Chapter 23
23
WESTON
“ S hocking,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her as I reach forward to gently touch her hand.
Turmoil coils tightly behind her green eyes, but beneath it lies undeniable desire.
Which will win?
Can’t fucking wait to find out.
“You know, I thought we’d have at least a week minimum before you did this.” I keep my tone light.
“What does that mean?” Her brows rise. Confusion and curiosity dance across her pretty face.
“The chase is over, and you’re done, right? At least you can officially choose a new hall pass. Might have to call Jensen and warn him about you,” I say, tucking loose strands of her hair behind her ear. My fingers barely graze her skin.
Her nostrils flare with a hint of indignation. “You think I’m running away from you?”
“Yes. It’s what you do, but …”
My smile doesn’t fade as my gaze roams over her, pausing to linger on the light dusting of freckles gracing the bridge of her button nose. It’s squished in anticipation as she waits for my next words.
Fucking adorable.
“You’ll never escape me, Carlee. I’ve lived rent-free in your head for over a decade, and I will always be there. Even if you run.”
Her mouth opens as if she’ll refute my claim, but silence hangs heavily between us. I may have her wrapped around my little finger, but I’m chained to her. Neither of us can escape this. Tonight confirmed that for me. We’re in too deep, and I think she knows that too. This is how she protects herself from heartbreak.
I tilt my head sideways, a teasing glint sparking in my eyes. “Deny it. I’m waiting.”
“You know I can’t,” she whispers, her confession almost a plea.
“Exactly. So, we’ll keep playing this game until you decide you’re done. I’ll pretend I don’t want you, and you’ll pretend you don’t want me. We’ll have the most incredible, mind-blowing sex while living in delulu land.”
“But—”
I place my finger over her mouth.
“Gorgeous, you’ve got me, but know I’m not always going to give you what you want. And I will be a total dick about it too. Because, for some reason, you fucking love that, so we’ll continue this until you surrender. And just know, I don’t tire, Carlee. Fucking ever. We’re playing a brutal game of capture the flag, but you’re the flag.”
She studies me, remaining silent.
“Oh my God. I’m the problem. I’m a giant red flag,” she says, realization dawning on her like sunrise.
“If you’re a red flag, you’re the highest thread count there is,” I say, grinning.
“Weston, you can do better than me. You’re settling. And you’re going to grow bored or exhausted of me. One day, you’re going to wake up and see that.”
I brush my thumb delicately across her bottom lip, feeling her breath catch. “Now you’re changing tactics to try to convince me not to play the game. Sorry, babe. It’s not happening.”
“I’m a brat ,” she admits, a hint of defiance coloring her tone.
I tug on her hair, enjoying her feistiness. “And I fucking love brats.”
“Clearly!” She shakes her head. “What are we doing?”
“Whatever you want. Look, everything doesn’t have to be so serious. Live a little. Have some fun. The only decision that has to be made is what we’re doing right now because the future doesn’t exist. It’s not guaranteed. Choose to live in the moment with me … if you want,” I tell her, my voice inviting as I crawl out of bed to grab my boxers.
I pull my phone from my suit pants and set it on the bedside table to wirelessly charge. I feel the weight of her gaze lingering on me as I slide back between the sheets and pull the blankets over my body.
“Want some snuggles?” I ask, lifting the comforter, my tone casual but laced with something deeper, something both of us understand.
Carlee hesitates. “So, that’s it?”
“What else do you want me to say? You’re not pushing me away, even if you try.”
“And if you get tired of me?” she asks.
“Not possible. I want to spend every second with you.”
She crawls toward me, sliding her body next to mine. I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close, feeling her warmth pressed against me. Her presence is familiar and electrifying, and I feel a sense of comfort wash over me.
“You’re the best big spoon,” she admits, molding against me.
I inhale her hair and close my eyes. Exhaustion from the night—fuck, the entire weekend—crashes over me like a tidal wave. It washes away the chaos, and Carlee leaves a soothing calm in its wake .
