Chapter 8
Wesley
I wake up with the afternoon sun shining in my eyes and Pierce’s arm slung around my waist and my back against his chest. It’s warm and intimate, so I soak it in. In all likelihood, the second he wakes up, he’ll regret everything we just did.
I don’t blame him. In another world, this wouldn’t be complicated. In another world, I could confidently turn around and wake him up with soft kisses before going down on him, making him come, and then cuddling before going to get some food.
But we live in this world where he’s my boss. We got swept away in the heat of the moment of an apology that is now over. I’ve forgiven him. And now we’ll go our friendly ways, I suppose.
I feel Pierce absentmindedly rubbing his thumbs over my abs. I stay calm despite the excitement rushing through me. What I would give to be in that other world where things could be different and he wanted the same. For all I know, he just wanted to get laid.
The truth is, I don’t know him. I had a one-night stand with him six months ago. We’ve spent the last while not really liking each other, and now we’re okay, but that doesn’t always translate to romance.
I hear a sharp inhale from behind me, and Pierce pulls his arm away and turns onto his back.
I turn over and watch him rub his eyes with the back of his hand and stretch. The blanket heading down south reveals his perfect Adonis belt. His dick tents the blanket, and I resist the strong urge to touch it.
Fuck, why does this have to be so hard?
Pun not intended.
I sit up in bed, watching Pierce's face as he remembers where he is. He looks up at me, and I swear a smile pulls at his lips, but he stamps that down and sits up next to me.
“We fell asleep,” he says.
“Yeah,” I say nonchalantly as if this is a common occurrence.
He gives me one last look before shifting off the bed and looking for his clothes. It’s silent in my bedroom as he pulls on his pants and shirt. He sits on the edge of the bed as he ties his shoes, and the tension in the room is unnerving. There’s an elephant in the room, and no one wants to acknowledge it.
The question: What now?
I rub the back of my neck before scooting to the edge of the bed, the blanket covering my bottom half.
Pierce looks at me and, with a grin, says, “Yes?”
I chuckle, but with no humor attached to it. Just nervousness. I want and don’t want the answer to my question. But since I can’t stand things being up for interpretation. I want to know exactly where we stand. I ask.
“What are we going to do?” My question stops Pierce's movements for a moment.
He thinks about it for a few seconds before tying his other shoe.
“I don’t know. I know that I’m still your boss and that this relationship thing is… I’m just not sure about it yet.”
“Is there something else we can do? Or should we just barely acknowledge each other.”
Pierce finishes tying his shoes and stands up, tying his tie.
“Well, I’d be interested in making up with you some more.”
His offer makes a shiver run down my spine.
Fuck, I want that.
I mean, I want romance, too, but if all I get is this, then maybe that’s enough?
Apparently, Pierce has got me in such a state that I’d accept a friends-with-benefits relationship with my boss. It’s stupid, but I can’t say no.
“Sure,” I say with all the casualness I can muster so I don’t sound too desperate.
I slip out of bed and grab my sweatpants, not missing how Pierce’s eyes track over me.
I look down at my dick, telling him to stand down or, so help me God, I won’t touch it for a week.
No, a month.
We leave my bedroom to see Minnie, eyes wide, blowing on her tea, her lips in an “O” as steam covers her face. Slowly, that “O” turns into a sly smile, and she starts giggling.
Fuck me, she’s never going to let me live this down.
“Hello, Minnie,” Pierce says, putting on his professional smile.
“Hiya,” she wiggles her fingers at him, and I look down at the floor. “You guys have a nice chat?” she asks with a sly smile.
I narrow my eyes at her, but she continues. “Not that I heard anything. You two were just in there for a long time.”
“Yes,” Pierce stutters. I can feel him looking at me. “Our… chat took longer than expected. But we’ve finished now.”
“Was it about your crush?” she asks.
What. The. Fuck. Minnie.
“Crush?” Pierce asks, intrigued.
“Yeah,” I look at Minnie, who sets her drink down because she’s a girl who likes to talk with her hands. “It was mentioned once or twice. I figured since you were his boss, maybe you knew and were… telling him off or something.”
Pierce can’t see the face I’m making at Minnie, miming for her to can it.
Then he turns to me, and I quickly put my hands down so he doesn’t see me running my thumb over my neck.
“I had no idea you had a crush on me, Wesley,” he says, smiling.
Is there some sort of a hole I can jump into and never return to?
It’s one thing to have a one-night stand with someone. It’s another for them to know you have a crush. That implies that you think of them a lot. And Minnie’s tone suggests I’m very close to being the guy who writes Mr. and Mr. Donnelley in his notebook with hearts. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but if we’re to maintain a professional/sexual relationship, I can’t be seen simping for the guy. Even though I kind of already am.
“Yeah, well. You say things when you’re drunk.” I lead Pierce to the front door as Minnie calls out, “You told me at like nine in the morning, dude!”
I roll my eyes, vowing to deal with her later.
I practically throw Pierce out, which makes me wince.
“Sorry,” I say as I shut the door behind us.
“Don’t worry about it. Your secret is safe with me.” Pierce is still smiling, which makes me feel a little better. He isn’t making fun of me, which I didn’t think he would, but you never know.
He steps towards me, my back against the door and his lips close to mine. His eyes seem to search mine for something, and once he's satisfied with whatever he’s looking for, he smiles and says, “It’s been a slice, Wesley. Thank you for accepting my apologies. See you tomorrow.”
And with that, he leaves me leaning against the door with a smile and a hard-on.