Every Kiss(39)

Sometimes it helps if I check the weather on TV, just to be reassured that everything is going to blow over uneventfully. So I roll out of bed and head to the living room, but first, I stop to peek in Wes’ room. The strobe-like flashes of lightening brighten his room, and he appears to be sleeping soundly. He’s lying on his stomach with his arms wrapped around his pillow, and the sheets are dangerously low on his back, exposing just the beginning of the curve of his butt.

Wow.

Tearing myself away, I finally sink into the couch and click the power button on the remote. It takes me a few minutes to find the weather, but I’m wishing now that I hadn’t bothered. The bright green blobs heading in our direction are filled with violent streaks of yellows and reds. And there’s another line of them coming right behind it. Not reassuring at all, thankyouverymuch.

Another roaring boom echoes through the house, and I let out a little squeal, covering my mouth with both hands after I do. I’ll be fine. I just need to go back to bed, pull the covers over my head, and wait it out. I’m a big girl.

I almost make it to my room when I hear his groggy voice call out to me. “Cal, everything okay?”

I peek back into his room. He’s sitting up and rubbing at one eye. The long hair on top of his head is pointing in every possible direction. “Uh, yeah. Sorry if I woke you up. Storms freak me out.”

He falls back onto his pillow and stretches. “You didn’t wake me. The thunder did.” He pats the empty space on the mattress next to him. “Come on. Hop in.”

“I’ll be fine. I just got up to check the radar, and I’m going back to bed now.” I start to walk out.

“If you don’t get in this bed, I’m going to get up and put you in it.”

I sigh, hoping it comes across to him as defeated, but I know the truth. It’s relief. “Fine.”

I walk to the other side of the bed and judge the height, trying to figure out if there’s any remotely graceful way to get up there. But no. It looks like I’m just going to have to jump like a little dog until I make it.

“There’s a wood rail on the side,” he says into his pillow. “You can use it as a step, shorty.”

Pulling the blankets back, I see it and do as he suggests. Works like a charm. “Goodnight, Wes.” I stay all the way on my side, so there’s practically a mile between us. I know he sleeps naked, so I don’t want anywhere near him. Okay, yeah, I do, but he weakens my resolve too much.

I lie here quietly, listening to the rain tapping the window with an occasional pellet of hail. Normally, I’d be spazzing out, but I can also hear the slow rhythm of Wes breathing, growing deeper and deeper as he drifts back to sleep. It calms me, knowing he’s right here.

Well, I am calm until the thunder crashes again. I don’t know how it didn’t break all the windows in the house. I curl tighter into my pillow just as Wes rolls toward the middle of the bed. His arm hooks around my waist and drags me against him, enveloping me in the safe, warm cocoon of his arms. The blankets have managed to stay between us, thankfully, but I can still feel the comforting heat radiating from his body.

And that’s all I need to forget the storm and drift into blissful sleep.





“YOU’RE TELLING ME that you stayed the night at Wesley’s house last night? Are you kidding me?”

I get why she’s stunned. I do. But she acts like I don’t know how to make responsible decisions for myself sometimes. “How did you not know this? I thought Wes called Shane.”

“He did. But he only asked if I’d be coming home last night. He didn’t mention anything else about it. After that, he and Shane talked about what all they have to do Saturday.”

I close my book and fall back on my bed. Finally finished with my homework, I’m more than ready for a nap. Makenna just now got home, so I’ve had most of the day to myself. I thought it would make an easy day to get my work done, but it’s been quite the contrary. Every time I move my hair, I catch a hint of Wes’ scent. Distracting doesn’t even begin to cover it. He’s been on my mind all day.

True to his word, he woke me up early. He just didn’t know that I was awake as soon as he rolled out of the bed and walked into the closet. Let me say that the rerun is just as good as the first showing. Somehow, it was made even better by the fact that I watched it all from his bed.

Half an hour later, he came into the room fully dressed, holding a mug of coffee. “Wake up, pretty girl.”

“I’m awake,” I grumbled. “And my ego doesn’t like to be stroked this early in the morning.”