“No contracts. No rules,” she whispers. “I desperately want to live in the moment with you, whatever that is.”
“Deal,” I say, nuzzling into her, interlocking my finger with hers, feeling the cool metal of the ring.
Carlee ditching her rules is music to my fucking ears. The chains she keeps locked around her heart are breaking away.
“One rule still stands.”
“Yes?” she breathes out. I can almost hear her heart racing.
“You’re mine. And only mine.”
“Are you claiming me, Calloway?” She tilts her head back.
I smile against her sweet skin, savoring her. “Yes, I fucking am. I play to win.”
The silence drifts over us, and I almost fall asleep again.
Her voice cuts through the stillness. “I’m Catwoman, aren’t I?”
This causes me to chuckle. “You are a thief in the night.”
She smiles. “Yeah? What did I steal?”
“The impossible,” I mutter against her ear, and she lets out a content sigh.
We both know she stole my heart, but she isn’t ready to acknowledge it yet.
One day, she will.
I hold on to that thought like a beacon in the night as I drift away to dreamland with her snuggled in my arms. It feels right, the way it should be.
I wake up to the sun rising over the horizon, the golden rays spilling into the room. The sky is painted with vibrant oranges and pinks, and it feels like a new beginning. A fresh canvas. I grin, tearing my gaze from the beauty outside .
I reach over where Carlee was sleeping, and the mattress is cool.
I never felt her leave.
I let out a breath, staring at the ceiling ,when I hear the distant sound of a cabinet shutting, followed by the grinding of coffee beans.
After sliding on some joggers, I go downstairs, my curiosity guiding my steps. What I find stops me in my tracks. There she is, with a steaming cup of coffee cradled in her hands as she looks out the large windows overlooking Central Park. The morning light dances across her features, illuminating her delicate shoulders. I love how my T-shirt hangs loosely on her slender frame. As my eyes trail down her body, I catch a glimpse of pink lace panties beneath.
Her laptop is open at the bar, the cursor blinking mindlessly.
I love to fucking see it; knowing that she’s trying makes me so proud of her.
My eyes quickly scan over what she has.
My LuxBabies. Have you missed me?
I know you may be wondering where I’ve been. Where do I start?
I focus back on Carlee. Her wavy, messy hair is flipped over to one side. She’s a beautiful masterpiece that I could stare at all day.
“Good morning,” I mutter, making my presence known.
“Hi. Morning.” She glances at me, then quickly looks away, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.
I smirk, moving farther into the kitchen to pour myself a cup of coffee.
Now she’s acting shy. Fucking adorable. I can’t get enough of her.
“How’d you sleep?” I ask, feeling proud that I held her through the night, cherishing every second of her being so fucking close to me.
“Great, actually. The best sleep I’ve had in literal years. You might be magic,” she admits as the rich aroma of coffee fills the room.
“You’re always invited to join me,” I explain, leaning against the counter to watch her.
The sunlight streams in through the window, casting a warm glow on her face.
“Have you thought about your wish list? Now that we’re getting married, I’d like to start knocking things off it.”
“Weston, we’re not getting married.” She chuckles.
“Okay,” I say, grabbing my cup of coffee and joining her in front of the tall windows.
A blanket of snow covers Central Park. Its white surface glistens under the sunlight, but it’s beginning to melt.
“We’re not!” she insists.
I take her hand, kissing the ring that graces her finger. “Okay.”
I watch the diamond catch the light, shimmering like a distant star before I return to her gaze. “But what if we did?”
She snatches her hand from my grasp. “You’ve already had one shitty marriage. Your next one should be the real deal.”
“ Okay. ” My response comes out sultrier than I intended.
She tilts her head, curiosity lighting her eyes. “Is that your word of the day?”
I shrug.
“Perfect. I want to cash in one of my wishes then,” she says, shooting me a smoldering look.
“Okay?” I lift a brow, suddenly intrigued.
“Play for me,” she requests, her voice enticing. “Please. I’ve been staring at this piano all morning, and I want to hear it.”
