“Because the pictures got posted,” she reasons.
“Oswald, do you plan on seeing anyone else or hooking up with other people?”
“No,” he scoffs as if I’m dumb for asking.
I wait a second for that info to sink in, then add, “Me either.”
“But—” Waylynn starts, but I cut her off.
“But nothing, Waylynn. I’m trying to let you get comfortable so I know I’m not forcing you to do something you don’t want, but I need you to understand. You’re already ours, whether you get that or not.”
“Bro.” Oswald huffs, and I realize my statement is a mess of contradictions, but I don’t care, because I’m not willing to take it back. “We won’tforceyou into anything, Wavy.”
I don’t give her the same reassurance Oz does. I’m not sure I could at this point. If the last two days have proven anything, it’s that there’s no way I’m walking away from her, plus there’s another matter we need to deal with. “You need to email Hilbrand, tell her you reconsidered and you no longer want to drop the class.”
“There is that,” Oz admits, proving maybe he’s willing to do more than ask her nicely, despite what he said moments ago.
Waylynn lifts her chin and directs her eyes to my forehead. “No.” My fingers tighten on her arms, but she still doesn’t look at me.
“You can’t have both. I won’t be in that class and be…around you guys. If I decide to…let you be around.” Her brows furrow deeply. She’s fucking adorable, acting like she has a choice.
I slide my hands down her arms and circle her wrists instead while taking a step closer to her. Her breath catches when I invade her space and press my chest against hers. I can see the thrum of her racing pulse at the side of her neck. I get a thrill knowing I affect her so much. “I like having you in my class, like feeling your eyes on me.” It would be so easy to lower my lips to the side of her throat and taste her. Her head bobs a little when she swallows. “I really don’t want to give that up. Tell me why I should.”
“You could get in trouble,” she confesses in a sweet, soft voice with just the slightest tremble.
She just gave me everything I need to know. Even after what happened Saturday, she’s still concerned for me. I give into the temptation and lay my lips on her skin. She exhales with a shudder, and it only makes me want more, so I pull back before I sink my teeth into her skin to mark her. “Let me deal with it.”
Waylynn shakes her head before telling me, “No.” I have to admit, I don’t like it. It takes effort to tamp down the urge to convince her. I’m fairly certain I could, but I’ll let it go…for now.
I feel her hand tug to the side and look down to see Oswald pulling her fingers, so I release her wrists and give her a little breathing room.
“I don’t want you to drop the class either. I look forward to those classes. Plus, I’m always at practice, so this way I get to see you a little during the season and not just at night,” Oz reasons, and I see her soften even more when her shoulders slip down a little. Maybe I should let him persuade her on this. He’s not nearly as demanding as I am.
“Will you stay here for a little while?” he asks without pressuring her the way I would have.
She looks back at our shitty couch, then releases his hand before she lowers herself to sit demurely on the front edge, as if she might try to bail at any second. I hate the tension in her back and shoulders. I much prefer the way she was relaxed against me, but I can’t complain if she’s not leaving.
I sit down next to her and place my arm along the back of the couch, hoping she’ll get comfortable enough to sit back at some point. I meet Oswald’s eyes and tip my head, so he knows I want a second alone with her. I’m not worried about her seeing, because she’s working hard not to look at me, which I hate.
As much as I would rather forget what happened after the game, we need to address it. “Be right back.” Oswald gives me a warning glare before heading back to the bedroom.
“Waylynn,” I say the moment he’s out of sight.
“Mmm,” she hums.
“I don’t want you to be mad at me.” I use words I know she will understand because she’s said them to us more than once. It must break through the wall she’s trying to keep between us, because she turns her head and actually examines me.
“I’m not mad…not anymore,” she adds.
“I’m sorry I hurt you.” She blinks rapidly. I don’t think she was expecting me to say that to her, at least not right now.
“I understand. I could have been less defensive.” She takes some of the blame unnecessarily.
“No, you had every right after how I spoke to you.” I always want her acquiescence, but not like that. Not only because I demand it, but because I earned it. “The bottle brought back old memories, and I reacted poorly.”
“I understand, but I got defensive too.” She’s barely whispering, but she’s at least still looking at me.
“It won’t happen again,” I promise with every intention of keeping it.
