Wes pulls me in closer, so our noses touch. “Teaching me how to love for sure.”
His lips crash with mine, and for the first time in my life, I have the perfect Valentine.
I might not have known what this college coed experience was going to be. Living with my brother’s best friend was not what I’d thought it would be.
It was better.
So much better.
And I wouldn’t change a thing.
Epilogue
Two Years Later
“You’re late!” Wes says from inside of the house.
I close the front door to the condo and toss my keys on the hook. I’m rushing inside with tote bags dangling from my arms.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I rush up to Wes, who is leaning against the back side of the sofa and tapping on his watch. I give him a kiss on the cheek and then haul ass into our room.
“You have fifteen minutes,” he calls out, rather annoyed.
I’m undressing as I walk through the room, shucking off my shoes and leaving a trail of clothes in my wake. He won’t be happy with the mess, but we can worry about it later.
I’m not one to run this late, but I just couldn’t leave my job at the Botanical Garden.
When it was time to pick an internship, I lost out on my two top choices—the conservation society or the zoo—and found a spot at the Department of Labor. At first, I didn’t think I’d like it, but I quickly figured out it was the perfect place for me to be. I learned more about conservation and forestry than I would in any textbook, and I enjoyed the people as much as the education. When I graduated, they offered me a job, and I took it. It’s an incredibly low-paying job, but it’s definitely been a step in the right direction.
“I had every intention of leaving work two hours ago, but there is a project on reexamining the underbrush of northern California fires and how the risk of wildfires might outweigh the risk to the ecosystem,” I say as I grab my black dress off the hanger in the closet and slide it on.
My hair is still curled from when I went to work earlier, and I’ll have to touch up my makeup in the car.
Shoes. I need shoes. Crap. Where did I put my black heels?
I fall to the floor and start pillaging through my shoe rack, desperately looking for the stilettos I got from Nicole for my birthday last year.
“Anyway …” I continue as I toss a slipper over my shoulder and start to dig. Man, I really need to organize this space better. “They let me sit in on the speech preparation for a big presentation that’s happening in the capital on Monday. I’ve always been passionate about the economics of conservation, but seeing the politics behind it is fascinating. It’s like a real-life version of Madam Secretary or the West Wing.” I find one black shoe and raise my arm in a successful cheer, and then I realize I have to find the other. “I mean, you should see how many people it takes to prepare …”
My voice trails off when I see Wes standing in the doorway to our bedroom, leaning against the door, looking impossibly handsome in his navy-blue suit with no tie and a devilish smirk.
“I know I’m late. You can stop staring at me in judgment,” I say with a huff from my place on the floor.
He gives a slight shake of his head. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” His tone is deep and sincere.
I sit back on my heels and tilt my head. Throwing my hands in the air, I look at myself, mussing up my dress while I look haphazardly for a shoe. “I’m a mess. My dress could probably use a steam, my makeup is twelve hours old, and I’m sure my hair is stringy in the back.” I lift up my hand to show the one black heel. “And I only have one shoe.”
Wes doesn’t move. “And still, you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen.”
“Why do you love me so much?”
“Probably because you’re such a pain in my ass.”
His comment makes me laugh. I don’t know why really. Maybe it’s because it was preceded by him telling me how beautiful I am. Only a man like Wesley Knight can love the way he does. He adores my perks and my flaws.
“I love you.”
“You should,” he says with a raised brow.
He’s right. I do. I love this man hard. Not only has he opened up his heart, but he’s also opened his home to me, never making me feel like a visitor or just a girlfriend.
“I love you too.”
I pout a little because his words are so sweet.
Of course, that nice tone turns to a serious growl as he says, “Now, we’re both late.”
I turn my head and see my missing shoe. “Found it! We’re good. Let’s go!”
Standing up, I slide my shoes on and take a peek in the mirror. I look good but not great. Turning to my dresser, I grab my brush and start putting makeup in a bag when I feel warm hands on my arms, pulling me back.
Wes’s lips are on my neck as he sucks lightly on my skin, sending chills down my spine, straight to my core.
“What happened to us being late?” I muse as I fall into his chest.
“You look too good in this dress. I need to get you out of it.” His hands grip the fabric and raise it up to my waist.
“The party starts in twenty minutes, and it’ll take thirty minutes to drive to the restaurant.”
“Chad and Nicole will still be engaged when we get there.” He spins me around, and my hands rest on his broad chest and splay along the open-collared shirt. “You did get home from work late.”
“I did,” I pant as his hand moves inside my panties, touching the sensitive bud.
“And you couldn’t find your shoes.” He slides a finger inside and makes that come-hither motion that drives me wild.
I throw my head back and agree with my man by moaning out his name.
“Plus, I’m a selfish prick who desperately needs to make love to his woman.”
My ass is lifted onto the dresser, and his pants are undone in rapid time. His cock is buried so deep in me that my eyes roll to the back of my head, and I revel in the sensation of feeling him bare. We recently decided to let my birth control be the only means of protection between us, which was a big move. Having this intimacy has only made us feel like we’re closer than we’ve ever been.
He rolls his hips, and the movement makes my orgasm climb higher. I snake a hand around his neck and pull him in for a kiss. My breathing is too heavy, so I have to part and rest my forehead against his.
We hiss out sweet curses and repeat over and over how much we love each other.
When we’re done, we are more than fashionably late.
“To the happy couple!” my dad cheers from his table at Chad and Nicole’s engagement dinner.
We clink glasses and drink, watching as my brother and his bride-to-be kiss for the room of family and friends.
I get up and make my way over to them. Chad’s hair has grown out since his buzz cut and is brushed back stylishly. Nicole looks as beautiful as ever in a sweetheart neckline with a beautiful sapphire diamond on her finger.
“I can’t believe you two are getting married!” I cry as I hug them both. I might even have a few tears in the corners of my eyes. “It’s not even the wedding, and I’m getting all starry-eyed.”