“What’s wrong?”
“I thought we weren’t doing a sexy sleepover.”
He smiles against my cheek, nibbling on it. “We aren’t.”
“Well, you turned me on the minute you walked in, so you may need to allow me to take a cold shower.”
His laugh is low and dirty as he pulls away, cupping my face. “It’s hard. I missed you and I want you. Deeply.”
I smile, covering his hand with mine. “I missed you, and same. But…” I draw out. “If we’re still on this wait-to-tell-Aiden kick, that means you wouldn’t want me climbing you like a tree and rocking the hell out of your world. Which means you need to give me some space.”
“I always want that.”
“Exactly. So, am I climbing or showering?”
“Showering,” he says reluctantly, and then he snorts, “The good kid.”
I grin. “She said to use condoms.”
His laughter trails behind me as I head into his bathroom. I start the water, and when I turn, he is walking in with towels. “How was your day?”
I shrug, remembering how shitty Lake was to me. “It was okay. Good night. I made tons of money, even without my regular.”
I waggle my brows at him, and he grins. “I would have tipped more than all of them.”
“You don’t have to anymore,” I remind him, and he laughs.
“I still will if you’re waiting on me.”
“You’re too kind,” I say, undoing my hair. It comes down in a curtain of thickness, and I move it off my shoulder. “But then my night went to shit. You remember Lake, right?”
He nods. “The party we went to.”
“Yeah,” I confirm, pointing at him. “Well, he called. Apparently he went to sign up for summer classes, and we usually keep the same schedule, but I withdrew, and they told him that.”
“Is that legal to tell your business?”
“He’s sleeping with the registrar.”
He makes a face. “Well, that’s unfortunate for you.”
“It is. He was pissed. Told me I betrayed him and was awful to me. Never asked what I was doing instead or anything. Just blamed the fact that since I have a boyfriend now, I don’t care about anything else.”
“That’s bullshit, though.”
“I know, but I got in my head, and now I’m scared again to tell my parents. Not that I was doing it anytime soon, but I had some confidence building.”
He nods. “I get that, but you can’t let him ruin this for you. Obviously, he wasn’t a good friend. He didn’t even ask what your plans were. He made it about him.”
“I know,” I say softly. “But it sucks.”
“Don’t use his reaction as an excuse not to tell your parents. They aren’t Lake.”
I look up at him. “How are you going to call me out like that?”
He grins. “’Cause I know you, my surprising Stella, and I won’t stand by and let you not live up to your potential. The same way you wouldn’t let me.”
I purse my lips at him. “I don’t like you.”
He takes me by my arm, pulling me hard and fast against him. He brings his hand up, grasping my jaw tightly, his eyes burning into mine and leaving me breathless. Jesus.
Do I call him “Daddy” now?
But…I know something isn’t right. “Don’t say that,” he mutters against my lips, his eyes closed.
I smile. “I was joking.”
He nods as he opens his eyes, and they’re swirling with something that is not good. Not his usual desire or anything like that. His face is scrunched up, and he looks confused. Or…wait, that’s fear. “I know. I’m sorry if I freaked you out by grabbing you like that.”
I pause. “Wait, you didn’t do this for sexy time?”
His eyes burn into mine. “No, I did it because I’m scared.”
Well, talk about a bucket of ice water on me. I back up a bit in his arms. “Oh.”
He’s shaking. His eyes are wild as he explains, “When I was younger, my stepmom used to tell me all the time that she didn’t like me, that my dad didn’t like me. I don’t know what it is about that phrase, but it fucks with me.”
We’re both breathing hard, our eyes locked. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. I’ll never say it again.”
He nods. “Thank you.”
“And you better never grab me like that again unless it’s for sexy time,” I warn, and his eyes darken.
“I promise. I’m sorry. It happened so quickly.”
“It did. That’s why I didn’t kick you in your dick,” I say, allowing him to hold me as he is. Mostly because I love it. I love how strong he is to pull and throw me around like a rag doll.
But only in a sexy way.
“I’ll never do it again.”
“Except for sexy time.”
But he doesn’t agree with me. He only asks, “Did I hurt you?”
“Not at all, Wes. Calm down,” I urge, hearing his breathing out of control. “You’re fine. We’re fine.”