“I, huh… I should go.” He clears his throat.
Oh hell no.
He does not get to shut me out again.
Not after we slept together.
Not after he didn’t say it back.
I told him I loved him last night, and in response, he crawled down my body, spread my thighs, and gave me the third-biggest orgasm of my life. I tried not to overthink it—it was pretty damn hard to be mad with his face between my legs—but now that we’ve come back down to earth, I’m a bit… sad? Why didn’t he say it back? Did I read his fairy-tale declaration wrong?
Come to think of it, nowhere in his speech did he say he loved me. He talked about “wanting to be with me” but never, not once, brought up the L word.
Ouch.
I watch Will roam my room in search of his pants, feeling like a dumbass whose one-night stand is leaving before blocking her on everything.
“Are we… okay?” My voice wavers.
He stops.
And stares.
When he sees me, sheet wrapped around my body, fearful eyed pointed at him, his face softens. He doesn’t say a word, dropping his pants where he found them and making a beeline for my bed. Silent, he sits by my side, easing a strand of loose blonde hair behind my ear.
Then he closes the space between us. My heart gives a jolt when our lips touch. His tongue finds mine, the heat settling in my stomach almost as satisfying as the relief pouring over me. His hand drops to my shoulder, tracing down my arm and leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake.
He presses his forehead to mine. “Definitely okay.”
I smile.
“More than okay.” I lure him in for more, falling backward onto my bed and ushering his body closer. The sheet skates off my chest as we kiss, exposing my left breast and earning an irritated groan from Will.
He brings his mouth to my tight left nipple in an instant, slowly grazing the tip with his tongue and making me squirm. The tension ramps up as his hand sneaks under the sheet, landing on my stomach and drifting to my… “Okay.” He pulls back, tugging the sheet over my body. “Put some clothes on before I jump you.”
I chuckle, my hand snaking down toward the bulging shape in his briefs. Someone’s awake. His jaw clenches as I run a finger up and down his arousal.
“What if I want you to jump me?”
“Kass,” he warns, but I can’t get enough of the look on his face. I love having him at my mercy. I give his length a squeeze, and he sucks in a breath. “I should really go.” He tries to convince himself, his eyes shutting at my touch.
I jerk my hands away.
“Okay. Maybe next time.”
His eyes snap open, and he looks at me in an “are you fucking kidding me?” manner.
“You should finish getting dressed. Don’t want to be late.”
“Way to give a guy blue balls.” He’s appalled.
“Sorry. Payback for yesterday.”
Letting out a bitter scoff, he kisses the tip of my nose and pushes to his feet, adjusting his briefs.
“I’m going to make you pay for that, control freak.”
“Uh-huh,” I tease, watching him throw his clothes back on. Damn, he’s a snack. “How long are you going to be off doing dumb street fighter things?”
“Don’t know. A few days at most. I’ll text you.”
“You better. I’ll only accept dead pet or family member if you don’t.”
He laughs, stealing one last kiss. “Trust me, a life would have to be in danger for me not to text you back.”
As I watch him trail to the door, I want to say it again.
Kass, don’t.
He won’t say it back.
But maybe you just caught him off guard last night.
Maybe…
“Willy?”
“Yeah?”
Fuck it. Are we together or not?
“I love you.”
I regret saying it as soon as the words leave my mouth. The most awkward smile of all time spreads across his face.
“I’ll see you when I get back,” he replies before scampering down the stairs.
Twenty minutes later, I get a text from him. At first, I think he’s going to apologize, or maybe—just maybe—say it back, but I’m quickly knocked back to reality.
Willy Wonka: Winter came in when I was walking out. I told her I forgot something at your house and came to pick it up before training, but I think she’s suspicious.
Butthurt, I don’t text back, grab some clothes, and stroll into my bathroom for a shower. So not only are his feelings not as strong as mine, he’s also paranoid one day into the relationship that someone will find out about us? We didn’t have time to discuss it. Does he expect us to keep this a secret?
To never tell Kendrick?
What did I just get myself into?
Thirty minutes later, I’m sauntering down the stairs to grab breakfast. I’m supposed to be working at two, and while Luke said I was fired, I never heard from Isabella. Checking my other messages, I notice I have one from Ethan.
Ethan: Isabella wants you to come in at 1.
Kass: Great. I’m getting fired.
Ethan: SIS, WHAT? We’re both going to need a new job then. McDonalds? Starbucks? Take your pick.
I laugh. I can’t believe he’d even consider getting fired with me. I love this weirdo. Another text from Will comes through when I reach the first floor.
Willy Wonka: I miss you already.
I snort. He feels guilty about blowing me off, and he’s trying to smooth things over. I see what you’re doing, Willy. I make a mental note to reply later, heading toward the kitchen. Just as I’m about to turn the corner, I hear something.
Sniffling.
I stretch my neck, careful not to make a sound, and see her. Winter. Sitting at kitchen table with her face nestled in her hands. What the hell happened with Haze last night?
I step out of the shadows. “Are you okay?”
She jumps at the sight of me.
“I’m fine.” She wipes her eyes quickly.
I’m going to smash this guy’s balls with a brick.
I take a seat at the table. “You’re