“ Okay ,” I mutter, setting my mug on the bar with a clink.
“Pretty please?” she asks, looking up at me with puppy-dog eyes.
How can I deny her?
“You’d better be glad you’re cute,” I tell her .
The truth is, she’s my best friend, and I’ll give her whatever she wants.
With a smirk, she hooks her pinkie with mine, then guides me to the grand piano in the center of the room. “You haven’t forgotten how to play, have you?”
“No.”
I place my hands on her hips and lift her effortlessly to sit on top of the polished surface of the piano. Carefully, I pull the bench seat forward and part her legs, revealing her barely there panties clinging to her delicate curves. Her tiptoes balance on the edge of the keys, teetering with anticipation.
“Mmm. I’m suddenly feeling extremely inspired ,” I say, licking my lips.
“Really?”
Carlee hooks her fingers in the hem of her T-shirt, removing it and revealing herself to me. Her perky little nipples stand at attention, exposed to the air. I breathe deeply as I place my fingers on top of the keys.
“What would you like to hear, gorgeous?” I ask, looking up into her eyes, pressing my face against her, inhaling her essence. The only barrier keeping us apart is the thin fabric of her panties. I grab the material gently with my teeth and tug until it pops back onto her.
She keeps herself propped upright with a glint in her gaze. “Anything. I’m not picky,” she whispers.
Für Elise. A classic.
At first, I start slow, my fingers hesitant, knowing I haven’t touched the keys in over four years, but it’s a skill that lies dormant, never forgotten. I pause, cracking my fingers to shake off the rust before I return, sitting up straighter, my body awakening. At one point in my life, I thought I’d never play again. Lena hated every note I struck.
With renewed confidence, I continue, my fingers flying over the high notes, the twinkling reminding me of a music box .
“Beethoven wrote this song for a woman he wanted to marry,” I say, my voice a low murmur as I stop to peel her panties to the side, needing to taste her.
She’s already so fucking wet for me as anticipation simmers between us. My fingers fly back to the keys, the song growing more intense as she greedily chases her orgasm, the melody intertwining with the mounting tension in the room.
Carlee moans, a sound that resonates deeply within me, and I hum against her, relishing in our sweet symphony. I only withdraw my tongue when I feel her tense beneath me. Her panties are drenched with her arousal.
“It wasn’t published while he was alive, only discovered forty years after his death,” I offer, my eyes closed as I lose myself in the melody surrounding us. “You taste so fucking good,” I whisper, my voice husky, before returning my mouth to her.
I dive deeper into the intoxicating rhythm of her body, enjoying that I have so much control over her, even though she pretends I don’t.
“Wes,” she breathes, her head falling back in surrender, exposing the delicate curve of her neck as she arches toward me.
The notes ring through the penthouse, their vibrations dancing off the walls, mingling with her sweet moans.
It’s literal music to my motherfucking ears.
“I think you’ll get the extended version today. Panties off for me, gorgeous,” I command, kissing the inside of her thighs, my fingers dancing across the piano keys.
Carlee does as I said, wiggling them off her body, allowing the fabric to drop to the floor like a forgotten note.
“Ass on the edge, like a good girl. Steady yourself for me.”
“Keep playing,” she hisses, surrendering to my tongue, giving me everything she has to offer.
I suck and lick every inch of her as I match the song’s tempo. I fucking savor her, savor this.
“Mmm,” I growl, aware that she’s right on the brink of losing herself. “No, no,” I mutter, kissing her clit gently, feeling her pulse beneath my lips. “Not yet. We’ve got at least three more minutes left.”
With a smile, I pull away, my fingers pounding harder into the keys.
“You want me to beg?” she pleads, her breath hitching as I tease her with my breath before I plunge my tongue inside her, claiming her.
“Mmm. My greedy fucking girl,” I mumble between sucks and kisses.
“Wes, please.”
Her body trembles with anticipation. I close my eyes, continuing the song by memory, lost in the allure of her as Carlee screams out my name. The encore continues, the crescendo rising as she slides off the lid of the piano, her ass landing against the keys with a beautiful, jarring sound.
