Legacy (20 page)

She’d left the house because she couldn’t stop thinking about Wes. His hands on her body.
His
body. When they entered the crush of the club, with its aurora of smoke and laser lights, Corinne wondered if she just needed a night of raw carnality to keep her from obsessing about him.

Maybe that was it. She had lived like a nun for six months. She was only human, after all. If she didn’t find Wes attractive, something would be wrong with her. Because he
was
attractive. Shockingly so.

But he was also Michael’s best friend. And her roommate. And—for a while, anyway—her lifeline. What she was feeling for him wasn’t just sexual starvation, but she
couldn’t
go there. Her heart raced like a trapped rabbit’s at the very thought.

But a stranger...? Someone who meant nothing to her? That might help to clear her head.

One night. No one would need to know.

The club was packed, and the dance floor was pulsing. Surely, if she was just looking for a one-night stand, she’d be able to find it here.

“Let’s do a shot before we start dancing!” Heather shouted over the crowd. Corinne nodded in agreement, thinking that she’d need a little more liquid courage before setting her man-plan in motion.

“What kind?” Heather asked, pulling her to the bar. Corinne shrugged.

“I have no idea. Not a kamikaze. Something sweeter?” She thought of Wes, and wondered what he would think of her intentions for the evening.

“Melon or berry?” Heather asked.

“Berry,” Corinne said. She didn’t have to think about it; she knew he probably wouldn’t approve.

Good thing he doesn’t need to know.

She’d go home with somebody, satisfy the hunger that had been dogging her for weeks, now, and then be able to live with Wes without so much sexual tension.

Heather ordered, and a moment later the bartender set down two purple shots in front of them. Corinne studied hers, frowning.

“What is this?” she asked, having to yell over the music.

“It’s a Purple Hooter!” Heather yelled back, making Corinne laugh. “Vodka, black raspberry liqueur, and lime juice. Come on! Let’s take a selfie before we shoot!”

Corinne held up her drink and crowded in next to Heather, still smiling, before the flash blinded her.

“Now drink!” Heather yelled, and she tipped back her shot. It
was
sweeter than the kamikaze, but the vodka still burned her throat, and Heather laughed at the face she made.

“I wish I’d taken a picture of
that
!” she said, typing on her phone. “Okay, there, I tagged you.”

Corinne rolled her eyes. She hadn’t been on Facebook since a few days after Michael’s funeral. The condolence messages had been too much. Corinne didn’t have that many friends—on Facebook or off—but after Michael’s death, everyone she ever met and certainly every one of Michael’s friends—and he had a ton—wanted to pay their respects. She hadn’t been able to handle it, so she stopped logging on.

“Want another one?” Heather asked, blue eyes gleaming. “We’ll take a taxi home.”

“Sure,” she said, thinking that she wouldn’t need a cab if she was able to find the right guy. But to approach the right guy, she’d need more alcohol. “Let’s try the melon one this time.”

Chapter 24

B
urgers and beers had seemed like a great idea while Corinne was getting ready for her night out, but Wes pushed the remnants of his Big Pete and fries away from him, feeling ill.

It hadn’t been the burger. It was the photo Wes had just seen on Facebook that made his stomach churn. Corinne and her friend Heather were doing shots at City Bar. At first, Wes had smiled to see the humor in her eyes, but then he noticed something in the background. Two blurry figures watched the women, and one of them looked disturbingly like the one-and-only Louis Elway.

“Wanna go to City Bar?” Wes asked Chad, waving the server over with their bill.

“Why? Is that where Corinne is?” Chad asked, his mouth kicking up in a grin.

Wes blinked.

“What makes you say that?”

Chad raised his brow
.

“You’ve only been talking about her all night,” Chad said, eyeing Wes with a mixture of mock disgust and real sympathy. “You’ve got it bad.”

Wes suppressed a sigh. If he couldn’t keep his feelings from Chad, he certainly couldn’t keep them from Corinne, which was probably why she’d practically bolted out of the studio when he lost his head and started rubbing her shoulders. Any day now, she’d ask him to move out because he just couldn’t keep it under control, and he was freaking her out.

“Yeah, I get it. It’s a problem,” he said, shaking his head.

This seemed to surprise Chad.

“Why is that a problem?”

“Because she’s not ready for that, and even if she were, I’m so not her type,” he said, handing over two twenties to their server and standing.

“Then why are we going to City Bar?” Chad asked, sounding doubtful, but getting to his feet.

“So I can keep an eye on her.
Duh?
”

Chad only smirked.

