Wes’s hands touched the middle of my back and unclasped my bra with ease. He then guided me down to the pullout couch, forcing me to release my grip on him.

  Wes towered over me as he took his shirt off with one hand.

  The fire from the fireplace made his muscles look like they were moving with shadows casted one second, then bright light on them the next.

  Wes dropped down and kissed above my belly button.

  I arched my back and let out a long sigh.

  He opened my jeans and wasted no time in pulling them down my body. His hands touched my legs, making me ache.

  “Yes, Wes,” I whispered.

  It had been such a long day and this was the best way to end it.

  Wes only paused long enough to reach into his pocket for something. I heard the sound of a wrapper tearing and I swallowed hard. A moment later, his lips pressed against my stomach and he began to kiss up my body. I shut my eyes and sighed again, feeling his lips and tongue flirting with my skin. As he moved over my right breast, he growled and took me into his mouth. My hands touched his back, feeling strong muscle tightening.

  “So fucking perfect, darling,” he said as he hovered over my chest.

  Wes put his left hand to the bed and teased me by not kissing me as he entered me.

  That swelling feeling of him between my legs, my body wanting and craving him, but still needing to adjust to him. I sucked in a breath and let out a gasp as he pressed, giving more of himself to me. I knew how big he was but it still had the allure of being endless.

  My nails curled and pulled at his back.

  I managed to exhale when he was all the way in me.

  As he pulled back I caught myself thrusting at him.

  He groaned and came down at me again. This time with more force.

  The surge of tingling pleasure went from the middle of my stomach through the rest of my body.

  Wes slipped his right hand to the back of my head, digging into my hair, holding me. He lowered his entire body down to mine and we started to kiss. I felt him everywhere. Together in a secret cabin with a fire next to us.

  I moved my hands from his back to his face.

  Just to touch him. Just to see his eyes again.

  My heart pounding inside my chest.

  His body taking my body over and over.

  Wes curled his lip, that sexy bad boy look all over his face.

  I shut my eyes and put my head back.

  His lips touched my neck and moved down.

  My hands fell to the sheets on the bed and I was all his.

  Completely all his.

  Secrets and all.

  * * *

  “Who the hell is that?” Wes said in a groggy voice.

  My phone had been buzzing over and over for about a minute straight.

  “Kailey, Charlotte, and Emma,” I said. “Group text.”

  “Tell them to go to fucking sleep.”

  I reached for my phone. I laughed. “They want to know where I am. What I’m doing. What’s going on. If you kidnapped me. Kailey thinks you have me as a hostage. Charlotte laughed and said I would probably like being tied up.”

  Wes reached over me and stole my phone.

  “What are you doing?” I asked.

  Wes ignored me as his thumbs moved fast across the screen.

  “There,” he said and gave me the phone back.

  I’m doing Wes. All night. Hidden in a secret cabin. He’s so big. I don’t know how I can take so much pleasure. I might not make it back. And I’m fine with it. Also, Wes said you all should come and join too. I’m totally fine with it.

  I shook my head.

  “Sound good?” he asked me.

  I wrote to the group text.

  That was Wes. Obviously. I’m fine. See you tomorrow.

  My phone buzzed again and again as they all wrote back.

  I slid my phone off the bed and to the floor.

  My eyes were locked to Wes’s as I faced him.

  “Get some sleep,” he whispered.

  “I don’t want to sleep. I want to do this every night with you.”

  “We can, darling,” Wes whispered. “I told you that. I’ll get a place for us.”

  Butterflies danced in my stomach. “Wes, can we promise something to each other?”

  “What?”

  “No more secrets,” I said. “No matter what.”

  He propped his head up on his hand. Nobody would ever see him like this and understand how perfect he was. His roughness and tough attitude was just the outer shell of who Wes really was.

  “Do you have any secrets?” Wes asked me.

  “Not that I can think of,” I said. “I mean… no. I’ve told you everything. You’ve seen what it is for me.”

  “You’re beautiful, Aira,” Wes said. “And we don’t have to worry about secrets. There are no more. Just accept the truths you have. Okay?”

  “Promise me, Wes,” I said.

  “I promise,” he said.

  He kissed me and then shut his eyes.

  I stared at him for a little bit longer.

  I thought I was going to feel more relief knowing there were no more secrets.

  But I wasn’t sure if I actually believed Wes or not.

  Chapter 9

  Wes

  Aira’s father looked at his watch. “Well, I’m about ready to head out myself. Need to get back.”

  I stood at the apartment door with my arms crossed and watched the last little bit of the crazy happen. We left the cabin next to the pond around nine after we woke up. We made sure everything was put back away and then drove back to the apartment. Gloria made a large breakfast for everyone, which was just me, Aira, and Jack at the table. Stella didn’t join until long after breakfast was served. She was in fresh clothes, fresh makeup, but had hangover written all over her face.

  Aira hugged her father.

  “Love you,” he said.

  “Love you too.”

  Then he came to me and offered his hand. “Weslee.”

  “Jack,” I said.

  We shook hands.