I can barely focus, my concentration fraying as I lift my hips so she can remove my joggers and boxer briefs. She pushes them to my ankles. Carlee straddles me. Her movements are deliberate as she slides onto my cock.
“Fuck,” I gasp, looking up into her eyes, shimmering with need as she guides me deep inside her.
“Play until the end,” she demands breathlessly as she slides up and down me. Her fingers tugging roughly through my hair as she rides me.
“Take what you need,” I whisper, the words slipping from my lips. Then I capture her nipple in my mouth.
“Yes, yes,” she urges.
I lift her ass, slamming her into the keys with each thrust as we frantically chase our ends. Together, we’re lost in each other’s magnetic pull.
As I raise her leg, driving deeper inside, she wraps her arms around my neck, her breath hot against my ear as she whispers, “I’m so close. ”
With an earth-shattering gasp, I pull out, losing myself on her stomach as she leans back against the piano, surrendering completely.
I stare at her, barely able to catch my breath. The aftermath of our passion swirls around us.
We lost control.
She glances down at my release dripping down her body, desire still flickering in her eyes.
“I wanted you inside of me,” she murmurs.
I meet her gaze, and the silent conversation between us is loud and clear, each unspoken word hanging heavily in the air.
“Fuck,” I breathe out, realization dawning. “You want me to give you a baby?”
Her mouth opens and closes, but I see her hidden desires written on her face. Her expressions always give her away.
Carlee turns and moves to the kitchen to clean herself up, her shoulders tense. I pull up my joggers and follow her, the air thick with unsaid words.
“It was a moment of passion,” Carlee admits.
The thought of putting a baby inside her puts me in a fucking choke hold.
Our eyes stay locked until I pull her into me, holding her. “The day you say those three words to me and mean it, I’ll keep you pregnant,” I mutter in her ear, my breath warm against her skin.
A small gasp escapes her as she holds me tight, not daring to let me go. “I don’t know if I can, Wes.” Vulnerability laces her words.
“You will, and when you do …” I stop mid-sentence, not having to finish my thought. The weight of this revelation lingers tightly between us.
Carlee glances over at her laptop, and uncertainty washes across her features. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
I search her face, waiting as the seriousness of her mood takes hold.
“Whoever stole my laptop knows about our friendship, along with every time we’ve met up, and I think they’re aware that I run LuxLeaks too,” she confesses, her voice shaking.
“How do you know?”
“Lexi texted me this morning about this brand new website that was just created,” she says, reopening the screen and typing the address into the browser. Her face pales.
“ Obsessed with Weston Calloway dot com ?” I say, sitting on the stool in front of her laptop. I chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “Love the address.”
She shakes her head. “It’s cheesy! Whoever came up with this sucks. I guess your name has better SEO than Carlee Jolly though. Anyway, they’ve published every single journal entry here that mentions you. All of my most private thoughts about you .”
I can hear the worry in her voice and see it etched on her face.
“Carlee. It will be okay.” I grab her hand and pull her closer.
“My thoughts weren’t for anyone’s entertainment,” she whispers, and I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly as if to shield her from her own confessions. “People are saying I’m obsessed.”
I chuckle lightly, trying to ease the tension. “Are you?”
“No,” she hisses, looking at me incredulously.
I smile, unable to resist the pull of her energy. “You sure about that?”
“I’m being serious. Not everything I said about you was great and glowing. And my biggest fear is you’ll read it and hate me.” Her voice drops to a near whisper.
“Never,” I say firmly, swallowing hard against the knot in my throat. “Were you honest and truthful?”
“Yes.” She glances away from me, unable to hold eye contact.
I tilt her chin upward with a single finger, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Your truths are yours regardless of how it’s delivered. I can handle your criticisms. I’ve been doing it for years .”
“I think you should read it so you’re not blindsided if someone mentions it to you,” she says, sounding defeated, her shoulders sinking. “I’m so sorry.”
I lean closer and read the top of the website.
