Chapter 16 Wesley
Wesley
I was so close.
So close to fucking kissing her, my heart pounded as I shifted my body towards her, the leather creaking underneath me.
The smell of her perfume, a subtle, sweet scent of berries, drew me closer.
Strawberries, my new favourite smell.
I wanted to bury my face in the curve of her neck, flick out my tongue and see if she tasted the same.
Her lips parted, her warm breath fanning across my face, the need to pull her closer, chase every whimper, drown in the taste of her lips.
Fantasising over her wasn’t enough, my hand wrapped around myself, spilling my load to the vision of her. It wasn’t enough. Not this time.
I’d beg, get on my hands and knees, and plead for the real thing.
I wanted every taste, every one of her moans and whimpers.
Yet I couldn’t even kiss her, stop her from leaving.
Jesus, I was fucking hopeless at this. I should have just kissed her there and then, maybe she wouldn’t have picked up her phone, read his fucking text and left.
I watched her walk away. Seeing him reach out for her, as he swayed up the steps, clearly drunk. Here I am standing in my kitchen, staring out the window, trying to work out what’s going on between them.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out I’ve got a jealous streak. I never used to be like this, but betrayal leaves a mark that can’t be erased. Before I could stop myself, I tugged up my hoodie, pulling the hood tight to cover my face.
Anyone would know it was me under here.
Slipping out the back door, keeping low and in the shadows, my back presses up against the wall of my house as I edge around the corner, heart hammering in my chest, until I stop outside my bedroom window.
Directly opposite hers.
I’m like a stealth moving slowly towards her porch, hauling myself up and over.
Tristan would call this stalking, but I’d call it observation.
Flattening my back to the side of her house, I move towards the living room window, happy to see she still has no curtains, only the small lamp casting a warm glow.
But then I see him, his hand gripping her chin, his neck stretched into her face.
Before I can stop myself, I’m gripping the door handle and throwing it open.
I stalk towards him, throwing my fist back, then plunging it straight into the side of his face with a crack, his head snaps to the side, legs buckling from under him.
His body hits the floor with a heavy thud, like someone had dropped a pile of books on a wooden floor.
This isn’t who I am, but she’s awakened something buried inside me. It had been a long time since I’d punched someone. Luckily for him, it wasn’t a hard hit, the chap was pissed up after all.
“Wesley,” Shannon gasps, her hands covering her mouth.
I twist at the hip and hook fuck face under his arms, helping him up. I drag him over towards the wall, leaning his body against it. His eyes droop, his mouth falls open and he moves his jaw from side to side, his fingers brush his cheek, gently rubbing the already darkened spot.
“You’ll live.” I pat him on the shoulder as I straighten up, knees creaking.
I’m far too old to be fighting. But it doesn’t stop me from saying the next words.
“Touch her again and you’ll wish you hadn’t.
” Barney groans, no doubt already suffering with a sore head and battered jaw.
Turning to face Shannon, she’s standing with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, like a shield.
“Hey?” I whisper, taking a few steps closer towards her. I gently reach out and turn her face to the side. There’s a faint bruise on her jawline. I drop my head in disgust. I could hurt him far worse for what he’s done.
“It doesn’t hurt,” she whispers, her hand resting over the top of mine. My eyes flick back to hers.
“I don’t fucking care if it doesn’t hurt, Shan.” The pads of my fingers brush her cheek. “He’s scum, a fucking coward.” Forcing the words to come out, remaining calm is hard when I’m raging inside.
I can feel it in the pit of my stomach, a fireball ready to erupt.
“Now, go to bed, and I’ll be right here,” I say firmly.
“What? What do you mean, you’ll be right here?” Bless her for thinking I’d leave fuck face here alone with her.
“I’m going to let him sleep it off, then he can fuck off home.” She doesn’t argue, probably too exhausted. She walks away and closes her bedroom door with a soft click. I drag over one of the fold-up chairs and take a seat, settling down for the night. I want him gone before Shannon wakes up.
Taking a sip of my coffee as I watch Barney drive away over the rim of the mug, a smile curls on my lips.
He hardly said a word when I pointed to the door and handed him his car keys.
He even told me to tell Shannon he’d call her, but he soon changed his mind when I warned him, telling him it was in his best interests if he didn’t contact her again.
I step inside and set my mug down, glancing at my watch.
It’s 7am. I decide to go home and grab a quick shower because I have plans for me and Shannon today. I just hope she’s up for it.
Later, I’m in town feeling fresh as a daisy and ready to start my day with a certain girl. I pull up to the small bakery and drop Frank a text, telling him to take half a day as I wouldn’t be in, and it’s a first for me, so I wasn’t surprised when the news triggered a phone call from him.
“Have you got the shits?” He doesn’t let me get a word in, just continues to talk over me about a stomach upset I don’t even have. “Don’t come in spreading that shit,” he says.