“
Sure.
Whatever you say.”

City Bar was packed. Wes had only had two beers with dinner, and that was not enough to make the strobe lighting and Little Mix’s “Move” any more appealing, but he shouldered through the crowd as Chad headed to the bar.

The dance floor was a sea of bodies. At first Wes didn’t see any sign of Corinne or Elway, and he didn’t know if he should be nervous or relieved. But he soon spotted her friend Heather, who was taller, and he realized that she was dancing opposite Corinne.

Who was backing up on some guy.

He didn’t expect the jealousy that hit him like a blow to the gut. Because it was more than jealousy; it was pure ache. Her bare arm reached back as she stroked this guy’s hair—dark hair that fell to his collar—and the bastard had his chin hooked over her shoulder. In that sleeveless purple blouse Wes had seen her in earlier, his eye had been drawn to the ruffles that gathered at her cleavage, and he knew that this asshole could see right down her shirt.

The man’s hands splayed over Corinne’s flat tummy, and her hips ground against his crotch to the rhythm of the music.

Wes had come here because he’d been afraid that Elway—or someone like him—would get her wasted or ruffie her drink or breathe on her. He hadn’t been prepared for the half-lidded look of ecstasy she wore as she danced with this douche.

It hurt like a
bitch!

Half of him wanted to tear through the crowd, peel that guy off her, and beat the shit out of him. The other half wanted to fall at her feet.

So he just stood there—watching—until Chad tapped him on the shoulder and handed him a beer.

One look and Wes knew that his buddy had taken in the scene, but he counted himself lucky that Chad had the grace not to say anything until Wes managed to get half of the draft down.

“You know what you said earlier about her not being ready?” Chad yelled in his ear over “Sofi Needs a Ladder.”

Wes nodded, bitterly.

“Well, I think she’s ready, man.” Chad nodded toward the dance floor. When Wes just glared at him, Chad shook his head. “Dude, you’ll never know if she’s into you if you don’t make a move.”

Wes hadn’t mentioned the kiss. And they lived together. If she’d wanted him to dance with her the way douche-boy was dancing with her, all she had to do was ask.

“I
have
made a move,” Wes admitted. “She told me she was confused.”

Wes saw the wince that Chad couldn’t quite keep from his face.

Yeah, exactly
, Wes thought, rolling his eyes.

“If I try again, I could ruin everything,” he added, draining the rest of his beer. “All I can do right now is look after her.”

Which is all I’m supposed to do.

“Well, don’t look now, but I think you might be called to duty, Boy Scout,” Chad said, nodding to the dance floor.

Wes followed his gaze and found Corinne. Instead of dancing on the guy, she was slumped against him. The half-lidded look he’d seen on her face before wasn’t ecstasy; it was intoxication. The d-bag was trying to steady her, and Heather was nowhere to be seen.

Wes shot through the crowd and shoved the dude out of the way, grabbing Corinne.

“Hey, watch it, asshole!” the guy yelled. “She’s with me!”

“Corinne? You ok?” he asked, pulling her into his arms just as she stumbled, crashing against his chest. He thought she probably weighed as much as a flower.

“I’m taking her home, man. Back off!” D-bag yelled, shoving Wes in the shoulder. Wes tucked her into the crook of one arm and pushed the guy away.

“You aren’t taking her anywhere, Chester,” Wes seethed, ready to kick ass if he had to. Adrenaline ratcheted up his heart rate and rippled through his muscles.

“Wes?...What are you doing here?” Corinne murmured into his shirt. He’d never seen Corinne drunk, and he decided that he didn’t like it at all. She was far too vulnerable.

“Yeah, what
are
you doing here? She doesn’t want you around, so fuck off!” the guy sneered.

Corinne’s hand fisted into his shirt.

“Yes, I do,” she slurred.

She does?

Wes’s already racing heart kicked up even faster.

“Come on, let’s get you home,” Wes whispered down to her.

Corinne nodded. He started to guide her toward the exit, still pressed against him, when she stopped.

“Wait! We can’t leave Heather,” she mumbled, not even raising her head. “She went to the bathroom.”

“I’ll get her,” Chad said, and Wes realized that he’d been at his back the whole time, ready to help if needed. The guy was quickly becoming a damn good friend.

“Thanks, man,” Wes said, nodding, and he continued toward the doors. Corinne was sweating, and he was ready for her to either pass out or puke; he couldn’t get her outside fast enough.

“Better...” she sighed when the night air hit them. “So hot in there.” The June night was far from cool, but at least there was a breeze and the promise of a thunderstorm.