Alleged journal entries from Weston Calloway’s new fiancée, Carlee Jolly.
Read her private thoughts from when she met Weston and leading up to their recent engagement.
“I’ve got my team on this. They’re doing whatever they can to find out who’s behind this. Might take them about a month, but when I learn who it is, because I will, they will pay,” I say between gritted teeth, feeling an overwhelming surge of anger from seeing her so upset.
Carlee pulls up the LuxLeaks website, her fingers trembling. “They used the same layout as my LuxLeaks website. It feels like a clue. Like whoever is behind this knows the truth. What should I do? Let them continue to monetize us? Deny I wrote it? I’m freaking out. I’m worried about the videos getting leaked or them exposing that I’m LadyLux. I have a lot on the line.”
She starts to hyperventilate, and I stand to wrap my arms around her.
“I’ll text it to my publicist and legal team and see what we can do,” I assure her firmly, wanting to comfort her. “We’ll figure it out, I promise. I also know some people who can hack the website and get it shut down.”
“The damage is done. You won’t be able to erase everything.” Her face turns bright red. “They’ve structured our friendship like it’s a modern-day love story. It already has thousands of views in hours. The world has already written our story.”
“No. You wrote our story,” I say, smiling as I glance at the screen. “Right here. These are your beautiful, powerful words that are setting the stage for us. No one else’s. Not even LadyLux’s. Yours, babe. Thousands of people are reading Carlee Jolly right now. Kinda jealous, to be honest. You’re my favorite writer.”
She swallows hard. “Spoken like my number one fan. ”
I shoot her a wink. “You know it.”
“Always finding the bright side of things. How do you do that?” she asks, smiling.
“Just proving that I’m not the evil twin,” I say, easing the conversation away from her anxiety.
“Thank you,” she whispers. “You always save me before my thoughts have me crashing.”
“I always will.” I press my lips against hers. I gently move her hair over her shoulder and meet her eyes. “I’m suddenly in the mood for pancakes.”
I shut the laptop and turn my full attention to her.
“I don’t like you being exposed like this,” I say. “Whatever you said about me doesn’t matter. I’m really sorry you’re going through this, and I somehow feel like it’s my fault. Someone must have been watching us to know we’d been meeting and targeted you to get to me.”
“Or maybe they found out about LuxLeaks and want to ruin me personally for all the things I’ve written about. You were just a bonus. My journal is the juiciest thing they’ve found so far. And I can’t point blame anywhere but at myself for being so careless. Neither of us asked for this.” She lets out a frustrated huff. “Weston, I called you a pretentious asshole. A cocktease. I wrote in detail about how you were frustrating and stubborn.”
“And? I am all of those things. So are you.”
Her face cracks into a smile despite the circumstances. “That’s fair.”
“When you’re with me in any capacity, whether as friends or lovers, there will always be some publicity stunt to wedge us apart. I can’t keep people in my life because of it.” I grab her cheeks gently in my palms, looking deep into her eyes. “Only the strong survive. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she whispers, her conviction unwavering. “I’ll be okay. I’m spiraling, but I don’t crack under pressure.”
“Diamonds are formed from pressure. And, oh, how you shine,” I say, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “It will take more than you calling me an asshole or stubborn or frustrating to upset me. I hear that from Easton daily.”
Her eyes twinkle, and a hint of resilience returns as her shoulders relax. I refuse to be the cause of any more of her stress.
“Thank you,” she says.
“If it’s your truth, fuck it. I will always support your truth over my feelings.” I gulp down the rest of my coffee, now barely warm. “I think I’d like chocolate chip pancakes today with whipped cream. Need to change.”
I head out of the kitchen, but she doesn’t directly follow behind me.
“You’re joining me today, fiancée. Get dressed,” I call back over my shoulder as I take the stairs.
“Fake! You forgot the word fake ,” she hollers back, but I can tell she’s smiling.
“Okay,” I yell, my voice echoing off the walls upstairs.
Carlee Jolly will be the fucking end of me, and I want her to be.