“Frank, my stomach’s fine. I’m just having the day off.” The line goes quiet, he’s probably thinking something’s going on.
“What’s wrong with ye lad?” I roll my eyes, half listening to him drone on. Thankfully, the lights in the bakery flicker on, followed by the glow of the open sign.
“I’m fine. You can all have a half-day today.” I don’t give him a chance to respond, just end the call and toss my phone down on the passenger seat. I hop out of my truck as Mag’s the baker comes out, hanging up the boards with today’s specials.
“Morning,” calling out to him with a smile tugging at my lips. I was already excited for the day, hopefully it won’t take much to convince Shannon to spend the day with me, because she deserves it after fuck face pulled his dirty moves on her last night.
“Morning, Wes,” he chirps. Normally, I’d offer no more than a grunt, but this morning, he got the better version of my usual self.
“How’s it going?” I ask, following him inside, waiting as he slips behind the counter.
The smell of fresh bread, yeast and sugar greets me, the tell-tale sign Mag’s has probably been up since 4 a.m. baking. My stomach rumbles as I eye the delicious display.
“Good. Not used to seeing you in town this early.” He wasn’t wrong. I did everything I could to avoid town; usually, the lads would pop in and grab what we needed. I scan the shelves, landing on the strawberry cupcakes, the smell reminding me of Shannon. They were definitely on my list.
“Grab me a couple of those strawberry cupcakes, two BLT’s, and… two cheese salad baguettes, please.”
Mag’s bags everything up for me, and I’m out the door, pulling up outside my house in no time, ready to start the day with her. Maybe I’m being presumptuous, but it was worth a try.
Who could refuse a picnic when the weather was set to be another record high? This was my chance to show her I wasn't a complete tosser.
I knew just the place to take her.
Climbing the steps to her front porch, her door is open.
Wrapping my knuckles against the frame, I can hear her voice.
“Wesley?” Shannon greets me, all smiles, bright and breezy. Her thick dark hair piled on top of her head in a messy bun.
Fuck, she’s so sweet.
Her oversized shirt hangs off one shoulder, my eyes catching a glimpse of her bra strap. I knew full well Shannon didn’t like wearing a bra.
But obviously, she thought he was still here when she woke up, and the thought of him seeing how perfect her tits were without a bra didn’t sit well.
A view he didn’t deserve.
“Moooorning,” I sing out loud and cheerful.
Shannon sends me a smile, a faint blush dusting her pretty cheeks. Yesterday I caught her checking me out, so selfishly, I threw on a thin, fitted T-shirt, the fabric stretching tight across my chest and biceps.
Poser. I wasn’t, but for her I’d pull out all the stops. I liked the way she looked at me.
I fake a stretch, my muscles flexing.
Was I overstepping?
Fuck, yeah, I was.
“Would you like some coffee, Wesley?” I love the way she says my name, soft, polite, and sweet just like her.
“Nothing like the taste of your coffee first thing in the morning,” I say, finishing with a subtle wink.
Her eyebrows knit together in confusion, fair enough, it was the first time I’d had coffee with her.
But it wouldn’t be the last. Who the fuck am I? Where the hell did this boost of confidence come from?
“Here, let me.” Crossing the kitchen, brushing my fingers lightly across her lower back. A shiver passes between us, turning into a spark of heat.
“You like strawberries?” I ask, already knowing the answer, she had them on her wellies, after all.
Shannon glances up at me through her long lashes, just as I sink my teeth into my lower lip.
Another soft blush creeps across her cheeks; I fucking love the way she reacts to me.
“Yes,” she whispers breathlessly. My cock twitches behind my jeans.
Fuck, I’m desperate to touch her. I love seeing her like this. Now wasn’t the time to back out. It was all or nothing. I’m going in for the kill.
“Good. I’ve got two strawberry cupcakes for our picnic today.” She blinks several times like she’s trying to remember making plans with me, but I already decided for her, and I wasn’t leaving either way.
“You don’t have plans today?” My question comes out more like a demand.
“Nope, but it sounds like I do now.” She chuckles as I sip my coffee.
We stare at each other for a beat, my fingers brushing a loose strand of her hair from her face, slipping it behind her ear. I can’t stop touching her.
“Good,” is all I say, feeling pleased with myself. Tristan and Declan would be proud of my smooth moves.
“So… thanks for last night.” She sighs, patting me on the shoulder. “Sorry you had to step in.”
“Shannon, he had no right to hurt you.” Noticing the faint marks on the side of her jaw where he grabbed her it makes me feel feral with anger, but today is about us and getting to know each other. There’s no room for fucking idiots.
“We’re going on a picnic.” Letting go, I grab the bag from the kitchen island and open it, showing her everything I picked out for us.
“Now, go and get ready. Unless you’re good to head out now?” I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans, feet firmly rooted to the floor.
I wasn’t leaving or going anywhere without her.
She had two choices.
Come on this picnic, or stay here, with me.