He nodded. His forehead creased slightly, his eyes conflicted. “I don’t want you near them. Ever again.”
My next breath came out shaky. He tilted my chin up.
“But I will not demand that of you.” He kissed my forehead. “Ican’tdemand that of you. Even if I really fucking want to.”
My stomach growled, breaking the tension.
Wes dropped his hand. “I’m feeding you and then taking you home.”
Disappointment sank low in my gut. Despite my anger and confusion, I was still so fucking aroused, ithurt.I needed him. I couldn’t stand another week of this, even another day.
“My home, I mean,” Wes amended.
My whiny internal monologue ceased instantaneously. Wes grinned, as if he could read the entire psychodrama from merely my facial expressions.
We started walking again. I needed to tell Wes about Roman, but I couldn’t bring myself to ruin the night for a second time. IfI was honest about his disgusting advances, I knew Wes would worry. I suspected he would do far more than worry.
It was wrong of me, but I decided to keep it to myself, at least for tonight. I just wanted to resume the date we’d started—the one The Circle had hijacked.
So, I kept quiet about Roman and his masked golden circle, and I got my wish.
The moment I was alone with Wes again inside his home, the first thing I did was drop down to take off my shoes.
“Stay down there,” Wes said as I untied my second sneaker. “Untie my boots.”
My breath caught, my entire body buzzing from Wes’s tone shift. I reached for his right boot. Once both of our shoes were placed neatly by the front door, I was left before Wes on my knees.
Waiting.
When he looked down at me with a hand cradling my face, my breathing slowed and my heart steadied.
“So fucking beautiful,” he murmured. “Are you nervous about reading me your notes? Do not lie.”
“Yes.”
“Stand up.”
I stood, and Wes immediately lifted me into his arms and grabbed my purse from the wall hook. I wanted him to kiss me so badly, I was ready to beg him for it shamelessly.
He carried me to the couch and sat down with me on his lap. His thumb brushed against my bottom lip.
“I know something that might help.” With a hand on the back of my head, he tugged me down to hover an inch from his lips.His other hand was on my hip, his fingers almost to the curve of my ass.
His lips finally met mine, and all of me melted against him. He wasn’t gentle. His kiss was demanding, his teeth rough with my sensitive flesh when they captured my bottom lip. His tongue traced where he’d bitten, as if to soothe.
“Are you going to tell me immediately if I do or suggest something you do not like or don’t want to do?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yes. I promise.”
“Even if you think it’s what I want and you want to please me?” He gripped my face between his tattooed fingers.
“Yes.”
“Good girl.” His hand finally grabbed my ass, his hips shifting slightly. He looked down at where my center met his lap, the slit in my dress exposing the side of my lacy black panties. “We’re going to begin.” He handed me my notebook out of my bag he’d placed next to him.
I stared down at it, already cursing Past Nova for being so explicit and honest when I knew this day of reckoning would come.
“May I touch you, Nova?” Wes asked, breaking me out of my nervousness. “Here?” his fingers reached for the apex of my thighs, stopping just before making contact.