“Are you ok? Do you feel sick?” Wes asked, still steadying her. If he let go, she would probably topple forward.

“Mm okay,” she said, but Wes was glad that his truck was just across the street. He’d drive with the window down just in case.

Chad came out then with Heather, who looked worried.

“Corinne? Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” she said, rushing to her friend.

“Mmm hmm...” Corinne answered with a lazy smile.

“How much did she drink?” Wes asked, thinking that Heather just seemed a little buzzed.

“We had drinks at the restaurant, and we did just a few shots at the bar,” Heather said, biting her lip.

“Mmm...mmm. Five,” Corinne mumbled, her eyes closed. “Three with you. Two with...Chester.” She giggled then and looked up at Wes. “
Chester...
You’re so funny, Wes.”

He should have thought it was funny, but all he could think about was what “Chester” could have done if he hadn’t shown up.

“That was dangerous, Corinne, and really stupid.”

Her only response was to nuzzle further into his chest, which now ached at the thought of her being hurt. Lightning flashed to the west, and a slow thunderclap rolled toward them a moment later.

“Chad, can you make sure Heather gets home safe?” he asked, looking back at them.

Chad and Heather’s eyes met, and Wes saw Chad’s light up.

“I’d be glad to,” he answered, extending his hand to Heather, who took it, looking equally pleased.

Wes told them goodnight, but Corinne didn’t seem to notice their departure or the coming storm, so he set off with her across the street and helped her up into his truck.

“Did you hear me, Corinne? What you did tonight was stupid and dangerous,” Wes scolded as he buckled her in. “That guy could have taken advantage of you.”

“Mmm...I wanted him to,” she whispered, never opening her eyes.

What the hell?!?

“You wanted him to?!” Wes yelled in shock.

That made her open her eyes halfway, but she held a finger over her lips and frowned at him.

“Shhh...Don’t shout, Wes,” she slurred.

Wes didn’t know which burned hotter inside of him, his anger at her stupidity or his jealousy at her rejection.

“You
wanted
him to take advantage of you?” he asked again, not willing to believe her.

“Yes,” she said, waving him away. “I wanted to have sex with him...”

She paused then to yawn, and Wes slammed the truck door and stalked to the driver’s side as rain began to dampen the streets. He got in and yanked on his seatbelt.

“I wanted to have sex with him...” she said again, and it didn’t hurt any less the second time, even as she patted his arm absently. “So I would stop wanting you.”

Wes froze. For a good ten seconds, the only sound in the truck was the tap dance of raindrops on the roof of the cab.

“You wanted
me?
” he heard himself ask.

Corinne nodded and gave him a sleepy smile, still patting his arm.

“Why?” he whispered, afraid that anything more would bring her to her senses and she’d stop talking.

“Because you’re sweet and good to me and sexy,” she said, looking at him innocently, as if he should know all of this already. “And I can’t stop thinking about you...”

Whoa.

The point in his chest that had ached so acutely a moment before now flooded with warmth, and in spite of himself, his cock stirred.

Stand down, soldier.

He caught the hand that was still patting his arm and squeezed it.

But then Corinne looked up at him, and her eyes filled with tears.

“But Michael...and I’m—” she bit down on her trembling lip and shook her head. “I shouldn’t feel this way...It’s not fair to you...You deserve someone who isn’t such a mess!”

Wes’s lungs had stopped working. Out of all of the reasons he thought she wouldn’t want to be with him, this one had never crossed his mind. She wanted him, and she didn’t think it was enough.

She was wrong.

Wes unlatched his seatbelt, moved across the seat, and took her in his arms.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, cupping her face and brushing away her tears with his thumbs.

He told himself that he couldn’t kiss her now—not when there was a chance that she wouldn’t remember, not when she was so vulnerable—but when she rose up and pressed her lips to his—gently, softly—he closed his eyes and let himself drown.

Her kiss was like a lost land—a place he’d remembered and had longed to return to his whole life. When her tongue swept across his lips, his whole body shivered, and Corinne again gripped the front of his shirt and pulled him to her. He moaned at her desire, and his tongue followed the path of hers into her precious mouth.

Wes Clarkson had never been in love in his life. Until now. He’d never allowed it. Never wanted it. Never come close. And it surprised him how something so foreign to him was so easy to recognize. This was love. Clearly. Undeniably. It had been with him for weeks, of course, but kissing her now gave it permission to draw breath and live.

“I’ve
been
wanting to do that...” Corinne whispered against his mouth.