't treat me any differently. Waylon told you I was a mess—or somethin’ along those lines—and still, you didn't smile at me with pity. You looked at me like I was just a person who needed someone to understand their pain."
My heart swells at his thoughtful words. After knowing him all these years, I've never heard such sweet things come out of his mouth until we became more than friends.
And I'm not gonna lie, I'm enjoying it— a lot .
Who knew Wilder had this tender side to him? He’s always been so focused on pretending everything was fine when it wasn't that he never allowed himself to be okay when things were.
Cupping his cheek, I softly brush my lips against his—ones I still can't believe I get to kiss. "And in case you didn't know or need to hear it again, I'm proud of how far you've come. Especially durin' that time when it was really bad. Not everyone makes it out of the darkness and you fight like hell every day to stay out of it."
He rubs his nose against mine and it makes me laugh. "I don't think anyone's ever said somethin' so heartfelt to me. Thank you."
"You're welcome," I say as a woman approaches our table.
"Howdy." She smiles wide at Wilder's cowboy hat. "Would you or your wife like a dance?"
Wilder stares at me, his grin meeting his eyes. "No, thank you. But we'll take two more Tequila shots."
Before we left the arena, Waylon double checked with me that I was good to keep an eye on Wilder tonight. Not wanting to give anything away, I reassured him it was fine, but that he still owed me from New Year’s Eve when he asked me to watch him.
I fear I might have overpromised my ability to keep an eye on his brother because after the strip club, we found a cowboy-themed bar with a mechanical bull, and Wilder's determined to make it the full eight seconds without falling off.
After each ride, successful or not, you get a free shot and Wilder's currently on his fifth attempt. Each time he got one, he bought me one too.
"Okay, this is the one. I can feel it!" he shouts over the music, holding me close to his side.
I shake my head and immediately regret it. It’s already throbbing. "It better be because I can't drink anymore and neither should you."
"What, why? I'm sober as a goat."
"Huh?" When I stand on my tiptoes to hear him better, I stumble over my boots, and Wilder quickly catches me. "That doesn't even make sense."
"Sure it does! Because goats are always sober."
My brows furrow deeper and now I know I'm drunk because he makes a valid point.
"One more time, then we should go back to the hotel."
His brows furrow. "You're not havin' fun?"
"I'm still wearin' the lingerie underneath my dress," I remind him. Just because we can't have sex, doesn't mean we can't do other things that involve stripping each other naked.
He smacks a kiss on my lips and then winks. "That was for luck."
The bar is crowded like the rest of Vegas, but I'm starting to get used to it. The music is different here though.
To mine and everyone else's surprise, Wilder manages to stay on for the full eight seconds and the crowd cheers for him. They've been waiting for him to make it, too.
And he doesn't even fall on his ass getting off. Either he's getting better at holding on or he has a higher tolerance than I remember.
Screaming, I jump up and down to celebrate with him. I know it's silly, but he's been trying to achieve this for years. It's not as easy as it looks and he's usually stumbling off of it.
Wilder engulfs me in his arms, picks me up and then spins me around. I hold tightly around his neck and laugh as he buries his face in my neck.
"Oh shit, that was a bad idea..." He finally stops and realizes how dizzy he made us.
"Yeah, I'm about to throw up."
Once he takes his free shot and I take one more with him, we find a booth.
"I should've been recordin' you so you could've showed your brothers," I say, realizing it far too late.
"That's okay. You're the only one I wanted to impress anyway." He winks and it sends butterflies to my stomach because I know it’s not just a line, he’s being truthful.
"Well then, consider me very impressed." I lean my head back on his shoulder, closing my eyes for a brief moment, and snuggling up to him. His cologne is as addicting as he is and I can't get enough of it.
"Remember when you said the day I stayed on it for eight seconds will be the day you marry me?" he asks, and it takes me a minute to realize he's serious.
"Hmm…vaguely," I say, but I do because it was the same day Mattie and I got drunk on margaritas. "That was before though."
Wilder brushes his lips against my temple. "You wanna sin with me in Sin City, Delly?"
"Why does that sound like trouble comin' from you?" I look up at him and his devious smile reaches the creases of his eyes, which is all I need to know he's up to no good.
"Do you trust me?" he asks.
"Yes," I say without hesitation.
He cups the back of my neck and crashes his lips to mine and it's at this moment I know I'd do anything for him the way I know he would for me.
And that should probably scare me a lot more than it does.
But I blame my lack of inhibition.
It's not the first time Wilder's dragged me somewhere questionable while I was supposed to be watching over him. Over the summer when he went back to drinking for a few months, we ended up at a party in some random barn, and I swear we were the oldest people there. The worst part is the barn was home to pigs and it smelled so bad, I had to walk out several times for fresh air.
So in theory, as long as he doesn't take me to a pig barn, it can't be that bad.
However, there's always a chance to be proven wrong.