I breathed in his intoxicating scent and tasted his salty skin as his body began to lightly sweat. I brought his mouth back to mine and kissed him deeply, expressing my love for him as best as I could in that one passionate embrace. My hands slid into his hair and ran through his short dark locks as he kissed me back, a groan tearing from his throat. I was lost in a state of bliss as Wes's lips mirrored my own. Taunting and teasing my lips, his tongue meeting my own in sensual, intimate strokes as he explored every inch of my mouth.
A shiver of pleasure rocked my body and a tingling feeling flashed through me and I felt as though every once of my body was on fire. Wes placed his forehead against mine and looked deeply into my eyes as he thrust into me three more times before releasing a throaty groan as I followed him over the edge, my nails gripping into his back, crying out, as we lost ourselves to the sensations riding throughout our bodies. Wes collapsed on top of me gently, his breathing labored as he shifted off of me, pulling me with him so that I lay across his perspired chest. I placed a kiss to his chest and smiled up at him. He looked down at me and broke into a wide grin that took my breath away.
"I love you," I told him, placing my hands on his chest and resting my chin on top of them.
"I love you, too." Wes told me softly, his voice full of promise. He ran a hand through my hair and placed a lingering kiss to my forehead.
We both lie there in silence for while, wrapped in one another's arms, a calmness floating in the air around us.
"That was definitely worth the wait," Wes said suddenly, with a sigh. I smacked his chest playfully which made him chuckle and I laughed along with him.
"I guess we have a lot of lost time to make up for, huh?" I whispered, sitting up on my elbows and trailing one finger down his chest. I looked up at him with a shy smile and bit my lip as desire pooled in his blue eyes once again.
"You're going to be the death of me, ugly," Wes told me with my favorite boyish grin playing across his lips. He grabbed me by my hips and pulled me so that I was completely on top of him. "But it's not a bad way to go."
TWENTY-FOUR
I felt like I was on top of the world during the next two days that followed. Being with Wes physically was incredible; every emotion that I felt for him was amplified, especially because I had offered every piece of myself to him and yet he still stood by my side. Our relationship changed significantly, for the better. We became closer than we had been before, and we trusted each other utterly. Our connection grew stronger, and I found myself more at peace than I had been in my entire life, let alone in the last year.
I smiled thinking about Wes as I made my way through the quad packed with students. Elle had finished her classes for the day a few hours earlier and got a ride home with Colin so that I could use her car to get home after I finished my last class. I had plans to meet with Wes at the Starbucks inside of the student center after my Psychology class let out. I was about half way there when my phone vibrated in my back pocket. I pulled it out and Elle's name flashed across the screen. I grinned, sure that she was calling me to ask me to pick up her favorite chocolate chip frappe before I got home.
"Hey," I answered after placing the phone against my ear. I was confused by the deep sigh I heard on the other side of the phone.
"It's so good to hear your voice, Brookey Baby." I stopped walking and a girl behind me crashed into me shooting me a dirty look as she scooted around me. A cold fear swept over my body and my hand flew to my mouth as I suppressed a sob.
"Where's Elle?" I managed to ask him through my panic.
Jesse chuckled over the phone, "She's right here but she can't talk right now."
"Leave her alone Jesse! Please!" I begged, turning in the direction of the parking lot and breaking out into a run.
"Here's what you're going to do, Brookelyn," Jesse said, his voice harsh, but I could hear a hint of amusement. "You're going to come here to your apartment and you're not going to tell a soul. If anyone shows up here with you, I will shoot her. I swear to god, I will shoot her."
I gasped, unable to suppress my cries any longer as I realized that Jesse was implying that he was armed and holding my best friend captive as some sort of twisted game. "Please let her go, Jesse. I'm begging you! I will do whatever you want, just let her go!"
"I'll see you soon, Brookey Baby." He taunted me right before the line went dead. I found Elle's car and crashed against it, my body crumbling to the pavement as sobs racked throughout my entire body. This couldn't be happening. He was supposed to stay away. He was ordered to stay away. I knew that I was supposed to call the police but he said he had a gun and I couldn't say for sure that he was bluffing. I knew Jesse well enough by now to know that I shouldn't chance losing my best friend. Another cry escaped me at the thought. Elle was in more danger than she probably realized. Jesse was a ruthless, volatile man and he would not let anyone get in the way of what he wanted. And he wanted me. For what, I wasn't sure, but I knew that I was possibly risking my own life by showing up at my apartment alone. I forced the thoughts to the back of my mind, reminding myself that Elle was in danger and that was what was important; I had to save Elle above all else. I composed myself as best as possible, wiping the tears from my eyes before I got up from the ground and got into Elle's car. I decided against calling Wes, hoping that he would wait for me in the student center assuming my professor let us out late. I wouldn't put him in danger, either. I loved him too much to stand the thought of him getting hurt. I had never been so grateful for Savanna's shopping addiction. She had gone to the local mall after classes and I knew she wouldn't be back for hours. She was safe.
The tires screeched as I peeled out of the parking space and out of the university's entrance. I traveled at twice the legal speeding limit, holding back my tears so that they wouldn't get in the way of my vision. The ride to the apartment felt longer than usual and I couldn't help but imagining the worst possible scenes that I would encounter when I finally got there. I managed to hit every single red light and swore to the heavens for providing me with more obstacles to overcome. By the time I finally made it to the apartment there were no parking spaces close by so I swung the car so that it was parked against the curb leading up to my door. I didn't care if the car got towed; I needed to get to Elle. I needed to save Elle. I repeated the words over and over in my head like a mantra as I raced to the front door of my apartment. The door was unlocked and I pushed it open, allowing tears to stream down my face as I gasped at the scene before me. No amount of mental preparation could prepare me for the sight before me.
"Close the door, Brookelyn." Jesse ordered from where he stood in the living room. I managed to shut the apartment door with shaky hands. I stood frozen where I stood, unable to move my body from the fear that incapacitated me.
A stream of tears flowed down my face as I looked into Elle's large round eyes. There was a plea in her wide gaze but all I could focus on was the gun pointed at her head. Jesse had tied her wrists behind her where she sat so that she was trapped to a chair. The plastic cords wrapping her wrists were also attached to her feet, further preventing her from moving. I let out a cry at the sight, and it took all of my strength not to run to her and remove the duct tape from around her mouth. Jesse had clearly been planning this. He came prepared.
I forced myself to look away from my best friend and stepped closer to the man that I detested with every ounce of my being. His eyes had that red, glassy look and I knew right away that he was highly under the influence. His eyes staring back at me held malice and wicked promise and I felt myself shudder in fear. He curled his lip up in disgust as he looked at me from head to toe, shaking his head in repulsion. His hand that held the gun remained against the side of Elle's head.
"Jesse … " I started to plea, willing to offer myself to him in exchange for Elle's safety but he cut me off before I could continue.
"You ruined my life," his spat out. "You stupid bitch. Do you have any idea what you've done to me?"