  Everything about the guy rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t believe a word he said, but he was leaving and so were we.

  “Keep in touch, Aira,” Jack said.

  “I will, Dad,” she said.

  He left and now it was time to say goodbye to Stella.

  She hugged Aira for a second and then proceeded to kiss her over and over. The top of her head. The side of her head. Her cheeks.

  “Mom, stop,” Aira said.

  “I just love you so much, Aira. Please promise me you’re okay there. With Julia. With…”

  Stella looked at me but didn’t say my name.

  “I’m fine,” Aira said.

  “You’re not fine,” Stella said. “I didn’t say anything in front of your father…”

  “No,” Aira said. “What happened I did here. In this town.”

  “What?” Stella asked.

  “That’s right,” Aira said. “Yeah, the rumor was spread around Hidden Creek High, but the truth of that rumor was because of this town. That’s why I wanted to leave so badly. That’s why I did leave.”

  “Aira, don’t say that,” Stella said. “This is your home.”

  “No, it’s not. This? This apartment is fake.”

  “Our house burned down!” Stella yelled.

  “That wasn’t our house either. That was Dad’s house. His dream.”

  Stella touched her cheeks. “I can’t believe this.”

  “It’s the truth, Mom. You want to see? You want to check my legs?”

  “Aira…”

  “Goodbye,” Aira said. She kissed her mother’s tear laced cheek. “Love you. Please be safe.”

  Aira turned and walked away. She glanced at me and I saw her eyes were glossy.

  I looked at Stella and gave a nod.

  Then we left.

  It felt good to drive away from that apartment. And I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like for Aira to get away.

  “I never heard from them again,” Aira said.

  “What? Who?”

  “Cora and Rita. They were my alleged friends here. But once the fire happened and everyone started talking about it, they just vanished. And even when I left, they never got in touch.”

  “They weren’t real friends then, darling. That’s why you left. That’s why Hidden is your home. Where you belong.”

  Aira wiped away a tear.

  I hated to see her cry.

  As I reached for her hand, she suddenly pointed.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she said.

  “What?” I asked.

  I looked and we were near a grassy park or field; something like that. Lots of trees and benches, with a rocky trail which had people walking or running it.

  There was a guy and a girl holding hands as they walked along the sidewalk next to the park.

  “You know them?” I asked Aira.

  She looked at me. “That’s Cora. And she’s holding hands with Jesse.”

  “Your ex,” I said.

  “My ex,” Aira said.

  I cut the wheel to the right and jumped the curb.

  Aira yelled at the bounce and I already had the driver’s door open.

  “Wes!” Aira yelled but it was too late.

  Just being in this place for one day and night was enough to put me over the edge. Aira had been right when she said everything and everyone was fake. And I had had enough of it.

  Jesse and Cora had stopped walking, looking shocked, probably figuring I crashed my SUV.

  I pointed to him and started to run.

  He stepped back and shoved Cora toward me.

  I stopped her from falling and went after Jesse again.

  He was running and didn’t even know who I was.

  I got my hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.

  “What did I do?” he asked.

  I threw my arm around his neck and squeezed and started to walk him back to my SUV.

  “We’re going to for a little walk, Jesse. Having a little talk too.”

  “Who the hell are you, man?” he asked.

  I looked at Cora. “You’re a whore, huh?”

  “Excuse me?” she asked, gasping.

  I pointed to the SUV and when she saw Aira, her cheeks turned bright red.

  I threw Jesse at the SUV and slammed him into the side of it.

  I grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him toward the open driver’s side door and shoved him inside enough so he could see Aira.

  “Oh, shit,” he said.

  “You hurt her,” I said. “You fucked with her heart, man. You cheated on her. Say you’re sorry to her.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jesse said. “Aira. I’m so sorry.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Aira said.

  “Neither do I,” I said.

  I pulled Jesse back, turned him around, and hit him.

  As my fist cracked Jesse’s face, I pictured Ryland.

  So I hit him again and again.

  Right up until he slumped down and was sitting on the ground with his back against my SUV.

  He looked up at me, his eyes dazed. “I’m sorry…”

  “Yeah, you’re fucking sorry,” I said. “Get away from my ride, man.”

  I gave Jesse a kick and he started to crawl away.

  I looked at Cora and pointed.

  She started to shake her head.

  “Make this known,” I said to her. “And if anything comes back to me or Aira, I’ll be back. Next time I’ll bring help. You got that?”

  “Yes,” Cora said. Then she looked at Aira through the windshield. “I’m sorry.”

  “I don’t think she heard you,” I said.

  Cora cupped her hands around her mouth. “I’m sorry!” she yelled.

  Jesse was still crawling across the grass when I got back into my SUV and took off.

  It took a few minutes but Aira reached for my hand.

  “I had to,” I said.

  “I know.”

  “I don’t want anyone to ever hurt you.”

  “I know,” she whispered again.

  She swallowed hard.

  I looked down at her hand on mine.

  She was shaking.

  I had scared her.

  I took my hand away from hers and put it to the steering wheel.

  She looked out the window.

