A Guide to Being Just Friends(76)
Heat flooded her cheeks. “I haven’t gone out with him since early January. I already told him I had no intention of more dates.”
“But you said…” His voice trailed off.
“I’ve been going crazy trying not to want you, Wes.”
“This changes everything,” he said quietly.
Their exit appeared; Hailey switched lanes. “I know.” Please don’t change your mind. Please.
Wes’s fingers trailed up along her neck, touching the back of her ear. “You’re beautiful.”
Doesn’t sound like his mind is changing. Nerves made her scoff. “I’m dressed like a ma?tre d’. It’s hardly the gown—”
“Don’t.” His tone was gruff. “You’re stunning. Regardless of what you’re wearing. You are the only light I see.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Is that a rented tux?” They were close to his apartment now.
“Of course not. Why?”
She grinned at his tone then focused on the road. “I just wanted to know if I needed to be careful about ripping the buttons off.”
His laugh was deep, incredibly sexy. She felt absolutely giddy. The rest of the ride felt like a dream, like it couldn’t possibly be true, but as they walked-ran to his apartment from the parking garage, it all became more real.
He emptied his pockets when he got into his place, setting his keys, wallet, and cell phone where he always did before turning to face Hailey, who stood by the door. She slowly removed her purse, hung it on the wall hook.
Wes stepped toward her and as much as she wanted him, she was no longer willing to rush. She wanted to savor. To remember every minute of all of this.
Nerves, excitement, and happiness welled inside her like dozens of lights being flicked on. He stopped in front of her, his gaze on hers, his hand coming to her shoulder. With one finger, he traced her collarbone through her plain, button-up, white dress shirt. Heat streaked under his touch, over her skin. His eyes watched the path of his finger, which he brought down the center of her shirt to the top button. His gaze flickered to hers, making her breath catch.
“This changes everything. Our friendship. We can’t go back,” he whispered.
“That’s okay.” She stepped closer. “What I want is in front of me.”
Their mouths met, eager but soft, nearly reverent. His touch was electric and Hailey suddenly knew this was different than anything she’d experienced before. Their journey from the entryway to his bedroom was a slow dance of soft touches, deep kisses. The music was their combined breaths, the swish of clothing as it fluttered to the floor. When he came down over her on his bed, he used both hands to brush her hair away from her face. She didn’t even remember it coming out from the elastic.
She reached up, stroked her hand across his cheek. There was so much feeling building inside of her—she knew what this was, for her at least. She didn’t know if it would ever be love for him, but the way he looked at her, the way she felt in this moment, it redefined everything she’d thought she’d known about the word.
“You’re so much more than enough,” he whispered. His lips grazed her forehead, her cheekbone, butterflying across the bridge of her nose to the other cheek, down to her chin. Finally, his mouth came back to hers, his lips insistent.
She wasn’t sure if she said the words out loud but they flickered in her brain on repeat. You’re everything.
* * *
Hailey stared at the ceiling of Wes’s room, unable to keep the smile off her face. He nestled into her side, his breathing soft against her neck, his hand on her stomach. Life was full of moments that got built up to epic proportions only to fall flat or, at the very least, be nowhere near as great as hoped. This was not one of those moments. This was everything she’d hoped for, and even though she knew she was getting ahead of herself, it felt right. The long-term, white-dress kind of right she could see now she hadn’t had with Dorian. With anyone, until Wes. They fit. Saturday-night shopping, Sunday brunches, his family and hers. His contented sigh fluttered wisps of her hair. Here and now. Focus on that.
Her stomach growled. Loudly. Wes lifted his head, his gaze a sexy kind of sleepy that made her want to stay in his bed for good. His lips tipped up at the corners.
“I should feed you.” His voice was husky, his hair a mess.
“I wouldn’t say no to food.” But first. She leaned over, pressing her hand against his surprisingly defined chest. He didn’t love to work out like his brothers but that hadn’t stopped him from staying in very good shape. He was lean, sexy muscle beneath that tux. And she could kiss him anytime she wanted to.
His hands went into her hair as he flattened on his back. If her stomach hadn’t growled again, they likely would have been there longer. Instead, he grinned, pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose, and nudged her away.
“How about eggs?”
She watched him get out of bed, grab his boxers. When he caught her staring, his eyes darkened—the ocean at night with a hint of stars shining straight into her heart. Oh man, you’re in trouble. She’d decided to dive but hadn’t realized she’d launched herself right into the deep end.
He tossed his shirt at her. “Stop looking at me like that or we won’t get food.”
“Humans can last a surprisingly long time without food,” she told him, pulling the soft T-shirt over her head.