  And we drove in silence.

  * * *

  I dropped Aira off at Julia’s and when she walked toward the steps, I mentally slapped myself and got out of the SUV to run after her.

  When I caught up, I grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

  “What is it?” I asked her.

  “Nothing.”

  “Aira…”

  “I just don’t know what to think anymore, Wes. I’ve watched you beat up two people now. And scare the hell out of others. And get arrested because you damaged Ryland’s motorcycle.”

  “What’s your point?”

  She shook her head. “I want to ask why but I’m afraid of the answer.”

  I curled my lip. “Anyone who hurts you has to pay for it. That’s why. You can’t go through your life letting that shit happen.”

  “I know,” she said. She touched my chest. “It was a lot, Wes. Seeing my parents. Seeing the house. Seeing Jesse.”

  “You still have feelings for him?” I asked.

  “No,” she said. “But he was part of my life. I feel stupid now when it comes to him.”

  “Stupid? How so?”

  “Because of the way things went. That’s all.”

  “I don’t want you alone right now.”

  “Why? You don’t trust me? You think I’m going to do something to myself?”

  “No,” I said. “I just hate the thought of not being near you.”

  That got her to smile. “I’m sure I’ll see you later.”

  “Front door or window?”

  “On the beach.”

  “I bet I can count more stars than you,” I whispered.

  “No you can’t. I’m smarter than you, Wes.”

  I closed in on her and kissed her.

  I hated to watch her go.

  I looked down at my right hand and told myself maybe I needed to stop punching people in front of Aira.

  Yeah, right.

  * * *

  I pointed to the spot where Ryland’s ride had been and looked at Leo.

  “Gone,” he said.

  “Jett deal with it?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” Leo said. “I hate that guy’s parents. They are assholes, man.”

  “Of course they are,” I said.

  “No, it’s bad,” Flynn said as he put a wrench down. “They showed up with bodyguards. As though something was going to happen.”

  I thought about Pop with the shotgun and in a way I couldn’t blame Ryland’s parents.

  “Fuck them,” I said. “They’re gone. That piece of shit ride is gone too.”

  “Ryland isn’t gone,” Leo said. “He’s been riding by here all day. Him and his guys. I think they’re just trying to make noise. Piss us off.”

  “He wants to keep fighting back,” I said. “All because of Aira.”

  “What’s his deal with her?” Flynn asked.

  “Anything to confuse her and make her not be with me,” I said.

  “Good luck there, right?” Leo asked.

  I looked at my right hand again.

  I had a handful of punches left for Ryland.

  When I went into the office, I saw Pop in his chair, Jett leaning against the back wall and then to my surprise, Ryker and Walker standing on the other side of the desk.

  “Where’d you end up?” Jett asked me.

  “Went to see Aira’s old house. What a sight that was.”

  “Did they find out who did it?” Jett asked.

  “Not yet,” I said. “Her parents are a real treat though.”

  “No shit,” Jett said. “I’ve had to deal with them a few times. More than a few times actually.”

  “Can we get back to business here?” Pop asked in a growly voice.

  “What’s the problem?” I asked.

  “Rumors,” Ryker said. “Heard something about more stolen parts.”

  “From where?”

  “Chatter up at Tech,” Walker said. “Apparently now the story is that I was jumped for not paying up on a deal that went bad.”

  “Shit,” I said.

  “I don’t want this falling back on us,” Pop said. “And I want to know where this is coming from.”

  “I’ll give you ten guesses,” I said. “Hell, you only need one I bet.”

  “Don’t say it,” Jett said. He pushed from the wall. “Not after we just had his parents here.”

  Pop punched his desk. “I’m tired of this shit. If you’d let me handle it myself…”

  “No shotguns allowed,” Jett said. “Sorry, Pop.”

  “It’s all rumors though,” I said. “Just trying to stir us up. He’s got it bad for me because of everything that happened.”

  “So this comes down to a girl?” Pop asked. “Jesus. Just get rid of the girl then.”

  My body stiffened. I looked at Pop and he stared right back.

  “It’s more than that,” Jett said, breaking up the stare between me and Pop. “It’s always more than that.”

  “I’ll keep my ears open,” Ryker said.

  “Now I’m losing credibility with the ladies,” Walker said. “It went from sympathy to disgust.”

  “That’s probably because they realized how small your dick is,” I said.

  Jett laughed and Pop joined in with the old car starting laugh.

  “Fuck you guys,” Walker said.

  He left the office and slammed the door behind him.

  “He must get that from his father,” Pop said.

  “I think I’m going to give Dusty a call,” Jett said. “Just square things up with him. Show good faith. We fixed Ryland’s motorcycle. It’s been picked up. Things are back to normal.”

  At the word normal Jett looked at me.

  There was no normal.

  Never had been.

  Never would be.

  “I don’t care what happens,” Pop said, “other than this getting quiet again. I’m not going to put up with it. I’ll do what I have to do. I’ve settled it before and I’ll settle it again. And if you think I’m letting some girl from Wes’s past screw this up-”

 

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